[ot - kind of] is this common practice in web design bussiness

[Tom Gahagan]

Hi....

Just curious if what I am about to describe is "common practice" in the web
site design business.

My company site is also a community site in that I do a lot of free stuff to
promote the town I live in. You can, however, through my business directory,
etc find out most of my clients.

Recently a company in a town about 25 miles or so away began contacting all
my clients. That part I really don't care about... BUT.... in doing so he
went to great lengths to denigrate me as a person and a web site designer.

Of course, I make no claims at being the greatest designer in the world and
having just bought the business this past year many of the sites... I did
not do at all.

AND.... he fails to mention to these people that His prices at 5 times what
mine are.

I am just letting the man rant on.... but I am REALLY curious if this is
fairly normal in this business???? Still being relatively new to it this is
my first experience like this.

Anyway..... your thoughts or stories would be appreciated.

Thanks
Tom Gahagan

 

[Thomas A. Rowe]

Tom,

I would say that it is NOT a common practice to put down the competition in this manner, in any type
of business, as far as contacting people via a business directory, this is common.

--
==============================================
Thomas A. Rowe (Microsoft MVP - FrontPage)
WEBMASTER Resources(tm)

FrontPage Resources, WebCircle, MS KB Quick Links, etc.
==============================================

 

[Steve Easton]

Sounds a little like "defamation of character" to me.
You might call him and mention that phrase and the word Lawyer in the same sentence.

I would.


--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[Tina Clarke]

Anyway..... your thoughts or stories would be appreciated.

Thanks
Tom Gahagan

Just contact all your clients and let them know ..

1. you did not design the site.
2. This other person charges five times as much.
3. Would they really do business with someone who rings up your list of
clients and proceeds to tell untruths (you did not do many of the designs as
you just bought the business) and defames someone on this basis?
4. You have instructed your lawyer.
5. and while I'm talking to you do you need any new sites doing .. blah blah


... you really need to find out your legal status .. because he really could
ruin your business and your good name... you should not take this laying
down if your serious about your business and your good name.

Tina

 

[Guest]

Hello

I agree with Steve, let the person know about defamation of character. For as long as I have been a website owner, I have never heard of someone doing something like that. This sounds like a rare case and if anything, it could go away soon enough

----- Steve Easton wrote: ----

Sounds a little like "defamation of character" to me
You might call him and mention that phrase and the word Lawyer in the same sentence

I would


-
Steve Easto
Microsoft MVP FrontPag
95isaliv
This site is best viewed...........
........................with a compute

 

[Wally S]

Contact a lawyer and get legal advice. And it would have a lot more clout if
this creep is contacted by your lawyer, not by you directly.

Wally S

 

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?Crash_Gordon=AE?=]

You'd probably get nowhere with it because actual damages would be near impossible to prove, but it wouldn't hurt to have your lawyer write a letter. Probably cost you a c note but it might help. Depending exactly on HOW he got your client list will also be a factor.

It's unethical at the very least.

| Hi....
|
| Just curious if what I am about to describe is "common practice" in the web
| site design business.
|
| My company site is also a community site in that I do a lot of free stuff to
| promote the town I live in. You can, however, through my business directory,
| etc find out most of my clients.
|
| Recently a company in a town about 25 miles or so away began contacting all
| my clients. That part I really don't care about... BUT.... in doing so he
| went to great lengths to denigrate me as a person and a web site designer.
|
| Of course, I make no claims at being the greatest designer in the world and
| having just bought the business this past year many of the sites... I did
| not do at all.
|
| AND.... he fails to mention to these people that His prices at 5 times what
| mine are.
|
| I am just letting the man rant on.... but I am REALLY curious if this is
| fairly normal in this business???? Still being relatively new to it this is
| my first experience like this.
|
| Anyway..... your thoughts or stories would be appreciated.
|
| Thanks
| Tom Gahagan
|
|

 

[Tom Gahagan]

Thanks to all for the answers.

I really wanted to believe that this was the exception and not the
rule.....and I'm glad that you've confirmed it for me.

I just might have a lawyer write him a letter but in the long run I'm going
to trust an even higher power than that to take care of it. I will just sit
back and keep MY ethics and integrity and let what goes around... come
around.

Thanks again.....
Tom Gahagan


You'd probably get nowhere with it because actual damages would be near
impossible to prove, but it wouldn't hurt to have your lawyer write a
letter. Probably cost you a c note but it might help. Depending exactly on
HOW he got your client list will also be a factor.

It's unethical at the very least.

| Hi....
|
| Just curious if what I am about to describe is "common practice" in the
web
| site design business.
|
| My company site is also a community site in that I do a lot of free stuff
to
| promote the town I live in. You can, however, through my business
directory,
| etc find out most of my clients.
|
| Recently a company in a town about 25 miles or so away began contacting
all
| my clients. That part I really don't care about... BUT.... in doing so he
| went to great lengths to denigrate me as a person and a web site designer.
|
| Of course, I make no claims at being the greatest designer in the world
and
| having just bought the business this past year many of the sites... I did
| not do at all.
|
| AND.... he fails to mention to these people that His prices at 5 times
what
| mine are.
|
| I am just letting the man rant on.... but I am REALLY curious if this is
| fairly normal in this business???? Still being relatively new to it this
is
| my first experience like this.
|
| Anyway..... your thoughts or stories would be appreciated.
|
| Thanks
| Tom Gahagan
|
|

 

[Jack Brewster]

This may be a good time to touch base with your customers, especially ones
you haven't talked to in a while. I wouldn't mention this guy, but if the
customer does, you can address it. It should give a positive impression to
all your customers and will probably reverse any negatives he may have
introduced.

 

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?Crash_Gordon=AE?=]

You'd probably feel better if you did...keep yourself ethical, ignore the idiots.


| Thanks to all for the answers.
|
| I really wanted to believe that this was the exception and not the
| rule.....and I'm glad that you've confirmed it for me.
|
| I just might have a lawyer write him a letter but in the long run I'm going
| to trust an even higher power than that to take care of it. I will just sit
| back and keep MY ethics and integrity and let what goes around... come
| around.
|
| Thanks again.....
| Tom Gahagan
|
|
| | You'd probably get nowhere with it because actual damages would be near
| impossible to prove, but it wouldn't hurt to have your lawyer write a
| letter. Probably cost you a c note but it might help. Depending exactly on
| HOW he got your client list will also be a factor.
|
| It's unethical at the very least.
|
| | | Hi....
| |
| | Just curious if what I am about to describe is "common practice" in the
| web
| | site design business.
| |
| | My company site is also a community site in that I do a lot of free stuff
| to
| | promote the town I live in. You can, however, through my business
| directory,
| | etc find out most of my clients.
| |
| | Recently a company in a town about 25 miles or so away began contacting
| all
| | my clients. That part I really don't care about... BUT.... in doing so he
| | went to great lengths to denigrate me as a person and a web site designer.
| |
| | Of course, I make no claims at being the greatest designer in the world
| and
| | having just bought the business this past year many of the sites... I did
| | not do at all.
| |
| | AND.... he fails to mention to these people that His prices at 5 times
| what
| | mine are.
| |
| | I am just letting the man rant on.... but I am REALLY curious if this is
| | fairly normal in this business???? Still being relatively new to it this
| is
| | my first experience like this.
| |
| | Anyway..... your thoughts or stories would be appreciated.
| |
| | Thanks
| | Tom Gahagan
| |
| |
|
|