submitted and spammed

Wandererer · Apr 23, 2013

I submitted something through Submittables and the publication signed me up for their newsletter. I don't think that's very nice. It's not some back alley publisher either, its a reputable pub. Its ironic because Submittables is supposed to help them cut down on spam received, so you'd think they would be careful about abusing it to send out their spam to me.

I could just unsubscribe, but now I feel obligated to wait until they accept/reject me.

Maryn · Apr 24, 2013

Not a great business method. You might want to start a thread in Bewares and Background Checks about this. I bet it's happening to others, too. Your thread could serve as a caution.

Maryn, who's also be waiting--but annoyed

DerekJager · Apr 24, 2013

Wanderer, when you signed up, were there "already checked boxes" that you had to uncheck if you didn't want their newsletter. Most/many companies do that.

veinglory · Apr 24, 2013

A lot of otherwise reputable publishers do this. It really pissed me off.

Wandererer · Apr 24, 2013

DerekJager said:
Wanderer, when you signed up, were there "already checked boxes" that you had to uncheck if you didn't want their newsletter. Most/many companies do that.

I did not sign up for anything except the Submittables service. I doubt that I overlooked any boxes that said I agreed to receive unsolicited mailings from anyone I submit to using Submittables. I suppose there is a chance I overlooked such a box, but not very likely. I have not received any spam from other publications I've submitted to using Submittables.

talkwrite · May 2, 2013

I see that newsletter box ( often pre checked) for almost every submission form I fill out online. It isn't just through submittable. A little voice screamed in my ear to not check it. I did several times and....I don't mind getting the newsletters. I see how the journal or publication is doing, since they mention Pushcart Awards and authors further success stories . Just my two cents worth.

Lady MacBeth · May 3, 2013

Happens all the time. I just wait until I hear from the publication and then unsubscribe.

Wandererer · May 5, 2013

I think we should start posting the names of publications that spam just because we submit to them. Its a pretty lowly act IMO. Or is spamming acceptable now? The responsibility seems to have shifted to the receiver to do something about it, it needs to shift it back to the doer.

Lady MacBeth · May 5, 2013

I've come to accept that I'm going to be added to their mailing list. What I REALLY have a problem with is journals that charge for submissions.

benbradley · May 5, 2013

Wandererer said:
I think we should start posting the names of publications that spam just because we submit to them. Its a pretty lowly act IMO. Or is spamming acceptable now?

Not as far as I'm concerned, but this particular case is "legal" according to the "can spam" act (the US law about spam that was passed a few years back). When you submit something that gives you a "business relationship" with the company, and they can send you stuff until you unsubscribe.

One problem is people do business with companies who spam. I'm getting spam from Martin Guitar - I never emailed them, they scraped my address from a website I had it up at. And all these decades I thought Martin was a good company. (it's got a name, mainslease spam, from companies that are otherwise legitimate)

If only Roger Ebert were better known for THIS writing:
http://www.panix.com/~tbetz/boulder.shtml

The responsibility seems to have shifted to the receiver to do something about it, it needs to shift it back to the doer.

As the date of Roger's screed indicates, enforcing good email practices has been an uphill battle for almost as long as there's been email.

Wandererer · Jun 16, 2013

Technically legal or not, it is wrong to spam someone just because they submit. That is an abuse, and it will take additional regulations to prevent it I guess. How sad. Its too bad that respectable publications like Prairie Schooner, the one that spammed me, are taking this low and disrespectful road.

As an experiment I held out as long as I could on cancelling my involuntary "subscription", but when it was several weeks past their normal longest reply date and I was still getting unsoliciated mailings regularly, I finally cancelled.

Interestingly, I received my rejection letter within a few days.

gettingby · Jun 16, 2013

I don't really see how a newsletter you can opt out of is spam. I also don't see how getting the newsletter will help or hurt your chances of being published. If anything, it could help to read it. Just my thoughts.

jeracoo · Jun 22, 2013

Happens all the time, thank god for gmails spam filter

milkweed · Jun 22, 2013

Wandererer said:
I did not sign up for anything except the Submittables service. I doubt that I overlooked any boxes that said I agreed to receive unsolicited mailings from anyone I submit to using Submittables. I suppose there is a chance I overlooked such a box, but not very likely. I have not received any spam from other publications I've submitted to using Submittables.

"some" places are now doing this as part of their TOS, I noticed this the last time Adobe did an update (back in May) NO WHERE could I find a box to uncheck that would prevent all of the accompanying garbage from also uploading. Nope it was in the TOS if you checked that you agreed to the TOS then the crap uploaded along with the update. They have since changed this policy, I'm sure they were innundated with a lot of angry emails.

thothguard51 · Jun 22, 2013

That adobe update drove me crazy and took forever for me to find all the crap it loaded and delete it...

Wandererer · Jul 10, 2013

Now I'm getting junk snail mail from writing publications that I have never corresponded with in any way. In addition to sending their own spam, I think Prairie Schooner has sold my physical address as well. If not them, one of the other few places I've used Submittable for. Maybe Submittable themselves are doing it. I don't know who is behind it, but its something that needs to be stopped.

Wandererer · Jul 10, 2013

I never download adobe updates until the old version stops working...

submitted and spammed

Wandererer

Maryn

I Tried

DerekJager

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Wandererer

talkwrite

Passion in full bloom

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

Wandererer

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

Wandererer

gettingby

jeracoo

milkweed

Abuses commas at will.

thothguard51

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Wandererer

Wandererer