Question About Privacy At R2R

[Fish Fan]

If they are unethical enough to deploy software that does this, what makes you think they would be ethical enough disclose this practice to R2R?

Based on @revhtree comment about NOT selling personal info, it would appear that he is as much of a victim as you are.

Like yourself, I take great care of my personal information. I completely understand why you would be miffed by this.

I think your real target is Opensend.com as they have created this software to circumvent the law. Sbbcorals.com is equally guilty as they OBVIOUSLY know what this software does and use it anyway.

I agree with your reply, as said, I was/am frustrated, but I don't think R2R is at fault here at all.

And I'm not really mad at Opensend, honestly. I'm very upset by the vendor who would chose to use their "service".

I would encourage R2R to take another look at this vendor and decide if this is the kind of business that they would like to be aligned with. Just my $0.02.

And, I did ask this seller, it took getting the R2R mods involved for me to get this info. If they were doing nothing wrong, they would have simply told me about Opensend when I first asked.

 

[stewy14]

Hi guys!

I've come to really enjoy my time on R2R, so I don't mean to cause a stir, but I'd like to ask a question concerning our privacy here at R2R. Short story goes:

I got tagged by another member I hardly know into one of these recent sponsor contest threads. I simply replied that I was not entering the contest, but wished them luck. Apparently, that comment on the thread "won" me a small gift card (though I now see where simply everyone who posted "wins"). I've often joked that I never win anything, and I thought why not, I'll redeem this gift card, and see what this vender has. As instructed I PM'd them through R2R, they sent me back a discount code as promised, and I replied thank you.

Immediately after I started getting emails to my personal inbox from this vendor's email mailing list, and A LOT of them lol!

My question is, how did this vendor get my real email? I sent them a PM, that's it. I never gave them my email directly or indirectly (as far as I know), either here at R2R or via their website. Frankly, I've never heard of this company before all this.

Now that I've gone back and looked at the vendor's contest post (which I never saw previously), I can see that a requirement to be entered into their give-a-way was to go to their site and register for their email mailing list. I didn't know anything about this requirement, but no part of me would ever do that. It's simply not worth it to me at all to sign up for an email list to get a very small discount code from a vendor I don't even recognize. I don't know if this has something to do with my issue though. For example, maybe because I agreed by PM to accept the gift card, I unknowingly agreed to allow my real email to be made available to this seller??

This may seem like a small thing to many here, but I'm more than a little bent. I'm very protective of my real identity, and I never give out my email or phone or anything like that (unless I have good reason). I hate being on random mailing lists, and certainly did not give this seller my permission to add me to their mailing list. And now I worry that they have even more info like my real name, phone number, etc. That doesn't give me the warm fuzzies at all.

And yes, I quite politely replied to the original PM and asked how they got my real email address, explaining that I don't sign up for email mailing lists, and I got a very curt reply that simply said, "Please provide your email address". Not really the reply I was expecting at all, and they've not replied or done anything since, except edit that PM so it now reads, "sorry that happened. Please provide your email address".

I'm really not trying to make a Federal case out of this, but it is against Federal law to add someone to a mailing list without their consent. I do think this seller should take my concerns a little more seriously. And I'm no lawyer, but "sorry that happened" doesn't even sound like they are denying it.

Is there something in the R2R Terms of Service that allows a seller (or any member) to access my personal info if I PM them for whatever reason, like in this case, to try to claim a "prize" via PM?

Thanks for your advice R2R!

im pretty sure r2r and other websites are allowed to sell your info to others, its in the terms and conditions

 

[Fish Fan]

im pretty sure r2r and other websites are allowed to sell your info to others, its in the terms and conditions

R2R has told me that they do not. And I could not find anything in the TOS that says they can.

I want to be clear, it's obvious that R2R didn't have anything to do with what happened to me here.

But I'm still not happy about it lol!

 

[stewy14]

R2R has told me that they do not. And I could not find anything in the TOS that says they can.

I want to be clear, it's obvious that R2R didn't have anything to do with what happened to me here.

But I'm still not happy about it lol!

What information we hold about you​

The type of data that we collect and process includes:

• Your name or username.
• Your email address.
• Your IP address.

Further data may be collected if you choose to share it, such as if you fill out fields on your profile.

We collect some or all of this information in the following cases:

• You register as a member on this site.
• You fill out our contact form.
• You browse this site. See "Cookie policy" below.
• You fill out fields on your profile.

How your personal information is used​

We may use your personal information in the following ways:

• For the purposes of making you a registered member of our site, in order for you to contribute content to this site.
• We may use your email address to inform you of activity on our site.
• Your IP address is recorded when you perform certain actions on our site. Your IP address is never publicly visible.

well..... sounds like they do sell

 

[Fish Fan]

What information we hold about you​

The type of data that we collect and process includes:

• Your name or username.
• Your email address.
• Your IP address.

Further data may be collected if you choose to share it, such as if you fill out fields on your profile.

We collect some or all of this information in the following cases:

• You register as a member on this site.
• You fill out our contact form.
• You browse this site. See "Cookie policy" below.
• You fill out fields on your profile.

How your personal information is used​

We may use your personal information in the following ways:

• For the purposes of making you a registered member of our site, in order for you to contribute content to this site.
• We may use your email address to inform you of activity on our site.
• Your IP address is recorded when you perform certain actions on our site. Your IP address is never publicly visible.

well..... sounds like they do sell

No part of that says that they sell your info to third parties. All of that sounds like internal R2R use.

@revhtree has said in this thread that they do not give our info to third parties.

 

[RoanokeReef]

What information we hold about you​

The type of data that we collect and process includes:

• Your name or username.
• Your email address.
• Your IP address.

Further data may be collected if you choose to share it, such as if you fill out fields on your profile.

We collect some or all of this information in the following cases:

• You register as a member on this site.
• You fill out our contact form.
• You browse this site. See "Cookie policy" below.
• You fill out fields on your profile.

How your personal information is used​

We may use your personal information in the following ways:

• For the purposes of making you a registered member of our site, in order for you to contribute content to this site.
• We may use your email address to inform you of activity on our site.
• Your IP address is recorded when you perform certain actions on our site. Your IP address is never publicly visible.

well..... sounds like they do sell

How did you read that and come to that conclusion ?

 

[stewy14]

How did you read that and come to that conclusion ?

type of data we collect. and PROCESS

 

[Fish Fan]

type of data we collect. and PROCESS

A PROCESS can be internal ;-)

Again, Revhtree has said that R2R does not give out our personal info.

 

[RoanokeReef]

type of data we collect. and PROCESS

You have to process that info in order for anything to function. How does the site know if RoanokeReef is making this post if they aren't processing the data?

 

[KStatefan]

We 100% DO NOT give out members emails to sponsors or anyone else. We do not sell or share email lists. I’m not sure what happened in your case.

We do have sponsored contests at times that give you entries for joining an email list. In that case the sponsor would be able to have your email because you agree to share it for the entry.

The answer is, no we do not give email access to sponsors.

What information we hold about you​

The type of data that we collect and process includes:

• Your name or username.
• Your email address.
• Your IP address.

Further data may be collected if you choose to share it, such as if you fill out fields on your profile.

We collect some or all of this information in the following cases:

• You register as a member on this site.
• You fill out our contact form.
• You browse this site. See "Cookie policy" below.
• You fill out fields on your profile.

How your personal information is used​

We may use your personal information in the following ways:

• For the purposes of making you a registered member of our site, in order for you to contribute content to this site.
• We may use your email address to inform you of activity on our site.
• Your IP address is recorded when you perform certain actions on our site. Your IP address is never publicly visible.

well..... sounds like they do sell

Did you read the post from the owner of R2R?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I think that's only if you create an account though. If you just visit the site without signing up none of that data is collected. Which is what the issue here is with the coral site.

 

[Fish Fan]

To be clear, even the seller stated that they did not get my info from R2R.

 

[stewy14]

To be clear, even the seller stated that they did not get my info from R2R.

alright, thats weird. Sorry that I misinterpreted the policy tho, read it wrong
maybe it came from another seller who u signed up for? did they say where they got your info?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Well guys, I got a reply today, and I feel like I must update this thread. I'm still not happy at all, I wish I was never tagged into that stupid contest thread.

Apparently, and according to the seller in question, they use some piece of software that when I went just one time and looked quickly at their website, it collects my personal data including my email address.

That is illegal, and totally unethical business practices, and I'm not happy at all that R2R is allowing a seller here that does this.

From the seller:
Hello Fish Fan,

It has come to our attention that you were concerned about how we obtained your email address.

I wanted to address your concern and explain how we received your email and sent you a marketing message. We did not get your email from Reef2Reef, and they did not provide it to us directly.

On our website (www.sbbcorals.com), we have installed a pixel provided by a company called www.opensend.com. When a visitor stays on our website for 20 seconds, the pixel, through OpenSend, collects information such as your email address, which is then added to our CRM.

While we’re not fully sure of the exact process they use to collect this data, OpenSend mentions that major companies, like The New York Times, sell information, and that their methods are compliant with U.S. laws, including CAN-SPAM and CCPA.

If you’d like to learn more about OpenSend, you can click the link below:

https://www.opensend.com/"

I'm sorry, I read the Times and other websites, and have never been signed up for their email.

CAN-SPAM IS the law that says you can't add someone to an email list without their permission.

I'm just shocked by all this. Very much making me reconsider my time (and money) spent here on R2R.

I just thought all of you should know.

alright, thats weird. Sorry that I misinterpreted the policy tho, read it wrong
maybe it came from another seller who u signed up for? did they say where they got your info?

 

[Fish Fan]

alright, thats weird. Sorry that I misinterpreted the policy tho, read it wrong
maybe it came from another seller who u signed up for? did they say where they got your info?

Yes, the seller told me today that they use something called Opensend installed on their website. When I "won" my gift card, I went to their website to see if they had anything I was interested in. Apparently, by staying on their website for more than 20 seconds, Opensend collects my information, and signs me up for their email service. That's exactly what the seller told me, their full reply is quoted in this thread above.

 

[stewy14]

Yes, the seller told me today that they use something called Opensend installed on their website. When I "won" my gift card, I went to their website to see if they had anything I was interested in. Apparently, by staying on their website for more than 20 seconds, Opensend collects my information, and signs me up for their email service. That's exactly what the seller told me, their full reply is quoted in this thread above.

thats not good. but sbb is a great site and great place to get coral, but they fact they do that is not good and shouldn't be done.but, it isn't illegal, but I would like to know, how it does really impact u, how u feel about that, how u feel about seeing an email from them around once every month(not trying to be mean, im trying to see this problem from a different perspective, trying to re-shape it all, idk how to word it lol, but im not trying to be rude, even if it kinda sounds like it , im also on your side )

 

[Fish Fan]

thats not good. but sbb is a great site and great place to get coral, but they fact they do that is not good and shouldn't be done.but, it isn't illegal, but I would like to know, how it does really impact u, how u feel about that, how u feel about seeing an email from them around once every month(not trying to be mean, im trying to see this problem from a different perspective, trying to re-shape it all, idk how to word it lol, but im not trying to be rude, even if it kinda sounds like it )

You're not rude at all, I get it. I said in my very first post that for many this would be no big deal, and I understand that.

But this kind of thing just bothers me, a lot. I'm a very private person, R2R is pretty much the only social thing I do, I don't do Facebook or IG (another reason I don't bother with the give-a-ways, they typically require a Facebook post). I don't give my phone number or email or any info out to anyone, and for someone to just literally steal it for marketing just bothers me.

I'm not a lawyer, but believe this is entirely illegal. I believe the CAN_SPAM act states that you cannot sign someone up for an email mailing list without their consent (which can be indirect, like when you buy something from them).

But I did not do business with this company, and I did not willingly sign up for their email. It was stolen.

And it was only this morning that I learned about Opensend. My concern (which I think was warranted) was that somehow they got my info from R2R, which, again, they did not.

To each their own, but I won't be buying even a filter sock from SBB after this. Good thing I don't use filter socks

 

[Reefer Matt]

Just in general: I understand and respect the preference of privacy, but in this day of age everyone’s personal info can be found online. Info is gathered by sites, stolen by hackers, and sold to advertisers and criminals. Most people in the US now have their SSN at risk because of major security breaches, for example. The only true way to have privacy anymore is to not use the internet or cell phones. I respect Rev’s choice to not make R2R like FB which collects our info and sells it. Apparently some vendors don’t respect the public’s privacy though.

 

[Dom]

What information we hold about you​

The type of data that we collect and process includes:

• Your name or username.
• Your email address.
• Your IP address.

Further data may be collected if you choose to share it, such as if you fill out fields on your profile.

We collect some or all of this information in the following cases:

• You register as a member on this site.
• You fill out our contact form.
• You browse this site. See "Cookie policy" below.
• You fill out fields on your profile.

How your personal information is used​

We may use your personal information in the following ways:

• For the purposes of making you a registered member of our site, in order for you to contribute content to this site.
• We may use your email address to inform you of activity on our site.
• Your IP address is recorded when you perform certain actions on our site. Your IP address is never publicly visible.

well..... sounds like they do sell

Not to me it doesn't. There are legit reasons to collect this information.

 

[Linlox]

Also despise the amount and type of information being collected like crazy today and do what I can to limit it.

Have bought a bit from sbb corals, and have had a very positive experience with them, however after learning this, unless they get rid of that pixel for collection I wont give them any more money either. Just found my security cameras and a smartTV grabbing other network device types and usages, then uploading it to chinese baidu servers.....

Running an AdGuard Home server on the network to stop some of the tracking and ad related DNS traffic, even though you have to block dns over https now to force them into plain dns. The IoT devices are segregated into their own vlans along with work devices. VPNs used when warranted.

Using the Proton ecosystem with the simplelogin as suggested earlier in the thread and have well over 100 aliases and their email, calendar, cloud storage, password manager, vpn have really improved over the years.

Search using duckduckgo 95% of the time, and generally just avoid the google, apple, microsoft, facebook, or other data sucking companies/ecosystems. Not entirely possible, but, you know... stupid youtube.

Running Linux Mint on my laptops and gaming PCs. Linux has come leaps and bounds the last few years and I play my steam games, discord, well everything on it now, bye windows 11, and your insane amounts of telemetry you are uploading. Might not ever need to use the console in linux like the old days with these newer OSes.

None of this is very convenient or free, but if we want that, then you have to pay the price with your privacy, security, or anonymity.