Ultra Sleazy Facebook business solicitation...

[deadheadskier]

Well, junk email, junk mail, telemarketing has evolved into the world of facebook. While I'm not surprised, this blew me away.

As many of you know, my wife and I lost our cat Blues to FIP just before Christmas. It's a disease with 100% mortality with very little progress being made towards a cure.

After we said goodbye to Blues, I sought out a charity supporting FIP research to give a small donation to, such that hopefully someday there is a cure and others don't have to endure the same heart breaking experience that we did.

This was my experience today. For ease of reading, I'll break it out into separate posts.

 

[deadheadskier]

Jeff Sarno 14 January at 15:39 Report
Our company provides an RID kit that measures Alpha Acid Glycoprotein ( AGP) in feline plasma or serum, if you feel that a measurement of this Acute Phase Protein may be of interest to you , your veterinarian or friends by helping diagnose FIP please contact me , there are a number of published papers I can send to you if you are interested. Also I have been contacted by the University of Tennesse , concerning Polyprenyl immunostimulant , a new potential treatment for FIP.

Thank You


Jeff Sarno
Cardiotech Services
732 359 6508
Onras43@aol.com

 

[deadheadskier]

Ryan 14 January at 17:57
Mr. Sarno

How did you get my contact information?

 

[deadheadskier]

Jeff Sarno 14 January at 18:58 Report
it was on a list with others who seem to be interested in FIP , please accept my apologies if this has offended you in any way

Sincerely

Jeff Sarno

 

[deadheadskier]

Ryan 14 January at 18:39
A list?

No. I donated to a charity. The Brea fund, which accepts donations through facebook.

I would suggest changing the ways that you wish to make a dollar. Soliciting business from people involved in a charity supporting FIP research, such people who I can guarantee found their way there due to a loss of feline companion is about as classy as a tombstone salesman handing out cards outside a funeral home.

Apology accepted, but you need to get some class Mr. Sarno.

Let it be known that I will be reporting your organization to this charity. I'm sure the last thing they thought might happen by setting up facebook donations is to have sleazy salesman like yourself prey on mourning pet owners.

 

[riverc0il]

Not for nothing, but this guy's got an AOL email address and his web page is extremely unprofessional. Not what I would expect for someone on the cutting edge of scientific research and medical technology.

The corruption of social media in general and Facebook specifically (though it seems more like it was welcomed with open arms, there) has been fairly prolific these past few years. It seems the internet has always gone through this cycle of interesting technology developing, picking up early adopters, gaining publicity, and then being converted into a business platform.

Personally, I hate the Facebook platform though have reluctantly created an account recently due to many folks in my social network either A) switching from a long standing weblog network or B) never having had any experience in social networking except through FB. Facebook jumped the shark worse than MySpace when it began working in businesses. At least FB is not unpleasant on the eyes like MS.

Any ways, I would not do business on a social networking platform like Facebook under any circumstances. It is not entirely shocking that businesses are soliciting on Facebook and for every person that sees this as slimey marketing, they probably get support from a few others. It is what it is. And this type of targeted marketing through social networking is only going to become more intense over time. It is the freedom we give up by participating.

 

[rtibbs4]

Sorry to hear about your cat. Whenever you do something through Facebook you may be targeted by advertisers who pay Facebook for leads. This obviously was poor timing but it is the companies current business plan. They provide a free service or forum and in return your information is used by them to match you with potential advertisers. Sometimes it isn't direct. Sometimes it is simply suggesting you "become a fan" of a business/company page. Putting the brand in front of your eyes. It can be annoying.