By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
The Auto Shop - Mountaintop, Pa.
www.theautoshopinc.com
This site is truly dedicated to creating a great Web experience for customers and potential customers. The navigation scheme makes it very easy to travel through the site. One section is devoted specifically to clientele and includes press releases, coupons, shop newsletters, an electronic mailing list and customer service survey. An appointment scheduler and "Ask Archie" section provides convenience.
Web Wise
Starting to Conquer the Spam Epidemic
It's something that plagues our inboxes every time we open our e-mail accounts. Spam is unwanted, and often unsolicited, e-mail sent by companies that want to attract your business. Think of it as telemarketing for the Internet.
The days of spam may be coming to an end, however. According to the 2003 Consumer Spam Study released by ePrivacy Group and Ponemon Institute, 74 percent of consumers said they want a federal "do-not-spam" list. The list is comparable to the federal do-not-call list implemented this year.
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., is using this study to leverage support for his Stop Pornography and Abusive Marketing Act (The SPAM Act), which he recently introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill intends to eliminate the burdens and costs associated with electronic mail spam by prohibiting the transmission of all unsolicited commercial electronic mail to persons who place their e-mail addresses on a national No-Spam Registry.
Despite increasing blocking and filtering activities implemented by major e-mail carriers, the Consumer Spam Study reports nearly 40 percent of consumers spend 30 minutes or more each day dealing with unsolicited e-mails. Due to spam technology, many companies are faced with having their name associated with spammed messages. These messages are referred to as fake or spoofed e-mail because senders are able to send messages that look like they're coming from a trusted source. In fact, nearly 63 percent of consumers indicate that they receive spoofed e-mail from a trusted brand, with many reporting that such messages contained pornography, viruses or a false message.
Although an opt-out mechanism seems to be the antidote to spam, it is not used by more than 37 percent of consumers. Many consumers feel that opting-out of an e-mail confirms their e-mail address to spammers, and many are uncertain that the opt-out will work.
So perhaps the only answer is a national No-Spam registry. This could be the first real step to give us more control of our inboxes and Internet experience.
Net Numbers
According to the 2003 Consumer Spam Study, 79 percent of consumers said they want spam banned or limited by law.
Source: ePrivacy Group
ASA Web Ways
Join the CARS News-Network
ASA's Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) will be held Nov. 6-8 during Industry Week in Las Vegas. To better inform attendees about the event, ASA has created the CARS News-Network. Subscribers to the network receive periodic e-mail updates providing the latest news and announcements about this year's event. To become a participating member, visit the CARS Web site (www.CARSonline.org) and click on "News-Network" from the left menu. Enter your e-mail address in the field provided and click on "Subscribe."
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Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.
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