Consumer Retorts
As an update to my Unvalued Non-Subscriber blog entry a few months ago, I just got an email message from ConsumerReports.org. They aren’t down to $11.97 yet, but they did say:
Right now is a great time to resubscribe to ConsumerReports.org. We are offering a special rate of just $19 per year - that’s over 20% off the regular subscription price!
There were two things about the message that struck me as a bit odd.
First, the email message employs the use of a web bug. There’s an invisible one pixel image embedded in the HTML code:
<img src=”http://cme.cr-mail.org/images/blankpixel.gif/Key=875.LyP.G9PMSb”>
It’s purpose is to surreptitiously track peoples activities. This web bug allows them to tell exactly when a person has opened the email message and records the IP address of the computer on which the message was read. This seems like a rather blatant invasion of privacy for a consumer advocacy organization.
And second, there’s this at the end of the message:
This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message.
If you do not wish to continue receiving subscription updates from us, you may reply to this message by typing the word “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
Make up your mind, people…
