My Problem With ValueClick

From: John Philip Dimick <jpd_at_guitarist.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 19:59:57 -0600 (CST)

Hello,

I have been subscribed to this valuable list for many
months, but this is the first time I have written.

A month ago, I thought it might be a good idea to try some
advertising on my site, guitarist.com. From what I read on
this list, I had the idea that ValueClick might be a good
way to start.

So I contacted ValueClick and signed up. I placed several of
their banners on my site. It was with great interest that I
watched the click-throughs add up -- not that there were a
lot of click-throughs, compared to some sites, but an
average of 6 or 7 click-throughs per day seemed like a
decent start, since my site is not at all optimized for
advertising.

Well, today I got an email from The Terminator:

===========================
>To: jpd_at_guitarist.com
>From: terminator_at_valueclick.com
>Subject: ValueClick Account Termination
>Date: Wed, 20 Jan 1999 16:16:02 -0800
>
>To whom it may concern,
>
>The ValueClick Member-Host Account number h0045373 has been
>terminated for activity in direct contravention of the
>Member-Host Agreement.
>
>No monies will be paid for any click-throughs on this account, as they
>were not obtained legitimately.
>
>Please do not attempt to reply to this e-mail message; no mail can be
>received at this address and any messages sent to it will bounce back
>to the sender. If you do feel that your account has been terminated
>unjustly, you may send e-mail to review_at_valueclick.com explaining your
>position.
>
>Yours sincerely,
>
>ValueClick Account Terminator
==========================

The "ValueClick Account Terminator?!"

I was (and am!) upset. They did not say in what way the
Member-Host Agreement was contravened. As far as I know, I
followed the instructions explicitly.

Furthermore, why was I not notified of any problem until
this time? I have been hosting their banners all this time,
sending visitors from my site to their advertisers' sites
all this time, and now *a month later* they tell me that the
click-throughs were "not obtained legitimately." If you ask
me, the only thing Illegitimate is the way ValueClick
obtained the benefit of numerous click-throughs from my
site!

And yes, I have sent them a complaint. Having heard from
their high-handed "Terminator," though, leaves me feeling
less than optimistic about the consideration I am likely to
receive.

Grumblingly yours,

John Philip Dimick
<jpd_at_guitarist.com>


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Received on Tue Jan 26 1999 - 21:04:38 CST