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Bears by EdieI can't believe it! I made a HUGE mistake and someone totally took advantage of it. When I sent out my last couple of ebay notifications I forgot to do the blind carbon copy thing so all my contacts addresses showed up in the email. Now I found out that one of the people on the list took all of these addresses and used them for notice of one of her own pottery creations. I've had people ask to be removed from my list and others justifiably upset about it. I feel so rotten about the whole thing that I am just ready to quit. Firstly I can't believe I made such a stupid mistake and secondly I JUST CAN'T believe that someone would actually be so dishonest as to take advantage of it like that!!!! I have of course removed her from my mailing list and emailed her and asked that she please remove all my customers from her list - actually not sure she even has her own list as she also sent the email to me (without blind carbon copying!) and looks like it is totally identical to my list!
So if anyone is still sending out notification lists without using blind carbon copy - (and I know I am still getting them from a number of people, and have never liked the idea of my email address being so visible to a bunch of strangers!) - be forwarned and learn from my costly and distressing mistake!
Oh Edie, I can' believe that somebody would have the nerve!!!! HOW RUDE!!! Hang in there doll, don't let somebodies stupidity ruin your love of making and selling your amazingly cute bears!
Hugs,
Krista
I hate mean people. And that is stealing. But on a good note...you just told me something I didn't know! My mailing list is small but I never even knew that sending out a mass emailing could include addresses visible to everyone. I have to check my settings. So I need to thank YOU for bringing this to my attention!
Real Deal BearsOh No Eddie!!!!!!!!!
What a low life, I had no idea people would do that 
l don't even know what a blind copy is.
I hope you pick yourself up and dust yourself off, and put it down to experience.
And, I am sure a nice email explaining what happened will have your true collectors behind you.
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:
Delartful BearsOh Edie - people are rotten sometimes!!! That's just horrible. This was an HONEST mistake - try not to feel too badly about it, and I'm sure that your customers will soon realise this.
:hug: :hug: :hug: Not much I can say apart from the fact that I'm sorry and try not to beat yourself up too much about it.
Danni
Newcastle, OntarioI have always been so paranoid about putting someone's address out there when they don't want it public, that I email my list one at a time. Same message - I just change the address each time.
hugs,
Brenda
bears by beesley TMAwe Edie! It was an honest mistake my Dear! Don't beat yourself up about it. You are Human too!
Hugs Louise
Posts: 1,836Oh Edie that STINKS!!
Personally I would understand the mistake and not ask to be removed from your list, it was just an honest mistake. But then you've got the added aggravation of someone to taking advantage like that. That's mighty tacky.
:hug:
~Chrissi
For those wondering, blind copy is that line in your email that reads "BCC" or blind carbon copy. Sometimes you have to open your address book to see the feature. A lot of services just have a "to" and "copy" area vidible at all times. BCC hides all of the address names. You can place addresses in that line and no one will be able to see anyone else who gets the email. I add my own address in the main "to" or "recipient" line, place all other addresses in BCC and then send out.
Cleathero CreationsOh that is awful.
What a dreadful mistake, for those that want to be removed did you explain what happened and assure them that it wouldn't happen again. Sometimes that is all it takes.
Wazza Bears AustraliaThat is shocking, I can't believe people can be so unethical.
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)Edie & Brenda - BCCs Are Your Friend! B, all that extra work you're doing!!!!
Edie, I hope you've written to your mailing list (except not HER!!) explaining your faux pas - blame it on the heat & humidity. Those two combined would allow anyone to drive right over me in their truck.
Most people will totally understand. And perhaps there are some that didn't know how to ask you to take them off your list and are wimping out by using this as an excuse.
It's not an egregious error, embarrassing & uncomfortable yes, but not earth-shaking.
Be kind to yourself by 'fessing up, apologizing, (even to those who've asked to leave) and move on.
We've all been there-done that. We feel your pain.
On a side light, I remember that you had a bear-making sister. Janet? I'm blanking on her name. Has she stopped working on bears?
Bears by EdieThanks so much everyone for your kind words to cheer me up! Deep down I do know it isn't earth shattering or anything like that but I just feel so stupid and betrayed.
Bobbi, I haven't emailed my list yet - thought I'd wait until tomorrow when I've had a chance to think about it and not be so upset. I think you are right that perhaps the few who have asked to be removed wanted off anyway as they haven't bought anything from me in a while and perhaps this was just the impetus they needed.
Also, Bobbi, my sister's name is Janet Desjardine (Tiny Teddies) and she is now full time RVing with her husband so is not making bears for the present but I am hoping will get back to it in a year or two if they settle down again after they have had their fill of this nomadic lifestyle. She still has all her bear making supplies anyway!
Matilda Huggington-beareJennifer says...
But on a good note...you just told me something I didn't know! My mailing list is small but I never even knew that sending out a mass emailing could include addresses visible to everyone. I have to check my settings. So I need to thank YOU for bringing this to my attention!
Yes thanks for the push edie, its something I should also be doing. Hiding the address's.
How many times do artists have to put people on notice about highjacking their mailing lists? It just isnt on people.
Stop it stop it stop it!!!!
I am sooooo very sorry edie that this has happened to you. :hug: It is sooo unfair. I too only have a small list. I would hate for that to be compromised.
I shall take your lesson and learn from it. :hug:
Wendy
Aw, sweet Edie... :hug:
What a completely human mistake. You simply can NOT let those who were buggered enough to quit your list over it, get to you. It's something that happens sometimes. Just the other day I sent a business email to one of my son's ex-teachers. Whoops! All you can do is chalk it up to the ease with which we can communicate digitally. Mistakes will, sometimes, be made.
Go easy on yourself and as was suggested, do send a brief note of explanation to your mailing list. I'm sure the vast majority will not only understand, but probably didn't even notice, or make the connection.
Sophie Z'OursI agree with everyone else. That's human mistake. Not enough to be blamed.
Who never made such a mistake once?
I would not quit any list for such a reason, speaking as a customer...
Beary hugs,
Sophie.
Past Time Bears:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: to you, Edie!
Posts: 3,540NO one can be perfect ~ not even machinery!!! If you've emailed your list (BBC natch) and explained the slip, I'm sure reasonable people will understand ~ especially when they know the perpetrator has been nailed and removed.
Thank you for letting us know how utterly important it is to keep the mailings as BBC, and how to do it :hug: Knowlege IS power!
Bears by EdieThanks everyone! It wasn't so much losing people from my list that bothered me as the reason for it - feeling used and betrayed from making a simple error. I am feeling much better today and all of your messages of support really helped! 
I did get a reply back from the lady and here is part of what she said:
....my computer was set to copy all addresses to my address book.
I was simply sharing my new hand made Wizard as everyone shares their new work. I see no reason for anyone to be upset in any way. I get emails from everywhere around the world and thoroughly enjoy seeing all the artists around the world. It did not encourage purchases or even to visit HeirloomPottery.com, simply wished everyone a good summer and enjoy the piece.
I don't make bears - I make pottery. And I shop and sell on EBAY. I can assure you, you won't loose any customers and I'll do my best to separate people from the main saved group lists.
It doesn't seem to me that she gets the point that what she is sending out is spam if people haven't requested it!
Also, is she right - could her computer have copied these addresses into her address book??? I thought a computer only copied the address of the sender, not who the message is sent to????
Anyway, I have sent an apology to my customer list and hopefully they will understand!
Flying Fur StudiosEdie that stinks. I think maybe if she hit "reply to all" it would sent to everyone but that's it. It's not a computer setting, it has to be deliberate.
I don't like her answer to you at all. She gets emails from people all around the world?? Huh, who cares? Doesn't mean she should spam people.
I hate how she plugged her site in her email to you. I don't think I like this woman one bit!!!!!!!!!
Poor Edie, that just stinks and the fact that she doesn't even feel bad makes is worse!!!!
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)I think maybe if she hit "reply to all" it would sent to everyone but that's it. It's not a computer setting, it has to be deliberate.
I thought a computer only copied the address of the sender, not who the message is sent to????
Absolutely! I have 4 different e addies and I just experimented. I addressed one e to all 4 in the SEND TO line.
After they all came through I clicked open every one and hit Reply All. Only the main sender (the addy I used to send from) showed up on the Reply All line.
She did an entire transfer/capture of your list and added it to her own.
I'll do my best to separate people from the main saved group lists.
I'm scratching my head over this one - she makes no sense in relationship w/the rest of her reply.
If you haven't written to your list yet, ask them to please kindly LYK if they receive any more mailings from her. That would be a check to see if she truly does remove your clients from her list.
Bears by EdieI think maybe if she hit "reply to all" it would sent to everyone but that's it. It's not a computer setting, it has to be deliberate.
Yep, that has to be exactly what she did as I just went and printed off the list of names my message went to and the list hers went to and they are identical - not one name on her list was from her address book. So if her computer copied them to her address book it was because she hit "reply all" to make it copy them when she sent out her email to them all.
Anyway I don't think I can do anything else now - I sent her an email and thanked her for saying she would take everyone off her list and that I hoped she really would do it and told her I had written to my list explaining and aplogizing and copied some of her letter to them - same as I did here - and she wrote back saying that I was rude and contemptuous (huh???? - I might have been if I had realized then that the two lists were identical! Before that I was willing to believe that it was accidental!) and that she was blocking me from her computer!! Small loss to me - I was going to block her from bidding on my bears (I don't want someone like that owning them!) so I guess I don't need to bother now! Thank goodness we don't run into people like this very often!
Flying Fur StudiosToo bad I'm not on your list so I could send her a nice nasty email............... 
You handled yourself well though, nicely done!
Matilda Huggington-beareYou handled yourself well though, nicely done!
here here, Nicely done Edie.
Its a shame this came up the way it did but I am sure there are many of us that have learnt awhole heap from your experience.
Wendy 
Posts: 8,574awww honey, i am really sorry....it could happen to anyone! It really could. Even the most computer proficient among us get tired or in a hurry and make mistakes. Do write them, as Bobbie and the others have said and let them know....an apology goes a long way.
And I can
t believe that anyone would think you did it on purpose!
Bless your sweet heart! I hope this rights itself somehow!
gollyhugs
dilu
Bears by EdieIts a shame this came up the way it did but I am sure there are many of us that have learnt awhole heap from your experience.
That is really the main reason I put this post up, Wendy! But it really has been heartwarming to hear these responses from everyone! And I have gotten a number of emails back from my note of apology to my customer list and they have all been so positive and supportive it has cheered me up immensely! Every cloud really does have a silver lining!
