WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine?

CellarTracker Main Site

WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine?

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Cellar Talk] >> General Discussion >> WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine?

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/18/2007 9:35:16 PM

Corrado

Posts: 101
Joined: 1/19/2007
From: Vermont
Status: offline

PM'd Eric already to make him aware of this, but in checking WinesTillSoldOut.Com tonight I saw that they're 'selling' this wine based on the community reviews in CellarTracker (while themselves tacking on 4 points to their 'independant' review of the wine).

Would've been nice if they at least gave CellarTracker credit for providing their sales material...

...and interesting that they chose to include only those reviews that were 88 points and higher, stopping just short of the 86 & 87 point reviews (this is the wine http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=103786).

Post #: 1

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 5:27:06 AM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline

Somehow the words fraud and copyrights violation enter my mind.

The fact that this is used in commerce makes it worse for Plaintiff. Eric, send them C&D letter and if they refuse to remove it, I'd be more than delightrd to put you in touch with sharks in your end of the woods who made fortunes and grined their teeth in the internet copyrights laws.

_____________________________

Having a good day? I can spoil it! -

(in reply to Corrado)

Post #: 2

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 7:58:58 AM

Colonel Lawrence

Posts: 1953
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: Arabia
Status: offline

To pursue potential copyright infringers doesn't it take both the contributor and CT acting together as they both have
non-exclusive rights?

_____________________________

First they came for ....................

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 3

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 9:10:42 AM

Eric

Posts: 5590
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline

I have emailed them to correct this.

Well, there is this basic thing on my site: © 2003-07 CellarTracker! LLC. All rights reserved. "CellarTracker!" is a trademark of CellarTracker! LLC. No part of this website may be used, reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of CellarTracker! LLC.

What I am OK with is if a store includes the average score, the number of reviews and most importantly a LINK to the page with all of the current reviews. As you note, selectively including a few reviews or reproducing any of the reviews is a no-go.

_____________________________

Cheers!
-Eric LeVine

(in reply to Colonel Lawrence)

Post #: 4

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 9:27:37 AM

Eric

Posts: 5590
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline

Their CEO got back to me right away, and we are on the same page now.

_____________________________

Cheers!
-Eric LeVine

(in reply to Eric)

Post #: 5

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 10:44:19 AM

Corrado

Posts: 101
Joined: 1/19/2007
From: Vermont
Status: offline

It seems on the surface like there would be an excellent opportunity to extend the long arm of CellarTracker to sites like WTSO, Radcru, TheWineSpies, Free. Winelibrary.Com and Wine.Woot where these sites aren't selling to the buyer who goes looking for a specific wine. Instead, they go to the site to see if the current wine for sale is something they want to buy.

I almost always check CellarTracker for these deals to see if the site write-up matches the CellarTracker impressions. Have a sponsored link-in to sites like this would be awesome (but only if properly licensed through Eric).

(in reply to Eric)

Post #: 6

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 11:49:33 AM

Corrado

Posts: 101
Joined: 1/19/2007
From: Vermont
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Eric

Their CEO got back to me right away, and we are on the same page now.

Not sure what 'the same page' is, but the product listing is unchanged. I've seen that other folks on other wine sites have picked up on the same thing. :)

Can you work it out so that the users whose reviews were used get royalties?

(in reply to Eric)

Post #: 7

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/19/2007 12:16:53 PM

Eric

Posts: 5590
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline

We are on the same page regarding future offers. I did not press on removing these reviews from the current offer.

_____________________________

Cheers!
-Eric LeVine

(in reply to Corrado)

Post #: 8

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 11/20/2007 5:25:42 PM

chrisinroch

Posts: 12
Joined: 9/26/2007
From: MN
Status: offline

I guess I kinda agree here.    I'd be happy if a wineseller referenced cellartracker in their advertising.   In addition to more exposure, it sets Cellartracker up as an expert source.

The only risk that I see is that a place would post shill reviews to pump up wines that they have an interest in seeing move.   The integrity of the site is really important.

But, its a good problem to have.   it shows that your hard work is paying off with wider and wider exposure.

(in reply to Corrado)

Post #: 9

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/19/2008 9:25:12 PM

Corrado

Posts: 101
Joined: 1/19/2007
From: Vermont
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Eric

We are on the same page regarding future offers. I did not press on removing these reviews from the current offer.

Assuming the 'same page' wasn't that it's fine for them to steal content, you might e interested to know that there's a new listing for today (Feb 20, 2008). Looks like the same deal as before using CT notes w/o crediting CellarTracker and only publishing the 'good' reviews.

http://www.happyhourspro.com/store/wtso/html/store/index.htm

(in reply to Eric)

Post #: 10

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/20/2008 8:28:41 AM

Eric

Posts: 5590
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline

No, they clearly did not respect my wishes (which had been laid out pretty explicitly for them). I have emailed the CEO and his brother asking them to remove all of the reviews.

From: Eric LeVine
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:27 AM
To: Elliot Arking; Joe Arking
Subject: Improper use of CellarTracker reviews on WTSO
Importance: High

Hi guys,

I see that today’s offer on WTSO includes a number of CellarTracker reviews. However, it does not indicate CellarTracker by name, does not provide a link to the full set of reviews (see the syntax suggested below), selectively picks and reproduces just some of the reviews and basically does not reflect what we discussed in the email below.

I would like you to remove these from your pages.

I am not opposed to you referencing CellarTracker in ways that your customers would find compelling, but I am quite opposed to the way you have done it in this latest offer.

Please get back to me at your soonest convenience.

Sincerely,
-Eric LeVine
CellarTracker.com

_____________________________

Cheers!
-Eric LeVine

(in reply to Corrado)

Post #: 11

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/20/2008 9:51:53 AM

Eric

Posts: 5590
Joined: 10/10/2003
From: Seattle, WA
Status: offline

They have removed the reviews. I have (again) provided them with guidelines on what is and is not acceptable.

They are certainly quite responsive.

_____________________________

Cheers!
-Eric LeVine

(in reply to Eric)

Post #: 12

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/25/2008 2:59:27 PM

WetRock

Posts: 46
Joined: 2/9/2007
Status: offline

Wow....this certainly is an eye opener but really was only a matter of time. I've seen sellers use references to what is written on the EBob Squires board before. Ya gotta wonder about a retailer that tries to sell things from random reviews of random people on a site like this. That is pretty much like cherry picking quotes off of blogs to sell something or IOW, like grabbing a random person off the street to help you sell your product. Quoting random people off of CT is certainly not going to increase my likelyhood to buy, nothing personal to anyone.

_____________________________

Cris Whetstone

(in reply to Eric)

Post #: 13

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/26/2008 2:20:43 AM

Colonel Lawrence

Posts: 1953
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: Arabia
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: WetRock

Wow....this certainly is an eye opener but really was only a matter of time. I've seen sellers use references to what is written on the EBob Squires board before. Ya gotta wonder about a retailer that tries to sell things from random reviews of random people on a site like this. That is pretty much like cherry picking quotes off of blogs to sell something or IOW, like grabbing a random person off the street to help you sell your product. Quoting random people off of CT is certainly not going to increase my likelyhood to buy, nothing personal to anyone.

The selective picking of ratings to advertise wines is very widespread.
You'll often see WS shown instead of WA because the rating was higher (and vice versa).
It's a matter of "caveat emptor" - collect all the ratings you can and (if you can) try the wine yourself before buying.

_____________________________

First they came for ....................

(in reply to WetRock)

Post #: 14

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/26/2008 1:07:42 PM

WetRock

Posts: 46
Joined: 2/9/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Colonel Lawrence

The selective picking of ratings to advertise wines is very widespread.
You'll often see WS shown instead of WA because the rating was higher (and vice versa).
It's a matter of "caveat emptor" - collect all the ratings you can and (if you can) try the wine yourself before buying.

Oh of course. I notice that phenomena constantly. But selectively picking random public reviews off CT? That's a bit like asking a guy in an after work softball league to be quoted to sell your baseball equipment products. He might have as good a knowledge as Pujols but I'm sure not going to be sold that way.

_____________________________

Cris Whetstone

(in reply to Colonel Lawrence)

Post #: 15

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/27/2008 5:55:33 PM

mneforeva

Posts: 22
Joined: 2/3/2008
From: California
Status: offline

I actually purchased wines from WTSO with high ratings from Parker or Spectator. Later I find out the scores are actually lower than was advertised on their site!

(in reply to WetRock)

Post #: 16

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 2/27/2008 6:25:45 PM

jamscreator

Posts: 313
Joined: 9/10/2007
From: Indiana USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: mneforeva

I actually purchased wines from WTSO with high ratings from Parker or Spectator. Later I find out the scores are actually lower than was advertised on their site!

You gotta love 'truth' in advertising! Geez.

_____________________________

Jeff Lawson

"Drink what you like, and like what you drink."
-Robert Mondavi

(in reply to mneforeva)

Post #: 17

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 3/12/2008 8:22:01 AM

burgundyhound

Posts: 2
Joined: 3/12/2008
Status: offline

Eric -- they're doing it again today with the Ladera. They say "cellar tracker" but don't link to the reviews.

(in reply to jamscreator)

Post #: 18

RE: WTSO using CT reviews to sell their wine? - 3/12/2008 5:59:11 PM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline

Sic Spitzer after them, he has plenty of time for it now
;)

_____________________________

Having a good day? I can spoil it! -