FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tactics plaguing car buyers

Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by chucksmash on Friday September 09, 2022 @01:41PM (#32782453)

I bought a car in-person in 2020, and tried a "get a quote emailed" search earlier this year. 100% prefer the in-person experience.

Response to my online quote request came back with "we don't have any of that model/year in stock" and then thus far, 15-20 marketing follow-up emails trying to sell me other cars, following up on my experience, etc, in addition of course to the modern marketing "guilt trip" emails ("Hi chucksmash, I sent you an email the other day with a few other models you might be interested in but never heard back, hope everything is okay, please let me know" 3x times). When all I did was click an "email me a quote" button because the web page didn't show a price.

Adding insult to injury, the page for unsubscribing cannot process a "+" in an email address.

At least when I walk into a showroom I can also walk out. Giving anybody your email address in 2022 is basically subscribing to CatFacts.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by MerelyMortal on Friday September 09, 2022 @02:08PM (#32782837)

Put your state's AG's email address in the form :-)

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by kube-system on Friday September 09, 2022 @02:38PM (#32783216)

I'm sure the SQL query that sees it will be shocked and immediately change its ways.

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Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by juliangoldsmith on Saturday September 10, 2022 @06:25AM (#32789339)

I'm a developer who works on that (type of) system for a living.

If you receive an automated marketing email from a dealership, they are _legally obligated_ to provide an unsubscribe button. We use SendGrid for that purpose, but I'm not sure who other companies use.

If there isn't an unsubscribe button, or you continue receiving emails after unsubscribing, you should be able to file a complaint with the FTC.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by MerelyMortal on Saturday September 10, 2022 @11:43AM (#32791630)

> should be able to file a complaint with the FTC

"should" is the key word. The FTC does not have a complaint form for spam, nor have I been able to find any other published reporting mechanism.

If you do know of such way to report it, please let me know.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by kube-system on Saturday September 10, 2022 @12:30PM (#32792084)

I know. I am poking fun at the suggestion that putting someone else’s email in the unsubscribe form would accomplish anything helpful. Obviously, you’d need to contact a human to get a response.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:FTC proposes rule to ban junk fees, bait-and-switch tacti... by intrasight on Friday September 09, 2022 @02:07PM (#32782821)

I did indeed get both emails and calls about other models available. Still better than wasting time driving to dealerships.

[ Parent | on HN ]