The 'PM Me If You Want The Email' Scheme

[sex_is_not_the_enemy]

Like some of you here, I have also started asking members to PM me for the email address of certain celebrities which I have posted feedback on, in order to prevent them being abused and exploited by greedy, selfish collectors.

I believe it is generally effective as I only get about 5 or so PMs for the one celebrity. However, what has started to get to me was that some members (I will not be posting any names) have PMed me asking for the email addresses of the one or two celebrities I have posted feedback on, which I kindly provide them. However, it is usually after the second request that I get suspicious as I receive a PM from the same member FOR THE EMAIL ADDRESSES OF EVERY CELEBRITY I POST UNDER THE FEEDBACK SECTION / they ask me if I know the email addresses of other celebrities that I would like to 'share.'

I believe this defeats the purpose of this hobby as why you would want to write to someone you don't even know just to boost your collection or sell them. This is clearly selfish and exploits the generosity and kindness that these celebrities have exhibited as they take their time out to please their fans.

I would like to ask if anyone has dealt with the same problem?

[dgangel]

In the past I have gotten messages and emails from collectors asking if I had any celebrity email addresses. I just tell them no.

[Drezzal]

Yeah, i just send to celebrities i like. My favourite authors and actors.

[crystal815]

Yeah i've gotten PMs like that too. I'd be willing to guess one of the members you have a problem with haha. I just tell them no and hope they move on.

[Smuck]

I will only PM people for someone's e-mail that I am a big fan of and familiar with. If it's someone like say..Halle Berry. I'll ask. If it's someone like..Neil Patrick Harris, I won't bother because that'd be being greedy and I don't know who that is. I know the name but that's..about it.

I've decided to stop posting even the word e-mail in my e-mail successes and just put the return address. If you really want it, you'll get off your rump and mail for it.

[ansonfarris]

I completely understand what many of you are saying. I am new to this and there are some celebs I'd love to be able to email for an autograph but, too many out there abuse the system for profit or whatever. I started doing this last month for my mother, actually. Then it seemed so interesting that I figured I'd give it a go too. I think I would prefer to have mine on index cards and kept in an album for my kids to have years from now. My mom on the other hand wants photos to put up in her game room. I'd love to ask some of you who you have email addresses for? but, I don't want to be taken wrong, either. Would it be proper to ask who you have access to and then pick and choose or is that out of line? Look at this as opinion questions because, I don't want to upset anyone.

[sex_is_not_the_enemy]

I completely understand what many of you are saying. I am new to this and there are some celebs I'd love to be able to email for an autograph but, too many out there abuse the system for profit or whatever. I started doing this last month for my mother, actually. Then it seemed so interesting that I figured I'd give it a go too. I think I would prefer to have mine on index cards and kept in an album for my kids to have years from now. My mom on the other hand wants photos to put up in her game room. I'd love to ask some of you who you have email addresses for? but, I don't want to be taken wrong, either. Would it be proper to ask who you have access to and then pick and choose or is that out of line? Look at this as opinion questions because, I don't want to upset anyone.

When I usually get this type of emails, I just ask them to look through my posts and PM me for the addresses for those you want.

I think we should all do what Smuck noted - to supply the return address instead of the email we used, and if they are truly fans, they would write to them regardless of the means to requesting a photo.

[BossC]

As a general rule, if I don't want to supply the address in the feedback section (snail mail or e-mail) that I used, I don't post the success (one reason I haven't posted many of my successes ).

It does annoy me when people post a success but say, "The address is private" or something like that. If it's private, then don't post the success!

As for just leaving the e-mail off and saying "pm me" I guess that is ok, but if a person was a big fan and really wanted it, I think they could find it.

BossC

[chriscollector]

As a general rule, if I don't want to supply the address in the feedback section (snail mail or e-mail) that I used, I don't post the success (one reason I haven't posted many of my successes ).

It does annoy me when people post a success but say, "The address is private" or something like that. If it's private, then don't post the success!

BossC

Excellent. Couldn't possibly be said any better. The nail has been smashed directly on the head!

[BossC]

As a general rule, if I don't want to supply the address in the feedback section (snail mail or e-mail) that I used, I don't post the success (one reason I haven't posted many of my successes ).

It does annoy me when people post a success but say, "The address is private" or something like that. If it's private, then don't post the success!

BossC

Excellent. Couldn't possibly be said any better. The nail has been smashed directly on the head!

Thanks chriscollector!

BossC