The other night, I did a quick browse through a bunch of products...just sort of general look, click a link, look web surfing stuff. No wishlisting or buying..just sort of waisting time/searching for ideas...

This morning, my mailbox is filled with emails from Renderosity "This item you looked at is now on sale."

I'd rather not have to log out of the site, to keep Renderosity from 1) Tracking me, and 2) spamming me.

It's one thing to notify about items you have in your cart or Wishlist..it's another for things you just wander by!

(all items from the same vendor...3DC..not sure why them only ad I'm sure I browsed at other folks stuff too).

While i don't believe Rendo has any insidious motives I do understand how you feel. The worst is when there is no connection. You went to a site you are registered on. I hate when I Google something and get a ton of ads and emails from it. I am very aware of my Internet safety but am starting to consider going off the grid.

Luke

I agree it's not really insidious...I'm mainly annoyed by the spam emails.

I want to know about sales for stuff I've told them I'm interested in buying.

Or the regular company sales...

But I got 24 emails this morning each for a product I glanced at. That's ridicullous.

BUT, to take it a step further and putting on my foil hat..like I said, this is all from one specific vendor....So, for example, can 3DC look and see "Hmm Scav has been looking at my products. I have his email, I shall now start sending him emails. He's interested in my sci-fi stuff, so I shall use his email to sign him up for this sci-fi news letter I publish."

(NOTE: JUST AN EXAMPLE, i'm not suggesting vendor 3DC even has anything to do with this other than it being their products, not that Renderosity is providing my details to them).

Or to take it in a more nefarious way.. you browse to one of the more risque products in the market (or even click on by accident, as the recent -Warrior outfit is actually lingerie thing), and Renderosity gives your info to someone who fills your mail box with porn spam...

What data are they sharing..browsing history? emails? Credit cards?

Like I said, I'm more annoyed by the emails filling my mail box, but the further ramifications can be troubling.

As a vendor, I can assure you, we do not know your email address. So any emails you are getting is from the Renderosity site/staff itself.

Even if we have to update a product... and we send out an email to our buyers... we submit that email here, and renderosity sends it... your emails aren't given to us, unless you reply and thank us for the update.

Yup, like Sabby said, we don't get your info at all. All we get is the handle of the buyer when they make a purchase. 

That said I've also never, in 13+ years, gotten an email from Rendo that stated:

"This item you looked at is now on sale."

The only thing I've gotten (which is actually similar) is notifying me when an item in my wishlist is on sale.  Are you sure these weren't items you'd added to that list?

Yep..

This my Wishlist is currently empty. (I tend to not use them, making lists locally on my computer).

This is the email body text:

An item you previously viewed "Airlock 2260" has been put on sale.

To view the product please click the product title below:
*    Airlock 2260*

From: admin@renderosity.com

*I mean, I've certainly looked at stuff from both 3-DArena and Sabby recently, and nothing about their stuff.

Curiouser and cusiouser..

If you mouse over the 'link' does it actually send you to renderosity or is it directing you someplace else? It could be spam, trying to get your log in info.

it sounds like phishing or malware link.  I never got any of those (firewall enabled) in last 15 yrs.

Nope..everything is legit....no phising, no fake links.

I've dug thru the full header of the mail, it's orriginating at Renderosity.

(I'm a info-tech professional..I routinely dig through this kind of stuff).

For the record (I replaced my email address in the text with me@myemail.com):

Delivered-To: me@myemail.com
Received: (qmail 32149 invoked by uid 30297); 16 Oct 2014 10:34:19 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO p3plibsmtp02-07.prod.phx3.secureserver.net) ([68.178.213.7])
          (envelope-sender admin@renderosity.com)
          by p3plsmtp11-05.prod.phx3.secureserver.net (qmail-1.03) with SMTP
          for me@myemail.com; 16 Oct 2014 10:34:19 -0000
Received: from postoffice.renderosity.com ([66.18.125.139])
    by p3plibsmtp02-07.prod.phx3.secureserver.net with bizsmtp
    id 3maK1p00A30aPoJ01maKfv; Thu, 16 Oct 2014 03:34:19 -0700
Received: from localhost.localdomain (avalon.bondware.com [66.18.125.154])
    by postoffice.renderosity.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id A7E381C1CA4
    for me@myemail.com; Thu, 16 Oct 2014 05:34:18 -0500 (CDT)
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 05:34:18 -0500
To: me@myemail.com

The Avalon.bondware.com just resolves into the Renderosity Chat room (which I didn't know existed).

I have to take that back, I got three of those today myself.  For things I looked at some time ago.

Must be something new and I certainly hope it isn't going to occur on everything I look at.

when ye click on home page here, yer security software may show connexion attempt below.  I allow it once at TCP port, every time, as I like to see who's in chat room.

however, this would not necessarily preclude any emails after browsing marketplace, unless there is SMTP port (unlikely) under "any connexion" category.

Hello everyone,

I have presented this to our Team and we did find a bug and that has now been corrected on our end.

Please let me know if you was to continue to see these come through.

This is not a "bug". This is a deliberate notification on behalf of Renderosity to make us aware that something we clicked on has gone on sale. It is not something I have requested. It is by definition spam.

Please discontinue the automatic process. Or maintain the process with either an opt-in or opt-out radio button or check box. But I do hereby opt-out.

Thank you.

Yeah, not a fan.  If I want a notice that something goes on sale or am actually interested in it I'll use the wishlist. :-)

I recently got an email from renderosity mentioning a product I looked at was on sale. I do not have it now, but those above are not dreaming that it happened

I had a couple of these arrive last week for products that had been in my wishlist but I had since purchased.

This morning I got one for Deadzone by CFacile so the bug is still there.

Yeap, the same here. I don`t believe that whole 'bug' thing (bugs don't change words in emails...). If that is a new feature adding to that terrible new site 'design' than Renderosity will be on my spam list very soon...

this is the type of information that is available in cookies

"Please let me know if you was [sic] to continue to see these come through."

I received another today. I too have received them for items I already own.

On the lighter side, it sure is nice to get mail, isn't it?

But seriously, stop it.

If you only knew all the different ways a web developer could track you, you likely wouldn't continue to use the web.

still haven't received any of those emails, hence am assuming that limiting one-time chat room access to 8082 (utilistor) allowed me to protect all smtp/pop ports.  80 and 443 also allowed here.  blocked 81, 82, 8080 (webtrac) and 38086 for all sites.  whilst not concerned about tracking here, those in sensitive areas may consider vpn.

how could the chat room generate emails from renderosity about a product you viewed

Quote - how could the chat room generate emails from renderosity about a product you viewed

It has nothing to do with the Renderosity chat room.  I'm on the chat room almost every day, and I haven't gotten a single one of these emails.

Of course, if I did, I would report it as spam to my ISP which is Comcast and currently has RO on the black list for spam already.  LOL

Except Rendo doesn't spam, or at least hadn't prior to these emails.  Every other email they send out is sent by approval of the members.  You can opt out of newsletters and you can opt out of wishlist notifications.  I trust that they will work this out and stop doing it because in the all the years I've been here they've never before sent messages that weren't opted in for. (Except for important vendor updates and they need tosend those)

Reporting them for spam so they are blocked by the isp is why several vendors can't get notices when a customer messages them, when there is important notices regarding changes or opportunities or in regards to product info.  It's why a variety of members aren't getting the newsletters they opted in to receive because they want coupon codes and new product notices.

All you have to really do is go and opt of newsletters, particularly on sites that you willingly join and that offer you the option to opt out.

Rather than jumping to report them for spamming and affecting everyone with the same isp - the majority of whom when they signed up for the newsletters did so because they actually want to receive them, why not just give them the opportunity to rectify the issue.  Worst case you could just set filters to automatically delete the emails from them with the recently viewed subject line until they get it resolved and stopped.

you don't need to go to chat room.  accessing home page sets cookie allowing connexion to chat room.  apparently I and others don't get these emails due to some security protocols.

The problem is, that Renderosity was quickly approaching spam proportions which is exactly why Comcast shut them down.

I unregistered for the "Newsletter" and still got 3-5 spam messages a day from Renderosity.  It was rapidly getting out of control.

Now, I didn't report them to Comcast, but I was close to doing so.

I won't deny that it's been heaven without all that spam in my inbox to be deleted every day.

Quote - Except Rendo doesn't spam, or at least hadn't prior to these emails.  Every other email they send out is sent by approval of the members.  You can opt out of newsletters and you can opt out of wishlist notifications.  I trust that they will work this out and stop doing it because in the all the years I've been here they've never before sent messages that weren't opted in for. (Except for important vendor updates and they need tosend those)

Reporting them for spam so they are blocked by the isp is why several vendors can't get notices when a customer messages them, when there is important notices regarding changes or opportunities or in regards to product info.  It's why a variety of members aren't getting the newsletters they opted in to receive because they want coupon codes and new product notices.

All you have to really do is go and opt of newsletters, particularly on sites that you willingly join and that offer you the option to opt out.

Rather than jumping to report them for spamming and affecting everyone with the same isp - the majority of whom when they signed up for the newsletters did so because they actually want to receive them, why not just give them the opportunity to rectify the issue.  Worst case you could just set filters to automatically delete the emails from them with the recently viewed subject line until they get it resolved and stopped.

It does take a bit of time depending on the site protocols to stop receiving emails.

They send out several per week, depending on if you are a prime member or not.  That's not spam, it's newsletters you sign up for.  They don't send 3-5 newsletters per day, never have.

Messages however are a different story and that has to do with your habits not Rendo's.  You can receive notices for replies to forum postings and for gallery comments etc.  That isn't spam levels, you can, again, turn those off on site.

Spam is not a newsletter, SPAM is when you get something that you didn't opt in for and never requested.  Notices from Rendo are not technically spam, except for this new one about what you've looked at.

If you don't want to receive various messages then turn them all off - problem solved. However, realize that when you do so it can take a few days to clear out of the queue in the system, depending on how they have it set up.

AFAIK, no isp blocks a site for spam unless they receive multiple complaints, in cases like this they are usually done by people who can't be bothered to turn off notifications or who leave and have an axe to grind with a company. ISPs work off the assumption that the email recipient requested the info.

You are making assumptions which happen to be wrong.

1.  I never, ever get bots on forum posts. I always uncheck that option.  I find those emails annoying and silly.  If I want to follow the thread, I will open it.  I don't need an email every time someone replies.  I follow this policy on ALL forums I particpate in.

2.  No, they don't send 3-5 newsletters per day.  That's the problem.  If I WAS a newsletter I wouldn't have a problem.  But, Renderosity took that permission for a daily/weekly/whatever newsletter to mean anything Renderosity deemed important.  They exceeded the permission I gave them for a newsletter and a newsletter ONLY.

3.  Galleries.....sorry, I have nothing in galleries at Renderosity.  Eliminates that.

Quote - It does take a bit of time depending on the site protocols to stop receiving emails.

They send out several per week, depending on if you are a prime member or not.  That's not spam, it's newsletters you sign up for.  They don't send 3-5 newsletters per day, never have.

Messages however are a different story and that has to do with your habits not Rendo's.  You can receive notices for replies to forum postings and for gallery comments etc.  That isn't spam levels, you can, again, turn those off on site.

Spam is not a newsletter, SPAM is when you get something that you didn't opt in for and never requested.  Notices from Rendo are not technically spam, except for this new one about what you've looked at.

If you don't want to receive various messages then turn them all off - problem solved. However, realize that when you do so it can take a few days to clear out of the queue in the system, depending on how they have it set up.

No isp blocks a site for spam unless they receive multiple complaints, in cases like this they are usually sone by people who can't be bothered to turn off notifications or who leave and have an axe to grind with a company.

They send out wishlist notifications when something you wishlist goes on sale, so if you have say 500 items on your wishlist and every day a couple go on sale, that would be a couple emails a day...

Then if you have 100 people marked as favorite vendors... and they release items, thats a couple more.

So I can see where someone would be getting 3-5 emails a day from Renderosity.

Hey all,

 We've discussed your concerns with the entire team and the programmers  this morning during our weekly admin meeting  and we do understand your frustrations so we've decided to disable this ebot completely for now.  You should not get anymore of these from this point on! 

Thank you for your feedback, we do value it and have listened to your concerns and apologize for the inconvenience

Exactly Sabby. (I mentioned wishlist items earlier, didn't think I needed to repeat it).

No I wasn't making assumptions I was explaining what might cause emails (and using the term "you" is not directed specifically at you but rather the various users themselves).  I don't know what you do on site.  My point was that there are reasons & permissions behind every email they send - except the ones this topic was about. 

If what they were sending wasn't newsletters than other than the email in question in this topic there are options to turn it off.  You can choose to not get a notice for products on sale in your wishlist (and I am glad they combine those now by vendor instead of seperate emails, but they did that explicitly to cut down on emails sent out), to not receive notices for new releases, etc..

If it wasn't for wishlist items, vendor releases (favorite vendors), galleries, forum posts, freebie comments etc. and was not a newsletter than honestly I am curious what would be sent 3-5 times a day because those are the only things (except again the email that was the point of the topic) that I have ever received from Rendo, with the exception of important site updates or Vendor notices.  All of those have turn off options and therefore are not technically spam.

Quote - Hey all,

 We've discussed your concerns with the entire team and the programmers  this morning during our weekly admin meeting  and we do understand your frustrations so we've decided to disable this ebot completely for now.  You should not get anymore of these from this point on! 

Thank you for your feedback, we do value it and have listened to your concerns and apologize for the inconvenience

 

Thanks Tina!

Wait so there actually was emails being sent from Rendo about items people clicked on? I never got any... Now I am a sad panda. ;(

Yeah, I got about 3 of them.  Those would be the only actual "spam" I have ever received from Rendo.

Notifications of wishlist items are welcomed, also notifications about updates from vendors, new offers and sales. Also wished and never been a point to complain about on my side. The emails I got about 'recently viewed' items are a hole other thing and when this will be stopped as Tina told us then all will be good. Thanks to that change in mind!