I defer to others' expertise regarding SPAM. Nobody I know is as finely
attuned to the nuances of SPAM or as dedicated to its eradication (good luck
with that, by the way) as a few of our members are, so could I get someone
to explain to me again exactly constitutes SPAM, please?

Is it only SPAM if I post about a product in which I have some sort of
financial interest?

If I post about another company's product (not SWL) that is sold
commercially, is that SPAM? As a hypothetical example, if I write "Wow, I
really like the Bill Dance Porcupine Fish Attractor! I put out three the day
before Christmas on Percy Priest, and I caught bass off them every day last
week!" Is that SPAM?

If I recommend the commercially-sold product (still not Secret Weapon), is
that SPAM? Hypothetical example: "If you're thinking of putting out some
fish attractors to create a milk run for your tournament season, do yourself
a favor and consider the Bill Dance Porcupine Fish Attractor. They're the
best I've ever seen... easy to assemble and place, lures don't hang up on
them, and they attract fish!"

If I mention the price of that product, or where it can be purchased, is
that SPAM? Example: "You can buy the entire Bill Dance Porcupine Fish
Attractor as a set for $42.05, complete with PVC hub and pipe. Or, you can
do what I did -- buy a bag of three hubs at Bass Pro Shops for $47.05 and
use scrap PVC pipe from a construction site to finish them off."

If I let people know about a way to win that product for free, or let them
know about a great deal on products, is that SPAM? Hypothetical example:
"During the fishing tackle show season, look up the fella who came up with
this idea, and you can get a great discount -- up to 33% off -- at the
shows. He's usually in Memphis, Little Rock, Louisville, and other shows
around the mid-South."

If I have become acquainted with a business owner and I recommend his
product and tell where one can buy it and the selling price, but I have no
vested interest, is that SPAM? Hypothetically: "I met the inventor, Larry
Harper, and he is one of the nicest gentlemen you'll ever meet. Listening to
him describe how he came up with the idea and what he went through to
manufacture was fascinating. I'm looking forward to fishing with him this
spring. He told me he's trying to get the fish attractors in Dick's and
Sportsman's Warehouse this spring, so I'll probably stop by there and pick
up a few more before tournaments start."

Say one of our customers uses and recommends Secret Weapon Lures products
and were to learn that we're offering a certain product to ROFB members at a
50% discount, if he posts that information here, is that SPAM?

Is it SPAM when a business owner gives away product and posts an
announcement here? Hypothetically, if I were to write that anyone who comes
to the Northwoods Classic will receive any Secret Weapon Lures of his choice
absolutely free, would that cross the SPAM line?

Would it be SPAM if a buddy of mine posted about it? Like if Chris Rennert
were to write, "I received one of the new Secret Weapon Sidearm Spinnerbaits
at the Northwoods Classic, and it quickly became one of my favorite baits. I
caught fish on it at that event and every time I've thrown it since then
(hypothetical situation, again). Secret Weapon was making and giving these
away at the NWC, as they do every year."

What if the business owner was selling the product at or below his cost (no
profit on the transaction). Would that be SPAM?

If someone else not a part of Secret Weapon Lures learned about the at-cost
sale somehow and passed the information along here, knowing that there would
be people here who would want to take advantage of the opportunity, would
that be SPAM?

In order not to SPAM the group, would it be ok to create a special page on
our Web site and then refer people to the page in a post on ROFB? What would
we have to write (or not write) in order to keep it from being SPAM? If I
put a line in my signature that reads, "Check our special ROFB-Members Only
offers" and include a link to the Web page, would that be SPAM?

Thanks in advance for the clarification.

Regards,

Joe
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Secret Weapon Lures
http://secretweaponlures.com
"Over $3,000 in ROFB Product/Service Donations Since 2001"
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