I just got an E-Mail from the gang at Fodors. They said that I'm now registered, and because I was one of the first 300, they were going to send me a gift. Of course, they didn't tell me what the gift was. And they asked for my home address. So, what's everyone doing? Will you be giving your home address?

I got one too. Oooooh I'm so excited! Wonder what is!??! Maybe a free trip somewhere?! Maybe 10,000 sky miles! Maybe luggage!?...

Got the e-mail too. Why would you not respond?

So not only will you be on an e-mail direct marketing list, your home address will be sold to direct marketers as well. The "free prize, register here!" tactic is as old as the hills.

Better hope no one EVER disagrees with anything you post and claims you've libeled and slandered them, because then Fodor's will know exactly who you are and how to find you.

Sounds like a lot of work

Uh...the gift is probably a Fodor's book?

I have a P.O. Box so am not worried about giving them my address...

Andrew

Why not just give them your work address? Sounds alot easier huh...

If you registered with a LEGIT real email address and were within the first 300, you will receive an email directly from Fodors Registration (mine came today) asking for a mailing address to send the free gift.

I've given my address to iVillage and Fool.com and I have received free gifts from them in the past. Two were baseball caps with their logos but I also received a lunch cooler from the Fool that is really nice.

Utahtea

You have to give real email addresses because they email you and you have to respond to be registered.

I started thinking; do you think fodors will even get close to 300? If you ask me fodors is a little family of maybe 20 or 30 regulars and this is our therapy so to speak? Others are just here to harass & waste time. Just a thought.

People, People: have we all forgotten the Fodor's pin fiasco. So many people tried to get a pin and didn't get it.

its just not worth a dumb gift. No way would I give my real name and address.
MAYBE I would set up a Yahoo account with entirely false info.

Travel companies would kill to get your personal info.

oh no! i gave my details and now i am woried that i'll get junk mail. Gosh! Am I just being paranoid?

Remember what happened to Leone when he gave out his personal information here? Someone posted his boss's e-mail address and suggested everyone contact him and advise him that his employee, a federal worker, apparently spent all day every day posting at Fodor's. Leone's real name and workplace were posted too, because he was once foolish enough to use them here. Never heard from the guy again, at least under the "Leone" handle - assuming he still has his federal job?? Let that be a lesson in giving out your personal info via e-mail or internet.

Ah yes, I see it now. Fodors placed a check box on the registration so you can check that you don't want to receive other information, but I'm sure they're going to ignore it. They plan to sell all those addresses even thought they say they won't. Hah. I for one believe them. If they weren't giving you an option, why do you think they added that option box?

Oh, yes, and I bet they've also hired scores of new employees to search through all the posts every day and contact people's employers to let them know their employee is using the company computer on company time. Why they'll probably even contact the IRS to let them know how much people are spending in cast the IRS wants to confirm their reported income. And when someone posts an indication that they have dallied on a business trip, I bet Fodors will track them down and contact the wife or husband to let them know they are being cheated on. Great danger with personal lives here!!

By the way, the last two xxx posts were mine. The one before that about Leone was by an imposter xxx. See, we need registration to keep people from stealing my identity. I am the real xxx.

Okay, will you have registered as "xxx"? How many "x"'s and "xx"'s will there be? I, for one, will be glad to see that go away.

Re: the gift. Apparently by Wed. night (the 22nd), they had over 300 registrants, because I registered and there wasn't a whisper about a gift. Do you suppose they went through their list of the first 300 and noticed the bogus names and addresses that inevitably showed up there?

I registered yesterday and didn't get a message about any gift. Assume that means they've already gotten 300 responses?