i thought it was maybe just an overeager sales rep stealing pix and ad copy in the hopes of successful extortion... but its not just Me OR atlanta...

ive written a few emails to staff@ and admin@ AND written problem reports on myself but i have gotten no response from anyone.
ive posted on the suggestion board, as well.

cityvibe does NOT hit my target market and i refuse to pay them... but if they pull my ad, i will then be delisted for bad website, right?

has anyone else fought this battle and won?
does anyone have the answer to WHY and HOW they can do this and get away with it?

thanks.
Nicole

Let me get this straight:  your ter profile lists a cityvibe website without your permission and you want them to use the website linked above?  When a website goes bad, the provider is not delisted.  We put in a problem report when we find a new link.

Seems like we, as ter members, could simply put in a problem report in your behalf.  Have you tried that?  If you pm me a link to the cityvibe ad, I would be glad to do so.  THis is a little different, however, since you don't have a non-working website, you just have one listed that you don't want to advertise on.  In this case, I'll link this discussion along with the website links when I submit the problem report.

I have written to cityvibe to remove my add, and haven't received a response from them. I made the mistake of placing  an add on their site a couple of months ago (please note: I also noticed a good number of highly reviewed ladies on there, as well, by the way), and just recently had my website on TER changed to cityvibe's website. I had written to TER to have it replaced back to my original website, but no such luck   If you hear anything further from either TER or Cityvibe, please update us all. I would like my own website up, rather than a bang up copy and paste job that Cityvibe has done.

Mel

http://at.cityvibe.com/cgi-bin/show.cgi?mode=3&site_id=AT&ctg_id=ES&ad=001880001

http://theeroticreview.com/link/link.asp?ID=9610

ive heard that because cityvibe put the click here to read my reviews link thats why they are now my default webpage.
but because NO ONE has actually heard from staff/admin, its all hersay...

i'm also concerned that cos i wont take this lying down, i'll get banned, another hypothesis thats floating around.

i thank you for your help dude, if you get to the bottom of this, please share it with everyone!
hugs,
Nicole

the post i have up on the suggestion board says pretty much the exact same thing.

so far no one i know of has heard back from anyone at ter about this problem nor has cityvibe taken down anyones so called ads.

i run hot and cold from pissed off to cest la vie...
which isnt good for business...

Nic

They have: I look forward to hearing "form" you LOL If you are going to do something, don't be "half-assed", as my mama told me


Mel

p.s.

Thanks for responding back to me, sista

Nicole, apparently someone beat me to it.  Your profile already shows an open problem report.  Hope it helps!

oc_dude

but I cannot find the message.  

Reciprocal linking is a common business practice.  In this case, it brings more people to TER, which means more people see the profiles of the providers here, and that's a good thing for the good providers here.    

If you do not want the free ad Cityvibe has given you, then tell them you would like it to be removed.  

Providers are not de-listed here for having bad websites.  Also, providers can submit problem reports on their own profiles.  Both Basic and VIP members can submit problem reports.


-- Modified on 7/20/2003 7:47:23 PM

I know several providers have tried to tell them just that, but their requests have fallen on deaf ears.  I hope this trend turns around soon.  I don't like wasting my time with sites like Cityvibe just to click right on through to the site I actually want to see.  I understand perfectly the problem providers have with their website links being changed to a site over which they have no control.  Cityvide cannot guarantee their cut-and-paste ads are accurate and up to date. Two Atlanta providers (that I know of) have already been delisted.  I compared the Cityvibe ad for one of these ladies with her personal site.  Guess what?  It is WRONG.  Providers either have to accept the hijacking of their web traffic or get delisted?  If money is an issue for TER, then cut out the free memberships.  Lose the comp time for reviews.  Anyone who can afford this hobby can afford 20 bucks a month to find quality companionship.  I would hate to have to resort to an inferior site because of a problem with something as dumb as weblinks, but you can't claim superiority if you run off all of the superior ladies.  Just make TER a paysite.  That will put an end to the fake reviews to get VIP memberships.  It will help alleviate the need for these annoying "reciprocal links".  I promise you the people who submit reviews now will continue to do so without the promise of a whopping 15 days of free membership.

Who ever sent in a problem report, THANK YOU!!!!

Smooches,

Mel

-- Modified on 7/20/2003 8:37:42 PM

"Just make TER a paysite.  That will put an end to the fake reviews to get VIP memberships." -- TripNatl


simple, succinct and inescapable!

--

Q: How do you gain new VIP membership?

A: By not giving away stuff for free!

I just followed the links to your profile, both the one you posted and the one from Cityvibe. I find only "This provider information is no longer available on TER."  So somebody has taken drastic action.

This is obviously an ongoing discussion, and I missed the beginning, so I hope someone will fill me in.  The following is my interpretation of what I've just read with some reading between the lines.  Please fill in any blanks and correct anything I've got wrong.

1) Your provider profile had a link to your personal website.
2) Cityvibe took information from your website and, without your prior knowledge or consent, created an advertisement for you.
3) Suddenly the "provider website" link in your profile points to the Cityvibe ad.
4) They are or are not demanding payment and threatening some kind of bad consequence if you don't pay up???
5) From Melinda's post I conclude that this is happening to a number of other providers.
6) TER management doesn't regard this as a problem.  

Seems to me it's time Staff gave us all a clear statement of policy and an explanation of what's going on.

A few links to previous discussions.
And it wasn't inflammatory or offensive.

Or will I be vanquished?


In Atlanta


http://theeroticreview.com/msgBoard/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=7756&boardID=18&page=1


http://theeroticreview.com/msgBoard/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=7790&boardID=18&page=1

http://theeroticreview.com/msgBoard/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=7665&boardID=18&page=2



And on the Boston board.


http://theeroticreview.com/msgBoard/viewmsg.asp?MessageID=11541&boardID=9&page=2

Reading this thread has given me insight as to what has been going on.  Up until now I simply ignored the CityVibe ads and clicked through to the provider's site.  I simply thought, and naively as well, that TER's relationship merely allowed them to link to EXISTING CV ads.  I didn't think "Gee. it's amazing how many providers advertise on CV!"  Nor did I put 2 and 2 together and come up with 4.  I'm just blinded by the ladies.

I guess that's because, for me, its not "all about the money", but, rather, "it's all about the p*ssy!" (With apologies to Cynicakman)

I have to agree with tripNatl and Singleton on this.  And as a free VIP member, with hundreds of free days in his bank, and a frequent reviewer, I would remain a member and continue to write reviews if they now gave fewer days, or no days at all to reviewers.

But don't ever commit acts of piracy against the ladies on whom this hobby is based.

F.

Hey, Singleton, here we go agreeing again.  We have to stop meeting like this.

calling it a "good business" practice to get your energy from Enron and your telephone serivce from Worldcom.

cityvibe.com
7961 West 3rd Street, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(Map)
(310) 247 - 7744 office (310) 247 - 7745 fax

I will be calling them TODAY, personally. Since I have written to these people several times, already..I think it's time that they have a one on one chat with Miss Mel here..(and it's not going to be a sweet, sultry, chat either lol).

Please save the tongue lashings for those of us that truly deserve them ;^)

OHhhh...you will get your lashes, alrighty lol

Just continue to be a bad boy, and I will take you over my knees

Mel

I could follow what you have said here except for a few things...

As far as I know, no one has been threatened to pay for their Cityvibe Ad. To even further this thought, I have a visiting ad and am due to pay again and have been given a very fair and generous extention which was NOT asked for.

Let's think about this from a different direction. This website is a FREE site. Our profiles and posts can be done easily without a membership or having to pay for them. Now I have purchased a VIP membership to gain further access to the site such as chat, private mail and to see the details of my reviews. Now if I were to put my thinking cap on and think from thier business point...(not my view actually) If I am maintaining a website of this magnitude and most of my income comes from vip memberships, I may want to increase it. One of the ways is to offer paid advertising. If Cityvibe offers me a substantial amount of money for such, and asks for reciprocating links in return, that deal will probably go down. Since I have other advertisers, I would want to give them fair exposure, but I also want Cityvibe to be a premium advertiser... so creating links to thier site may be the best offer I could give them... so it shall be.

Now as a provider on this board, I may not like this but since I am not paying for my profile or the reviews, I have a couple of choices. Deal with the fact that I wasn't notified of the changes and hope they take the time to click a few more times and go to my website or not participate on the website.

If you are a provider who now has an ad on Cityvibe without your permission, that is one thing but if you have one and are not paying any longer and your link has been changed, I don't know if I would complain. You may look at it as free advertising.

I have learned that I cannot count on one medium for my business advertising. I advertise in several places because you never know what will happen. I try to keep myself out there as much as possible, with the opportunities I see best represent myself. Not sure about many of you but I have gained a TON of business from this website and it has all been free. I am not going to bite the hand that feeds me, considering the $$ I have paid (nothing).

Now, the one thing I do not agree with is that we weren't informed ahead of time. Then again, I am not a paying advertiser either...

These are just a few thoughts and am not trying to create further issues...



-- Modified on 7/21/2003 8:49:46 AM

-- Modified on 7/21/2003 9:59:39 AM

Nicole, NO ONE is allowed to take your photos and use them for their profit. I am sure you know this. If you haven't contacted Cityvibe already, I would make that my first step.  

Stealing pics is a HUGE no no. Just a tad bit. Hope you resolve this quickly.

Hi there, Brooke, I agree with some of what you are saying, but I do disagree to a point.

I AM a paying member of TER. I have a vip membership, so I may be able to read through my reviews, making sure that everything is legit, etc.

As for Cityvibe, IF I had known that they were somehow "connected" with TER in regards to the switching of the websites, I wouldn't have wasted my time by placing a free add on their (Cityvibe)site. I have written to Cityvibe to have my site taken down, which any normal site would do, by request. Now, Cityvibe has continuously ignored my requests, and damn skippy, I hate having my time wasted. Period. So you see, even though I do have an add on Cityvibe (that I am Now trying to take off), I DO have a right to complain: their NON-Compliance to my requests to have it taken it off. Also, as long as I have been on TER, my website link has always been on my reviews, just until recently replaced with CityVibe's bang up job of copying and pasting, with misspelled words. I cannot speak for any other girls, but when someone is advertising me, I want it to be clear, cut, and precise, no misspellings, etc.

I said my piece..

Mel

our VIP membership that we pay for with our free profile and reviews.

I am a paying member as a VIP (access to vip areas) but I do NOT pay for my profile...


AS far as the cityvibe ad, we all deserve things to be correct. I can certainly understand that. As far as my experience with them, they have misspelled my name and have had other mistakes. I was patient and they took care of it asap. My rep even changed it while I was on the phone with them. Granted, I probably caught them at a slow time but they have been pretty good.

I am just trying to create another side to this. I could be way off base here but a thought process that hasn't been brought up so far.

Yes, I agree with you, and trust me- there is nooo confusion lol I don't pay for my profile on TER, BUT-I am given the chance to send in problem reports, IF there is was an issue with my profile/reviews/updates, add-on's etc. Which, I do take full advantage of, which one should.

In regards to the Cityvibe issue, I had only been on there about a month, when this switch a roo was taken place, in regards to the website. It would not be too much of an issue with me, if I ONLY had to write to Cityvibe once, and the matter of me having my site taken down, was dealt with. I have written to these people 3 times so far, with no action from them. I just called their number and no one picks up but an answering machine. That is what I have the issue with is CityVibe's non-challant ways of dealing with this..lol Uggghh


Mel

It didn't do any good, sorry Mel.

I hope you have better luck with Shityvibe.