Competitor jealousy or nervousness?

Don't know how else to describe it.....

[kstprod]

Hi guys,

About a month ago, I started a new site. After being Fresh listed in Google for a few days, and opening up some PPC accounts, it seems I am getting some attention from a certain competitor.

I am getting threatening emails saying I am a fraud and need to be reported, that I am stealing graphics, etc (which is all a bunch of bs). I respectfully responded and answered the questions given to me. Now they are asking for detailed financial information regarding my site. After the 3rd email from this competitor, I respectfully told them that the details of certain policies and procedures are confidential, and are only our own business. I have even gotten a bit firm in responding, telling them that asking such information is crossing the line. This person will not let it go, and is insisting that it IS their business.

What would you guys do? Obviously, this person is either po'd or scared because I have taken some top ranks for kw's and out bid them on Overture, but what they are doing is rediculous. I really feel like giving them a piece of my mind, but don't want to stoop to their level.

Any ideas?

kstprod

[Mardi_Gras]

Why bother responding? Forget about it - put the effort you would have spent worrying into making your site better.

I would avoid smart-aleck responses; no point in escalating a war of words. Just ignore them, at least as long as their attorney doesn't contact you ;)

[Shakil]

Ignorance is Bliss in this case.

In these case I tend to use:

==========================================================
Dear Sirs,

Thank you for your kind email.

As this is a specific product/sevice enquiry, I have decided to pass it over to the relevant department.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Once again, thanks for visiting our website.

regards

XXX XXX
===========================================================

hope that helps

Shak

[caine]

I personally would tell them where to go, if your not braking rules, you're not, but just tredding on feet, not a problem thats what feet are for tredding or tredding on.

If you're 100% about your position turn the tables. Why not - put the wind up them. My experience of compitition or even clients, as soon as any form of legalisation is brought into a conversation, then the position becomes absolute. Disassociate - big style, if your seriously concerned, then consult a person in the know about the matter - make sure that all angles are covered - that being the case eat them alive.

[kstprod]

Mardi_Gras,

Thank you for responding. I will take your advice and ignore them. BTW, I don't know if it matters or not, but they are using my email address listed on my WhoIs information, which I thought was not to be used for this type of thing. If they continue to be persistant and continually harass me, would there be anything I could do about it?

Thanks again,

kstprod

[caine]

I think they are trying to make you nervous.

follow mardi_gras view which is too ignore, if they persist, either contact them through their whois email, that will worry them, and play the same game, or get serious, which i have in uncertain terms wrote about above.

[Mardi_Gras]

I would hope that after being ignored long enough that they will let the matter drop. Of course, you never know...

I would wait a couple of weeks - then see if you feel you are being harassed to the point that further action is required. But my best advice is:

1) ignore them
2) try not to escalate the situation (even though you didn't start it, and the urge to respond is always strong)
3) Keep documentation of anything they send you - you may need it later.

In the meantime, do your best to forget about it. Good luck.

[nipear]

My boss just stuck an email on my desk from a competitor this morning. It's kinda funny.

First they copy one of our info sites related to the industry in question. I guess they were hoping to generate traffic to their ecommerce site like we do. Then they check our back links and get ads where we have placed them.

So I contacted the advertisers and asked for exclusive deals for a long term contract. That got done, they got booted, and the websites got a fat 6 month contract.

Now they are complaining to me about trying to hurt their business. Normally I'd email them back telling them that I am flattered they are copying my business moves, but I'm just protecting my business interests.

But in the past, this attitude has done nothing but get me sued and in trouble with people like this and your competitor.

My advice. Don't respond and they'll go away

[caine]

Mardi Gras

coined it. silence can not hurt you. It can place you in weird and wonderful positions, but that is the time to deal with it.

[kstprod]

Thank you all, I am grateful for your advice. I will continue to ignore them, and hopefully they will go away. You guys are right saying the urge to respond is strong, but I will not.

Thanks again, everyone!

kstprod

[EliteWeb]

tell em this:

Mess with the Best and you'll die like the rest ;P

[caine]

EW,

you're just waiting for a scrap, can see it a mile away, you're are just waiting for someone to bother you so that you can dish out some serious antagonism

[edited by: caine at 11:51 pm (utc) on Nov. 18, 2002]

[Mardi_Gras]

Mess with the Best and you'll die like the rest

I guess that would be an alternative approach ;)

[EliteWeb]

caine, i got yer xmas present you can have one of my copies of hackers on dvd or vhs :P soon you can leet speek like me :) And I love direct competition (: