Autotrader CENSORSHIP ?? or Not

[Nextmod]

Autotrader CENSORSHIP ?? or Not

ATT: I personally have no beef with autotrader, I just wanted to know what you guys think of this post




So I placed on online ad to sell my C280 in the Autotrader.

I filled out all the required fields, uploaded the picture, paid my money and submitted the ad.
Well after three days I finally get a call and they tell me that they cannot print my ad because I have http://www.MapleOne.com/280 in the text.

I figured I would put up a quick website because a black and white picture in the Autotrader could not possibly do justice to my car. Basically they told me that I could not put a web address into my ad. I placed a big ad for most of southern Ontario and it would have cost around $130.00.

They said the web addresses are reserved for businesses only and they would not allow it in print. I told them that it was only to allow people to look at more pictures of my car. They insisted that I could not print it, so I cancelled the ad.

What a crock, this is censorship at its best. I pay for the ad and they tell me what I can and cannot put into it. I am extremely disappointed in this and I want to get some support from the member base so I can direct a staff member from Autotrader to this post.

This policy of theirs discriminates against everyone who places a private ad. Why should we not be able to direct prospective buyers to a homepage explaining more about the car?

They just lost my business forever, I am simply going to put a for sale sign on the car and be done with it.

Please post here to show me some support and then I will send this URL to an Autotrader exec to tell him how displeased we are that they discriminate against private sellers.


What do you guys think?

[FLIPDADY]

Wonder if it\'s just businesses they\'re censoring.

What if you had a pic with a dealers license frame on it?

[bubba1983]

on an off topic...your in the 519 area code, where abouts?

[Whos ur dadd]

I think they\'re entitled to do whatever they want.

What if your website featured other cars? They\'re not about to go visit your website to check it out.

Those tiny pics may not do your car justice, but then again, they don\'t do any of the million other cars in there as well. You can also pay more money for a bigger picture.

You\'re going to have to suck it up if you want to post in the Trader. They have the most readership so you should take that into consideration...

[TheProfessor]

Whenever I have sold a car through the trader I just list an e-mail addy and most people will ask for more pics to be sent to them. I found that people are generally more willing to show interest via e-mail then by phone. You could also just put a sentence in there like \"for more pics please e-mail me\".

[SW20 MR2]

There is no need for a URL link. As long as you post your car for a reasonable cost, you will get a lot of calls.

[majic]

Originally posted by Whos ur dadd


I think they\'re entitled to do whatever they want.

What if your website featured other cars? They\'re not about to go visit your website to check it out.

Those tiny pics may not do your car justice, but then again, they don\'t do any of the million other cars in there as well. You can also pay more money for a bigger picture.

You\'re going to have to suck it up if you want to post in the Trader. They have the most readership so you should take that into consideration...


i can\'t believe this.. i agree with daddy-o..

for all they care you can be selling kiddie pr0n on that site.. :sarc

[ds2chan]

I agree with everybody else.. also, it\'s their business and frankly, they could do whatever they want.. they don\'t have to do what u want just because you give them some money.. they\'ll just give it right back and move onto the next customer if you don\'t want to follow by their rules..

I say just print your e-mail address and send the link with the pictures of your car to anybody who\'s interested..

[miggiddy]

Like someonelse stated, put your e-mail address there and people that are interested in more pics will request pics. I sold my old motorcycle there within 4 days. First day posted was on a Thursday and by Sunday I had a deposit on it. I do understand your frustration, they should at least state this somewhere during the posting process (not sure if they do or not) so all sellers are aware of it before hand.

[Cardinal Fang]

People throw around the term censorship today like they do the term racism. In many cases it’s done just to get attention. What you\'re referring doesn’t even qualify as censorship.

They have the right to put restrictions on how you advertise a vehicle on their website/periodical. It\'s a private, not public, company. They have rules and regulations that you must abide by if you wish to use their service. Let me put it to you this way. If you invite me to your home I must respect your rules otherwise you are more than entitled to kick me out. I certainly don\'t have the right to claim YOUR RULES are too restrictive when I\'m in YOUR home.

[majic]

Originally posted by Cardinal Fang

it’s done just to get attention.


then for a super shy guy he\'s a super attention whore :D :hoho

[Nextmod]

Sorry I think you guys must have a misunderstanding. read the post.

those are not my words. I just wanted to know what you guys think.

lol

[majic]

Originally posted by Supershyguy


Sorry I think you guys must have a misunderstanding. read the post.

those are not my words. I just wanted to know what you guys think.

lol



so umm what is this? :p not part of a quote!!!


Originally posted by Supershyguy


My beef with Autotrader CENSORSHIP

[Nextmod]

Originally posted by majic



Originally posted by Supershyguy


Sorry I think you guys must have a misunderstanding. read the post.

those are not my words. I just wanted to know what you guys think.

lol



so umm what is this? :p not part of a quote!!!


Originally posted by Supershyguy


My beef with Autotrader CENSORSHIP





sorry I dont think I understand what you are trying to say.

[Nextmod]

there I changed the title for you. maybe that would make it easiler to understand.

[dr_sarcasm]

This is like that kid in school that no one liked and they wouldn\'t let him play tag with the cooler kids.

Waaaaa, they won\'t let me play with them.

WAAAAAAAMBULANCE!

dr_\"if you don\'t like their rules, then don\'t advertise in their publication\"_sarcasm

[TheProfessor]

Originally posted by dr_sarcasm


This is like that kid in school that no one liked and they wouldn\'t let him play tag with the cooler kids.

Waaaaa, they won\'t let me play with them.

WAAAAAAAMBULANCE!

dr_\"if you don\'t like their rules, then don\'t advertise in their publication\"_sarcasm

Anyone else really like this guy :D Reminds me a lot of Fang for some strange reason.

[Cardinal Fang]

I think Fang is better looking.



Originally posted by Supershyguy


Sorry I think you guys must have a misunderstanding. read the post.

those are not my words. I just wanted to know what you guys think.

lol


Why I think is that you don\'t understand what \"censorship\" truly means. The idea of censorship has to do with the notion of \"freedom of speech.\" Your rights to free speech aren\'t being infringed in this case. By claiming \"censorship\" you over reacted. You\'re making much ado about nothing here. If those aren\'t your words then you\'d better pick and choose them more wisely. Say what you mean and mean what you say.

Now, if you want to discuss whether or not the rules are fair that\'s another matter altogether. But as many others and I have said, AutoTrader has the right to place restrictions on YOUR ad as it appears on their site or periodical. If I went to my local newspaper and wanted to place an ad selling my \"Farking Weed Whacker.\" Do I honestly have the right to complain if they won\'t let me use the word \"F**K\" in my ad?

The true test is whether or not the limitations placed on you by AutoTrader are \"reasonable\" and would prevent you from selling your item.