Correcting back to the incorrect.
Jul 16 '00 (Updated Aug 29 '00)
* UPDATE *
Epinions.com has now allowed non-US residents / citizens to collect their E-royalties. This is a significant change, of course, and answers many of the points in this opinion. I shall be updating this opinion as soon as I can figure out what to leave in (for reference) and how to still make the opinion relevant to current news. Thank you epinions.com, and thank you to all those who signed the petitions, etc. - TK
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Last night I got a pleasant shock of logging in to see that I had earnt a couple of hundred dollars. That was a shock because as a non-US resident I have never before been deemed eligable for E-royalties.
I wrote to congratulate Epinions on taking a huge step forward. Its a huge step for them only. I get paid by Microsoft bcentral, Lycos, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and dozens of other companies with no problems or even quibbles over my location. I am even the registered joint owner of a US based business. That's right, epinions.com and fellows, I have a US registered business in Illinois and the company US bank account to match.
Anyway, I offered supporting statistics to show why this was such a big deal (and smart business move). I was in no hurry for the cash. $300 is a nice surprise, but it sure isn't going to give me a holiday. All I did do was sign up for the Partnership Program and create my account.
One of the comments given in response to my editorial suggested that I should go and redeem the money. I thought, "why not" and quickly navigated my way to the 'redeem E-royalties' form. There, in bright red letters, I was finally told that the rules had not changed.
By submitting this request, you are stating that:
You are over 18 years old
All opinions are your own work
The check is in your name
You are a US citizen or resident
If any of the above are false, you may not legally request or cash the Eroyalties check.
Ouch!!!
Talk about a cruel mistake. Why show me how much I would have earned if Epinions.com followed the normal business policies of all the other Affiliate or Reward schemes at all? It is very clear in my details that I do not have a US address. My registration has UK entered in the 'country' field and I have no zip code. Couldn't be clearer could it?
The money is no big deal. I wasn't going to be paid when I signed up or when I wrote the opinions, so I haven't lost anything. However, the attitude it shows is appalling. This whole thing says many things about Epinions that I simply don't believe they want to be saying about themselves.
1. Since most other companies (Click-Trade, Commission Junction, Amazon, Tripod, Barnes & Noble, Beyond.com, etc.) offering money for displaying banners, writing or sales generation are not affected by my global location, it makes Epinions look like a small, amateurish operation that they do.
2. Telling me that I have earned $292.44 when there is no intention to ever pay this amount is thoughtless. An act of (unintentional but no less harsh) cruelty. Again it makes the operators of Epinions look like amateurs or idiots.
3. Using a global medium (its called the world wide web for a reason guys) without thinking globally is foolish. We all notice that epinions.com are happy to use our words and labour if we are not US citizens. They just don't intend to pay for it. That is in no way an ethical business position.
We are not talking about doing the backwards Europeans a favour. We are talking about fair rewards for fair work. The arguments about tax laws are pure B***S*** in that it doesn't affect any other company. Are Epinions telling us that the US government applied a different set of tax laws on them to those set on Microsoft, Lycos, Yahoo, Amazon etc.?
According to recent market research, the Europeans are due to spend $50 billion online this year (2000). Two thirds of that will come from the UK and Germany. How should a US company treat such customers? The Epinions.com way?
Actually, I strongly predict that the UK figures will be far higher than predicted this year. The biggest hold back over here (and with most European countries) is that we don't get free local calls with most phone companies here. UK citizens have been paying almost 2 cents per minute to surf the net. Now several companies are offering free off-peak internet calls (evenings and weekends) which will have a dramatic affect on how many UK surfers are online.
If this editorial meets with your agreement on any of the fundamental points:
* Epinions should be as responsible as other companies.
* All persons should be paid equally regardless of location.
* If a person is eligable to be used for labour they are eligable for pay.
* Commercial racism is bad business.
* Blaming tax laws flies in the face of evidence.
Then please write a mail or simply forward this epinion to: redemption@epinions.com
Lets give them one opinion that is absolutely free - the one that says how you feel about equality for all.
Thank You
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Epinions.com ID:
the.knight
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Member: Black Knight
Location: London, England
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 49 members
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