Check it out. I found this reply on Setgo. I must say, DVD Exotic puts up a hell of a fight. This is almost becoming a David vs. Goliath battle....
We're really trying to avoid a big blowout, but we feel that we need an opportunity to reply here. If you could post it, it would be greatly appreciated.
Like Drew, we agree that a forum is not the proper place to discuss personal customer service issues. As far as Drews claims to not making negative comments...well, they're gone now - shame on us. If he could make them re-appear, that would be great. Drew is also correct in that we contacted customers using the ADT 'email member' function to find these posters e-mail adresses. These posters use Yahoo and Hotmail e-mail services. We contacted these customers after the threads were locked.
Drew also mentions that we had an ability to begin a thread of our own. I can't take this seriously as the last two posts regarding our site were locked. Also, we don't advertise on ADT. It really makes no sense for them to allow us to begin a thread regarding our site, but I personally feel that it is only fair for anyone or any business to be given the opportunity to reply to statements made about them. We were never informed of the possibility to begin a thread either. For him to say this long after the fact is simply pointless. However, there is no question that ADT allowed positive things to be said about us. I've never questioned that, in fact, I thanked them for it.
As far as our e-mail sent to Drew and Steph is concerened, yes, Exoticgirl stated that she would "explore further action". I wouldn't quite classify this as an "or else" statement. Besides, the e-mail was posted on their board for all the world to see. So I highly doubt they took it that seriously. It seems quite clear that they're using that letter as a means to put a spin on the enire situation. The fact of the matter is that they left two threads locked, one with the comment - or better 'advice' - from Drew to "chargeback". Steph also made a comment in another closed thread that does not take the position of that of a third party, but that of a highly misinformed opinion. Exoticgirl has been banned from posting on ADT . Though Drew claims Exoticguy can post, the password is for some reason not working. However, we're still able to read threads.
Finally, I'd like to quote Drew in his last statement:
" Furthermore, ADT and DVD Exotic are in no way affiliated. Were we not doing them a favor by immediately discouraging and stopping extremely negative discussions started by seriously pissed of customers wanting to know where their orders were? We couldn't offer these upset customers any feedback or suggestions since we have no communication with the folks at DVD Exotic."
That's right, we are not affiliated. Did they do us a favor by locking these posts? Certainly not. The most logical and professional thing to do would have been to let us reply to the customers via forum and keep the thread unlocked, or delete the thread and e-mail the poster requesting that he or she contact us via another medium as Drew and Steph have already stated countless times that their forum is not one to be used for customer service. To keep two posts up casting our site in the most negative of ways and to go even further by having these posts locked and commented upon by the owners of ADT is beyond intolerable.
Anyone that has any experience in business will tell you that bad word of mouth travels faster than anything other form of advertising. We have never used their boards to self-promote. Yes, we've replied to threads - both good and bad. But once they censored threads regarding our business we felt we had no option but to act. People could post negative things about us all day long if they choose to, we just want to make sure that differing opinions can be expressed. As far as ADT having no way of reaching DVD Exotic? I find that hard to believe, especially considering the fact that Drew, Steph and I have spoken via e-mail as far back as December and as recently as today