Jan. 5, 2004: For Immediate Release Contact: Don Smith, parisphoto snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com (to avoid spam filters use the Subject line of: ?Sound Ford?? )
Sound Ford in WA State sued for sending SPAM
On April 23, 2002, Don Smith, a Washington State resident, received postal junk mail about a ?prize promotion? from Sound Ford which is also located in WA State. The next day he received another piece of postal junk mail, which was yet another prize promotion from the very same car dealer. In many respects these appear to comply with the law. On the third day, April 25, 2002, Sound Ford sent him Spam or UCE (unsolicited commercial email) in an apparent violation of WA State?s anti-spam law (RCW 19.190) and in this prize promotion was omitted the ?odds of winning? which are required by state law. (RCW 19.170, ?Promotional Advertising of Prizes?)
After three days of constant junk mail from Sound Ford, Smith contacted their attorney to settle the matter concerning the Spam. On May 16, 2002, Sound Ford offered to settle for $500.00 but unfortunately the dealerships? attorney did nothing to follow up on his offer. Smith said: ?The postal junk mail proves they were targeting Washington State residents. It?s beyond belief to think that they would expect someone from Arkansas to drive onto their lot. It would seem that if you buy a car or truck from Sound Ford then you could get Spammed for life?.
A year later, on Sept. 5, 2003, Smith received a second settlement offer of $500.00 along with a release from Sound Ford. When he asked them to strike one or two sentences the dealerships? attorney Boyd F. Buckingham, spoke to the spammer they hired and came to the conclusion that their Spam was indeed legal. For the second time Sound Ford?s attorney had made an offer of $500.00 to settle the matter and did nothing.
Smith was amazed that a car dealer would be Spamming people in Washington state. He said: ?In 1998 Aurora Nissan (in Seattle) spammed people. People picketed the dealership with a wide range of TV, radio and newspapers covering the story. Why Sound Ford didn?t learn that lesson four (4) years ago is pretty disturbing.? In addition he commented: ?Why Sound Ford can read about the WA State Attorney General obtaining a judgment of $93,197.00 plus change against an Oregon spammer and then expect you to buy a Ford after they?ve spammed you, well it has to make you wonder who?s minding the store.?
After Sound Ford made two (2) settlement offers and did nothing Smith had no choice but to file suit. ?After the Aurora Nissan disaster in
1998 and two failed offers to settle for $500.00, seeing their attorney do nothing and believe everything their Spammer told him, well it?s a great insight into how Sound Ford they do business. Buy a Ford and you?ll probably get Spammed for life ?Sound Ford has been fined before: On April 9, 2002, Sound Ford Inc. in Renton, Washington was fined $7,000 by the Department of Licensing for failing to transfer seven (7) vehicle titles within the proper
45-day time frame.Don Smith: parisphoto snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com Whois record, owner of Sound Ford: Richard Synder, snipped-for-privacy@soundford.com Tel: +425.235.1000 / Fax: +425.430.2378 Sound Ford attorney: Boyd F. Buckingham snipped-for-privacy@qwest.net
+425/228-6662 Master contact list of Sound Ford Internet team: