Report Rule-Breaking Website Linking: Seeking Guidance for Unfair Practices

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

This thread centers around concerns regarding the violation of website linking rules within the Pampered Chef community, particularly on social media platforms. Participants share their experiences and seek clarification on the policies related to advertising and personal website links.

Discussion Character

  • Opinion-based
  • Anecdotal
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration over a local consultant who frequently breaks website linking rules in public forums.
  • Another participant mentions that if a Facebook page is private, it may not be searchable, which could affect reporting violations.
  • A new consultant seeks clarification on the rules to avoid making mistakes regarding website linking.
  • Several participants reference the Advertising and Publicity Policies, noting that direct links to personal websites are not allowed in public forums.
  • One participant shares their interpretation of the rules, believing that including a website address in personal email signatures is permissible.
  • Another participant discusses the importance of keeping personal and business communications separate on social media.
  • Some participants mention the potential for upcoming changes to the policies, expressing hope for updates that align with current communication practices.
  • One participant highlights that despite speculation about policy changes, current violations still need to be addressed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the interpretation of the rules regarding website linking, with some participants seeking clarification while others assert their understanding of the policies. There is no clear consensus on how to handle reported violations.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a mix of experiences and interpretations of the Pampered Chef policies, particularly among newer consultants and those more familiar with the rules. The conversation also touches on the evolving nature of communication methods within the community.

Who May Find This Useful

This thread may be useful for Pampered Chef consultants seeking to understand the nuances of website linking policies and how they apply to social media and personal communications.

M
MakinBacon
Messages
54
There is a woman in my town who blatantly breaks the rules about website linking, etc. I mean its CONSTANT. In public forums, every single Facebook Post, etc.

How do I report it?

I hate to be THAT person, but if I can't link everywhere I wish I could, its not really fair that she does it with no regard to the rules, right?
 
If her FB page is set to private it isn't searchable, which is what the HO is looking for. You can email the HO about violations.
 
I'm very new to PC, so I am not familiar with all the rules, yet. Could someone please be kind enough to explain this rule to me, so that I don't make the same mistake? :angel:
 
Gillian, you can get all the detail about Advertising and Publicity Policies in the Policy Guide on CC:

https://www.pamperedchef.com/images/cc/us/pdf/consultant_policy_guide.pdf

It starts on page 36 of the PDF document. Internet/Web info starts on page 38.

The bottom line is that we are not allowed to directly link to our PWS anywhere on the internet (which means you should remove it from your signature. You can use /citchencoture so it's not a live link), and we cannot state that we are a consultant online.

There is a lot more useful information in the PG, and I recommend reading through it at least once, so you know what is in there. That way, when you have a question in the future, you'll know where to find the detailed answer.

MakinBacon - if you do wish to report a violation, you can do so at [email protected], but like Rae said, if it's not open and accessible by HO, they might not do anything.
 
Thanks for the info. So am I misunderstanding the section that reads? -

"The second exception pertains to personal electronic
communications. You may continue to include your Personal
Web Site address as part of your contact information or
signature on e-invitations, any e-mails that are currently
available through your Personal Web Site and your personal
e-mails to your customers. These communications may link
to your Personal Web Site. This also includes any electronic
mail pieces that may be developed by our licensed
merchandise vendor."

I interpret this to mean that my website address may be a part of my e-mail signature. Please advise, thank you so much!
 
Citchen Couture said:
Thanks for the info. So am I misunderstanding the section that reads? -

"The second exception pertains to personal electronic
communications. You may continue to include your Personal
Web Site address as part of your contact information or
signature on e-invitations, any e-mails that are currently
available through your Personal Web Site and your personal
e-mails to your customers. These communications may link
to your Personal Web Site. This also includes any electronic
mail pieces that may be developed by our licensed
merchandise vendor."

I interpret this to mean that my website address may be a part of my e-mail signature. Please advise, thank you so much!
Click to expand...


Yes that is correct it can be part of your email signature but it can not be part of your signature on here.
 
Citchen Couture said:
Thanks for the info. So am I misunderstanding the section that reads? -

"The second exception pertains to personal electronic
communications. You may continue to include your Personal
Web Site address as part of your contact information or
signature on e-invitations, any e-mails that are currently
available through your Personal Web Site and your personal
e-mails to your customers. These communications may link
to your Personal Web Site. This also includes any electronic
mail pieces that may be developed by our licensed
merchandise vendor."

I interpret this to mean that my website address may be a part of my e-mail signature. Please advise, thank you so much!
Click to expand...



That's correct!
 
chefheidi2003 said:
Yes that is correct it can be part of your email signature but it can not be part of your signature on here.
Click to expand...

This. As I mentioned, you can put it in your signature here on CS as "/citchencouture" and we'll all know how to get to your site to look at it, but it won't be a live link, and thus a violation.
 
Citchen Couture said:
Thanks for the info. So am I misunderstanding the section that reads? -

"The second exception pertains to personal electronic
communications. You may continue to include your Personal
Web Site address as part of your contact information or
signature on e-invitations, any e-mails that are currently
available through your Personal Web Site and your personal
e-mails to your customers. These communications may link
to your Personal Web Site. This also includes any electronic
mail pieces that may be developed by our licensed
merchandise vendor."

I interpret this to mean that my website address may be a part of my e-mail signature. Please advise, thank you so much!
Click to expand...

So, not here b/c this is public. Also, FB is not any of the above, so that is why it is not allowed.

Sandi
 
Thanks everybody for the kind help!
 
  • Thread starter
  • #11
Thanks for the information all. There is a PUBLIC facebook group wherein she simply posted in the discussions that she was a consultant, gave her link and listed specials. Also, when someone online asks what I do, I say "I'm a direct sales consultant for a kitchenware company" and if they ask "which one" I private message them. but, i also keep my stuff private on facebook/myspace.but if you google Pampered Chef, a LOT of facebook and myspace pages come up.
 
You know, there is a 2008 trivet on Ebay right now that is up to $22. I know, not really related to this topic but I still find it interesting that someone would pay that much for it on Ebay.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #13
Some of the stuff on Ebay goes for MUCH higher than you can buy it from in-catalog. Even the current stuff sells for much higher. I've gone looking to build my kit for cheap, but never ordered anything because I can get it cheaper with my discount or host a show for myself, etc.I DO buy it from yard-sales though.
I got the Easy Accent Decorator for $5 a couple of weeks ago. BRAND NEW with all the parts, paperwork, box, etc! :D
 
MakinBacon said:
There is a woman in my town who blatantly breaks the rules about website linking, etc. I mean its CONSTANT. In public forums, every single Facebook Post, etc.

How do I report it?

I hate to be THAT person, but if I can't link everywhere I wish I could, its not really fair that she does it with no regard to the rules, right?
Click to expand...

I know people who do that too in my team! I even see people who are here on CS do it on FB. You'd think with how often it's talked about here they'd know better...or maybe they're just blatently ignoring it?

According to my director, they are going to be changing these policies soon. The buzz here is that they'll hopefully be announcing it at conference. The policies are just so outdated to our culture now! I mean, I rarely even use the phone now! I do most, if not all, of my communication via e-mail, FB & texting.
 
mrshamel3808 said:
The buzz here is that they'll hopefully be announcing it at conference.
Click to expand...

You know, the buzz is definately stronger this year but that was also something people thought would happen next year. I would like them to change the rules a little, too. But there is going to be a fine line we have to walk still I would imagine. The main point is, we can speculate all we want to but until it is changed by HO, it is still a violation. There are a lot of people who are doing it now and saying..........well, I've heard there is going to be a change so............

Until the change, those people are still breaking the rules. None means none.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #16
The closest thing I do as far as "Advertising" on FB, I have a separate account for business related contacts. Mostly because I feel like its unprofessional to let people contact me by FB and post stuff about my son learning to go potty or walking for the first time or how my hubby's late coming home from work again because one of his students is a doofus and forgot to turn in paperwork, etc.So, I created a separate account so my business contacts don't see as much about my personal life and since both are friends only, my "Business" FB account doesn't irritate non-customers when I say "OOOOH! New specials are out for August!" (without mentioning what I do or PC, etc...just that new specials are out) or "Just tried a new recipe! AMAZING" and stuff like that. Everybody I know knows that I'm a consultant :D
 
I assumed having a seperate account from your personal facebook and stating yourself an "Independent Consultant with Pampered Chef" WAS legal nowadays?? :confused: I didn't think we had to "hide" anymore...
 
Laura, this is an older thread from before the updated policies went into effect.
 
Ohhhh!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Sorry!! When I logged on this morning, I was just scanning down through the posts on the main page and saw this! LOL!! My bad!
 
....or maybe not. It might have been a "related post" and I saw it on another page at the bottom. I think that might have been it.
 
Citchen Couture said:
Thanks for the info. So am I misunderstanding the section that reads? -

"The second exception pertains to personal electronic
communications. You may continue to include your Personal
Web Site address as part of your contact information or
signature on e-invitations, any e-mails that are currently
available through your Personal Web Site and your personal
e-mails to your customers. These communications may link
to your Personal Web Site. This also includes any electronic
mail pieces that may be developed by our licensed
merchandise vendor."

I interpret this to mean that my website address may be a part of my e-mail signature. Please advise, thank you so much!
Click to expand...

No, you can use it as a part of your email signature.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered a rule-breaking website in direct sales?

A rule-breaking website in direct sales typically refers to any online platform that violates the policies set by the direct sales company, such as unauthorized sales pages, misleading promotions, or sites that misrepresent the brand. These websites may not follow the company's guidelines for branding, pricing, or customer engagement.

How can I report a rule-breaking website?

You can report a rule-breaking website by gathering evidence of the violation, such as screenshots or links, and then submitting this information to the direct sales company's compliance or legal department. Most companies have a specific process for reporting such issues, often found on their official website.

What are the consequences for rule-breaking websites?

Consequences for rule-breaking websites can vary, but they may include legal action, removal of the offending site, or penalties against the individuals involved. The direct sales company may also take steps to protect its brand and ensure compliance with its policies.

Can I take action against a competitor's unfair practices?

Yes, if you believe a competitor is engaging in unfair practices, you can report them to the direct sales company. Provide any evidence you have to support your claim. However, it's important to ensure that your report is factual and not based on personal grievances.

What should I do if I encounter unfair practices?

If you encounter unfair practices, document the evidence and report it to the appropriate authorities within the direct sales company. Additionally, you may want to consult with other representatives or seek guidance from your upline for support and advice on how to proceed.

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