Is it okay for a vendor to post that you bought cigars from them?

[cinda]

As a small business owner I believe that transactions between myself and the customers are private. It maybe legal to respond openly to a buyer if he/she gave me permission and/or first responded to me openly, but by in large, it is a bad idea to get in that habit. I deal with a number of people in a years time and there is no way I can remember who's, who all the time. It makes more sense to me just to treat the transaction the same way all the time then I don't need to question what I did and with whom. As CC said there are people buying gifts and some people just don't want others to know what might be in their homes, for safety reasons. Over the years working at different shows a number of men come to my husband for tools and they don't want their wifes to find out. Personally I don't want their wives to find out either, for obvious reasons. As for posting customers information and/or transitions on the INTERNET, to me that is inviting trouble. There are million plus people in this box. All with a million different personality and moods according to how their own life is fairing. I will be kind and say a 1/3 of them just are here to channel their multiple personalties and feed their need for drama. Furthermore, in a world where you can sue someone for spilling hot coffee on yourself, at their establishment and win, why would you want to leave your self open. For us, if we have a repeat customer and maybe we know he/she has made referrals we will give him/her a good price on his/her next purchase. Now I will hold my breath for CC to red pen my post

[CoventryCat86]

Well, many of you probably already know why I'm asking this question. TBSCigars PUBLICLY POSTED that I bought cigars from him (which actually was a lie in the first place as I never placed an order with him). He started a thread on his site trashing me and the subject came up regarding him posting his acknowledgement of the alleged sale. Someone stated that he should not have done this even if I DID INDEED buy cigars from him. He and his asswipers over on StogieChat are trying to say this is okay. Well so far, here are the poll results:

CigarPass:
NO: 44
YES: 0

ClubStogie:
NO: 35
YES: 0

CigarSmokers:
NO: 16
YES: 0

Gee, Eric, so far its

95 to 0

and the poll has only been running for 11 hours

Looks like ole Eric aka TBSCigars is DEAD WRONG once again!!!

[cockyhoskins]

Definitely not. If you want to post a thread saying "I got my cigars. Thanks", then they can respond. Otherwise, no.

[Dmitri]

Honestly, I think it should be a private matter but I do agree with some of you that if the buyer posts, praising the deal the seller should respond, or if the buyer were to give permission for the seller to post for whatever reason.

[Eshaw99]

(Hey look at that, two shiny pennies!)

I don't think a vendor should publicly disclose that someone bought from them. Say someone like CC, who is a respected member of several boards (not that I respect you, you old fart!) makes a purchase from an online vendor. Then that vendor makes a post saying something like "You can trust me, CoventryCat86 does!." In essence, that vendor is using the members name to advertise their business. It may not be worded that bluntly, but it's the same thing. I'm guessing that the member in question receives NO compensation, therefore it should not be done.

[Kenyth]

Absolutely not! Purchase information should be kept confidential except where prescribed differently by law. Even then, the information should be used only for the explicit purposes of that law, and seen only by government agents with a need to know. An example being firearms purchase records and investigating law enforcement officials.

[Island Epicurean]

It should be confidential.