Has anybody else been getting unsolicited emails (with tracking links) from chef Benjamin Christie asking us to visit his posts and comment?
A couple of us down under were wondering if this was a bit spammy as he's using professional emarketing companies to track clicks and is overtly trying to ssell stuff on his site.
This is what Matt said at Abstract Gourmet and I said at Tomato.
What do you think?
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19 comments:
Yep, I've been getting these too and ignoring them--seems pretty spam-like to me.
I received this e-mail--seemed totally fishy so I didn't even open the Web page. Just the subject line (Food Blog Secrets, or something like that) was a tip-off. I had no idea the guy was a "celebrity chef" either--had never even heard of him.
Benjamin Christie is a spammer in chef's blogger's clothing. Check out a past discussion about Benjamin Christie right here on Food Blog S'cool.
I asked him before to stop spamming me and I marked him as spam. It's been over a year since I last heard from him. Maybe his email address has changed and he has gotten through my spam filter. Recently I have had two emails. One about his article on food photography and the other how to blog.
His how to blog article is mediocre and partially full of BS as anyone who reads this site regularly knows. Some of the things he says are just not even true.
I believe that he is trying to soften up food bloggers by weedling his way into their mail boxes under the pretence of being pally pally in order to try and get exposure.
I ain't falling for it.
His new solicitations are headed for my spam filter too...
PS - I also hate the way he addresses me "Dear Becks & Posh" - a sure fire way of telling it is a solicitation as anyone who knows me personally, albeit virtually, would (and does) simply call me by my name, Sam.
I agree that his recent e-mail was quite annoying. I especially found it annoying that he asked me to leave a comment on his photography post. I just deleted the e-mail.
I'm with Sam. The writing has been really poor. I didn't know he was a spammer. I just thought he was a mediocre blogger, desperate for some attention. I ignore him.
more on mr christie - he actually is a real chef and what he is trying to do is promote a line of australian cooking spices and a bunch of other stuff. the problem is that he is going about it the wrong way. if he was jnust open and said 'i am a chef trying to market these things to the world - are you interested?' he'd do a lot better.
A much better way to try out all this ozzie stuff is to wait until the next time the noodle chef of the electric kitchen wins the paper chef contest and then sends every single entrant a care package of australian spices and goodies. And with him there are no strings attached - just a love of his native land - plus you get to know his totally inventive cooking style.
yeah, I fell for this when he sent the one out on food photography, asking for feedback. I sent him some, in email though, rather than putting my thoughts in comments. I have to say I was surprised by all the kind words he had in comments to that post, which I thought was average writing at best and had less than average photos as examples.
When I got his latest email, I started realizing it was spam. He's in my junk folder now too.
Yes, I've received a few of his emails, too. I went to look at the posts, and didn't bother commenting simply because they didn't really interest me that much. Just not my thing.
yea, I've recieved a couple of emails from him as well, asking me to visit his site and read a few posts that would interest me. I had no idea he was a celebrity chef. I just didn't the look of the email or his site, so never thought of visiting again.
the thing is Matt - they never seem to so we don't need to worry about it.
But even if he did use my name I wouldnt fall for it. But by the fact he doesn't, I cotton to his scheme a nonsecond quicker.
Yes, I have been getting those e-mails as well...I just delete 'em.
Interestingly, Christie just got himself interviewed on FoodCandy:
http://www.foodcandy.com/AccountStoryView.aspx?id=101
It makes more sense now that I know he's Vic Cherikoff's partner. Vic is infamous for posting anonymous or newbie posts on food forums and blogs all over the world suggesting people try the Vic Cherikoff Dining Down-Under store and directing them there, without revealing his ownership.
Believe it or not, I actually interview people I want on FC vs. people who ask me to :) I met Vic in NYC a while ago and we talked about spices - his stories were fascinating. So I thought I'd talk to Benjamin who is his partner. They seem to have their stuff well together, too bad he's spamming people - everyone makes mistakes.
trouble is - he had his mistakes pointed out to him a year and a half ago and he paid no heed. I would have had more respect for him if he'sd apologized and changed his ways. But he hasn't. Yes everyone makes mistakes, I do all the time myself, but the best people say sorry and then try and take care not to make the same mistakes again and agian and again.
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