What is the name of your state? Florida
I am the owner of a growing internet business (www.scrapbookersplayground.com). I've been online now for just over a year and a half. A few months ago I had to part company with a staff member (volunteer) whom I had hoped at one point to make into a partner. I had found out she had been undermining me and my business for some time, and there were other issues involved as well.
My business is one where other vendors come to sell. It's not like ebay. They enter their products here on a permanent basis as long as they are associated with us, and the products are downloadable graphics type products.
What this person is doing is going to these vendors and telling them I am dishonest and that I don't pay my vendors all they earn. This is not true and I can prove this. On a case by case basis I can prove myself against any of these accusations. My problem is, they are done in secret and all I see are the aftermaths of them.
Recently it has also come to my attention that she is sending out to vendors and former vendors copies of previous invoices from customers to "prove" to them that thay didn't always get paid. This is misleading. We have people who download the products for quality control and other staff reasons, and the vendors know this. But when she sends these invoices out, she misleads them into thinking they were actual sales, when she knows very well they were not. Moreover, she did sign a non-disclosure agreement, so isn't this a violation of that?
I am aware of at least 3 vendors who either did not sign up with me, or who left because of not trusting me. In a forum in the community, another vendor who had been laboring under a misconception ranted and raved, not naming my site directly, but accusing me of dishonesty. While she kept saying she was careful not to name names, it was very easy to tell who she was talking about. ALl one had to do was click on her blog link to see where she had been selling.
I got on the forum and publicly stated who I was, stated all the issues, explained them, and offered to have any representative of their choice come and examine my records. I did manage to defuse this particular situation by doing this. People began to come to my defense, and the original poster deleted the thred, unfortunately before many people had the chance to see my reply or those of my supporters.
The owner of this forum then stated no one could make accusations anymore without showing proof.
However, it just goes on. Now an old vendor, who left 6 months ago, has come with a "list of things" she is saying she never got paid for. Through the grapevine I discovered that she is in contact with this person I'm talking about, and that they plan to take this to the forum mentioned here and provide this as proof that I don't pay my vendors.
Let me share with you the type of emails I am having to deal with, and the level of venom that is in the posts they make:
This is the latest incident.
Now all she did was provide a list of products. all of which appear on her sales reports for which she has been paid. So I wrote back requesting invoice numebrs:
This was her reply to that, and this pretty much showsthat she, and by extension they, do not want answers they want blood.
I just want this to stop. It is taking up my valuable time and losing me business. They are putting this in their blogs now too, and are on a definite smear campaign. It just seems that being the internet I have no recourse. All but the original person mentioned may very well believe I have cheated them, and are feeling quite passionate and righteous in their actions. But that's because this person is very persuasive, and very clever in how she presents things. I simply don't have thousands of dollers to sue her, and even I did and won, she doewsn't have a pot.
I feel very helpless and frustrated. I am in Florida, this person is in a different state. Some of the people involved are not even in this country. I just want it to stop. Is thre something that can be done, letters written or the like, that can possibly make her realize what she is doing is actionable? Is it actionable? Is it libel, or at least harassment?
Any advice you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Katrina Haney
Owner, Scrapbooker's PlaygroundWhat is the name of your state?
I am the owner of a growing internet business (www.scrapbookersplayground.com). I've been online now for just over a year and a half. A few months ago I had to part company with a staff member (volunteer) whom I had hoped at one point to make into a partner. I had found out she had been undermining me and my business for some time, and there were other issues involved as well.
My business is one where other vendors come to sell. It's not like ebay. They enter their products here on a permanent basis as long as they are associated with us, and the products are downloadable graphics type products.
What this person is doing is going to these vendors and telling them I am dishonest and that I don't pay my vendors all they earn. This is not true and I can prove this. On a case by case basis I can prove myself against any of these accusations. My problem is, they are done in secret and all I see are the aftermaths of them.
Recently it has also come to my attention that she is sending out to vendors and former vendors copies of previous invoices from customers to "prove" to them that thay didn't always get paid. This is misleading. We have people who download the products for quality control and other staff reasons, and the vendors know this. But when she sends these invoices out, she misleads them into thinking they were actual sales, when she knows very well they were not. Moreover, she did sign a non-disclosure agreement, so isn't this a violation of that?
I am aware of at least 3 vendors who either did not sign up with me, or who left because of not trusting me. In a forum in the community, another vendor who had been laboring under a misconception ranted and raved, not naming my site directly, but accusing me of dishonesty. While she kept saying she was careful not to name names, it was very easy to tell who she was talking about. ALl one had to do was click on her blog link to see where she had been selling.
I got on the forum and publicly stated who I was, stated all the issues, explained them, and offered to have any representative of their choice come and examine my records. I did manage to defuse this particular situation by doing this. People began to come to my defense, and the original poster deleted the thred, unfortunately before many people had the chance to see my reply or those of my supporters.
The owner of this forum then stated no one could make accusations anymore without showing proof.
However, it just goes on. Now an old vendor, who left 6 months ago, has come with a "list of things" she is saying she never got paid for. Through the grapevine I discovered that she is in contact with this person I'm talking about, and that they plan to take this to the forum mentioned here and provide this as proof that I don't pay my vendors.
Let me share with you the type of emails I am having to deal with, and the level of venom that is in the posts they make:
This is the latest incident.
I am writing to request pay that was withheld from my checks for the months of May, June and July 2006. I have obtained the actual sales reports for those months & compared them with the Sales Reports provided to me by your company with my pay during the same time period. I've found several sales left out of my pay, so I am requesting payment for those items, plus interest at the rate of 7%.
I've itemized a list (attached) of the items I was not paid for, along with my calcuations. I made certain I did not calculate those items received by CT members of Scrapbookers Playground or for my own CT. I am also sending you a PayPal invoice for the total of $41.24. At this time, I am opting not to charge for my accounting services, but I reserve the right to do so in the future.
Your prompt attention to this matter would be appreciated. If payment is not received by 12:00 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2006, further action will be taken.
I've itemized a list (attached) of the items I was not paid for, along with my calcuations. I made certain I did not calculate those items received by CT members of Scrapbookers Playground or for my own CT. I am also sending you a PayPal invoice for the total of $41.24. At this time, I am opting not to charge for my accounting services, but I reserve the right to do so in the future.
Your prompt attention to this matter would be appreciated. If payment is not received by 12:00 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2006, further action will be taken.
Now all she did was provide a list of products. all of which appear on her sales reports for which she has been paid. So I wrote back requesting invoice numebrs:
There is no way we can tell anything from what you sent. My sales reports indicate that you were paid for these products, but there is no way to know if you are speaking of different ones from what I have listed. You need top provide customer names or order numbers for comparison.
Also, you say you have obtained actual sales reports? If so then you did not obtain them from either Pam or myself, and in that case I can have no assurance that they are accurate. Additionally, if you obtained any sales reports or other documentation regarding my business, they were obtained illegally.
Nevertheless, IF money is owed and can be definitely verified, even after all this time, then it will be paid. But I cannot possibly take your word for it, nor this list as any kind of proof. You need to provide me with more information.
Also, you say you have obtained actual sales reports? If so then you did not obtain them from either Pam or myself, and in that case I can have no assurance that they are accurate. Additionally, if you obtained any sales reports or other documentation regarding my business, they were obtained illegally.
Nevertheless, IF money is owed and can be definitely verified, even after all this time, then it will be paid. But I cannot possibly take your word for it, nor this list as any kind of proof. You need to provide me with more information.
This was her reply to that, and this pretty much showsthat she, and by extension they, do not want answers they want blood.
You know ~ I was being nice enough to make the list in the first place. You have my sales reports & you have the receipts ~ the very same information I have. You also know that you stole from your designers and you continue to do so ~ this is a pattern for you.
If you want invoice numbers, I will be more than happy to provide you with this information, but I will also charge you for the cost of my research ~ what I have already put into this & what I will further put into it to research this at the rate of $20/hour. If I give you the list of invoice numbers (and I will again remind you that this is information you already have in your possession) do you have any intention of paying me for my portions of my sales? Before I take more of my valuable time away from my family to search further into this theft of yours, what are your intentions for paying me?
If you want invoice numbers, I will be more than happy to provide you with this information, but I will also charge you for the cost of my research ~ what I have already put into this & what I will further put into it to research this at the rate of $20/hour. If I give you the list of invoice numbers (and I will again remind you that this is information you already have in your possession) do you have any intention of paying me for my portions of my sales? Before I take more of my valuable time away from my family to search further into this theft of yours, what are your intentions for paying me?
I just want this to stop. It is taking up my valuable time and losing me business. They are putting this in their blogs now too, and are on a definite smear campaign. It just seems that being the internet I have no recourse. All but the original person mentioned may very well believe I have cheated them, and are feeling quite passionate and righteous in their actions. But that's because this person is very persuasive, and very clever in how she presents things. I simply don't have thousands of dollers to sue her, and even I did and won, she doewsn't have a pot.
I feel very helpless and frustrated. I am in Florida, this person is in a different state. Some of the people involved are not even in this country. I just want it to stop. Is thre something that can be done, letters written or the like, that can possibly make her realize what she is doing is actionable? Is it actionable? Is it libel, or at least harassment?
Any advice you can give me on this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Katrina Haney
Owner, Scrapbooker's PlaygroundWhat is the name of your state?