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Up to Discussions in Marketing Your Properties
1027 Views 7 Replies Latest reply: Jan 6, 2013 12:17 PM by densheff RSS
jbarbara321 Contributor
jbarbara321
41 posts since
Mar 17, 2011
Currently Being Moderated

Sep 8, 2012 9:31 AM

Stealing My Advertisement Descriptions

I have an unusual issue and not sure how to handle it or if I should just let it be.  I advertise with 2 orher websites besides HomeAway and have 2 properties in the Adirondack Mountains in NY.  I have noticed over the last few years that people who are new to renting in my area are copying part of my house and area descriptions and using them to advertise their house. In the past, I just changed my descritpion to make it original again and didn't think much of it.  

 

This morning, I noticed a new house went up for rental in my area and they copied and pasted my description of my house and the area, cleaning fees, things to do, rental rates, personal quotes etc. WORD FOR WORD!  The only thing they changed was the amount of bedrooms and took out "fireplace" because they don't have one.  On one of the websites, we are the only 2 houses in the town and we had the exact property description!  I ended up changing it but do I say something to her?

  • mlbmaine Active Contributor
    mlbmaine
    375 posts since
    Mar 2, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    Sep 10, 2012 9:53 PM (in response to jbarbara321)
    Re: Stealing My Advertisement Descriptions

    I think that I would say something to the other property's owner.  I know that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, but this is ridiculous. I think that it would create a negative impression of each property with potential renters.  It could also confuse potential renters and they might think that the properties belong to the same owner because the descriptions are the same.

     

    Also, you mention that they have copied "personal quotes."  Are you referring to guest reviews of your property?  If they are copying those, that sounds like fraud to me.  If they are making up bogus reviews of their property by copying your guest reviews, I think that you should notify VRBO/HomeAway and see if they will take some sort of action against the owner of the other listing.  Good luck!

    • jbarbara321 Contributor
      jbarbara321
      41 posts since
      Mar 17, 2011
      Currently Being Moderated
      Sep 11, 2012 5:22 PM (in response to mlbmaine)
      Re: Stealing My Advertisement Descriptions

      Thanks for your input.  I have decided that I am going to call her and

      say something.  I spent a lot of time perfecting my description of my

      house and area and resent the fact that I had to change mine again

      because she was too lazy to come up with her own.  Who copies and pastes

      someones advertisement and doesn't even try to change it at least a

      little?  I will be nice but will make it clear that I want her to change

      it so I can change mine back.

       

      I include some quotes from reviews as part of my description like " All

      the local scoop has been provided for you.   Just bring some food and

      clothes and enjoy a hassle free Adirondack vacation!" and "Scenic hiking

      trails, fishing, water sports, etc...a true Adirondack experience."  She

      used my entire rental fee page and even had the same rates (I have a 2

      bedroom and she has a 4 bedroom), same special mid-week rates and

      descriptions. She even copy and pasted my cleaning policy and rates and

      the fact that I only use non-toxic cleaning supplies.  Our houses are

      nothing alike (mine is MUCH nicer ;>) so it really boggles my mind.

       

      Jean

       

      If you've never experienced the joy of accomplishing more than you can imagine, plant a garden.  ~Robert Brault

  • densheff New Member
    densheff
    7 posts since
    Sep 20, 2012
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jan 5, 2013 10:31 AM (in response to jbarbara321)
    Re: Stealing My Advertisement Descriptions

    I was the first one in my area to advertise on VRBO in 2001 and after a few years of great success others signed on. I find my discriptions, rates and policies on almost all of the competetors sites. In this market R&D means "Rip Off and Duplicate". That's just the way it goes.

    • carol Community Ambassador
      carol
      940 posts since
      Dec 10, 2010
      Currently Being Moderated
      Jan 5, 2013 11:14 AM (in response to densheff)
      Re: Stealing My Advertisement Descriptions

      Rates and policies would not be covered under copyright protection, but descriptions should be.   I would contact the other owners and protest, but try to keep it cordial.  They are your competitors, but they also are your allies when it comes to standing up to local regulations.  

       

      Perhaps you could also try to complain to HA?  They are violating the Terms and Conditions of HA advertising:

       

      ...Terms does not include any right of collection, aggregation, copying, scraping, duplication, display or derivative use of the Site nor any right of use of data mining, robots, spiders or similar data gathering and extraction tools without our prior written permission; ...

       


      • jbarbara321 Contributor
        jbarbara321
        41 posts since
        Mar 17, 2011
        Currently Being Moderated
        Jan 5, 2013 11:50 AM (in response to carol)
        Re: Stealing My Advertisement Descriptions

        Thank you for your input.  They obviously copied and pasted my description of my cabin off my page (the houses are NOTHING alike) and my description of the neighborhood and town, fun things to do in the area and all of my little catch phrases that I used.  She just changed the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.  The only reason I found it was because every few months I will look at the other rentals in my area to see what my competition is and make sure my prices are competitive.  I do know her and it is a very small community so I hesitated saying anything and just ended up just changing my description.  If she does it again, I will definetely say something.

         

        It was on Adirondack by Owner not HA and I did end up calling them to ask if they had a policy.  They do not but will be looking into it and possibly adding one.  They did offer to e-mail or call her and tell her that they noticed on their own that her description was too similiar to mine and that she would need to change it.

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