Concern about JREF Season of Reason email

[Babbylonian]

I just received the email requesting donations for the end-of-the-year donation drive, and I'm happy to support the Foundation. But I feel I should point out that having all the links in the email (including the originating address) go to a domain (vresp.com) other than randi.org made me a bit leery of the email's provenance. Once I went to the JREF homepage my concerns were allayed but I think it's possible others might not take the time if they have any suspicion that something might be fishy.

[AdMan]

I noticed the vresp.com URL, but when I clicked on the link, it took me here:

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/1142-season-of-reason-a-bright-future.html

Vresp.com is just Vertical Response (http://www.verticalresponse.com/), which manages the JREF's email marketing.

[Babbylonian]

I noticed the vresp.com URL, but when I clicked on the link, it took me here:

http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/jref-news/1142-season-of-reason-a-bright-future.html

Vresp.com is just Vertical Response (http://www.verticalresponse.com/), which manages the JREF's email marketing.
Yeah, I know that now since after posting I took the chance with the links. Still, I'm pretty careful about hitting links in emails (thus I suffer from malware infections only once in a very great while), so when I hover over a link and see a "wrong" URL I usually mark it as spam and ignore it. I've advised others in the past to do the same

[Elizabeth I]

I'd like to add that I sent in a donation and I'm pretty sure I asked NOT to get the ornament but it was sent to me anyhow and I'm somewhat appalled that its value is shown as $20. I'd have been just as happy to not receive something worth much, much less, and have more of the donations go to the foundation.

[AdMan]

I'd like to add that I sent in a donation and I'm pretty sure I asked NOT to get the ornament but it was sent to me anyhow and I'm somewhat appalled that its value is shown as $20. I'd have been just as happy to not receive something worth much, much less, and have more of the donations go to the foundation.


That value may only be for tax purposes (as contributions are tax deductible). I don't know if it necessarily means that $20 did in fact go to pay for each ornament. Perhaps the value is overestimated to be on the safe side and not get in trouble with the IRS..?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

That value may only be for tax purposes (as contributions are tax deductible). I don't know if it necessarily means that $20 did in fact go to pay for each ornament. Perhaps the value is overestimated to be on the safe side and not get in trouble with the IRS..?

That would be my guess.

The magazine I get from my membership in the zoo/art museum/etc is always "valued" at $15 or $20, IIRC, even though no reasonable person would pay more than 50 cents for it.