General

ADMA celebrates Privacy Awareness Week

01 May 2012

ADMA is delighted to be an official partner of Privacy Awareness Week again in 2012.

Privacy Awareness Week is an Asia Pacific Initiative that includes activities to promote privacy awareness in countries including the USA, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Korea and Hong Kong.

ADMA is celebrating Privacy Awareness Week by providing a unique insight into the international world of privacy.

Group Buying Merchant Guide

08 March 2012

ADMA and AIMIA have today jointly released a merchant’s guide to group buying.

"The guide has been developed to help businesses deliver a group buying experience that is positive for both consumers and the business. The guide is another important step in improving standards in group buying that will ultimately benefit consumers." said Jodie Sangster ADMA CEO.

The guide has been designed around specific considerations for businesses including:

• Structuring a product or service offering for a deal that fits well within their business capacity and sales and marketing strategy
• Understanding the terms of the merchant agreement with a group buying provider
• Preparing for the redemption or fulfilment of the offer
• Tips for acquiring repeat business from group buying customers
• Dealing with customer complaints related to the offer
• Key legal issues and obligations to be aware of

The guide complements the Australian Group Buying Code of Conduct which was released in November 2011.

ABC News interviews ADMA CEO - Jodie Sangster about the Australian Group Buying Code

06 November 2011

In a world first ADMA has taken the lead to develop a Code of Practice specifically for the group buying industry. ABC News interviews ADMA CEO, Jodie Sangster, to discuss why the Code of Practice is needed, what protection consumers have, and the impact on the future of Group Buying in the Australian marketplace.

Click to view ABC News interviewwith Jodie Sangster

Australia takes the lead - Group Buying Code of Conduct Launches

02 November 2011

The Group buying phenomenon has taken Australia by storm and today ADMA is pleased to announce the launch of the Australian Group Buying Code of Practice.

This initiative is a world-first, with ADMA and AIMIA taking the lead to develop a Code of Practice specifically for the group buying industry. The Code will both establish industry benchmarks for group buying sites and also introduce standards that will increase consumer confidence.

Group buying has gone from strength-to-strength in Australia. A new market report published by Telsyte shows that the group buying market grew from $123.9 million in Q2 2011 to $158.5 million in Q3 2011 and is well on track to exceed market forecast of $400 million for the 2011 calendar year.

The Group Buying Code has been launched along with a logo that identifies Group Buying Code Members. The logo can be used by companies that actively become signatories to the Code and agree to abide by the standards contained within. Leading group buying companies that have already come on board as founding signatories include OurDeal, Cudo, Spreets, Groupon, LivingSocial, Ouffer, Scoopon and Jump On It.

ADMA has been instrumental in developing the Code provisions and will continue to play a key role in this important self-regulatory initiative that will maintain high industry standards now and in the future.

Why has a Code of practice been developed?

Group buying is growing at such a rapid rate and being used by an increasing number of consumers. This requires a code of conduct that is specific to the group buying experience so that there are tailored standards applicable to group buying sites and protections in place for consumers. The aim of this Code is to provide a benchmark against which group buying organisations will be measured and in which consumers can trust.

What are the objectives and advantages of this Code?

The key objectives of the Code are:

1. To ensure the consumer have access to product and service information they need to make informed choices about their group buying purchases
2. To promote compliance within the industry with relevant laws including Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Privacy Act 1988 including the National Privacy Principles and the Spam Act 2003
3. Promote fair, honest, ethical best practice within the group buying industry
4. Increase consumer confidence in dealing with group buying sites

The Code sets out some minimum standards that group buying companies should follow and encourages them to:

1. Make sure that all communications are clear so that subscribers fully understand the offer before they sign up to it
2. Make sure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place
3. Ensure all marketing and electronic messages comply with the relevant legislation

How will complaints be handled?

The Code includes an independent and open complaint-handling process. Initially, the consumer is encouraged to resolve their complaint with the group buying site. If it’s not resolved to their satisfaction, the consumer may complain to the ADMA Code Authority who will handle the complaint on their behalf to reach a resolution. The ADMA Code Authority is there to ensure the minimum standards set out in the Code are met.

More information can be found in the Australian Group Buying Code of Conduct document.

ADMA runs regular 1 day Compliance for Marketers courses which provides solid grounding in the main pieces of legislation affecting marketers. The next course will run on December 1 in Melbourne.

Visit the website for more information.

Group Buying Code of Conduct Released

02 November 2011

If you are a consumer click here

The Australian Direct Marketing Association (ADMA) has today released the Australian Group Buying Code of Conduct.

As the group buying industry grows into an established channel ADMA and the industry have recognised the importance of developing a code of conduct specific to the group buying experience.

The Australian Group Buying Code of Conduct has been developed on a voluntary basis to:

1. ensure that consumers have access to products and service information they need to make informed choices
2. promote compliance within the industry with relevant laws including Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Privacy Act 1988 including the National Privacy Principles and the Spam Act 2003
3. promote fair, honest, ethical best practice within the group buying industry
4. increase consumer confidence in dealing with group buying platforms.

The Australian Group Buying Code of Conduct includes an independent, transparent and open complaint-handling process. This is designed to encourage the group buying industry to resolve established consumer complaints. The complaint handling process will be managed by the ADMA Code Authority.

The code outlines best practices for group buying platforms, including:

1. making all communication methods clear so the subscriber fully understands the offer before accepting it
2. making sure the appropriate policies and procedures are in place and are available to subscribers
3. ensuring all marketing and electronic messages comply with relevant legislation.

In addition to the code, signatories are taking additional steps to reinforce with merchants their obligations under the law.

Jodie Sangster CEO, Australian Direct Marketing Association said, “Group buying is a relatively new phenomenon in Australia. A new market report published by Telsyte shows that the group buying market grew from $123.9 million in quarter 2 2001 to $158.5 million in quarter 3 2011 and is well on track to exceed market forecast of $400m for the 2011 calendar year. All group buying companies are welcome to sign up to the Code and take part in this important scheme.”

Government considering tougher privacy laws

01 August 2011

Following the recent controversy surrounding allegations of phone hacking by News of the World in the UK, the Australian Minister for Privacy announced the Government will be considering a new right to privacy allowing individuals to directly sue organisations’ for a privacy breach.

Although, the announcement was made in response to the media hacking incident it was clear the Government was also concerned about other recent privacy breaches such as Sony Playstation and Epsilon.

The ability for an individual to sue a company for invasion of privacy would not only apply to the media but would also extend to companies holding personal information for marketing purposes. In ADMA’s view the current Australian privacy regime provides already significant protection for consumers should their information be disclosed in an unauthorised way.

ADMA has raised concerns that events on the other side of the world could have significant adverse consequences for our industry and is ensuring that our industry is properly represented on this important issue.

The Government will issue public issues paper in August to canvass opinion on the suggested new law. ADMA will be responding on behalf of ADMA members and will continue to closely monitor the issue.

Members are welcome to email regulatory.affairs@adma.com.au at any time with their views on this matter.

ADMA to conduct interim review of its Code of Practice

07 July 2011

ADMA will be conducting an interim review of its code of practice.

An interim review will occur to bring ensure that the ADMA Code of Practice is consistent with the recent changes in current marketing practices, new technologies and emerging channels.

Comments on the code of practice are welcome and must be provided by COB Wednesday 31 August.

Cyber-safety Report Released

21 June 2011

The Joint Select Committee on Cyber-safety today released an interim 500 page report titled High-Wire Act Cyber-safety and the Young.

The report focuses on how young people can be empowered and connect to the Internet, and use new technologies with confidence, knowing that they can use them safely, ethically and with full awareness of the risks and benefits.

Click here for a copy of the report

Click here to email any views or concerns to ADMA

Click here for related articles.

ADMA to get involved in development of Group Buying Code of Conduct

08 June 2011

On 8 June 2011 leading Australian group buying sites, Cudo and Spreets released the framework for a voluntary Code of Conduct for the Australian group buying industry.

The code has already been welcomed by a number of key players including ADMA’s incoming CEO Jodie Sangster who said

"ADMA fully supports the group buying community taking a proactive step towards responsible marketing. We are looking forward to assisting them to ensure best practices adopted by marketers Australia-wide are embodied in their industry standard."

Cudo  CEO Billy Tucker said

"Cudo and Spreets, as industry leaders, recognise the importance of putting merchants and members first, ensuring the group buying experience continues to be strategically sound for merchants, and enjoyable and worthwhile for members. As the category grows, our introduction of this voluntary Code of Conduct provides a framework from which to implement some of the fundamentals of good group buying and promote best practice."

Changes to Price Surveillance Arrangements for Postal Mail Proposed

08 June 2011

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has issued a discussion paper on Prices Surveillance of Australia Post’s reserved letter service.

The discussion paper asks for views on whether the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) price surveillance arrangements should continue for any other type of letter other than Ordinary letter services. This means that Australia Post will be able to set the price of PreSort letters without reference to the ACCC. The ACCC has approved all price increases proposed by Australia Post with the exception of price increase that was proposed December 2009.

This change has been proposed on the basis that letter services other than PreSort letters are now competing with a wide range of substitutes and, as a result, Australia Post is not operating as a monopoly supplier in this market.

Click here for the discussion paper

ADMA members are invited to provide views by emailing us