(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

AS a Special note to all our shoppers here:

Our policy is simple: YOUR privacy is our FIRST AND ONLY CONCERN:

We will NOT accept membership on this site from anyone using clearly marked and identifiable GOVERNMENT email systems or addresses. They are free to sign on as private personal members, though, at this time.
If you have any thoughts on this article, we’d really appreciate it, but for NOW, our policy stands.

We had a very interesting experience today. The first time.

We have a NING site, up at http://greenspot.ning.com (in process of shut-down now for other reasons)…..

A new member arrived today. a certain USERX@cra-arc.gc.ca

The cra-arc.gc.ca is Canada’s equivalent to the IRS in the U.S. (Revenue Canada).

I put out the question on twitter: “Q: if you had an online sales site and someone from the IRS asked to join as a member: WHAT WOULD YOU DO?”

I got a few replies, most to the effect that IRS users are real people, not spies, etc.
but… here’s the red flags this raises for me.

1. in general, it is against office, AND PRivacy policies for govt officers, of any rank to utilize their government emails for personal business, of any sort.
There may be some occasions where some personal communications might pass with a blind eye, for convenience, but never for commercial or other business matters. IN general that includes shopping from the office. In fact, in most offices personal shopping from office computers is literally banned or blocked either by automatic means, or by policy.

2. Our site was quite prominent on the internet. So…. after 3 months of solid visits from the RevCanada people online… we got an audit visit.
We have no problem with audits…. but wonder why they take the easy route ?
So much easier to view and monitor a biz with a good online presence than chase after the many tax-evading sellers at flea markets, country markets, and private in-home sellers, of course.
Since their audit visit is a huge waste of our time (ties up days and days)….. I kinda resent the fact that they take the easy route to make MY life more difficult and tiresome.

3. We have other members on our shopping sites… and the facility for them to communicate amongst them exists. How comfortable do you think those other members would be to knowing one of the members is from the IRS office?
Don’t I owe it to the other members to keep the IRS member OUT?
(analagous to perhaps to a dissident political group discussing politics — would they openly admit , without identifying government members? )

Would YOU feel comfortable with a clearly identified IRS member on a SALES SITE as a participating member? NOTE: we have no issue with Joan@gmail.com who WORKS for Canada REvenue, that’s a real person, and they have needs and wants and even do shop online. Our question here is with XJoanX@cra-arc.gc.ca which is clearly an email within the offices of Revenue Canada.

So do tell me your thoughts on this…… it’s an intriguing problem.

At this time, we responded to the user@cra-arc.gc.ca with a note indicating we do not accept members with government email address, but they should feel free to join us using their personal email to shop with us — how can we best serve you?

Do jump in…. your comments and views are much appreciated. All this is still a huge learning curve for me, and everyone, I would guess.

So… the IRS wants to join your online store… What would YOU do?

ADDENDUM: I am now including the email I sent to our local MP, Gary Goodyear. Have not yet received a response, but always hopeful:
Asa sent June 24, 2010

_________________________________________

Hi,
I run a biz here in cambridge.
We were recently contacted by a user from the RevCanada office about joining an online group we have at http://greenspot.ning.com

It is a shopping site for antiques.
We are concerned about some privacy issues here.

The user email is A_Z@cra-arc.gc.ca ( I have anonymized this here, but can furnish exact address if required)

The group is/was an open group to the public, and it has facilities for contact between members.

I have two specific questions here:
1. what is the policy for government agencies regarding employees personal use of email, web access etc? Is it allowed to use an office email for clearly personal use?
2. I shall assume that since it is an office email, it is most probably only accessible from within the office network, and during office hours.
As such, what is the policy regarding the use of an emplyee’s idenity online at non-government sites?

For example: would it be acceptable for a Canada Revenue employee to have an account on eBay using their “government assigned and paid for” email services?

I have indicated to the above user that at this time we will not accept registrations using government based user registrations…. but am very curious as to what the actual policies in place are regarding this type of situation.

While not wishing to block access to our biz to government employees, we find it very strange that they should wish to sign on with their “government assigned and paid for” email addresses since there has been no indication that they are sourcing materials for any government approved purposes.
In this case the user indicated they were interested in a “Knechtels Limited 3 legged small table”, and does not seem to be a direct government need.

I anxiously await your reply in this matter.

Thank you.
Vince Jelenic
all contact info below.

————–Vince J.
Green Spot
49 Cedar Street
Cambridge, Ontario,
N1S 1V4
ph: 519-623 4050
Hours: year round, Wednesday thru Monday10a.m.-6p.m.
(closed Tuesdays)

Visa/MC/Cheque/Cash/accepted.
email: info@twojjs.com & info@greenspotantiques.com
website: http://greenspotantiques.com or http://twojjs.com

Please check out my other current auctions on Ebay at:

http://search.ebay.ca/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZwandcan

And our EBAY store, always filling up with great bargains.

http://stores.ebay.com/Dial-It-Back-Collectables

http://greenspotantiques.com Green Spot Antiques

This entry was posted on July 9, 2010 and is filed under Vinces Blog