OK, here's the deal...a B&B group sponsored a contest to win a free night at a B&B. The idea was to collect the email addresses for future marketing purposes. Not a single person asked about who got the email addresses or said anything about, 'Don't email me unless I win.'
I was just curious how anyone would take now receiving an email from the group letting them know about another event very similar to the one they attended at which they gave me their email address to win a prize. (Yes, gave me their email address to win a prize.)
So, not an online contest with an opt in/opt out feature. Just a simple form with a line for name and a line for email address. (I can see that if we do this again we need to add a check box to opt in/opt out.)
The email would be pretty straightforward...here's what's happening, here's where to find out more info about the event, here's a link to another website with places to stay. No hard sell.
I would use the emailer I just signed up for and remove anyone who opted out from any further emailings (as in I would not give the person's name to any of the other B&B's.)
On the other side of the aisle, a major chain hotel did the same thing with the same idea in mind...marketing to those folks who put their info on the little entry forms.
So, think more that this is something you did at the grocery store to win a free gift basket or something. Would it surprise you if you started receiving emailings from the grocery store?