I think that the code of ethics doesn't apply to the car dealer - but it is cheesy - and he may be at risk of violating your husband's expectation of privacy depending on the circumstances under which your husband gave his email - for instance - was it on a financial form? 

There is nothing unethical about it; maybe not in the greatest of taste. If your husband doesn't want to receive any more emails he should unsubscribe.

I love real estate drama.  The golden rule of doing unto other....

 overrides all other issues. Hold  yourself to a high standard . 

Jokes about car dealers aside, what about any other business? Can your spouse give out your business cards to his clients? I think it depends on any given situation? What if your the spouse is an accountant, waiter, bus driver or anything else? Common sense and class along with company policy would be the way to address this.

Its an e-mail address not  a pin number. Why waste time conducting an "investigation" when the same time can be better used doing something productive? Just opt out or ID it as spam and move on.

Sounds like they were made for each other

no. not even close. the dealer violated privacy (purchase agreement) the agent has as well..

I second the motion:  Lise Howe  and Noah Seidenberg 

May depend on their privacy policy. While it may not be unethical I think it's sleazy. If I found out I woul dbe on the phone immediately to the top person in the company

You asked if it is ethical. What is his company policy? They are car dealers, afterall. NO... JUST KIDDING. JUST A TEASE! But, seriously, it just depends on if their company or license they have regulates such behavior. I wouldn't have any idea. But I know our info (as a consumer) gets tossed around a lot without our permission or knowledge...

Bad for both parties. Very sleazy for any business to give out contact info on a customer to another business without the consent of the customer.

Also sleazy for the Realtor who is sending unauthorized solicitations via email That's SPAM. The agents email account, 3rd party email service, and ISP will get SPAM complaints. After a while they agent will feel it.

On top of that the agent gets a bad rep to most of the people getting the email messages.

Brenda,

Our car salesman has never given our email address to anyone, nor has the dealership, and we appreciate that.  Not all car dealers are the same, not all real estate agents are the same...A

It is so wrong in so many levels, but as Lise Howe said, it may be something bigger.

This is not a matter of ethics but a poor business practice.

I do agree that it is sleasy.  I feel there are A LOT of "sleasier" things done by car dealerships. I would never buy a car from a dealership again if I can help it.

I would call the owner of the dealership and express my displeasure. 

I do not know if it is unethical BUT if someone DARED give my email out in such a manner, I would have them on the phone in record time.  I get enough harassment from all the real estate cottage industries that relentlessly contact me by phone and by email every day; thank heavens for the ability to block calls and assign email addresses to the junk folder. 

Ditto Lise Howe and Noah Seidenberg 

I agree with Lise Howe here.

I think it's shady.  If the person buying the car asked if the car guy knew of a trusted realtor, the car guy should hand over a card.  Giving out email addresses or any other information without permission is out of line. 

Not really, no, but she probably weaseled it out of him.  Just unsubscribe.

I don't think car dealers have the same code of ethics that Realtors have, so it's not unethical for the car dealer to give out email addresses.

But it might be unethical, or at the very least distasteful, for the Realtor to obtain email addresses this way.

I'd complain to the Realtor, not the car dealer.

Our code doesn't apply to the dealer but does to the wife

What Lise Howe and Ronald Gombach said!

I'm not sure there is a code of ethics for the dealer but it can be a legal issue if privacy was guaranteed or implied.

that's horrible.....I'd put a fast stop to that by contacting the owner/manager of that dealership.....

Wow, that is a new one.

 You don't want to receive block incoming mail.

No rules against it as far as I know. Networking I guess. You can always unsubscribe or better yet - put them on your list.

Brenda Bergin - not a good idea to share email addresses for sure - without consent.

In the world of automobile sales (New and especially used cars) I heard that there are no boundries.  Everything is ethical to them!

Could be against the law.  Check the laws in your state.

There is no ethical issue.  Just makes good common sense.  I wish I had advocates that would promote me like that.

Good morning Brenda Bergin,

Check out the car dealerships code of ethics. If no solution, simply unsubscribe/delete/spam

https://www.nada.org/CustomTemplates/GeneralPage.aspx?id=21474838753

National Automobile Dealers Association
8400 Westpark Drive
Tysons, VA 22102
800.252.6232
703.821.7000

If permission is not given I would block the emails. 

why possibly not? I think, he is a very good husband helping his wife to get more business. If he would be a lawyer, a doctor, etc. and did the same, would you mind? 

I can see this doing more harm than good unless the people want their address forwarded.

Email lists are sold everyday, does it make a difference that this one was given away?

I dont know if ethical, but it is expected every time I leave my contact info.

   Check with your State's Department of Consumer Services to see if they are violating any rules or laws.

He can, but that doesn't authorize his wife to use it to spam people. If she misuses it, you can block her. Also, how does the dealer know whether or not the people's email addresses he's giving to his wife are planning to buy or sell real estate. That tactic will fade away on it's own.

It would not be my preferred method; but when it comes to money some will do anything!

Ethics violation, not a chance.

Car company policy violation, almost certainly.

Violation of privacy laws, in California that would be a HECK YES!  It would likely come with a fine for the company, the wife and the realtor.  Oh, and that fine would be per email and up to 100k.  Then come the civil suits.  Oh and there COULD BE JAIL TIME!  Ain't California fun!

My question would be why did the car dealership ask for the email in the first place ... and what promises or disclaimers did they make to the person providing it regarding observance of email privacy at that time?  

Most companies make some promise (or effort) to their clients regarding the use of their email .. and proclaim the level of privacy/security that can expected from the company retaining it.  If this car dealer has overstepped or renigged on that promise, they should be told to stop.  If no such promises or agreement was made, then maybe just asking to be removed from the mailing list would be in order?

Gene

Maybe not etical..but certainly not done in good taste. Just unsubscribe!

i would think in some juristictions it would be a breach of privacy laws for a business to share that info without customer consent

Lise Howe Is correct in her assessment of this situation. Certainly not a kosher way to generate repeat sales at the car dealership when the word finally gets out...and it will!

It frightens me that one would even have to ask that question 

Take "ethics" out of the equation ... it is just so WRONG on so many levels. 

Car dealers do not have to follow ethics and the realtor is just showing her desperation for new business.

Cheesy...but I would let it go and not say anthing.  Why blow up trivia?

Eve

Seems like a workable collaborative plan he's got going there.

You should go and establish your own collaborative arrangements. However, you should implement some self-selection mechanism.

Did your sign a privacy agreement with the dealership?   On the surface, it seems a bit tacky to me.  

I do not know.

Ethics may not be the key word or action here. Being associated with car salesman brings up all the bad jokes however. Agents & car sales? no

A poor business practice for sure. A note to the culprit with a copy to the owner of the dealership will probably end the practice!

Ethical no, illegal prob, not however the dealership may want to know if they had the car buyer sign a privacy policy which that salesman violated. 

The Car Industry is concerned with ethics ?

Say ouch....and NO and I would drop a note to the owner...VP or not, not an acceptable practice.