Jackson chamber warns of sales calls to members

The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce is asking that local businesses approached to buy advertisements or share information for maps be wary of such requests from outside groups.

Chamber executive director Brian Gerau said several businesses that are chamber members have recently inquired whether sales calls they received were connected with a publication or map being produced or distributed by the chamber.

"If we have an outside organization that asks us to do anything like that, our answer is always 'no,' unless it's someone we have decided to do a program with, and that would be arranged and members would be notified directly by the chamber way ahead of time," Gerau said.

Outside groups sometimes pull member information from the chamber's website and try to sell advertising to local businesses under the guise that the chamber is distributing maps and publications. The calls most often come from an 800 number, which Gerau said should be a red flag for businesses.

The practice is not necessarily illegal, Gerau said, but he does believe it to be unethical.

"We don't want to disparage any business from trying to make a profit, but we don't want them using our name, either, especially if we don't know who they are," Gerau said.

The chamber office also sometimes receives the actual map or publication that was sent by an organization or company from outside the area with an assumption that it will be distributed. That doesn't happen without prior approval by the chamber either, Gerau said.

"In some cases, they aren't lying that there will actually be a map or something else, but we don't help distribute any advertisement that isn't chamber supported or produced," he said. "We do our own promotions."

The chamber notified its members of the situation by email Monday.

The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce also recently received a call from a mapping business, president and CEO John Mehner said, but hasn't had any notifications from members that any outside organizations or companies are attempting sales calls or information requests with a claim to be connected to the chamber.

eragan@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

125 E. Main St., Jackson, Mo.

1267 N. Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo.