Some businesses have ways of getting information from business competitors that have crossed the line of reasonable and ethical data gathering. These methods can be considered unethical and are punishable by law.
Here are some of these types that are being used by some businesses which may be aware or even unaware of the consequences.
First, seeking resigned competitor's employees or staff. Although resigned employees from your business competitors are the easiest source of information, you shouldn't ask them or persuade them to reveal confidential or proprietary information about the competitor, such as specific details about a competitor's operations and intentions, including pricing, future plans and forecasts which may have been considered confidential or proprietary by a competitor. Neither should you if you are the former employee of the said business, divulge any confidential information about the company. This is the highest form of unethical in business etiquette standards, and hence, a low standard of professionalism on your part. What you can do instead is to give them a few newsletters if you have them. You can say, that the newsletters have those information they might need like the latest offers, promos, etc. Also, you are free to discuss items of general nature with an employee who previously worked for a competitor including anything that's a matter of public record or that wasn't treated by the employer as confidential.
Second, being a spy or detective. By disguising or not revealing your true identity when the company already knew you, can be considered as fraudulent. You shouldn't misrepresent your identity in order to obtain competitive information, when the person you're seeking information from would not ordinarily give you the information if they knew your true objective. The basic example of this is that you shouldn't contact a competitor, posing as a customer that is seeking some company newsletter templates for example, a student, private research firm or potential vendor/supplier, to find out information. When providing information in order to gain access to a competitor's website, you should answer all required blanks accurately; but you don't have to fill in blanks that are not required.
Third, robbing information. This method is extremely dangerous and will definitely put you behind bars if you get caught. You shouldn't attempt to acquire a competitor's confidential or proprietary information through illegal means, such as theft, spying or hacking. You shouldn't perform or engage any surveillance or monitoring of competitors outside of public places or engage in any form of electronic eavesdropping. However, if you're sitting on an airplane or are at an industry conference and happen to overhear a competitor discussing a confidential matter in the row ahead of you, the competitor likely has no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Fourth, giving gifts in exchange for confidential information. In order to gather some confidential information, you should not give entertainment, gifts, favors or gratuities to induce someone to provide you with information that's confidential or proprietary. You may, however, pay third parties for competitive intelligence that's derived from legitimate sources. You can hire a survey group or company that can have a legal entry to the business establishment to conduct some survey.
Fifth, competitors bid information. You shouldn't seek or use information that you may receive about a competitor's bid if you're involved in bidding, especially with government contracts. This is a major no-no and will absolutely put you in jail.
These methods serve as a warning to you.
Author Resource:
Troy Duff works as a businessman and currently runs a printing company that offers newsletter templates , banners, magazines, flyers, door hangers, catalogs, presentation folders, newsletters , print newsletters, custom printer and other printed ads.
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