The only problem with broadcasting my info to a vendor for some patio furniture is that next week they are going to call me about some nice tiki torches. Then, I'm going to get some snail mail from their buddy the BBQ salesman, and his buddy the meat vendor will come a knockin' too.
Then, one of those guys is going to sell my information to totally unrelated businesses, so I'll start get calls from people trying to sell me auto warranties. I'll get endless catalogs from all their combined efforts, and I'll never be able to read email again, because there will be too much spam in it.
Finally, I will end up subscribed to some porno websites I never heard of, and since I don't want to explain that to my girlfriend, I guess I'll just keep using the canvas folding chairs that I have.
But if the only way they could contact you was through the specific "want ad" that you posted, wouldn't that help some? You're not asking them to come to you, you're asking them to reply to that ad. They shouldn't need to know anything else about you except what you posted in the ad. This assumes that the Broadcast Shopping company that is acting as the mediator between you and the sellers isn't going to sell your contact information, but that should be made very clear, "Hey, the only way a seller can contact you is through this one ad, and you can turn the ad off as soon as you get the offer you're looking for".
What if that related or unrelated business that wants to approach you based on your ad for patio furniture, have to pay for that privilege. That might definitely make those auto warranty guys have second thoughts.
Then, one of those guys is going to sell my information to totally unrelated businesses, so I'll start get calls from people trying to sell me auto warranties. I'll get endless catalogs from all their combined efforts, and I'll never be able to read email again, because there will be too much spam in it.
Finally, I will end up subscribed to some porno websites I never heard of, and since I don't want to explain that to my girlfriend, I guess I'll just keep using the canvas folding chairs that I have.