[RickDastardly]

Hi,

Do some members get commission from websites for advertising their "bargains?"

Just noticed that there are a few new members that have only posted regarding deals from a particular online retailer.

Apologies to the Mods if this is in the wrong section.

[xit2050]

You read my mind.

[jalaldevil]

God knows but some "bargains" are becoming a joke

[KevD]

I wouldn't think so.

[Marc]

what, you mean like the member who's posted the same bargain twice, both of which are visible on the front page at the moment..?

[xit2050]

Originally Posted by Marc

what, you mean like the member who's posted the same bargain twice, both of which are visible on the front page at the moment..?

You like it?

[Simian Sibling]

I would say yes! it appears there is one who's links are not the normal cut and paste job and look like they contain affiliate links. Report it if you feel they are!

[mckee74]

Anyone else wondering how to get the job if that is indeed the case? (c: I'd do it, not on here of course.

[RickDastardly]

This one maybe?

http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...ay-9-98-a.html



checked the posters previous posts and they all seem to be amazon offers.

[Andori]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

I would say yes! it appears there is one who's links are not the normal cut and paste job and look like they contain affiliate links. Report it if you feel they are!

It looks like there are 2 people who are doing it (or may be same person), one of whom has had a number of their links edited by Stuart Wright to remove the affiliate links.

[Paku]

Yeah, looks like they are all affiliate links, you don't need anything past the ASIN for Amazon.

[Broadsword]

Yup, good spot, ilikeit and Markyp are all using affiliates.

The bargains are not exactly great anyway so I say ban em!

His tesco ones are obvious tradedoubler links.

[RickDastardly]

Excuse my ignorance here, but what do we mean by affiliate links? What are the forums rules on this?

[Broadsword]

A bit of diggin on part of his link brings up this....

RIP Amazon Affiliate ref=nosim | Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

[Broadsword]

Originally Posted by RickDastardly

Excuse my ignorance here, but what do we mean by affiliate links? What are the forums rules on this?

It means he gets commission to his affiliate account everytime someone buys from the link he provides.

I'm not sure what the exact forum rules are but I fully expect and hope that it is banned.

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by Broadsword

Yup, good spot, ilikeit and Markyp are all using affiliates.

The bargains are not exactly great anyway so I say ban em!

His tesco ones are obvious tradedoubler links.

Looks like WhiteAndBlue is too.

[xit2050]

Originally Posted by rojgelf

Looks like WhiteAndBlue is too.

Been thinking that for a while...
He keeps posting "deals" that someone already posted earlier.

[Broadsword]

Although to be fair, sometimes you can pick up a link form another forum who uses affiliate links themselves and post it here and end up without knowing posting an affiliate.

So it doesn't mean they are pocketing the income themselves, they may be innocent.

So has this all been reported yet?

[RickDastardly]

I've not reported anything yet. I would be happy to report it, but I should probably leave it to a more experienced senior member (seeing as I didn't know what affiliate links were all about until 5 mins ago).

If they post genuine bargains that haven't been posted elsewhere, then I guess it doesn't bother me too much. However, when the posted "bargain" isn't really much of a bargain at all e.g. X-men for just under a tenner, and the poster puts things like "Hurry!!" in the title, and implies that there are only a few left and that we should buy them quickly before the all go!!...then I do have a problem with that.

[Broadsword]

Or maybe is the forums own affiliate links?

[Simian Sibling]

Originally Posted by Broadsword

Although to be fair, sometimes you can pick up a link form another forum who uses affiliate links themselves and post it here and end up without knowing posting an affiliate.

So it doesn't mean they are pocketing the income themselves, they may be innocent.

So has this all been reported yet?

Yeah I have reported it and tbh you should be reporting it rather than asking if it has been done

They are blatant affiliate links and they are in no way innocent!

[Broadsword]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

Yeah I have reported it and tbh you should be reporting it rather than asking if it has been done

They are blatant affiliate links and they are in no way innocent!

Thanks for the lecture

The fact a mod posted in here was enough to think it was already on there radar.

Of course they are blatent links, but if you pick up a bargain on say thedvdforums and just copy and paste the link here, you will also be copying their affiliate link too. It doesn't mean it is intentional, although it probably is.

[Markyp7]

Hi

I'm one of the posters who has been mentioned in this thread and have been posting affiliate links for some time. started doing it after noticing other posts with affiliate links. so looked into it and started myself.

I must admit I hadn't realised it was a problem and thought if I was doing something wrong I'd get asked to stop ages ago.

I think you've spotted the main posters and named them here.
and yes i think White&blue and ILikeIt are the same person or related as their posts are very similar!
I sure there's others on here who don't post as often, but I can't remember who. pretty sure one of them was a senior member!

I guess I won't be on aloud to post on here for much longer, so I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by doing this. It shouldn't of had any effect on the cost of the items to you. I have tried to post genuine bargain and good deals, and help other posters.

Mark

[Broadsword]

Well I had a brief look through the rules and couldn't see anything banning them.

Perhaps a mod could comment.

[Andori]

I remember that there used to be a sticky a while ago saying that you weren't supposed to post affiliate links to Shopto (I think it was).

I did find this in this post by Stuart Wright in the gaming bargain forum:

Private individuals who have spotted a bargain and are not affiliated in any way to the vendors in question are encouraged to post the details here for the benefit of forum members.

[thesnov]

I would suggest when a deal comes along just go direct to the website and avoid the affiliate links.

[Broadsword]

Originally Posted by Simian Sibling

They are blatant affiliate links and they are in no way innocent!

Originally Posted by Broadsword

Of course they are blatent links, but if you pick up a bargain on say thedvdforums and just copy and paste the link here, you will also be copying their affiliate link too. It doesn't mean it is intentional, although it probably is.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...eans-13-a.html

See what I mean?

[nwgarratt]

If I see a bargain (even if it is on a different site such as find-dvd), I always use the proper link from the website instead.

There is a increase of links to websites that are not bargains and obviously just want people to click on them.

[Andori]

Originally Posted by nwgarratt

If I see a bargain (even if it is on a different site such as find-dvd), I always use the proper link from the website instead.

There is a increase of links to websites that are not bargains and obviously just want people to click on them.

I will often click on the links to see what it is, but if I choose to buy it I will usually go through Quidco (or Nectar for Amazon) so I get the cashback or points

[rojgelf]

Originally Posted by Broadsword

http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...eans-13-a.html

See what I mean?

What annoys me most is these are nearly all duplicate posts. I posted this offer 2 mnonths ago.

http://www.avforums.com/forums/blu-r...3-14-25-a.html