OzBargain Affiliation Links Discussed on Whirlpool

scotty on 15/06/2010 - 14:44

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1466811

Thanks to Davo for bringing this to my attention, and I think it is probably best to discuss this publicly. If the thread on Whirlpool is tl;dr then here is some short points:

  • Yes, OzBargain put affiliation links on some deals. That is completely my own doing, and has been since late 2009.
  • It only goes out via affiliation link if and only if if you are a non-logged in user clickin on the deal image on OzBargain. So logged in users can claim the commission back via MoneyBackCo, which is the best commission cashback program in Australia at the moment.
  • I will make the declaration more clear for non-logged in users sometime this week.

Feel free to comment on OzBargain or on Whirlpool. Sorry I won't be free to reply until later tonight but I'll try to answer as much questions/concerns as I can.

Site Discussion

Comments

  • samfisher5986 on 15/06/2010 - 17:50
    +1

    why not just make it clear to logged in users? Who cares about people who aren't members ;)

    Even then it doesn't even interest members, so I can see why you haven't mentioned it all this time.

    • scotty on 15/06/2010 - 18:16
      +1

      Because I am assuming the members would be claiming their affiliate commission back from MoneyBackCo. Don't want to mess up with the cookie there. OzBargain is about finding the best deal so I don't want our members to miss out on that.

      What I have failed to do is to make it more obvious to the non-members, which I will try to fix tonight.

  • Davo1111 on 15/06/2010 - 20:38
    +1

    In hindsight it has been a "making mountains from molehill moment". If the person had just asked for clarification, it would have been cleared up straight away. Instead he's tried to get a small army of whirlpoolers going, all of whom have just looked at it in perspective. Just to confirm the issue does not affect ozbargain members.

    • scotty on 15/06/2010 - 20:52
      +2

      Yeah interesting statistics he has got there. I wish OzBargain does bringing in that much money. With his calculation Simon Wright would be laughing at his Swiss bank right now (maybe he is?!) since Whirlpool gets a lot more page views than OzBargain even with just the guest users.

      • Davo1111 on 15/06/2010 - 20:55

        yeah, he said you make $300-500 per day from advertising and that was being "conservative" LOL. If that was the case i think all of us would have quit our main jobs a long time ago.

        • scotty on 15/06/2010 - 21:33

          I have to say that it's certainly possible — and pretty much required to be at this rate if you are running sites such SMH or Drive.

          I think it's just the mentality that web sites should not just be free, but also ads-free — and that's right from the Australian Internet elites which Whirlpool represents.

  • jennkei on 15/06/2010 - 22:56
    +1

    Wow, I'm surprised by some of the posts on Whirlpool.

    Honestly, I don't care about stuff like this. It's naive to think that people who run websites don't actually have to cover costs, and also to think stuff like this can rake in the moolah. If it works out and actually makes money, then good for you!

    Personally I tried MBC a few times and didn't make enough to withdraw. :( But the deals themselves here are more than enough value for me..

  • fattyboombatty on 16/06/2010 - 10:59

    I have been cruising the posts at Whirlpool (it's how I found out about this issue).

    I have to agree with the original poster on this one. There is a violation of trust going on here where the sites rules give one impression while the goings on behind the scene are something different.

    I don't care if you're making money off the site, but you need to be open about it and disclose the information. That's what bothers me about it - you're only bringing it up now that it has been outed. You're only as valuable as your reputation and your lack of disclosure has tarnished that reputation in my eyes.

    That said, I love the site and will continue to use it and recommend it to my friends. I would appreciate more openness in your operating methods though. Hopefully you can learn from this moment and continue to build a trustworthy brand

  • Mikinoz on 16/06/2010 - 11:36
    -1

    Ahh yes the moral dilema of how to keep pace with the market and produce a seemingly usefull site.

    I used to create websites just to make money from affiliates or click thru's ah Commission Junction used to be awesome. Whilst these sites were cash cows for me i tried to provide usefull content for the viewer.

    In some ways Ozbargain is moving that way, towards making some money, which in itself may pay for hosting or design costs, and anything else. Least they have fairly good morals and are open about it

    Personally i see nothing wrong with making money from a website that is a resource for many, as a member of the community i think this is a good idea and as the internet etc evolve this site may get better .

  • h4lcyon on 16/06/2010 - 11:46

    I've never noticed, but that is because I'm almost always logged in.

    I'm happy for you to be making money, it's better than getting spammed each time I visit with a 'Donate Now' page.

    However I agree with the OP that it should have been disclosed. I know that I have neg'd bargains because the OP specified only affiliate links, and this does seem a contradiction.

    OzB still rocks :)

  • sparkles on 16/06/2010 - 13:17

    It does seem suss when the mods delete a contributing users affiliate links quick smart (Threadless is an example) at the same time they are creating their own affiliate links with mod posts to Dell bargains. This gives the impression that if it doesn't line the pockets of OzBargain then it is not OK, but if it does, COOL!

    When a mod posts it should be disclosed exactly how much of your "bargains" price is going to OzBargain in the form of commission. Plus if I click through to a Dell bargain, and then buy something completely different does OzBargain get a commission on that? Is the cookie sending commission on all Dell purchases OzBargains way pretty much permanently until I delete it? I don't begrudge OzBargain making money from the site, but when it is taking a cut it's probably prudent to disclose it.

    I guess more transparancy when this process started could have avoided this.

    • neil on 16/06/2010 - 13:26
      +1

      You CAN post affliate links as long as EDIT 1a. There is a separate deal from the affliate code. 1. It's not an affiliate of MoneybackCo and 2. You put the non-affliated link in the submit link box.

      Usually, when you click through to a vender,e.g. MoneybackCo, Buckscoop, Mypoints, whatever it should be any purchase from the site. So if click to a keyboard but buy a mouse, commission should be made, unless it's an item excluded from commission. Some retailers on MoneybackCo, for example, exclude IT related products.

      • h4lcyon on 16/06/2010 - 14:30

        So this is OK?

        • neil on 16/06/2010 - 14:41

          Nope, thanks for the heads up.

          It's hard to apply the affiliate rule on everything. If Exetel came out with new plans worthy of a deal, and he happen to put his affliate code in there then it would have been better. But he is just linking to his business. Otherwise, everyone would just be submitting their affiliate codes.

          I think we need a section of the forum to perhaps put users affliate codes for Three, Exetel, etc, then we can just refer people there.

          • Mikinoz on 16/06/2010 - 14:45
            +1

            @neil: Good idea and while your there can you do the same with scoopon and every other crap group buy site lol

          • leiiv on 21/06/2010 - 18:09

            @neil: I also suggest we create a wiki page where people who's willing to be contacted for referral codes can put their username there.

        • Davo1111 on 16/06/2010 - 14:50

          As per what neil said, these referral codes attract every man and his dog onto ozbargain to post a "fantastic deal" so they can make some money.

    • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2010 - 21:50

      Sparkles. Just a point here. Scotty said at the beginning this was his action only. So saying the mods were suss is a little unfair. Rest of comments are ok. But that point is mute.

  • scotty on 16/06/2010 - 15:08

    Yes. While I don't condemn of people "tipping" posts with affiliation declared, I also do not wish to see people swarm OzBargain with their own code.

    After all it is NOT affecting logged in users (yes all of you included) as you should claim your commission back from MBC, Buckscoop or whatever. The revenue is paying me and supporting me with the possibility to spend more time developing this website.

    Currently all the affiliation generation code are off until I put in enough declarations on the links (automatically generated so can be resource intensive on every page view now). One benefit, especially with DGM whom have been emailing me almost every week, is new coupons and promo code from retailers (3 Mobile, Dell, Lenovo, etc). These guys have the bargaining power with the merchants. Obviously I can also ring up all those shops myself asking for specials, but I don't have time for those.

  • gnitnawgip on 17/06/2010 - 13:13
    +2

    As long as the advertised price of the deal is the same as what i have to pay out then thats all good.!!!!!!! Good job OZbargain & all the posters out there.

  • anthony on 01/07/2010 - 13:28

    I really dont see the big deal.

    A few months ago i was actually wondering if OzBargain created affiliate links for itself as clicking on the deal directs to OzBargain first, not directly to the URL where the deal is.

    Websites cost time and money to run, if scotty can make some money from the site why shouldn't he.

    I dont see the need to declare it to those who are not logged in.
    People are bitching on whirlpool about it but whirtlpool does the same.

  • GreatWhiteHunter on 07/10/2010 - 11:29

    IMHO OzBargain is becoming a little overmoderated - in the same way Whirlpool did some years ago

    I understand the policy re referral links and if that is the policy that is fine.

    What I don't understand is why a mod wouldn't just remove the referral link from a deal and keep the deal live, rather than just not posting the deal.

    Both would take similar effort.

    • neil on 07/10/2010 - 12:00
      +3

      I did that so blame me. The referral rule for group buy sites happened because of a flood of subpar deals with people flaunting their referral links. There was a thread about it andchange of rules. We were removing the links but a user can't be bothered reading the rules or the forums, and is here to make money off of a deal instead of posting a genuine bargain then it will be removed.

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