Is this really something that we need to do? I'd say it is better to remove the ability for OPs to add in their own referral link to a submission.
It is unfair that people who make lots of submissions for non-referral posts get nothing and there is a fierce race to be the first poster on referral posts as there is a huge benefit for only one person (the OP). Second place by seconds gets nothing.
Having only one person get a huge amount of referrals also draws suspicion to referral systems as companies will see it as suspicious that a single user is getting a huge amount.
I think it would be more fair to prevent the OP having their own referral link as the preference in a post. Instead, you could change the referral system algorithm to give slightly more preference/air time to users who submit more posts. Or at least give them at least a tiny advantage over a new user who just joined and added no value in to the site yet.
Thanks!
Thanks all for the discussion. Following analysis and moderator discussion we will be making some changes to the referral system going forward (to be rolled out soon).
Currently the system shows random referrals only, until the deal hits the front page (30 votes), then the system shows the OP's link and the random links next to it. The idea being that users who post good deals receive additional reward, without forcing users to use their link (the majority of users click the random link). This system evolved over years as mentioned here.
From comments and analysis, we have found the advantage to the OP can be higher than what is ideal. Going forward the referral randomiser will show random referral links only, no matter how many votes the deal has, however the OP of the deal will have a higher chance of being picked in the randomiser (once the deal hits front page). Similar to what nurries has suggested. This will use a formula that will adjust depending on how many people are in the referral system, to ensure the OP's link isn't shown too many times when the number of users in the referral system is low. If the deal has not hit the front page, there will be no increased chance for the OP in the randomiser, compared to other users.
This change will also be better for privacy, as a referral link can sometimes contain personal information which can be attributed to the OP's account.
The change will be rolled out within the next week or so.
TL;DR: The referral randomiser under deals will no longer contain the OP's link as well as random (once it hits the front page), it will show random only, but the OP will have a higher chance of their code/link being shown (once the deal hits the front page).
Edit 10/2: This is rolled out now.
Have a figure for that one or is it hush hush?
We'll keep it private, it's a formula which isn't very easy to explain, not just a flat multiple or %. Also we may update/tweak the formula in the future, so not having it written in various posts/comments/wikis will avoid obsolete information.
That's fair. Though unlikely you wouldn't want people to try and cheat it either I would presume.