Stealing Exclusive Codes

[renegade]

Hurrah! Well done Jess.
(Which just proves you can lead a horse to water, tie it down, smack it around a bit and eventually they'll get the message and announce it as a new feature

[renegade]

My pinched codes can be seen in google here;
site: myvouchercodes.co.uk coldsnail - Google Search
It maybe worth you checking your personal/unique codes by changing COLDSNAIL to whatever you usually request.

Thanks for posting that Frostie.
Mark, I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt because I can't be sure I haven't poached anyone else's codes - I'm careful not too, but it's not always obviopus.
There are also a few references to our preferred exclusive codes "cantBarsed" and "DCTV" on your site so could you remove them as well.

Here's another thought along the lines of code handling. We know the networks are gearing up to both police and assist us code site operators so it would be easy to implement our preferred codes at the network level and make them easier to spot and harder to steal, we could register these along with our site information.
I know it's not going to be a total fix but it's easy enough to do from a programming POV.

I suggested to Frostie us code site owners get together at the a4u expo and have a good ol' bun fight over a beer. I'm sure we could help the networks work with us and it'd give us a chance to put across a united front and make sure we're taken seriously too.

[3wdl]

This thread is very insightful. We're about to launch some network software for our clients programs and after reading though I have asked them to make a change to it to cater for this kind of problem.

It might not be in the release but i'll certainly make sure it's a priority to get it added.

[affearner]

Honesty on the part of affiliates, network and perhaps merchants has always been an issue. If you want to make money through commissions or make a profit out of other people's endorsements can't we be honest?

It's frustrating sometimes that we police our tracking system day in and day out and still find out that there are hungry wolves out there cheating on the system.

I also noticed that there sites which feature discount codes that do not work. Please update your site. It's really annoying when you use the codes but will end up disappointed because the codes have actually expired.

[Frostie]

Hi,

If any of the exclusive codes relate specifically to Awin then let the relevant account managers know.

We have tracking in place for exclusive codes so we can ensure the affiliate promoting them is the one rewarded for any sales.


Thanks,

Good to hear as Truffle Shuffle is one of the codes. Just need to know whot he acc mgr is

[renegade]

I also noticed that there sites which feature discount codes that do not work. Please update your site. It's really annoying when you use the codes but will end up disappointed because the codes have actually expired.

I know this is the perceived wisdom from aff managers and merchants but from the punter who loves looking for a bargain POV I would rather leave expired codes live for 2 reasons:

1) It shows the merchant does offers codes even if none are currently available.
2) It's sometimes easy to guess the current code from expired codes.

I do however always include the expiry date, where available, so the visitor knows the code is past it's sell by date.

[befuddle]

Hi Mark, I'm still seeing that Shop Codes UK Exclusive codes are still being actively promoted and used on your site. Please can you remove them?



Here's a selection of merchants where they're displayed. I've indicated the codes for your benefit as Exclusive codes can come in many different forms.

BedStar (shopcodes)
Blushing Buyer (shopcodes)
Cadburys Gift Direct (shopcode)
Cheap Telly (shopcodes)
Christy-Home (shopcodes)
Electric Shopping (shopcodes)
Flowers Direct (CSC10)
Gadget Shop (shopcodes)
Green & Blacks (shopcodes)
Mumstheword (MTWSC12)
Petmeds (shopcodes)
Photobox (SHOPCODES20)
SafeTots (shopcodes)
Samantha Lingerie (shopcodes)
Silvertime (SCODE)
Spreadshirt Designer (shopcodes)
The Entertainer (shopcodes)
Tie Warehouse (shopcodes)
XSfashion (Shopcodes.co.uk)

Regards,
Ray

[loquax]

If any merchants would like to provide Loquax with some codes that can be nicked by other sites (thus help spreading the word of the duck) then please contact me

Also... Ray, from your list above Gadgetshop and The Entertainer have since closed on Webgains so you (and your copier) might want to ditch the links altogether.

Jason

[befuddle]

Also... Ray, from your list above Gadgetshop and The Entertainer have since closed on Webgains

A few of the merchant codes listed above have actually expired or been replaced anyway but I don't want to spoon feed Mark (or others) too much and let them know which ones.

They'll have to trawl through my site again for that benefit.

[Frostie]

Mark

One other issue I have is your footer. It currently reads;

"Why use discount websites like vouchercodes.co.uk- VoucherCodes.com - voucherheaven.com and vouchercodes.org, money saving expert when we have the most up to date voucher code website and latest discounts for you right here!"

Vouchercodes.co.uk is a domain name I own, and I would ask that you remove this from your website OR make it a link. Its drives me mad thats most of us try to play by the rules, yet others blatantly try their hardest to screw it up for others by dodgy tactics like this.

If you wish to list any of my domain names, please make them linkable - or remove them.

[max99]

I believe Mark may be away at the moment but im sure as soon as he see's the post he will remove them

[deadgoodundies]

Frostie, can you PM me his direct email address if you have it, just taken a look and the vouchers he is promoting for justhom and deadgoodundies are either expired ones or exclusive to other affilates so i'd rather get this cleaned up (could do it through the networks message centers but prefer to do it direct)

[jamcamuk]

Mark

One other issue I have is your footer. It currently reads;

"Why use discount websites like vouchercodes.co.uk- VoucherCodes.com - voucherheaven.com and vouchercodes.org, money saving expert when we have the most up to date voucher code website and latest discounts for you right here!"

Vouchercodes.co.uk is a domain name I own, and I would ask that you remove this from your website OR make it a link. Its drives me mad thats most of us try to play by the rules, yet others blatantly try their hardest to screw it up for others by dodgy tactics like this.

If you wish to list any of my domain names, please make them linkable - or remove them.

Hi, having worked in retail for many years (Dixons, Currys) we could not put up a poster in store saying any thing about Comet. So i think the same should be said about websites so with that said as Frostie says make it a link or remove it. Thats just what i think btw...

J

[jrisby]

Oh this guy is such an idiot. I've been emailing him for months now, and I've asked Affiliate Future to contact him too which they say they have, to ask him to remove "voucher codes" for The Alcohol-Free Shop from his site.

There are no voucher codes for our shop, but his listing claims there are and he has a big button saying "reveal all discounts and visit site".

As other merchants will know, it's not unusual for customers to go off searching for codes and then come back to buy. So this web page was simply pretending to have codes to steal commission from my customers who find his site on false pretences.

Of course, I understand he may have promoted our site to new customers too, but on false promises and I'd rather not have his business. As a merchant running an affiliate scheme I have every right to say how or who promotes my company.

As I say I and AF contacted him several times without response. Yesterday I emailed AF to ask him to be removed from the programme and I also emailed him myself. I finally got this reply today

"Hi John,

It is a shame you want to not be promoted via MyVoucherCodes.co.uk

I have removed the affiliate link, but will continue to have your store listed.

Alcohol-Free Shop UK Voucher Codes Alcohol-Free Shop UK Discount Codes Alcohol-Free Shop UK Discount Vouchers Alcohol-Free Shop UK Promotional Codes

We have posted the following message so our many regular website users understand the situation and the reason why we no longer recommend shopping with youselves.

NOTE: Due to Retailer Request, We Can Not List Offers and Deals for Alcohol Free Shop (our advice is to maybe shop elsewhere!)

We are sorry, Alcohol Free Shop have contacted us and asked us to not list any special offer, deals or discounts that we find for them here. We recommend you shop around as you may find similar products WITH discounts or special offers at other stores

Kind regards,
Mark Pearson"

Nice and professional, eh?

John

[mainlime]

I see he's also taken to popping open the merchant site in a new window (and dropping his cookie) from the retailer list page in contravention of nearly every merchant's T&Cs.

Edit: oh wait, there's a little checkbox to opt out of opening the merchant site. I guess that makes it OK then....