Stealing Exclusive Codes

[Mogga]

C'mon networks what action will you take about this affiliate?

[jrisby]

This guy is unreal. The following is from him this morning.

The simple option would be that we either keep your affiliate link up and you work with us to highlight your special offers to our users (even if this is free delivery, money off specific items etc) or as you have done ask us to remove your affiliate link. If the later, we will inform and advise our 600,000 monthly users that we no longer recommend you.

I think there's a word for this...

[hpops]

Originally Posted by jrisby I think there's a word for this...

I think its "illegal"?

Networks responsibility, resolve and report please.

[befuddle]

This is the same guy that writes on his site ...

Why use discount websites like ... ww.shopcodes.co.uk?

Then actively pays for an advert on Google that targets the same shopcodes.co.uk site visitors that says

ShopCodes.co.uk Latest Free Discount Codes Save Money - Up to 75% Discounts! MyVoucherCodes.co.uk

[Affility]

How about this Google Ad for the keyword 'PriceDash'

Better than PriceDash
Latest Voucher Code & Offers
Save Money - Up to 75% Discounts!
My Voucher Codes - Free Voucher Codes, Discount Codes, Promotional Codes and Money Off Coupons

Surely that's illegal? He'll find out shortly

[loquax]

You might want to check this for yourself, but the above examples imo is contrary to Advertising Standard guidelines and you have a strong case to make a complaint to ASA who can then take action.

From The CAP Code - Detail

20.1 Although comparative claims are permitted, marketing communications that include comparisons with identifiable competitors and/or their products should not discredit or denigrate the products, trade marks, trade names, other distinguishing marks, activities or circumstances of competitors. Other marketing communications should not unfairly attack or discredit businesses or their products.

Might be worth making a few enquiries?

Jason

[Affility]

Mark has now changed his Ad title to:

Better than PriceDash ?

Nice to see he's keeping an eye on this thread.

[loquax]

I'd still make a complaint to ASA - or at least contact them for a bit of guidance

Jason

[km8]

Originally Posted by hpops I think its "illegal"?

I suspect the word Jrisby was thinking of was "Blackmail".

But of course that's also illegal so let's not argue about it.

That said, I'm open to persuasion on the "If you mention my site, it should be a link" argument.

To make an offline parallel, if the Independent says "a report in The Times says ..." no right thinking person would expect the Independent to include a copy of The Times, or even to tell the reader where to find a copy of The Times. So why should a website that mentions another have to provide a link to that other site?

Am I missing something?
Is that an unfair comparison?

[jrisby]

Originally Posted by km8 I suspect the word Jrisby was thinking of was "Blackmail". But of course that's also illegal so let's not argue about it. That said, I'm open to persuasion on the "If you mention my site, it should be a link" argument. To make an offline parallel, if the Independent says "a report in The Times says ..." no right thinking person would expect the Independent to include a copy of The Times, or even to tell the reader where to find a copy of The Times. So why should a website that mentions another have to provide a link to that other site? Am I missing something? Is that an unfair comparison?

Hi km8.

Not quite sure what you mean there? I don't want our site linked to or mentioned from his site. He was misleading people that he had vouchers for our site when none existed which is why I asked him to stop. He responded (after months) by putting up the rubbish mentioned earlier. Totally unprofessional imho.

[km8]

Originally Posted by jrisby Hi km8. Not quite sure what you mean there? ...

I was suggesting that Hpop's guess of "illegal" was not the word you had in mind and that "blackmail" was closer.

Originally Posted by jrisby He responded (after months) by putting up the rubbish mentioned earlier. Totally unprofessional imho.

That's agreed too and, as I say, it sounds like blackmail to me.

Then I went on to speculate whether a mention of one website on another site should, by right, be a hyperlink. (as raised in Jamcamuk's and Frostie's earlier posts)

I know that's a different question and I apologise for diverting the thread. Sorry.

[jrisby]

Originally Posted by km8 I was suggesting that Hpop's guess of "illegal" was not the word you had in mind and that "blackmail" was closer. That's agreed too and, as I say, it sounds like blackmail to me. Then I went on to speculate whether a mention of one website on another site should, by right, be a hyperlink. (as raised in Jamcamuk's and Frostie's earlier posts) I know that's a different question and I apologise for diverting the thread. Sorry.

Sorry, first bit was understood perfectly It was the second bit about the linking that confused me - my fault for hijacking this thread I suppose! I just wanted to add to the debate about mark rather than start a new thread.

[aotagain]

Using 'better' is not allowed on Adwords, unless you can prove that an independent comparison of some sort has been made.
In this case it is obviously an unsubstantiated claim the question mark is just smartarsedness.
So a simple complaint to Google should work.

A threat to publish something that could damage another business is a very serious matter. I hope someone has copied that and dated it.

[aotagain]

I'm not even involved in this but have been reading and its winding me up.

Its a farce to have to deal with someone by asking for one thing to be sorted out, and then another, and then another. "Oh I didn't know that was going on" is what I would expect from someone earning a few quid a week doing affiliate marketing part time.

Fixing them may appear to be obliging and cooperating, but not when you get one after another.

If I break the speed limit once and say sorry, I still get fined, do it again a couple of times and I get banned, fined and points. It no longer works to speak innocently to the officer and say that you didn't see the speed limit sign because the sun was in your eyes.

Thats what happens if you skate close to the wind. Some people will always see how far they can break the speed limit by, before they get booked.

[Mogga]

Networks should take action.

They shouldn't let rogue affiliates break the rules, abuse copyright, place misleading ads.

Act or be seen not to act.