MyVoucherCodes - Please Stop!

[purple]

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Frostie,

Look at the bottom of the screen shot. I think he may not be stealing them but people are posting them.

Still likely to be employee error as they no doubt moderator the codes to check if they are allowed to use them.

[Frostie]

Frostie,

Look at the bottom of the screen shot. I think he may not be stealing them but people are posting them.

He said that he had put filters in place to stop this from happening. Sadly its either not the case, the fitlers are not working, or he has only filtered on 1 of his disconut websites.

All other discount sites check before making a code live, and this is something he should be actively doing too.

[Barry]

Yeah I get posted loads by users but I have learnt that there is a search engine called google and if I search for the code and find it on someone elses site as an exclusive - I don't publish it. Its quite a hard task to do but it saves getting on other affiliates nerves.

[loquax]

I think he may not be stealing them but people are posting them.

Then he should implement some quality control to ensure that they're not. Other affiliates mange to work within the rules, why should this site (and others) be exceptions?

If I did exactly what he does, and continues to do, then I would expect exactly the same treatment

Perhaps that's the solution, we all do as we please, post whatever codes we find/borrow/get sent and stick iframes all over the show... maybe then networks/merchants might sit up and take notice and actually do something (or appear to do something)?

Jason

[bapages]

This might start a back lash. Butlook at it from the other side, why should mark not use them and is it just as unethical for the network and merchant to issue codes to 'the selected few'?

[Mogga]

Frostie,

Look at the bottom of the screen shot. I think he may not be stealing them but people are posting them.

Is that like receiving stolen goods?

If he can't monitor the codes being added he should withdraw the facility.

Simple.

[wwwb]

This might start a back lash. Butlook at it from the other side, why should mark not use them and is it just as unethical for the network and merchant to issue codes to 'the selected few'?

like the same way that PPC is also available to a selected few?

[bapages]

Is that like receiving stolen goods?

If he can't monitor the codes being added he should withdraw the facility.

Simple.

Fair point, but are they actually stolen in the first place and is he just providing the best service for his customers, to offer as many codes as he can.

[Barry]

I am pretty sure if he took the time to write to the merchant he could get his own code.

It is 'work' that we do in obtaining exclusive codes. That is why we get upset when people nick them.

Ta

[Mogga]

Fair point, but are they actually stolen in the first place and is he just providing the best service for his customers, to offer as many codes as he can.

When someone did this for littlewoods vouchers the customers got stuck with the bill.

Affiliates shouldn't steal other affiliate's codes. It's wrong.
Posting all the "illegal" codes gives them an unfair advantage.


There is a part to be played by networks in eliminating this poor practice.

Bad codes users could result in loss of all codes from some merchants.

The affiliate industry should be able to police itself, but in this case someone is playing outside the rules. There is big money at stake and networks need to remember that they need all affiliates.

If he's doing funny refreshes then google can take a dislike to this (especially if the right people are told) and this will kill off his "golden goose"

[Frostie]

This might start a back lash. Butlook at it from the other side, why should mark not use them and is it just as unethical for the network and merchant to issue codes to 'the selected few'?

Bapages - to save us from going over old ground, have a read here;
What do "stolen" codes have to do with "stolen" commission?
There are lots of reasons why its unethical, one of the most obvious ones being that;
- for a 5% discount I may agree with the merchant to take a cut in commissions as profit margins are not enough to cover both. Therefore someone steals the code, offers 5% discount, but still gets full whack commission meaning the merchant is taking a hit too.

[aotagain]

Isn't a debate about 'selected few' something for another thread ?

Whole different set of issues around whether merchants should be 'allowed' to select special marketing partners and whether affiliate marketing should have some unique level playing field thing going on when the rest of the marketing world doesn't work that way.

Isn't the point that there are some 'selected few' in this case (and will continue to be) and its what's done with the rules that is important, in order to maintain the integrity of the channel ?

[hpops]

....and now we're directly involved!
We represent Uplifted and have just e-mailed Mark to request removal of this code. Frostie - can you let us know if any other transgressions appear.
This is actually a case which represents the problem very well. Uplifted work on fairly tight marginality with low prices, free delivery and high commission. Discount codes seriously affect this marginality and are given to a select few trusted partners (such as Frostie - thanks mate) who have proven ability to drive high quality sales. The usage of these vouchers elsewhere makes the future use of these codes potentially untenable.
The losers - affiliates, users, networks, agencies, the industry as a whole
The winners - kind of a one-horse camp.

Somethings gotta change here, surely. If networks aren't monitoring the activities of their biggest publishers, who's to say whats happening with the smaller ones!!

[bapages]

Bapages - to save us from going over old ground, have a read here;
What do "stolen" codes have to do with "stolen" commission?
There are lots of reasons why its unethical, one of the most obvious ones being that;
- for a 5% discount I may agree with the merchant to take a cut in commissions as profit margins are not enough to cover both. Therefore someone steals the code, offers 5% discount, but still gets full whack commission meaning the merchant is taking a hit too.

Cheers Frostie now I understand the stealing issue. but surely I would have thought by now that the networks have coded to be able to register where sales come from in relation to the codes or give you a unique tracking code for your code.

Or something similar, I think you get the idea.

[ian]

Bapages - to save us from going over old ground, have a read here;
What do "stolen" codes have to do with "stolen" commission?
There are lots of reasons why its unethical, one of the most obvious ones being that;
- for a 5% discount I may agree with the merchant to take a cut in commissions as profit margins are not enough to cover both. Therefore someone steals the code, offers 5% discount, but still gets full whack commission meaning the merchant is taking a hit too.

Seems to me that the merchant needs some education on the use of their exclusive promo codes. Get them to update their T&Cs to prohibit the use of other affiliates promo codes and set out a clear policy on what will happen if they do.

Its not really a case of ethics or grey areas, its a case of complying or not complying.