Voucher Code Sites - Take Action

[chrisuk]

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Thing is lots of people obviously want discount codes so all a code site is doing is supplying them and providing the experience the user wants. The better sites also are unique content, with retailer articles, offer descriptions, community and all the rest. Okay we have the reveal code only to find there isn't one gripe but that can happen for any valid reason also. Not nearly as irritating as all those run of network ebay/ask.com ads you see clogging up the listings.

Plus leave your codes out in the open and they all get scraped so really I don't see the beef, its a decent enough biz model, perhaps the challenge is for the better sites to try and distinguish themselves from the mass but competition is healthy, it feeds innovation.

The users obviously find them useful, thats what google wants, the merchants want more sales and its not like these sites are forced on you, a user has to seek them out. So really I can't see these sites bothering all but the tiniest minorities of people.

Move on, accept, grow old, get fat, far better things to whinge about methinks :tup

[loquax]

Okay we have the reveal code only to find there isn't one gripe but that can happen for any valid reason also

I'd love to know one valid reason.. if there's not a code, there's not a code. There's therefore no need to force a user to click to find out.

Move on, accept

If every affiliate took that attitude, things wouldn't move on!

The whole point of this forum is to raise issues and discuss them - if everything is shrugged off as whinging and a thumbs up then how does that improve things for the industry as a whole?

Jason

[fizzbird]

The whole point of this forum is to raise issues and discuss them - if everything is shrugged off as whinging and a thumbs up then how does that improve things for the industry as a whole?

This new landing page from M&S looks like a positive move:
Current Offers:*Marks & Spencer

[befuddle]

The whole point of this forum is to raise issues and discuss them

And call me a 'douche-bag' 'parasite' 'leech' for practicing ethical affiliate marketing?

[befuddle]

Voucher code mailing lists? Only morons ... sign up to them.

You don't deserve any commission for calling customers that.

[Keith]

This new landing page from M&S looks like a positive move:
Current Offers: Marks & Spencer

I agree a few others have them too, Comet for instance.

[befuddle]

fbird as you've quoted me, I'll assume all references to 'you' mean me, Ray, Befuddle, Shop Codes ....

Merchant 'xyz' doesn't do voucher codes ... You know they don't do voucher codes but are happy to optimise as if they do.

Erm, no I don't! Please provide an example.

Here's an example screen grab of a successful merchant for me that doesn't do voucher codes. Please show me where I am optimising where Charles Tyrwitt has a code on my page. The only area I can see is that people may search for a code in my editable Google search box, if I don't have one.

[befuddle]

fbird as you've quoted me, I'll assume all references to 'you' mean me, Ray, Befuddle, Shop Codes ....

you say I should put something like 'click here for more information and don't go looking for a voucher code because there isn't one!'

No, I don't! Where do I say that?

I do write ''Visit CHARLES TYRWHITT SHIRTS for latest promotional offers"

[fizzbird]

fbird as you've quoted me, I'll assume all references to 'you' mean me, Ray, Befuddle, Shop Codes ....

Not specifically, no, you aren't the worst offender by any means. However, since you ask....

Erm, no I don't! Please provide an example.

Erm, yes you do:

m&S discount code - Google Search

Marks & Spencer Promotion Code | Free Delivery Code | ShopCodes.co.uk

I believe M&S are clear on this:
"Only codes authorised for use via the affiliate channel can be used on affiliate sites. Affiliates found promoting non authorised voucher codes risk having commissions reversed and being removed from the programme."

[fizzbird]

fbird as you've quoted me, I'll assume all references to 'you' mean me, Ray, Befuddle, Shop Codes ....



No, I don't! Where do I say that?

I do write ''Visit CHARLES TYRWHITT SHIRTS for latest promotional offers"

Why can't you just add another sentence or cut-and-paste a paragraph and include the code details? Is it too much work for you?

If there isn't a code then what else could I say?

[befuddle]

Erm, yes you do: I believe M&S are clear on this: "Only codes authorised for use via the affiliate channel can be used on affiliate sites. Affiliates found promoting non authorised voucher codes risk having commissions reversed and being removed from the programme."

You are correct in their terms but you're using an example of a code that I've got written approval to use from Matt Pike, Media Account Executive of LBI.

[fizzbird]

You are correct in their terms but you're using an example of a code that I've got written approval to use from Matt Pike, Media Account Executive of LBI.

Well I'll be making a complaint then. What's the point of having terms if they can be overlooked so easily.

[befuddle]

Well I'll be making a complaint then. What's the point of having terms if they can be overlooked so easily.

Nothing has been overlooked. So before you jump in with two feet and complain to LBI, please do some research *

I've already given you a name.

* Approval in personal email based on a follow-up to my post in this thread

Voucher & Discount Codes ... What are the Problems & What are the solutions?

[fizzbird]

Nothing has been overlooked. So before you jump in with two feet and complain to LBI, please do some research *

Either merchants and networks have terms or they don't. I wonder what M&S think to the way there brand is being used here?

The point of the original thread is a valid one. Can you describe a process whereby the page illustrated creates a genuine sale for the merchant that wouldn't have occurred anyway?

I accept that you are not adopting the underhand methods of many of your colleagues but, as you are defending their corner, then you must take some of the flak. You are, after all, quite happy to complain when someone uses your 'exclusive' codes, or am I confusing you with someone else?

If this is how you make a living then I can only suggest that you develop a thicker skin?

[befuddle]

Hi Fizzbird, here is the email verbatim, dated 17th January 2008.

Hi Ray
Hope you are well.

I Just noticed your thread on Affiliates4u regarding the use of M&S voucher codes (see attachment).

Just wanted to let you know its absolutely fine to advertise the free delivery voucher code. Apologies if my previous email wasn't very clear, during that time M&S released a fair few codes that weren't for use through the affiliate channel. These codes weren't promoted on the M&S site, unlike the free delivery code.

Hope that clears up any confusion, and as always please feel free to contact us if there is any way we can help you with promoting the M&S programme.

Regards

Matt
[Matt Pike, Media Account Executive]

Hope that clears up the M&S issue for you.

Regards
Ray