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

[drivetowin]

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I don't know why some seem to find this difficult to understand.

Just because something (in this case a discount code) is published on a merchant website, that does not make it public domain - otherwise all of us would find it impossible to claim copyright in any of our own content (and whether you like it or not a discount code is as subject to copyright as any other content).

The rules should be simple: if a discount code has not been

a) issued for use by the merchant to the affiliate channel and/or
b) issued to you explicitly by the merchant

then it should not appear on your website - no ifs, no buts, no maybes......

If you want to put every code in the world on your website regardless of what channel it was issued to then to my mind you should be instantly removed from every affiliate network.

Sorry to be hard but until a hardline is taken on this by networks and merchants alike the problem will not be sorted out.

And for those who say 'my user posted it on my forum' - then put a decent moderation scheme in place where you vet all codes before they are published, and if you can't do that, then shut your forum down.

I really really get peeved off at sites who say 'ah well I know I shouldn't publish that code but it's ok as I don't use an affiliate link on that page' - well no, sorry, it's not ok, using a code you have no right to use is at best breach of copyright and at worst is quite probably fraud.

I'm with Jason 100% on this one - it is not fair to those of us who stick by the rules that the ones who do break the rules (and some do it day in day out) - get away with it.

I appreciate Zak's point that it's not easy to police but something needs to be done.

[befuddle]

For the majority of my merchants I go out of my way to research what the minimum spend is to activate Free Delivery. This is regardless of whether that site issues codes or not.

I do this to add a little bit of unique content to my site, to differentiate it. If we stuck to just re-publishing the same copy that the merchants have approved and uploaded onto a network we'd pretty much have the same (seasonally out-of-date) page.

So, going back to the "Free Delivery for orders over £30" for M&S.

This is listed as a USP on the network description page, so assume it's publishable, even though it's not an actual text link.

So instead of detailing the code, which is more helpful to the user, I shall say

"FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £30: Visit the Marks & Spencer offer page to retrieve the code and view the terms to activate this offer."

[fizzbird]

"FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER £30: Visit the Marks & Spencer offer page to retrieve the code and view the terms to activate this offer."

Retrieve what code?

It's an open offer - by implying it's a code would be bad practice wouldn't it?

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Question: Will the consumer care? Would they prefer a site with as many voucher codes on as possible or one whereby a site could only list the ones issued to a particular affiliate, thus being fairly limiting as a bookmarked resource?

Right or wrong, I assume the consumer is going to prefer the former. Would this thus reflect in the decision an affiliate makes in the type of site they publish to maximise repeat vistors & popularity. (thus is it really within remit of a network or merchant to enforce if the displayed voucher codes do not pertain to programs on their network)

I don't know if there is any relevance or similar analogy to a product search / price comparison site listing products they don't get paid (0% or free inclusion for own perceived completeness) or a directory site which list shops or services which don't have an affiliate program or a competition or freebie site for similiar non-affiliated reasons. Though you could easily enough monetise a retailer / service specfic page around sponsored listings & adsense, displaying the voucher codes.

P.S. Publishing another affiliate's voucher codes is wrong for the sake of planting a cookie on the click if it belongs to another, if they actually know or are aware that is. But apart from visibly seeing on an affiliates site, how can it be confirmed that the consumer didn't pick up the code from elsewhere. (this could be within the remit of a network or merchant to enforce)

Unless the code is only verified on the click thru & has to come from a referred whitelist of url's pertaining to that individual code for it to display & qualify, maybe a randomised range of code numbers of some sort where each voucher code can only be used once.

[befuddle]

Retrieve what code? It's an open offer - by implying it's a code would be bad practice wouldn't it?

• Marks & Spencer creative on my site ONLY says, "Free delivery on orders over £30"
• The M&S home page ONLY says "Free Delivery Offer"
• Clicking that link, the M&S Free delivery offer page says: "To take advantage of this offer you need to use a promotion code: Promotion code: FREEDELV"
• I've just added an item to the basket. In a box, alongside the product, it says: "Free standard delivery when you spend £30 or more. Enter code FREEDELV at checkout."

So, there is a code that has to be used and I am not implying anything inaccurate. My site would happily list the codes AND all the terms that went with it.

If anything If I were able to publish the code on my site, I would be reinforcing the message that the code FREEDELV must be used to qualify for the offer.

[ian]

I agree that you would be reinforcing the message and making it clear, but the simple fact is that the merchant / agency does not want you to hardcode the promo code on your site.

Ask them to put up some dynamic content so they can maintain the actual copy.

[fizzbird]

[LIST]
So, there is a code that has to be used and I am not implying anything inaccurate.

Mmm.. you seem to be correct on that score.

Although it does seem a bit silly that the code is there for anyone and everyone to use - whether you go through an affiliate or not - why don't they just say free delivery over £30 and just do it?

[hpops]

Mmm.. you seem to be correct on that score.

Although it does seem a bit silly that the code is there for anyone and everyone to use - whether you go through an affiliate or not - why don't they just say free delivery over £30 and just do it?

Because they may wish to pull it at anytime, as is their right, they don't wish to confuse customers therefore they do not want it externally promoted?

Makes total sense to me.

I don't know who should police it, I really don't, for our clients, we will, networks should (but obviously have interests in not doing so) apart from that someone will, and soon, as it is essentially copyright theft.

[Mogga]

It is not enough in my opinion that the sites in question remove affiliate links for these codes, they should be made to remove all affiliate links from their discount code site (or not rewarded for those affiliate links) if they are unable/unwilling to police their sites responsibly.

And remove adsense as a revenue scheme - or do some PPC use showing their ads on these "illegal" voucher sites as a way of getting round publishing them directly themselves.
I spose if you were clever you'd ban all sites for your ads for all sites other than the speciifc one you wanted.


(There are sites dedicated to a certain supermarket's codes which we as affils are not allowed to promote)

[loquax]

There was an article in The People yesterday about high street shopping - plus a small snippet about online discounts - sendmediscounts and myvouchercodes mentioned - but what was interesting was that The People also published "hidden" codes themselves... including one for Tesco and one for Vodafone (for the bluetooth headset offer that iirc closed a while back?).

They also said that apparently retailers don't want consumers to know about these codes but are powerless to act... which imo is nonsense! Powerless in this case is another word for "can't be bothered to try"!

Retailers can be empowered by implementing a decent system of codes (click to get the discount - e.g. Figleaves or click to send in your email to get the discount - e.g Firebox)

I'm shocked to read that used codes aren't shown in the "sale info" - that should be changed - and merchants need to decide whether they want affiliates who work with them fairly or are just happy for a "free for all"!

If the former, great - but if the latter no worries, just let all affiliates know so they can ensure their efforts promoting you can include all the codes that are currently valid - we can then save our users the time looking for voucher codes by giving them to them direct.

Jason

[KevinEdwards]

Given the explosion of codes available this year and the media exposure they've received (The Guardian on Saturday carried an article entitled How to get 10% off everything | Money | The Guardian) I think 2008 will have to see a more structured approach to their distribution and how they are monitored.

We have already released one solution and with such a huge base of retail clients we are looking at further improvements.

We'll obviously keep you updated with any developments in the new year.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Apart from a light sprinkling of postings from a couple of network representatives, the network involvement is yet again lackluster, making you wonder if any are bereft of opinion or thinking on ones feet, yet they merrily post the latest promotions & program launches & 0% offers. It's the kind of thing that makes me lean towards an affiliate association of just affiliates, whilst other parties can set their own in parallel because the image it presents is erm... pins ... needles ... lazy ... backside, suggesting a number of affiliates (not all) are the ones with the genuine passion & enthusiasm with selfless rather than selfish attitudes.

PS Thank you to those very few network representatives who have contributed to a number of discussions so far.

[KevinEdwards]

Codes will always be out there regardless of whether they have affiliate tracking behind them however the industry needs to regulate their distribution and where they appear.

Certainly we need to be confident that where codes appear with affiliate tracking behind them the industry is doing all it can to ensure advertisers are accurately represented and affiliates stick to the rules.

Only this week I spoke to an affiliate who is seeing some success with a voucher code site. He's only featuring legitimate and accurate codes but is frustrated by less scrupulous affiliates misleading visitors or forcing clicks.

We've attempted to clamp down on forced clicks this year and have had some success with a number of affiliates but recognise it still happens. Besides there's no use in Affiliate Window insisting pages featuring its merchants do not have forced clicks if other networks don't.

I think 2008 will see a reaction to codes from advertisers and the industry will need to have a more structured response than currently exists.

[loquax]

Besides there's no use in Affiliate Window insisting pages featuring its merchants do not have forced clicks if other networks don't

Why not? Awin are often happy to take the lead in other ways. Waiting for another network to take a lead will be like waiting for Rhyddian to win X-Factor.

I'd be more tempted to work with a network who stood up and protected those affiliates working within the rules, as opposed to a network who stuck it's head in the sand in favour of the small minority.

A forced click is a forced click.. either allow them for everyone or clamp down and ensure affiliates abide by the ts and cs they signed up for!

Jason

[KevinEdwards]

Hi Jason,

What I meant was we're happy to ensure forced clicks are clamped down on (and will continue to do so) but if another network doesn't take the same attitude then it doesn't help the industry as a whole.