IAB Affiliate Council revised Voucher Code Guidelines

[edwyn123]

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Suppose hypothetically that the IAB now insisted expired codes had to be removed from voucher code directories, I struggle to think of a way this could be enforced.

One of the things I've noticed is that asking an affiliate to remove old codes (which I know are expired) results in them putting up even more old codes (which I would then have to check) This of course isn't all affiliates - just a select few.

The main problem is that a lot of the action is retrospective and consequently older codes have no expiry dates and give these few affiliates the opportunity to claim innocence about their expiry over and over again.

[ian]

Suppose hypothetically that the IAB now insisted expired codes had to be removed from voucher code directories, I struggle to think of a way this could be enforced.

If they had to be removed....
If a problem is too big, then break it down. You don't have to enforce every code on every site, just have the ability to enforce some of them. Random drugs testing works on the basis that you could be tested at any time, so you better stay clean all the time. So how about randomised code testing?

If all the networks keep spreadsheets/databases of codes and expiry dates they can pick some that expired a week ago, bung them into google with the merchant name and away you go. i.e. a search for the expired code DISH35 would be "dixons code DISH35" and Google comes up with

Google Search for 'dixons code DISH35'

There can't be that many codes expiring on any one day, and it would be fairly simple to see who the repeat offenders are after a few days. If they keep on breaking the rules then boot them off the program or network.

If google isn't turning up great results because of caching, then get the code spreadsheet or database to produce the list and test on a random sample of sites.

Once the sites that hit the top positions in the serps get the idea and are playing by the rules, the lower positioned sites will come to the fore and get the same analysis.

[befuddle]

So you've asked an affiliate(s) to remove an expired code and they have done and they've replaced it with another valid code that you happen to know isn't valid despite there being no expiry date set by the merchant, agency or network.
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

[befuddle]

Regarding the comment that there can't be that many codes expiring on any one single day. Well there were dozens on 31st December and there is every other last day of month.
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

[ian]

Regarding the comment that there can't be that many codes expiring on any one single day. Well there were dozens on 31st December and there is every other last day of month.
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

Fair enough. In that case you could just use a random sample of 5 codes from the dozens of expiring codes. I'm sure that a pattern would show up fairly quickly of those that played by the rules and those that didn't.

[edwyn123]

So you've asked an affiliate(s) to remove an expired code and they have done and they've replaced it with another valid code that you happen to know isn't valid despite there being no expiry date set by the merchant, agency or network.
--<br>Posted via my Mobile Device

Pretty much - I have asked an affiliate to remove an expired code (the end date said unknown) , this affiliate then proceeded to put up another code with unknown expiry (which when tested also turned out to be expired)

It's a frustrating process but some affiliates will claim innocence until the end of time!

[confuscius]

Is it not the case that if the expiry date is unknown then it should not have been issued or used in the first place?

Should not all such codes be removed forthwith until such time as an expiry date can be established?

The revised Laskys terms and conditions make interesting reading in that they are saying that expired codes must be removed in future, even though this is not a requirement of the IAB guidelines. So it looks like you have to comply with IAB and also merchant specific terms. It will be interesting to see how many VC sites comply with the Laskys' request and how many VC sites Laskys terminate their relationship with - http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/a...onditions.html - also some other interesting bits, I like the 'cheaper' one in particular as it leads to unspinning the crap for some people!

[edwyn123]

Is it not the case that if the expiry date is unknown then it should not have been issued or used in the first place?

Should not all such codes be removed forthwith until such time as an expiry date can be established?

If expiry date is unknown then click to reveal can not be used. It does not cover simply displaying the code (codes issued without an expiry date were generally issued before 1st Jan 09)

There's nothing in the guidelines to insist that codes with unknown expiry are removed.

I too will be watching the Laskys account closely

[befuddle]

If expiry date is unknown then click to reveal can not be used.

Many codes are ongoing and have no specified expiry date. That's a merchant or agency issue.

[ash]

codes issued without an expiry date were generally issued before 1st Jan 09

There are still a fair amount of codes getting issued without expiry dates.

[befuddle]

some affiliates will claim innocence until the end of time!

So much for an appeals process then!

[Top banana]

Could someone from IAB confirm whether or not a start date is needed on all codes?

a couple of other affiliates said they will NOT be adding them.