Breaking the rules 2

[scriptmonkey]

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Another site doing something it really shouldn't

Miss Selfridge Promotional Codes | Fashion Voucher Codes

No warning given when trying to copy the code that the merchant site will be opened

1. Affiliates must not use a mechanism whereby users are encouraged to click to interact with content where it is unclear or confusing what the outcome will be. For example:

i) Using “click to reveal code” and opening the site when no valid code is present or an offer/deal/sale is presented instead, without this being made clear before the click.

ii) Using “click to copy code” and opening the site when no valid code is available

iii) Opening the merchant’s site without making it clear that this will occur

[HelenMarie]

Hi scriptmonkey

This has been sent to all the members of the AMC vouchercode group to look into, we will have feedback early next week.

In order for any issues to be looked into immediately please send to vouchercode@iabuk.net

Thanks
Helen

[scriptmonkey]

Hi Helen, I'd rather keep posting here if that's OK, I don't need feedback, timescale & action don't bother me either. I find email such a clumsy way to communicate

[trevHCS]

I could foresee that one falling down for them as it opens in the same window so unless the person is quick they won't be able to copy the voucher code, and thus when they get redirected they might just abandon the transaction anyway. Hopefully also Google will spot the onclick redirect.

Out of interest, if stuff is sent to vouchercode@iabuk.net or similar, does someone within the AMC then contact the network or merchant automatically?

Trev

[HelenMarie]

Hi Trev,

The vouchercode@iabuk.net email goes to a representative from each AMC member network. All the feedback is then coordinated and we decide on any action that needs to be taken.

Cheers
Helen

[JohnnyCash]

I think it would be in every affiliates interests for complaints to be posted publicly, this way it lets us all see what (or if) anything is done about it, plus it lets us see rule breaking tactics that we can see are being used in our niches too. Emailing them to some secret email doesn't look particularly appealing to me.

[HelenMarie]

Hi,

I have no objection to people posting here, it is a free forum afterall.

However, if you want the issue to be looked at immediately then you need top alert the vouchercode group .... we don't monitor the forum daily.

Helen

[Barry]

I bet you do monitor the forum - every hour or so infact.

[HelenMarie]

That is untrue

[JohnnyCash]

On the topic of voucher sites... is this acceptable or not?

Sometimes a retailer may extend their codes by a week or two without telling us. So if there are no codes above it could still be worth trying these "expired" codes out!

Then listing a bunch of expired codes (with affiliate links).

I've asked about this before and not got a straight answer. It looks to me that there should be a clear cut yes or no, there can't really be any middle ground. Either its not allowed and the people doing it should be stopped, or it is allowed and I'm going to copy it.

[Barry]

I've been asked by loads of merchants directly to stop the practice of listing expired codes and mentioning that they may still work (as sometimes they do!) but never by the IAB under normal circumstances - thats other than when the last cull was going on - then I had lots of strange requests from IAB members.

I am not sure if everyone is sent home with an 'assignment' when visiting an IAB meeting!?

- I dont see a problem with it though as for the consumer its a better bet than going to ladbrokes that they will eventually make some money back using a redundant code.

Its all about explaining the outcome to a customer imo.

Baz

[scriptmonkey]

I still don't know why expired codes are viewed any differently to non-existent codes, if I create or maintain pages with codes that I know don't exist, then surely that's against the rules?

[JohnnyCash]

I still don't know why expired codes are viewed any differently to non-existent codes, if I create or maintain pages with codes that I know don't exist, then surely that's against the rules?

I guess its that there is a (very small) chance of an expired code having been extended... there is zero chance of a non existent code working.

Personally I'd rather see the practice banned - but if its not, and other people are going to use it, then I'm going to also (unless specific merchants request me not to on their pages).

[scriptmonkey]

Codes extended without a flood of emails or mention on here, or in some agency blog? Hmmm, I don't think so. However, as you say other people do it, so why not you. I'd also like to see expired codes classed as non-existent, essentially because they no longer exist. Perhaps in 25 years they'll become classic codes, or antique codes?

I'm seriously considering creating a site with 90% off codes for all merchants, loads of text and big coloured boxes, with a little grey bit of writing that says they don't really exist, of course, I'll make the positive bits much more 'Clickable'.

[JohnnyCash]

If anyone feels strongly about it, they could do a test of x hundred expired codes from a random voucher site and see how many are actually still valid.

Then when it comes back at < 1%, it would be a great point of reference to argue that using expired codes to drop cookies should be banned.