Discount Codes - Banned Companies

[Helen]

you can add GLTC to the list currently on Tradedoubler.

Currently you can only promote codes issued by myself directly to an affiliate.

[Barry]

Ta I was aware as you know but have added you to the list as you were missing.

Ta

Baz

[befuddle]

Laithwaites have kindly supplied a code through the affiliate channel and ask ...

"We would also like to ask you to stop using e-vouchers not supplied through the affiliate scheme. Please remove any existing codes in the next seven days."

[Barry]

Have not updated this thread for a while and it need to be updated - but have just had an email from Expedia and Hotels stating they will no longer work with 'click to reveal' sites.

They have also noticed (like many companies may do soon) that many voucher code sites are bidding on (Brand + voucher code) etc etc and have stated that it must stop.

Ta

Baz

[Pete Taylor]

Great news from Expedia. Merchants that allow people with 'click to reveal' to join their schemes and overwrite other affiliates cookies are shooting themselves in the foot in the longer term.

Just search almost any company by brand that has an affiliate scheme and the SERPS is overloaded with 'click to reveal' people. If I attract a customer to a merchant on a generic, he/she will probably return later to make the purchase. However now they know the brand from my generic term, it’s highly likely that they will seek out the site by searching the brand name and be inundated with 'click to reveal' people who want to set their cookie at the final hurdle.

I have written to some affiliate managers about this practice, and surprisingly, some want to sit on their hands, while publicly creating lots of ‘terms and conditions’ that should prevent this.

[fizzbird]

Originally Posted by Pete Taylor I have written to some affiliate managers about this practice, and surprisingly, some want to sit on their hands, while publicly creating lots of ‘terms and conditions’ that should prevent this.

Don't waste your time, most of them would be out of a job without this scam continuing so are hardly likely to do anything to curtail it?
Unfortunately for them, this gravy train is now approaching the buffers at high speed

[retrolink]

Originally Posted by Barry Have not updated this thread for a while and it need to be updated - but have just had an email from Expedia and Hotels stating they will no longer work with 'click to reveal' sites. They have also noticed (like many companies may do soon) that many voucher code sites are bidding on (Brand + voucher code) etc etc and have stated that it must stop. Ta Baz

Cick to reveal - I hope all the other merchants join in as it is so negative for the users experiences on the whole.

Brand bidding (Brand + voucher code) etc etc - Major voucher code sites do not seem to negative match and Affiliate Networks do not seem to care (AW is a prime example). Examples incude Myvouchercodes, vouchercodes.com, discountcodes.co.uk, gcodes.co.uk, findvouchercodes.co.uk, etc etc etc. I gave up telling networks as it's pointless... In their defense, Adwords does have a limit on the number of negative terms allowed..,

[dougs]

Having sat on the fence here, many people do search for the term merchant discount codes.......so the demand is there and somehow needs to be serviced. Hence more and more sites will appear.

As far click to reveal is concerned....I honestly cant see this going away. Simply becuase it means the dicount code sites get a better chance of being paid and if they have codes then I feel it is ok. If no codes then a big no no.

I am sure many people have the words click here for more info on their review sites and then send the user to the merchant. What is the difference? Aslong as the user is getting what they want then that seems fair.

Doug





But having had



Doug

[fizzbird]

Originally Posted by dougs As far click to reveal is concerned....I honestly cant see this going away. Simply becuase it means the dicount code sites get a better chance of being paid and if they have codes then I feel it is ok. If no codes then a big no no.

The problem here is that some merchants have periodic codes, the code may have been valid for 3 days and then there is no code at all.
No one is going to remove pages that are optimised for merchant+discount code once they have been indexed.

I am sure many people have the words click here for more info on their review sites and then send the user to the merchant. What is the difference? Aslong as the user is getting what they want then that seems fair.

It's a valid point but the bigger issue goes beyond this. Commission is being paid for sales that were not created by any affiliate. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a code site owner, an affiliate manager or an idiot.

It's not sustainable and will end, one way or another.

[dougs]

The problem here is that some merchants have periodic codes, the code may have been valid for 3 days and then there is no code at all.
No one is going to remove pages that are optimised for merchant+discount code once they have been indexed.

Yes but you can't say click to reveal and not have a valid code...simply this is misrepresentation and illegal. Keep the pages but the link must say exactly what you are getting.

Commission is being paid for sales that were not created by any affiliate. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a code site owner, an affiliate manager or an idiot.

Explian please

Doug

[ash]

Can't this discussion be moved elsewhere? Otherwise a useful thread is going to be ruined by another voucher code debate....