MSE Discussion: MoneySavingExpert.com to join the...

[MSE Archna]

UPDATE 3 JUNE - please also read this thread - What is the future of this forum?
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...5#post53540625


"In a deal announced this morning on the stock market, MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) will join MoneySupermarket.com group. MSE will continue to operate as it does now, but with improved technology, so more people can gain from its MoneySaving techniques."

Read the full story:


MoneySavingExpert.com to join the MoneySupermarket.com group


Read Martin's editorial comment:


Martin Lewis on MoneySavingExpert.com joining the MoneySupermarket group

[Fifer]

There's a question missing from the Q&A. "What's in in for MoneySupermarket.com and how will they make a return on their massive investment?"

[sablade]

A very sad day for your unbiased opinions - a sell out! We now need a new unbiased independent website.

[k-man]

Shocking

Deleting myself from the forum as soon as I work out how to do it

[Sazbo]

Hmmm......

[sablade]

Originally Posted by Fifer

There's a question missing from the Q&A. "What's in in for MoneySupermarket.com and how will they make a return on their massive investment?"

Unfortunately the voice of the consumer has been bought, money can buy anything, anyone has their price and Mr Lewis has dumped on his own doorstep. To start with we will see no difference but drip by drip moneysupermarket will suffocate this site and strip it of all it's ways to turn the public's free advice into pure profit.

[marty1888]

Can this be described as the ultimate sellout?

[sablade]

7.5M of us get the weekly email which now will be spam and secret adverts

[glider3560]

Originally Posted by Fifer

There's a question missing from the Q&A. "What's in in for MoneySupermarket.com and how will they make a return on their massive investment?"

In the same way of Martin presumably makes money from the website. Details are given in the "How the site is financed" section.

[landsker]

If it looks like a sellout and quacks like a sell out, it is a sell out.

[chewback]

The site will turn into Motley Fool where they only promote companies that pay them.

[Fifer]

Originally Posted by sablade

Unfortunately the voice of the consumer has been bought, money can buy anything, anyone has their price and Mr Lewis has dumped on his own doorstep. To start with we will see no difference but drip by drip moneysupermarket will suffocate this site and strip it of all it's ways to turn the public's free advice into pure profit.

Sadly, I suspect you are right. There will be a period of stability followed by a decreasing level of activity by the founders and an increasing level of commercial activity.

Even if that was not the case, the commercial association tarnishes any claim of independence. Even if the site remained completely true to it's founding principles, the commerical link will destroy people's perception of indpendence and fairness. The site, however honest it may be, will not be trusted.

[landsker]

At least if you'd sold to Compare the Market, we'd have the meerkats to enliven things.

[Fifer]

Originally Posted by chewback

The site will turn into Motley Fool where they only promote companies that pay them.

Good analogy. I remember when Motley Fool was independent and trusted. I used to visit regularly but haven't been near it for years.

[k-man]

Originally Posted by sablade

7.5M of us get the weekly email which now will be spam and secret adverts

1 more person not getting the email now .....

[StaffsSW]

http://shares.telegraph.co.uk/news/a...1191&epic=MONY

£87m ...?!

I knew the site was coining it in, but not to that extent.

[Steamer28]

Sell out, mmmm not completley sure as I would never want the site to closed.

And long term investment from Moneysupermarket should save us all more money (And someone has to make money to keep the wheels going round).

Well done Martin & Team.

Stuart

[Fifer]

Originally Posted by Steamer28

And long term investment from Moneysupermarket should save us all more money (

How does that work then?

[stingyscot]

I've been a moneysaving member since Martin was in short trousers, figuratively speaking, and somehow felt that he and the site was 'ours'. It's so disappointing to discover that he has feet of clay and is just the same as all the rest. Sellout, in every way. Presumably the next step is to become an MP :-(

[StaffsSW]

Originally Posted by Fifer

There's a question missing from the Q&A. "What's in in for MoneySupermarket.com and how will they make a return on their massive investment?"

it's simply one affiliate marketing company, buying out another. This site earns huge amounts of money from all those links with a star next to them. Remember that this site is one huge financial product recommendation exercise, and that industry pays affiliates handsomely... Equifax, £35 per sign up, utility companies pays up to £100 per new customer.

Mse/ml is widely recognised as one of the highest earning affiliates within the internet marketing industry. Fair play for levering that niche.