MSE News: Ban for firms posing as happy customers online

Alan_M_2

I have to add, I'm having a bit of a chuckle at this thread at all these people so upset that I may or may not be posting suitable or unsuitable links by reprinting and highlighting all the links they find unsuitable.

It kind of shows the level of intelligence I'm dealing with here.;)

BargainGalore

Yes kind of shows how dumb you think people are

Despite obviously showing a link between you and that company you still think its nothing to do with you

Alan_M wrote: »

I have to add, I'm having a bit of a chuckle at this thread at all these people so upset that I may or may not be posting suitable or unsuitable links by reprinting and highlighting all the links they find unsuitable.

It kind of shows the level of intelligence I'm dealing with here.;)

Antispam

You posted hidden link which clearly shows you are associated with that thats why I posted pictures because you think we are all morons

I am not thick, but you certainly think many of us are.

You have no affiliation yet I clearly show otherwise

Am I getting through to you yet, hello anyone there !

Alan_M wrote: »

Y

And the two links above provide a route to other companies WITH WHOM I HAVE NO AFFILLIATION AND HAVE NOTHING TO GAIN FORM THE LINK IN ANY FINANCIAL OR REFERAL WAY WHATSOEVER.


I am the very example of what I am asking the question about. Are you so thick you can't comprehend that?

Alan_M_2

Yeah yeah yeah...you've reported me for abuse, I'm thick skinned enough to have expected a couple of forum cursaders. So now you've done your bit as site disciples lets have a debate about the question I continue to pose that you have so far completely ignored.

You seem so passionate about this you must have a reasonable opinon/ argument for the case or not. Lets drop the link bit, you've taken that as a far as you can and it's the hands of the administrators, many of whom have benefitted from my advice.......

Would you pefer I hide my identity or be open about it?

As I've already noted, my volume of posts and thanks give credibility to my account therefore credibility to the posts I make so when considering abuse reports they also consider how well my posts are recieved by the general forum population rather than a disgruntled minority (who happen more often then not to actually be my business competitors).

If I were a new account posting links with 3 posts it's pretty obvious, but I'm not that am I, I nearly have as many thanks from other forum members as the two of you combined...rather telling huh?

Would you rather people hid who they were and stealthily droped links in to thier own business or would you prefer to know who they are?

Dr.Shoe_2

roddydogs wrote: »

What about the ones that post on Rivals sites that their rubbish?

Exactly what I was wondering. I have seen companies rubbished here (and elsewhere) by people who have signed up and only have made about 5 posts: one to highly praise one comapny with a dubious reputation and four to rubbish rival firms with good reputations.

poppy10_2

Alan_M wrote: »

Lets drop the link bit, you've taken that as a far as you can and it's the hands of the administrators, many of whom have benefitted from my advice.......

It's a simple question - when posting your links to extensive.co.uk, a company with whom you say you have no financial connection, why do you add ?a=atstone to the end of the URL?

Alan_M_2

poppy10 wrote: »

It's a simple question - when posting your links to extensive.co.uk, a company with whom you say you have no financial connection, why do you add ?a=atstone to the end of the URL?

Simple answer, makes absolutely no difference (financially)

The link tells the person landing at Extensive that I am comfortable recommending them, I do this becuase I can't sell the product they do at the price they do, therefore there's no point in trying to compete with them. I simply reccommend people buy from them becasue they are a good company, supplying a good product with good service. Belive it or not some people still do that for no reward.....you think my 2000 plus posts on here are for reward?

I get no payment, I don't even get a reciprocal link, I know they are a good company who are above board and sell a good quality product. It ends there.

Nothing I say will convince you any further of that, if you want to ask how much Extensive have paid me in the last say, 6 months, email them and ask (it's likely they'll ask my permission to discuss me due to Data Protection which I'm happy to agree to), the answer is Nil. I can't be any clearer on that.

Simple answer to a simple question, are you still uncomfortable with any part of that?

Now how about answering my question? Or is that too difficult as no one seems willing to offer an opinion.

Alan_M_2

Dr.Shoe wrote: »

Exactly what I was wondering. I have seen companies rubbished here (and elsewhere) by people who have signed up and only have made about 5 posts: one to highly praise one comapny with a dubious reputation and four to rubbish rival firms with good reputations.

This is what I'm trying to open a discussion on, but the thread is being spoilt by a few busybodies.

How does a forum of this size now police itself from the members that choose to sign up and disguise their identity.

Should a member such as me, who openly declares his business situation in an attempt to be transparent be obliged to have a slightly different type of account making it clear to any other posters that I have business interests? In much the same way the Financial Advisors do.

I understand why I attract the anger of certain posters on here, It's the same handful of people that continue to report my "abuse" fortunately the mods have an open mind to this and still consider that my contribution to the forum in general outweighs the few people it uspets...The few thousand thanks vs the four or five aggrevied members is telling.

My question is still, would you feel more comfortable if I chose to hide my identity and slipped in "recommendations" for my own business posing as a happy customer or do you feel more informed if I say who I am and what I do and am up front about it but am still happy to provide independent advice to those that want it?

That is the reason I started this section of the conversation on this thread, do those of you responding to me so far think you can venture an opinion on that rather than flogging to death the syntax of links?

JAG

Alan_M wrote: »

Simple answer, makes absolutely no difference (financially)

The link tells the person landing at Extensive that I am comfortable recommending them.

Then why don't you just post the URL without your referal link?

The link tells Extensive who refered them to their website, so whether you get paid financially or via other "rewards", adding a referal link is only going to get you trouble from others on this board.

The simply solution is not to add your refer link.

NeverInDebt

I think that Alan doesn't seem to get it, perhaps he is not the brightest spark

JAG wrote: »

Then why don't you just post the URL without your referal link?

The link tells Extensive who refered them to their website, so whether you get paid financially or via other "rewards", adding a referal link is only going to get you trouble from others on this board.

The simply solution is not to add your refer link.