Skimlinks trial on MSE forums

meher

BargainGalore wrote: »

Here is another example tonight of a genuine link turning into a MSE affilate link

Thanks, even I made that profound observation when I went shopping online @ ... That's apparently what this thread is about:

MSE_Dan wrote: »

A company called Skimlinks have created software which can link a limited number of standard links to other websites, eg, www.amazon.co.uk, into tracking links, which are then demarked to have come from MSE.

It scans through boards on the forum and, if Skimlinks has a commercial relationship with a company linked to, it then ‘affiliates’ that link i.e. MSE will get paid if it is clicked.

MSE_Dan wrote: »

All users can post whatever they like, with no intereference from MSE, except crucially links for their own company and that will continue - no one is likely to transact any more or any less on the back of this.

The only possible issue we've detected above is one for cashback users and that's something we will monitor.

If there are problems caused we'll either pull this or fix it - but we can't know without trialling it.

MSE_Dan wrote: »

What I meant above was, once you have clicked a link, if you carry on watching that line at the bottom of browser, you will see the link quickly move through a redirect.moneysavingexpert.com address.

Skimlinks is live now anyway, so if you find a post linking to eg. eBay or Amazon, you should be able to see what I mean

it's ^ all ^ here ^

BargainGalore wrote: »

Its very hard now checking not impossible but this may cause problems with false accusations

I'd imagine it's something like reading terms and conditions or instructions when we buy good or services or sign a contract, specially when it's kept transparent for us to look it up.

May be it could be highlighted in the OP where the statistics box is?

poppy10_2

robt wrote: »

I also agree with what someone else above said that the 'pink box' might as well not be there (and I suspect the whole point of it being small is so that people don't see it). Why don't you make an announcement above the forums like you do planned maintenance. Everyone sees that.

For me this is one of the most distasteful aspects of this whole sorry affair. The pink box is tiny, and seems to be deliberately located as to be overlooked by most people. This in combination with the blatant mistruths being stated about "we are not altering the content of users' posts at all" leads me to believe that the staff know how shady this scheme is.

The Skimlinks trial should be publicized in the main 'Announcements' box - this is a much bigger change to the functioning of the forums than every little minor forum software upgrade that constantly gets posted there.

BargainGalore

Still the issues arises as its not entirely transparent, as some of us have picked up on this, what is easily indefinable is its a referral link what isnt is who gains by this, a 3rd party ie came from another web site say hotukdeals, the user ie say there web site or MSE via skimlinks, this adds another layer of being hidden much like a shorten link does

This will lead to possible accusations on boards that the poster may gain and or may even deter people reporting such posts because they then believe its a MSE affiliate link as its not always easy to spot unless you take a little time to do some digging.

I have no problems with site trying to make some money even if it is to run site and aren't naive to think they dont make a lot out of it already even on the links in main site which are clearly shown I also am aware the site/forums costs a lot of money obviously I am not privy to how much this all costs

All I am saying at present is the skimlinks aren't always obvious and this has already shown that people can be accused of posting a affiliate link even when they actually didn't post one and like wise this may also put people off reporting posts in the believe its a genuine mse link

dollparts

Ok, this is interesting. Looking at this topic on a slightly broader canvas.....Just imagine MSE being in a financial position to pay [STRIKE]ME[/STRIKE] someone to solely work on the boards all day.

Talk about the best job going!

I would bite Martin's hand off for a job as cool as that!

If anyone sees Martin, please tell him I would be not only fabulous, efficient, motivated and more than happy to fill this position, I would for once in my life be paid to do something I would leap out of bed for every morning:D:D:D

walter_wobblebottom

what pink box?:o

robt_2

walter_wobblebottom wrote: »

what pink box?:o

Point proven!

little_monkey

moneysavingexpert.com Estimated Worth $1.57 Million USD


http://www.websiteoutlook.com/www.moneysavingexpert.com#


Is it really worth that?:eek:

Vrindavan

>> Is it really worth that?

different websites give different estimate.

poppy10_2

little_monkey wrote: »

moneysavingexpert.com Estimated Worth $1.57 Million USD

http://www.websiteoutlook.com/www.moneysavingexpert.com#

Is it really worth that?:eek:

Probably a lot more than that. MSE doesn't publish its yearly accounts (Martin changed the status of MSE from a limited company to an unlimited company, so he doesn't have to file annual accounts at Companies House anymore), but media estimates usually reckon the site makes a profit in the range of tens of thousands each month. Certainly it generates enough revenue to be able to generously donate over £100,000 to its charity each year. Assuming they are donating 10% of their profits (which would be very large by any standards), they probably make at least a million pounds a year.

For comparison, Moneysupermarket.com (which has a lower readership than MSE) has made a profit of £2.9m over the last 6 months alone, and was floated on the stock exchange for an estimated total net worth of £840m. Yes, Moneysupermarket has a different revenue model so it's not directly comparable, but MSE does almost certainly make a very healthy profit each year.

I don't begrudge them that - it's a fantastic site that has saved its users many millions of pounds, and Martin put so much of his own effort and money into getting the site started in the early days - but any suggestion that MSE needs this shady Skimlinks scheme to "cover its hosting costs" is utterly ridiculous and misleading.

Former_MSE_Dan

BargainGalore wrote: »

Here is another example tonight of a genuine link turning into a MSE affilate link

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2653383

This is to thehut.co.uk

What is shown in post

http://www.thehut.com/games/platforms/xbox-360/wanted-weapons-of-fate/10035152.html

which is

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/redir/5d857493?id=3196X602032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moneysavingexpert.com%2Fredir%2F5d857493%3Fid%3D3196X602032%2!!!!%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.thehut.com%252Fgames%252Fplatforms%252Fxbox-360%252Fwanted-weapons-of-fate%252F10035152.html


http://www.thehut.com/games/platforms/xbox-360/wanted-weapons-of-fate/10035152.html?awc=2547_1281473898_67071a619d98edc7b3d1a13eb566eb8b&affil=awin

Its is very hard now to check who is gaining you have to do much more digging around thsi will cause problems and people may get accused of posting affiliate links as has already happened the other day

Hi BargainGalore,

This is a glitch (a very important one though) and the techie team here are looking into it. The strange thing is, when i clicked to that thread, I saw it exactly how you described; yet when i refreshed the page, it reverted to how it should be.

Please can anyone report any instances of this that you find - we want to work out what the problem is and solve it. Again, this is one of the reasons for the trial.

poppy10 wrote: »

For me this is one of the most distasteful aspects of this whole sorry affair. The pink box is tiny, and seems to be deliberately located as to be overlooked by most people. This in combination with the blatant mistruths being stated about "we are not altering the content of users' posts at all" leads me to believe that the staff know how shady this scheme is.

The Skimlinks trial should be publicized in the main 'Announcements' box - this is a much bigger change to the functioning of the forums than every little minor forum software upgrade that constantly gets posted there.

Sorry you feel that way. However, this is only a trial, and as I have said a couple of times in the thread already, if we decide to proceed then the messaging of this will be something we consider very carefully, and all feedback is proving useful