Skimlinks trial on MSE forums

PhiltheBear

thelawnet wrote: »

Yes that's true, there's a great (?) thread on another site where an affiliate manager went absolutely bonkers because the site was explaining how to profit from the bonus,...

Do you have a link to that site? (I presume it won't be changed by skimlinks..:huh: )

Former_MSE_Archna

PhiltheBear wrote: »

I'm very unhappy about the way this trial has been conducted without a single mail out to people telling them what's happening. It's devious and underhand. And, frankly, it's the sort of thing that ML would normally be moaning about. Perhaps there's a case of double standard here?

As said before Dan will be back on Monday to respond to comments here, I just wanted to say that we've put an announcement on every single board in the forum, a note on the right hand site of the forum and it went in the weekly MSE email yesterday.

Former_MSE_Archna

While the forums were closed to introduce a new ‘Enter’ button on the Competition forum (read about the enter button) we’ve also added an opt-out of Skimlinks. To opt out simply go to your User control panel, edit options and tick the box to opt out. This will mean any links you click through via the forums will not be redirected via Skimlinks.
If you spot any glitches with the Skimlinks opt out or if it’s not working for you please do report them here.

Former_MSE_Archna

daaave wrote: »

Please please please exclude the GIOL board from your skimlinks trial.

Hi daaave,

We'll be removing Skimlinks from the GIOL board tomorrow. Thanks for the feedback.

Horlock

MSE_Archna wrote: »

While the forums were closed to introduce a new ‘Enter’ button on the Competition forum (read about the enter button) we’ve also added an opt-out of Skimlinks. To opt out simply go to your User control panel, edit options and tick the box to opt out. This will mean any links you click through via the forums will not be redirected via Skimlinks.
If you spot any glitches with the Skimlinks opt out or if it’s not working for you please do report them here.

Thanks for this. I've just opted out - though as stated numerous times above the option should be to opt in!

To add to the irony - had it been an opt-in option I would probably have opted-in.

To explain my reasoning: I do not believe that MSE.com has been forthcoming and honest with the huge change of using "sinlinks". By having an opt-out option they are relying on the vast majority of folks not knowing/understanding the implications of "sinlinks" and are making money off people who know no better/different.

Had there been an opt-in option. I would have felt that MSE.com was doing everything in its power to protect the site members which would have boosted my confidence in the ethics of the site. I am not scarred of affilate links and would be prepared to click them (as I always have clicked the *'d links in the past) when doing so has no clash (eg cashback) with my own interests. I would have been keen to do anything to help a site which has on numerous occasions been helpful to me.

Now I feel there is a con in place - I have no option but to opt out.

Please note I would have had no objection to strongly wording a request to members that they did opt in - but again with the vast amount of people not knowing the implications a default opt in isn't good enough for me. The only way to show this is to vote with my feet hence the opt out!

meher wrote:

I suspect all of these features come up in new softwares; each new format has clever features and these are designed by software engineers who know their target market and their needs - so you know, it's universal. It isn't as if this site installs something unique to the site to manipulate visitors as you make out. Many sites have this sort propping up once a day or if you're clicking first time on that page. This is simply to offer an option which you can just click on the little cross button and shut it down and I think it is a good one. Just last week I went into an Airlines website and searched high and low looking for a place to enter my email address for news and offers and was frustrated to find none.

for the lesser techi and for those who are not registered to the site, an opt out default isn't a bright idea imo because it serves nobody any purpose - the default has to be opted in with a feature to opt out and imo it's conventional that all such features normally tend to favor the site concerned; please prove me wrong and show me one site that has been customised otherwise

Really didn't understand this post - probably just me but I've read it a few times and got nowhere - I think my problem was with the English more than the content, it may have been a very helpful comment - I think it is in support of skimlinks and against an opt-in, but as said I didn't understand the message. It sounds a bit like you are saying "other sites have advertising so why shouldn't MSE?" but that logic could be applied to a lot of things that this site doesn't have (that I don't care to mention here) - but as I said I really didn't understand the message. Perhaps a reword might help - or perhaps I'm just too tired - I'm not trying to pick holes.

JDPower

Horlock wrote: »

Had there been an opt-in option. I would have felt that MSE.com was doing everything in its power to protect the site members

They ARE doing everything in their power to protect users - by doing everything they can to make the site as viable as possible in the least inconvenient way and ensuring there continues to BE a site for members long term.

Some of the militantly anti posts in this thread are just silly.

kermitfrog

JDPower wrote: »

They ARE doing everything in their power to protect users - by doing everything they can to make the site as viable as possible in the least inconvenient way and ensuring there continues to BE a site for members long term.

Some of the posts in this thread are just silly.

Totally agree. This site is a really valuable resource and I hope it long continues to be so. If they find innovative ways to finance it, good for them.There aren't any traps for anyone with a reasonable amount of common sense.

Horlock

JDPower wrote: »

They ARE doing everything in their power to protect users - by doing everything they can to make the site as viable as possible in the least inconvenient way and ensuring there continues to BE a site for members long term.

Some of the militantly anti posts in this thread are just silly.

Afraid you are confusing viability with profitability. We both know (having been members for over 5 years the site is viable). This new thing is not about keeping the site going - it is about making money - and it is not an attempt to "protect users". You seem a little confused here.

kermitfrog

Horlock wrote: »

(having been members for over 5 years the site is viable).

Having been a member for over 6 years, I am qualified to judge the site.

thelawnet

oakhouse13 wrote: »

http://www.gm.tv/money/money-saving-expert-martin-lewis/52124-martin-lewis-debt-tips.html

Clear cookies then click link to Martin's free debt guide.

The MSE screen goes dim.

Before you can access the free guide it asks for your email address to sign up for weekly deals email which I would imagine is not what someone in debt crisis has in mind - shopping.

Indeed, and while, as I noted, something like Google ads doesn't affect the editorial content meaningfully, the weekly tips seems to be very much influenced by commercial rather than money-saving concerns.

Looking at this week's email, one of the headings is "Make £100s from old cameras, laptops, straighteners & more", and then there is an extended plug for Weeebuy, a brand-new site with no traffic from any other source than MSE. They've no affiliate program, just a special partnership with MSE, so this has been negotiated specially.

The [STRIKE]extended advertisement[/STRIKE] money-saving guide says 'Weebuy* is usually on its own, for old laptops it says it'll pay up to £100.'. The reality is that you won't get £100 for an 'old laptop', you'll get £100 for a fairly new laptop, worth far more than £100. My four-year-old laptop fetches £300 on ebay - Weeebuy offers me £80.

This isn't money-saving at all, it's a plug for money wasting, throwing money down the toilet, and so many people have done so as a result of this site's link, they've had to shut the site down

I can't check what they're offering for satnavs as the site is down, but the other linked site, cash4gadgets offers just £54 for a TomTom 940, against £106 (p/ex) or £80 (cash) at CeX.