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

CompBunny

Fifer wrote: »

If they stick around and if the moderation of the forum (as part of a commercial company) allows it. Can you imagine a thread being allowed which discusses how to take action against MoneySupermarket if they for example, become involved in misselling?

True. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens If not, I'm sure the valuable contributors to this site will go elsewhere.

I always believed that Martin knew his audience on this site well enough to know that we won't stand for any nonsense and he himself has taught us not to show any loyalty if we don't recieve the service we demand. I still have faith, misguided or not, that this site will continue to be an invaluable resource for the next few years.

luxor4t

aliasojo wrote: »

You're all acting like a dumped spouse....

Time will tell I guess.

I did feel soiled when I read the announcement

As you say, time will tell and we'd best start getting used to the new ideas.

StaffsSW

NevMetson wrote: »

Whilst I've been a member of this site I always felt that (in my experience) that it never quite had the cutting edge of CAG or Pepipoo.

I've also been frustrated over the number of times I've had knock-backs from the MSE admin team over suggestions that I've put forward

Have you never noticed how many of the articles are just rewords of CAG or Pepipoo work? And if you look carefully across this site you may well find that your suggestions were noted, but passed off as his own work. It's happened to me twice now.

Watching him sell out like this has been inevitable for a long time, but there is still a huge sycophantic following that do not understand the commercial dynamic of this site, or how much ML has already earned from it.

hudswell

I’ve been an avid reader of the site and, especially, the forum for some years, and have grown to trust the information on MSE – though normally cross-checked before taking any action. Martin L started the site and, initially through the work of him and his team, it grew to the point where it’s reputation spread, more users joined, and it became the entity it is today –the most respected site of its type in the UK.

There’s no doubt that the users and, in particular, the active contributors to the forums etc. are fundamental to the sites’ ongoing success and growth, and though this has not been addressed within the overall deal, for me it is more than offset by the £10 million donation to charity.

Do I begrudge Martin for selling the site – no, not for one second. He took the risks at the start, and put the work in with his team in the early days. Yes, his unpaid helpers (i.e. active forum users / posters and moderators) are key to the site nowadays, and it’s possibly unfortunate that their contribution is not recognised in the deal – though I’m not sure how it could be (maybe an Amazon voucher for everyone with over 500 posts [counts me out]). Again, for me, the charitable donation more than covers this – I don’t post here for rewards.

Will I stop using the site – again, no. Firstly, the deal has not yet gone through, so there’s no need yet. Secondly, Martin states that he’s retaining editorial control for the next 3 years and, as I’ve trusted his work thus far, I’m content to see how it goes – totally expecting him to be true to his word. Third, if Money Supermarket start leveraging things on the site (more ads / paid for content / whatever), it will be recognised by all, the user base will collapse, and the value of the site will diminish rapidly, and I don’t think Money Supermarket are that commercially naïve.

I’ve trusted Martin thus far, and I still do.

JimmyTheWig

chewback wrote: »

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

I don't think it will.
I think that MoneySupermarket has bought MSE as a going concern.
MSE has a business model which means they always promote the best deal, even if that means they don't make money from it.
That policy means that MSE has grown to be the biggest player in the market and means that there are plenty of links that they do make money from to subsidise those links that they don't make money from.
Take away the links they don't make money from and they lose users - and so lose users who would click on some paying links.

I bet that MSE makes more money than the Motley Fool does, and I bet one reason for this is the fact that they _do_ include non-paying links. I think the new owners would be crazy to make any changes to that policy.

WestonDave

Overall I'm skeptical but prepared to reserve judgement.

2 questions I have which don't appear to be answered in either the editorial code or the FAQ's are as follows:-

The editorial code gives a number of powers to the "editor in chief" BUT there doesn't appear to be any comment on how such an "EiC" is appointed. Presumably at some stage in the future Moneysupermarket can either sack Martin or allow him to retire, at which point they can put their own "yes man" in place who then has all the powers listed to run the site much differently. The only slight safeguard is a vague reference to running as it has in the last 12 months but that wouldn't hold much water, and in any event there is no-one to hold it to account other than users who will simply clear off rather than try and fight.

Secondly at present the site recommends MoneySupermarket amongst a number of comparison type website. Its not clear whether this will continue as presumably MS will take a somewhat dim view of its competitors being given airtime on a site it now owns.

I suppose the old adage DYOR (do your own research) has always applied but will apply even more in future.

I don't blame Martin for cashing in, but I'm sure with the money the site does make, they could have bought the IT expertise needed without selling out to MS, and as has already been stated a lot of the value in the site comes from user contributions rather than Martins articles etc, and yet the payout only benefits the formal contributors not the informal ones.

JimmyTheWig

It also sounds like the start of early retirement for Martin in three years time. If that's what he wants then it's a good thing that it will be done in a way where the site can continue.

Slightly disturbing, however, that I saw no mention of a commitment to the site remaining free to use.

Plushchris

mcdogfood wrote: »

Once you become part of a shareholder company, that's the end of your independence. What if next year, wonga.com acquires moneysupermarket and doesn't want to honour the editorial code of MSE because it conflicts with its business.

This was my thoughts exactly, maybe not Wonga but any company could buy out Moneysupermarket and decide that MSE isnt part of their agenda.

I'm not going to go to the lengths of unsubscribing from the newsletter (not that I really read it much anyway as I'm always on here) I want to stick around to see what happens. I'm certainly not expecting things to change for the better though.

The site owes a lot to the forum members, sure Martin and the team put a lot of work into it, I dont dispute that, the forum members make the site what it is though. Upset those (by selling out?) and the site may well become worthless, I hope someone from moneysupermarket is reading..

biglugs

southernscouser wrote: »

I can't believe some people are taking this so personally. :undecided

So what if it is a 'sell out'? So what if Martin Lewis' soley only wants to profit massively from this (not that I believe that's his sole motivation)? Do you not think he has earnt it? Is he not entitled to secure his long term financial future from all his graft? Are you all telling me you wouldn't do the same? Fair play to the bloke.

Of course I'd be gutted if this site were ever to change. I'd like to think it will be here to help other people when they're at their lowest and in their darkest place like I was, £40,000 of debt ago. I hope that advice and support will still be there in 10 years time. But I can't begrudge him wanting to secure his future and free up some of his time.

If he has 'sold out', I just hope in true MSE style he got the best deal and went through Quidco too.

What I think people are annoyed about is that some of us have spent many many hours trying to help others with advice, deals, bargains etc. because we thought is was for a greater good. Now that is all likely to fall apart - especially because I for one am not going to give up lots of my time to make the owners of Moneysupermarket more rich (and more annoying) than they already are.

Antispam

Sad day for MSE, that said I use this site a lot less than I use too and probably even less than given the site will be more money making machine

I cant possible see how a site can remain independent when a company who's sole interest is making money and paid a huge amount would obvious want some profit out of this. The site would be worth a lot less if it wasnt for its users. Moneysupermarket obviously think there is some value in this site and its users