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

Plushchris

I think Moneysupermarket have played the long game here, what they have bought is www.moneysavingexpert.com the web address, nothing else.

They spend the next three years letting Martin think he's in charge while they build the new MSE on private servers, the moment the three years is up they flip the switch and bye bye Martin and MSE as it is now.

Or that could just be me being cynical..

nilrem_2

I like this forum very much, some good people give their time freely and willingly to help others and I have received good advice here.

However I don't like what has happened though I shall continue to post and read here, I hope the spirit of the forum stays.

I don't blame Martin Lewis for selling, Had it been me I would have sold for a lot less and take an easy life!

It's a shame it's been sold though.

The_pc_tech

If it were me I'd have probably been on here today to address some people's concerns but then again when a company is acquired the original owner disappears swiftly.

This occurred with an ISP I used to be a customer of, there's probably something written into the contract which prevents him from saying anything but wonderful things about the new owners and obliging him to deny all knowledge of any controversy surrounding the acquisition.

Anyway I came back here after being told about the acquisition being featured on the news by a relative.

Picked up a few good tips from people here for which they do have my thanks but never really been a great fan of the guy TBH.

Shopping around for anything has always been the name of the game, he just made a business from appearing on TV to drive traffic here (while collecting appearance fees) and collecting the commission from the links.

You could maybe make a certain amount from setting up a site with Google ads.

Patr100

melbell wrote: »

You do realise no one cares about your post count or thanked posts. kinda makes you a sad person

Boo Hoo, did you not get any nice smilies with that comment you quoted?
If you read what I wrote properly the original comparison was with all these "first time joined today" posters moaning about the forum they never took part in. i was then accused of not making many useful posts in my time, My thanked rate indicated otherwise.
I know logic is in short supply here but do try to keep up.

mynameistallulah

Patr100 wrote: »

Boo Hoo, did you not get any nice smilies with that comment you quoted?
If you read what I wrote properly the original comparison was with all these "first time joined today" posters moaning about the forum they never took part in. i was then accused of not making many useful posts in my time, My thanked rate indicated otherwise.
I know logic is in short supply here but do try to keep up.

What you fail to realise is that those people that have only just signed up have provided masses of revenue for MSE. You don't have to be a forum member to subscribe to the newsletter or to use the referral links. Therefore they have just as much right to "moan" as anyone else.

terra_ferma

Plushchris wrote: »

I think Moneysupermarket have played the long game here, what they have bought is www.moneysavingexpert.com the web address, nothing else.

They spend the next three years letting Martin think he's in charge while they build the new MSE on private servers, the moment the three years is up they flip the switch and bye bye Martin and MSE as it is now.

Or that could just be me being cynical..

why would they need to do that, he will not longer be in charge, he'll be an employee, they can do as they please it's their website now not his

robpw2

why all the conspiracy theories etc perhaps instead of jumping ot conclusions we should just wait and see ,, no one knows what the future will bring ,

jimbobaggins

It's much simpler than you think.

This site has either saved you money or it hasn't. If it has then you have gained financially, if it hasn't then you haven't.

It doesn't have much to do with Martin, other than he created the forum for you to achieve this and also the guidance in many cases.

The internet (because much of it is free to use) only makes any money where commercial transactions take place and commissions are paid. This site does the same, though as far as I can tell, it is probably one of the most transparent about where it generates it's revenue from, though not necessarily how much it makes from each transaction, unlike Quidco for example.

Quidco turned over £43m last year, and the site works in a similar way.

MSE made £12m profit last year according to reports, so Martin would have been able to take this as a dividend each year regardless of selling the business.

Selling the business simply brings forward a number of years worth of payouts and hence the £87m.

Plushchris

terra_ferma wrote: »

why would they need to do that, he will not longer be in charge, he'll be an employee, they can do as they please it's their website now not his

Not read the "three year editorial code contract" then?

purple.sarah

Plushchris wrote: »

Is there going to be an "Opt out" button on our profiles so that our details arent handed over to Moneysupermarket?

I can imagine they are rubbing their hands together at the thought of all the data this site hold on people...

From The MoneySavingExpert.com Editorial Code:

"15. Any personal data about individual users, including contact details, gathered while operating MoneySavingExpert.com shall not be sold to third parties or used for the purposes of communications from MoneySupermarket.com (including via email). "