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

FelinePrincess

I am very disappointed to read this news. For me, it's bad enough that MSE has been sold, but it makes it even worse that is has been sold to moneysupermarket, as I boycot their website because the moneysupermarket guys are nasty and downright rude people.

I can't bring myself to stop using MSE but I won't feel the same warm fuzzy feeling about it that I used to

mynameistallulah

marleyboy wrote: »

ML did not just sell off the site, the site itself was just an independent comparison site with no affiliates, one of thousands available. ML sold its members, NONE of us agreed to be sold to MS but ML decided we were commodity.

This site was always bigger than ML and a few geeks in a tower, it was community, a community that put MSE on the map. MS will find it impossible to get that community back, ML just isnt interested now, his loyalty to his community went the moment he signed that sheet of paper and he knows it. But it really isn't his problem anymore, hes a rich man now.

That he could sell MSE is not the issue, as anyone in his shoes would have done the same with those pound signs. That he could sell the community like this, in such a discrete and candid way, is what the majority of us will never get over.

I vow just one email from MS as a result of my contract with MSE, I will see as a breach of the T&C that we all signed up to. Enjoy your wealth Martin, just dont expect it to buy back your loyalty or indeed OUR loyalty.

Excellent post marleyboy, I would estimate that 90%+ of the information posted by the MSE Team is gleaned from forum members, and a good majority of the other 10% from other sources. A minimal amount is original journalism.

chris-j

Always liked site from info perspective (design not so much) but in terms of advice dont think I have ever saved much money as a result of site as I am basically a stingy git anyway and qite honestly sometimes found the advice a bit off kilter (more politically motivated than practical).

That sais, good luck to Martin and MSE for what they have done as they have clearly helped a lot of people over the years (shame that the prevelance of Ambulance Chasers and PPI scam companies still exist though).

BUT MoneySupermarket.com - NOOOOOOO!.
Of all the comparison sites, this is the one with which makes it hardest to opt out of third party junk and annoyance. It was only after providing mobile number to this site for insurance comparison that junk started to arrive on my phone. Ironically I foolishly trusted this site more than the meerkat and the opera singer (where I gave an alternate number but no junk).

Is it worth the deal - since 59% of income comes from MoneySupermarket.com, they will have funded sale in a short time and no doubt gained a few million more subscribers by back door.

Hopefully now Martin is loaded he will calm down a bit on TV and talk slower:)

Tigsteroonie

lic wrote: »

over the years ...

Has your eyesight deteriorated over the year since you last posted? If not, then was there any need to shout that in large, bold font? All opinions and messages on here are equally valid.

purple.sarah

I was certainly shocked when I heard the news. I'm not going to suddenly leave a site that has made such a positive difference to my life but I am concerned about it's future. Regardless of Martin Lewis' intentions, it's clear simply from the comments on here that the deal with MoneySupermarket will call MSE's credibility into question. Martin Lewis has said:

"This will free me up to do more campaigning work. People shouldn't be worried that I will go quiet. If anything, they should be worried that this is going to enable me to have an even louder voice."

But will people listen? I fear the days of him being touted as an independent commentator on financial issues are over.

davidgmmafan

I think this could go either way. When I breezed through the details one thought stuck in my mind. On a lot of the 'guarantees' it says something like the editors decision is final. So all they have to do is change the director to get their way.

That said if the content of the site changes as others have pointed out they will be destroying and damaging the very thing they paid top dollar for. If they want to do that that's their lookout.

"It makes perfect sense, over 50% of Martin's referral fees come from Moneysupermarket, which is already 15-16m a year (total referrals)"

This seems relevant too although I think the figures have some double counting. I thought I read MSE makes something like 15 million a year and a large proportion of that comes from moneysupermarket. So that's one way they can recoup their money although it would take a while.

I can sort of see the point about ensuring the sites future, but the issue around investment seems a bit of a stretch given the revenue... He could've installed someone else with a similar ethos to run it if it was such a drain on his time. Then there would still be the issue of will they be Martin, and we'd need a committee or some mechanism to assure their good intentions...

I was shocked as this came out of the blue, but I can understand that as if it had been announced any earlier or hinted at there would've been an even longer period of moaning. I'm loving the posts with people saying curse you, but I would've done the same thing. I comment the charity donation, and don't begrudge Marting a penny. The total he will have saved people must be immense and we should not under estimate the value of what he did here.

I don't mean selling out by the way. I mean turning the logic of business generally and comparison sites in particular. It must've seemed absurd to them to not include links which don't pay. Clearly they did not realize that doing so would create a far better basis for comparison which clearly brings in lots of money.

Who knew a business AND customers could benefit at the same time...

Overall I'll wait and see if it goes downhill I'm sure I and others will leave, everybody loses (including moneysupermarket and Martin as the sell out brigade will be proved correct).

MSE_Martin

Hi all

Please read this new thread too

How this will affect the MSE forum: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/53540625#Comment_53540625

KorkyKat

marleyboy wrote: »

ML did not just sell off the site, the site itself was just an independent comparison site with no affiliates, one of thousands available. ML sold its members, NONE of us agreed to be sold to MS but ML decided we were commodity.

This site was always bigger than ML and a few geeks in a tower, it was community, a community that put MSE on the map. MS will find it impossible to get that community back, ML just isnt interested now, his loyalty to his community went the moment he signed that sheet of paper and he knows it. But it really isn't his problem any more, he's a rich man now.

That he could sell MSE is not the issue, as anyone in his shoes would have done the same with those pound signs. That he could sell the community like this, in such a discrete and candid way, is what the majority of us will never get over.

I vow just one email from MS as a result of my contract with MSE, I will see as a breach of the T&C that we all signed up to. Enjoy your wealth Martin, just don't expect it to buy back your loyalty or indeed OUR loyalty.

An excellent post which I think sums up many member's feelings.

I feel that Lewis is a bigger rat than those companies he's accused of exploiting people in the past. He is an exploiter. Remember all his pleading for members to 'Get a friend to sign up'? Now we know why. It wasn't to help them save a few pennies it was in preparation for Lewis to line his pockets. The truth is out.

Had Lewis said at the outset it was his intention to use member's support for his ultimate personal, commercial gain then I doubt the site would have had as many members - if any.

If he cared for consumers interest then why didn't he go for a public listing thus affording the chance for long time members to buy in to the site? He could even have set up a Co-Operative!

Consumer champion my backside!

I sincerely hope he stops prostituting himself and the site on the BBC airwaves. If not, like others, I will join the list to make an official complaint to OfCom and the BBC Board Of Governors.

You are no longer a champion of the people Lewis. You are a greedy little man regardless of your weasel words about the future..

lee1985

Right, I've been on this site for quite a few years and helped many people along the way. I never visit ANY other part of the site apart from the forums - they have all you need to know.

Some people are treating this buyout as a religion - like they are so affected in heart and feelings and so on.

Get a life people seriously.

The site and the forums will still be here - you will still be able to give advice and receive advice as normal.

Nothing changes - just your perception of the site which is completely irrelevant. I couldn't care less what goes on, what is advertised or anything - I don't worry about things that aren't important in my life.

The fact is, I can still give and receive advice just as before.

Therefore, nothing changes.

To go on about this like you are truly hurt in feelings like your wives or husbands have just left you is stupid. Who cares about the management of the site - it's not going anywhere, is it?

melbell

MSE_Martin wrote: »

Hi all

Please read this new thread too

How this will affect the MSE forum: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/53540625#Comment_53540625

I see you have ignored all the negativity here. As long as you have your money right?