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

[Deleted User]

biglugs wrote: »

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.

You said it! I think my research skills will be put to use in some other fora...

Sue-UU

CompBunny wrote: »

My kneejerk reaction was to be angry, disappointed and worried about the future of the site.

However, I am going to stick around and see what happens - its too early to judge. This site has done SO much for me and my partner, and I've learnt a lot. We went from being a debt to having savings, I'd love to know how much money the average user saves each year by using this site.

Besides, even if the powers that be slowly become biased, the kind and genuine users on this forum can continue to take MSE in the direction we want!

My first reaction was much the same as CompBunny, but I too will stay and see what happens and hope for the very best for everyone, apart from which I have obligations to folk here and won't let them down.

I suppose thinking about it all hard, it was inevitable that something like this would happen and that Martin would go on to become an even bigger cog in the financial world; but if he can help reach and educate even more folk, especially youngsters to stop them getting deep in debt so young and needing the help that thousands do on here when they're older and with many responsibilities, then long-term, I guess it has to be good news.

I just dearly hope this forum remains the same friendly and helpful place it has been for so long.

All the very best, Martin, you've helped us all so much and I'm sure you still will in many ways, the team too.

Sue.

PS. I hope he can influence them on that ruddy advert on MS's!:mad:

Fifer

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

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.

There are four ways MoneySupermarket can make money from buying out this competitor - keep MSE going without changing (MSE profit becomes MS profit), absorb them (MSE customers become MS customers), shut them down (but MS's other competitors might benefit) or change the MSE operating model so they direct more business towards MS and less to their competitors. Time will tell.

kph100

Well done for Martin for being very wealthy now,

but he has now lost all credability and the sight will now be like motley fool,
just randomn targtted spam.

Shame.....

Rafter

A great business deal and I hope it leads to a better MSE as Martin hopes.

The biggest loss here I think will be influence MSE has with government and regulators. Up to now, MSE has had the ear of politicians as somewhere independent of big business - that is obviously no longer the case.

This 'independent voice' falls back to the money advice service, citizens advice and other government agencies and organisations like 'Which' that lack both the resources, voice and consumer engagement that exists here.

It is a shame MSE wasn't offered to its membership instead to become a mutual/ co-operative. I would have gladly paid £100 for some shares based on the amount the site has saved me - and for a share of the large profits the site is making as a member dividend in future!

But I know the site belonged to Martin, that has always been clear and it says something when he has made a fortune out of saving others money and providing impartial advice rather than many of the less ethical businesses out there.

R

Rupert_Bear

It's the users that have made the site successful and Martin has fed off our success with a big pay off. How on earth can it remain unbiased.
Moneysupermarket are not a charity and have shareholders to answer to.

Lotus-eater

Martin has been very clever and not all that calculating I think, by using the posters on here to further his career and standing.

But he did put the very hard work into this site and have the balls to set it up, I don't believe he set it up with selling it for this sort of price in mind, but I think it came to him when it was going very well and growing all the time.

And who can blame him, we all want to start something and sell it for lots of money don't we? He just happens to have used a very clever way of doing it...... I just feel a little used......... probably not right and I should be more grown up about it. It's just a web site right? Yet it is so much more than that, nothing else is like MSE.

I am very sad and I also think it's the end of an era.


I always knew the site was Martins, he made that clear...... but in a way I always also felt it was all of ours, I think it's that being taken away is the hardest thing.

mattytun

This website will never be the same :mad:

Radiantsoul

I have got to say I am surprised by the size of the valuation. And I wonder how much of it is tied up in the personality of Martin, without him the media coverage is bound to decline.

StaffsSW

penrhyn wrote: »

Martin Lewis has finally monetised the site on the backs of the 1000's of regular contributors to the forum from whom the best practical advise comes .

This site has been extensively monetized from day 1... ML was an incredibly wealthy man prior to this [STRIKE]sellout[/STRIKE] joining within Moneysupermarket...