Hotukdeals - impartiality?

mouseclick

I was disappointed to see that a Hot UK deals post to a deal at valueshop.co.uk was removed, apparently because Valueshop use Google adwords.

THis was the deal http://www.valueshop.co.uk/info.asp?MFGno=SDSDPH-2048-902
... about £3 cheaper than the nearest competitor.

I do not really understand why this was done, but the lesson to be learned is that unlike moneysavingexpert.com the site is not completely impartial.

I find that disappointing because I now cannot rely on hotukdeals to give me unfiltered information from it's many members about the cheapest deal.

Long live :money:

deanos

Instead of moaning on here why not contact a mod on ukhotdeals, they are always friendly in my experience.

mouseclick

deanos wrote: »

Instead of moaning on here why not contact a mod on ukhotdeals, they are always friendly in my experience.

Not moaning, I have already contacted a mod, just accepting it, and giving people here a tip. Mod said...

"I've removed the thread. Valueshop uses google adwords, and we do not allow links to sites that use those"

...and don't get me wrong, I use HUKD a lot, and really like it, and still use it. All I am saying is the content is filtered, and people should be aware of that. With this site, as far as I am aware, the content is not filtered, or if it is, the parameters are made clear. And yes, the mods on HUKD are very helpful, especially the one that sent me the above message. But they have to work within the parameters of the site.

Poppycat

The site is owned by the same people as Quidco. Many of the offers do use hidden referrals links via a affilate route.

FelOn_2

mouseclick wrote: »

Not moaning, just accepting it, and giving people her a tip.

From a mod...

"I've removed the thread. Valueshop uses google adwords, and we do not allow links to sites that use those"

Hot UK Deals is a great group, at least the mods there don't allow all the crap that's posted in MSE :T

mouseclick

Poppycat wrote: »

The site is owned by the same people as Quidco. Many of the offers do use hidden referrals links via a affilate route.

Which is fair enough, they have to make money somehow. And that makes sense, because if people go direct from HUKD, they make money with the affiliate link, and if people are clever enough to go via Quidco, they make money from Quidco users, so good for them.

...plus of course it will get new Quidco members, because everyone on HUKD mentions it. Yes, very good idea, makes perfect sense.

sinizterguy

Poppycat wrote: »

The site is owned by the same people as Quidco. Many of the offers do use hidden referrals links via a affilate route.

All shops with affiliate deals will be linked via affiliate links. Thats how the site makes any money - and its fair enough. Everyone who is really concerned about getting the cashback knows to check there for the deal/vouchers and then go through quidco to get the cashback.

mouseclick

Something is amiss here regarding the answer I have been given...

Tesco use Google ad words, and they are allowed on HUKD...
https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/tesco.html

I will phone Valueshop on Monday and ask if they know why I am not allowed to post their deals on HUKD. I will also ask the mods again if Valueshop don't know.

deanos

mouseclick wrote: »

Something is amiss here regarding the answer I have been given...

Tesco use Google ad words, and they are allowed on HUKD...
https://adwords.google.co.uk/select/tesco.html

I will phone Valueshop on Monday and ask if they know why I am not allowed to post their deals on HUKD. I will also ask the mods again if Valueshop don't know.

Tesco do not have Google Ad words on there site do they, they appear on other sites.

mouseclick

deanos wrote: »

Tesco do not have Google Ad words on there site do they, they appear on other sites.

As far as I am aware, Google adwords is where you sign up with Google and give them keywords. If matched in a search, they appear in the right hand margin of Google. If someone then clicks on them, the company that signs up pays per click. So, for example, this google search for garden furniture will bring up Tesco as number 4 on the right. Similarly a search for ink cartridge, ah, um, toner cartridge, samsung memory, no... mobile phone memory, not that either. None work for valueshop. And guess what? Put in Valueshop and inkclyce, cartridgesave and ebuyer come up on the right margin, meaning that their competitors are paying to use valueshop as a keyword to grab their hits.

Therefore, to be honest, I can't really ascertain that valueshop are using google adwords at all. even though everyone else seems to be using them including ebuyer and Tesco, and that is the reason (I was told) that valueshop are not allowed on hotukdeals.

So I really would like to speak to valueshop to get their side of the story. It seems crazy that they sell this particular memory £3 cheaper than anyone else, but they are effectively "banned" from appearing on hotukdeals.

I will ring them on Monday


... I think I correctly understand Google Adwords. Just found this article on Wikipedia

deanos

You seem to be missing the point !

Value shop have a google adword banner on there site on the right hand side , Tesco do not have a google banner on there site at all.