Why are some links actually redirects and not just straight links?

womble_lancs

Rather than just clicking on links, I prefer to copy the link and then paste it into a new tab, mainly to avoid tracking - some sites don't like you using MSE to go to their pages.  However, I've noticed on a few competitions recently where the OP has included a link, that the link is a redirect, rather than just a straight link.

For example, on this post: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6187060/e-11-09-win-royal-mint-2020-tower-of-london-collection#latest 

if you copy the link, the url is this: http://redirect.moneysavingexpert.com/?id=3196X602032&isjs=1&jv=14.2.0-stackpath&sref=https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6187060/e-11-09-win-royal-mint-2020-tower-of-london-collection#latest&url=https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/tower-of-london/2020/the-royal-menagerie-competition&xguid=519d2b95b8cfd49902e3e9dbf99fec0b&xs=1&xtz=-60&xuuid=4b8b91f3df17081a77613289b85dc1e4&xjsf=other_click__contextmenu [2]

but then it redirects to https://www.royalmint.com/our-coins/events/tower-of-london/2020/the-royal-menagerie-competition?utm_source=RakutenMarketing&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=2116208:Skimlinks.com&utm_content=10:1&utm_term=UKNetwork&ranMID=37343&ranEAID=TnL5HPStwNw&ranSiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-d3avQGyJngMo_th.2CWjoA

I'm wondering why it is coming up as a redirect and not just a straight link?  I'm fairly sure that the OP isn't posting it like that, so is something in the editor changing it?  Does anyone have any idea why this is happening?  

mjm3346

For me the post link just comes up as 

Thread Not Found

I assume if it was your forum skimlink settings it would happen with most not just a few links - otherwise usually affiliate links either by the poster or a site promoting anothers competition

thingamaBob

mjm3346 said:

For me the post link just comes up as 

Thread Not Found

I assume if it was your forum skimlink settings it would happen with most not just a few links - otherwise usually affiliate links either by the poster or a site promoting anothers competition

Yes, it is now coming up as Thread Not Found, so, presumably, MSE have removed it as an affiliate link.
However, when I looked at it last night, the link was showing as a normal link to the Royal Mint comp. There was not any comment about an edit being done and I assumed that MSE had just changed an affiliate link to a normal link but if they had, why now delete it completely?

I have now re-posted the comp, with normal link: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6187260/e-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin/p1?new=1

mjm3346

Looking at the cached version it was posted at 8.42 and edited at 8.45 - at 8.45 it wasn't an affiliate link so maybe it was posted with one that the OP then realised and edited to remove it (but it had already been reported leading to the deletion)  or it was edited again later to put the affiliate link in leading to the deletion.

LeeRits

thingamaBob said:

mjm3346 said:

For me the post link just comes up as 

Thread Not Found

I assume if it was your forum skimlink settings it would happen with most not just a few links - otherwise usually affiliate links either by the poster or a site promoting anothers competition

Yes, it is now coming up as Thread Not Found, so, presumably, MSE have removed it as an affiliate link.
However, when I looked at it last night, the link was showing as a normal link to the Royal Mint comp. There was not any comment about an edit being done and I assumed that MSE had just changed an affiliate link to a normal link but if they had, why now delete it completely?

I have now re-posted the comp, with normal link: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6187260/e-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin/p1?new=1

It still comes up as a redirect with your new link. The new link is http://redirect.moneysavingexpert.com/?id=3196X602032&isjs=1&jv=14.2.0-stackpath&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.moneysavingexpert.com%2Fdiscussion%2F6187260%2Fe-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin%2Fp1%3Fnew%3D1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalmint.com%2Four-coins%2Fevents%2Ftower-of-london%2F2020%2Fthe-royal-menagerie-competition%2F&xguid=01f1d93ad72710616cbb7331285d1a13&xs=1&xtz=-60&xuuid=d03a5b14b67961ff198619063656f3f9&xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D before it goes to the site.

I could be completely wrong but I think its something that was implemented in the forum change. Possibly a way for MSE to make some money through referrals or maybe just to track statistics? I don't know the reason, but i've noticed a lot of 'redirects'  since the change over.

mjm3346

BizKiTRoAcH said:

thingamaBob said:

mjm3346 said:

For me the post link just comes up as 

Thread Not Found

I assume if it was your forum skimlink settings it would happen with most not just a few links - otherwise usually affiliate links either by the poster or a site promoting anothers competition

Yes, it is now coming up as Thread Not Found, so, presumably, MSE have removed it as an affiliate link.
However, when I looked at it last night, the link was showing as a normal link to the Royal Mint comp. There was not any comment about an edit being done and I assumed that MSE had just changed an affiliate link to a normal link but if they had, why now delete it completely?

I have now re-posted the comp, with normal link: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6187260/e-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin/p1?new=1

It still comes up as a redirect with your new link. The new link is http://redirect.moneysavingexpert.com/?id=3196X602032&isjs=1&jv=14.2.0-stackpath&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.moneysavingexpert.com%2Fdiscussion%2F6187260%2Fe-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin%2Fp1%3Fnew%3D1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalmint.com%2Four-coins%2Fevents%2Ftower-of-london%2F2020%2Fthe-royal-menagerie-competition%2F&xguid=01f1d93ad72710616cbb7331285d1a13&xs=1&xtz=-60&xuuid=d03a5b14b67961ff198619063656f3f9&xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D before it goes to the site.

I could be completely wrong but I think its something that was implemented in the forum change. Possibly a way for MSE to make some money through referrals or maybe just to track statistics? I don't know the reason, but i've noticed a lot of 'redirects'  since the change over.

You haven't turned skimlinks off in your account (the other affiliate was RakutenMarketing)

mjm3346

Untick the box

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/profile/edit    

Display Skimlinks?

womble_lancs

mjm3346 said:

Untick the box

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/profile/edit    

Display Skimlinks?

Thanks, I've unticked that, so I'll see what happens. 

womble_lancs

BizKiTRoAcH said:

thingamaBob said:

mjm3346 said:

For me the post link just comes up as 

Thread Not Found

I assume if it was your forum skimlink settings it would happen with most not just a few links - otherwise usually affiliate links either by the poster or a site promoting anothers competition

Yes, it is now coming up as Thread Not Found, so, presumably, MSE have removed it as an affiliate link.
However, when I looked at it last night, the link was showing as a normal link to the Royal Mint comp. There was not any comment about an edit being done and I assumed that MSE had just changed an affiliate link to a normal link but if they had, why now delete it completely?

I have now re-posted the comp, with normal link: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6187260/e-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin/p1?new=1

It still comes up as a redirect with your new link. The new link is http://redirect.moneysavingexpert.com/?id=3196X602032&isjs=1&jv=14.2.0-stackpath&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fforums.moneysavingexpert.com%2Fdiscussion%2F6187260%2Fe-11-09-win-the-royal-menagerie-2020-uk-5-brilliant-uncirculated-coin%2Fp1%3Fnew%3D1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.royalmint.com%2Four-coins%2Fevents%2Ftower-of-london%2F2020%2Fthe-royal-menagerie-competition%2F&xguid=01f1d93ad72710616cbb7331285d1a13&xs=1&xtz=-60&xuuid=d03a5b14b67961ff198619063656f3f9&xjsf=other_click__auxclick%20%5B2%5D before it goes to the site.

I could be completely wrong but I think its something that was implemented in the forum change. Possibly a way for MSE to make some money through referrals or maybe just to track statistics? I don't know the reason, but i've noticed a lot of 'redirects'  since the change over.

Yes, when I choose 'copy link' it still comes up with the redirect.  How strange.

mjm3346

womble_lancs said:

BizKiTRoAcH said:

when I looked at it last night, the link was showing as a normal link to the Royal Mint comp. 

Yes, when I choose 'copy link' it still comes up with the redirect.  How strange.

Only does that if I turn Skimlinks on

womble_lancs

mjm3346 said:

womble_lancs said:

BizKiTRoAcH said:

when I looked at it last night, the link was showing as a normal link to the Royal Mint comp. 

Yes, when I choose 'copy link' it still comes up with the redirect.  How strange.

Only does that if I turn Skimlinks on

Now that's strange.  I thought that I had turned off Skimlinks last night.  However, I've just looked again and they were still ticked.  When I unticked them, I had to put in my password to confirm the change and then untick it again and save it, and now the link is showing correctly.  Thanks mjm3346!