IMPORTANT: Rules for posting affiliate links in this forum

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I thought there was already a "deal" rule that the price couldn't be a permanent thing -- it had to be some kind of time-dependent deal. So the flood of constantly 2.99 books scenario is already prohibited (and presumably dealt with without our seeing it) by moderation.

Actually no, we've currently got no formal rules about what manner of "deals" may be posted in the Deals forum proper (besides no self-promo). There are rules in the monthly threads in the individual reader forums, but there's nothing stopping someone from posting, say, Subterranean Press sf/fantasy novellas regularly priced at $4.99 as a bargain (which, for sf/f fans they are, compared to the $35 SP charges for the limited-edtion hardcover versions of the same titles, and DRM-free, too) right here in the main.

Or, for that matter, considering this popular educational Kindle title a steal considering you'd save a full $1,558 off the print edition price (not to mention the added-value entertainment from reading the reviews!)

Not to mention it can sometimes be pretty hard to tell what's a time-limited promotional price and what may be merely be a permanent markdown for some titles, given the way Amazon likes to calculate the "Your Savings" percentage from the highest print-equivalent cost rather than whatever the regular digital list price may be.

Anyway, I think we've only got two mods handling stuff which pops up in this forum and they've likely got their hands full changing the thread titles to include more stores and sorting out the self-promo and off-topic stuff.

If the mod team as a whole wants to set some ground rules in place to make their jobs easier in the future by requiring bargain posters to declare any possible financial benefit they might get from their links to stave off possible complaints and just plain deleting any repeat offenders who end up not following the posting guidelines, I've no objection.

Originally Posted by koland

Sadly, there are enough hucksters out there to attract these folk -- they charge them money for "webmalls" and to sign them up as affiliates in places (assuming they actually do so - would you give your SS and bank info to a place selling you a website?). Over on some affiliate forums, you see them show up daily, having spent anywhere from a few hundreds to thousands of dollars (all of which is, of course, wasted).

Most eventually accept that the average affiliate at Amazon earns in the 10's of dollars/month and to get a sustained >$100/month account can take a very long time (about the same is true at Adsense, which works well for some sites and not well at all for others). Very, very few sites make enough to consider it a 'day job', especially not for any length of time.

Most spammy schemes seem to be pyramids anyway, relying on newbie suckers to provide the actual payoff rather than any actual purchases from real customers. The real problem is that people keep falling for it, so if we happen to be unlucky enough to wind up getting one of those over on MR, while they'll probably eventually learn better, in the meantime they'll probably be very annoying and then once they get sick of it, someone else will show up to take their place and the cycle begins anew...

Originally Posted by koland

It's not a big deal, really, to not post aff tags. Although what I've seen in other forums that changed their formats (or actively discouraged other's tags) is that, over time, the communities shrank and eventually only authors self-promoting (or cross promoting) started to dominate (usually, until they too were banned).

I do think the mega threads will get to be a problem (it's one reason I start a new one for Kindle in that forum, each month, and was asked to do one for the nook, although it's thread never got nearly as long).

MR posters are generally pretty nice about reposting at least the free books whenever they find them. The bargain-hunters may have to look a bit harder, but we'll probably still have the freebies and coupons available, even if they're not immediately posted practically the moment they're out, the way we're lucky enough to get now.

I agree that the megathreads are likely going to end up an issue with duplication and having to follow extra threads just to see what's available (and clutter, if a bunch of people end up starting them up for fun and maybe-profit).

Again, I think that individual threads/posts as usual with a simple disclaimer before the links begin (because aside from the sigs turned off consideration, some of the bargain posts can end up being pretty long if there's a bunch at once) should be enough to declare a poster's possible financial interest, for those MR-goers who sensitive to such.

I hope the mod team will be able to resolve people's assorted concerns in a way that's reasonably fair and convenient for everyone who's expressed them.

[badgoodDeb]

Just my 2 cents: I like the way it used to be, with all links in one place. I don't mind someone getting a tiny benefit from doing that extra work for me! A simple disclaimer wouldn't hurt though.

[afa]

I don't get it.

And I mean any of it. Affiliate links, bargains, first to post a bargain... no idea what it means. I don't know, maybe it's because it's nearly 2 a.m. here and I have to be up in five hours to get ready for work.

But hey, it seems a lot of people are waiting for the dissenters to show up, and it's not happening. So, in the interest of public service, I shall pretend to be one. Here goes...

You guys are all wrong! This affiliate BS stinks! All these scammers and cons posting about so-called deals when all they're interested in is making money. That's crap, man. So many times, I've clicked on a link and bought a book, and didn't even know the dude got money! Because of me! What the hell?! This is wrong. Sick and wrong. I'm glad the Mods changed the rule. Let these cowards show themselves for what they are! Affiliates - kiss my ass! Take 4% of this post! lolrotflLMAO


(How'd I do?)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by afa

I don't get it.

And I mean any of it. Affiliate links, bargains, first to post a bargain... no idea what it means. I don't know, maybe it's because it's nearly 2 a.m. here and I have to be up in five hours to get ready for work.

But hey, it seems a lot of people are waiting for the dissenters to show up, and it's not happening. So, in the interest of public service, I shall pretend to be one. Here goes...

You guys are all wrong! This affiliate BS stinks! All these scammers and cons posting about so-called deals when all they're interested in is making money. That's crap, man. So many times, I've clicked on a link and bought a book, and didn't even know the dude got money! Because of me! What the hell?! This is wrong. Sick and wrong. I'm glad the Mods changed the rule. Let these cowards show themselves for what they are! Affiliates - kiss my ass! Take 4% of this post! lolrotflLMAO


(How'd I do?)

You sounded just like a republican congressman.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by afa

(How'd I do?)

That was brilliant.

[sufue]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Just my 2 cents: I like the way it used to be, with all links in one place. I don't mind someone getting a tiny benefit from doing that extra work for me! A simple disclaimer wouldn't hurt though.

Me too. I'm a bit late to this because I've been traveling and not online much, but I really don't like the idea of having to poke through multiple affiliate threads to see what's new.

I knew that most of the "big-time" posters of deals would get some cut - although I didn't know how much until now. That doesn't bother me, though - it's a heck of a lot of work and I appreciate having someone(s) looking some deals/freebies out for me.

My vote (if I get one) is definitely to go back the way it was, maybe with a disclaimer, which shouldn't be too hard to add...

[afa]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You sounded just like a republican congressman.

There's really no need to start calling names.

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

That was brilliant.

A good samaritan's job is never done...

[pidgeon92]

Thanks to the whiners for muddling up very simple threads which were one of the most valuable things about this forum.

[smg927]

I also like the way it used to be. If I saw a Kindle freebie, I would check back later and usually there would be an addition with the B&N link.

[wyndslash]

oh, I didn't know that they benefited from even the free books. Strange.

[Joykins]

Well, as a "regular" on this forum I thought the posters who posted affiliate links were helpful and it certainly was easier to find them with a title/device thread than paging through article after article in a long thread. I don't have any issue with affiliate links from posters who IMO add value by posting free book links.

Of course, I suppose you can't make a rule that a post has to be worth reading

[arcadata]

Originally Posted by smg927

I also like the way it used to be. If I saw a Kindle freebie, I would check back later and usually there would be an addition with the B&N link.

Well, I am continuing to post the free books I find (with clean links) out in the main deals forum, so that part of the forum's still the same. B&N links will still be added by those who own nooks.

[koland]

Originally Posted by wyndslash

oh, I didn't know that they benefited from even the free books. Strange.

You don't, if the person buys nothing else (common for some people, esp. those outside the US).

Amazon does set a cookie (if you don't have them turned off) to track your affiliate session. It lasts 24 hours OR until you place an order OR you leave the site (close your browser) OR you click another affiliate tag.

[basschick]

i'll try to remember to click through one of your affiliate links first, then the free books. that way, if i buy anything at amazon that day, you'll get credit.

Originally Posted by arcadata

Well, I am continuing to post the free books I find (with clean links) out in the main deals forum, so that part of the forum's still the same. B&N links will still be added by those who own nooks.

[anamardoll]

Maybe the people who didn't like the links don't feel comfortable speaking up? Maybe an anonymous poll is the answer?