Members Eddie Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 Because his links are encrypted affiliate links that plant cookies for tracking purposes. Most of the music stores (Musician's Friend, WWBW, Music123, etc...) have affiliate programs where they pay people that send them traffic that converts to a sale. ... I can understand that, but if he's making any money from the links, it's not from unsuspecting members as you mentioned. He would be paid by the actual stores for his referrals.Usually it is appropriate for links as the ones you describe to be explicitly identified, but even if RothnRoll is trying to make some money by using referral links, forumites are not affected monetarily. They get the same deal. He's not making any money off them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members fw190 Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 You're barking up the wrong tree. Douche ^^^^^ Where's your deal, Mr. Jones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bugmenot Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 but even if RothnRoll is trying to make some money by using referral links, forumites are not affected monetarily. They get the same deal. He's not making any money off them. Sure he is - that's exactly how these programs work. Just because they're not spending the money, doesn't mean they're not the ones generating it for him. He just throws up a few links, then the clickers do all the work while the money goes to him. Plus, it also kills his credibility. Affiliate linkers link to the best deals they can make a commission on... whether it's the best deal or not. Those that are direct linking have no hidden agenda and are here to help. He's not linking to anything others can't link to with regular links. All other members here have been linking to help others - he's doing it for the money. He proved that by saying he won't post anymore -- that is one of the most predictable spammer moves out there. If what he's doing is acceptable at all, then this forum is a spammer's dream come true. All you have to do is register an account, run up the post count and keep it active for awhile to avoid the newbie-attackers... then when you have the trust, just start throwing around affiliate links and watch the money roll in. If 80% of the posters were doing it and I was singling him out, I could see people having a problem with it. But that's not the case. It's ONE person doing it, that won't even come clean about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zuzuman Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 This discussion, while relevant to the forum as a whole, does not belong in this thread. This is for DEALS only, not for meta-discussion of internet commerce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drawdeep Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I am certain that these are affiliate links. However, unless this falls under the SPAM rule (it is at least borderline), then it would not violate the terms HERE, and I could care less if the person is truly contributing Hot Deals from respected retailers, which RothnRoll clearly does month after month. On other Hot Deals forums, when someone posts an affiliate link, either inadvertently or on purpose, another member will usually quickly post a link without the affiliate information and it is up to the reader to decide which link to choose. If it is against the terms, then a mod can easily replace the affiliate link with a direct one. I think a Mod needs to weigh in on whether affiliate links violate the rules. Until then, here are some non-affiliate links to the coupon links RothnRoll posted: Guitar Center Save 10%- http://gc.guitarcenter.com/instant-online-savings/?coupon=save10 Music123 March Madness- http://www.music123.com/M123-March-Madness-g10044t0.music123?coupon=mad123 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wasted Effort Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 You're barking up the wrong tree. Douche ^^^^^ Hmmm, now I am suspicious. The person that jumps to the defense joined the forum the same time as the accused. Same person? And attacks bugmenot rather than comment on the issue. I am glad that bugmenot pointed out the affiliate links. RothnRoll should continue to contribute but should also disclose his connection, if any. And thanks to drawdeep for the clean links! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Facemelt Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I pointed it out a while ago that he was doing this. He stopped posting for a few days and then came back with some direct links and now he doing his "paid for posting" links again. He denied it then as now but he will just repeat the process. I think it would be good to have this clarified by the mods and if it is determined to be ok then I suggest that everyone sign up for accounts and repost the same links over and over so we can pick who gets paid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jayers Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 Unfortunately, all of the Mods are AWOL and have been for weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KwadGuy Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 The problem with paid referral links is that you wind up getting postings simply because the poster wants to make money, not because they deserve to be posted. This includes multiple postings of the same thing, postings of questionable "deals", etc. Allowing personal referral links is bad precedent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Highway_61 Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I think it would be good to have this clarified by the mods and if it is determined to be ok then I suggest that everyone sign up for accounts and repost the same links over and over so we can pick who gets paid Why not cut out all of middle stuff? I'll post my PayPal account email, and you guys can just send whatever cash you want to send me there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drawdeep Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 The problem with paid referral links is that you wind up getting postings simply because the poster wants to make money, not because they deserve to be posted. This includes multiple postings of the same thing, postings of questionable "deals", etc. Allowing personal referral links is bad precedent. Excellent point. Although I have not seen RothnRoll exhibit this behavior (well, no more than anyone else), it certainly could go downhill in a hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Facemelt Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 Why not cut out all of middle stuff? I'll post my PayPal account email, and you guys can just send whatever cash you want to send me there. Good idea. We should just start paypalling anyone that posts a good deal in this thread. I mean that's what it is all about right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wasted Effort Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I was checking the used section of the Guitar Center site. Here are two pretty good deals: Washburn Falcon for $130 (Phoenix)http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=104679377 Squier Custom with humbuckers for $100 (Evansville)http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listID=104684916 I have never ordered from them so I don't know what the deal is for shipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcindc Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 Squier Custom with humbuckers for $100 (Evansville)http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listID=104684916 This is gone. Don't bother. No, not me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rob Dobbs Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 GC will drop ship used gear to other stores. If I played Fenders, Id be all over that $99 tele Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bugmenot Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 The problem with paid referral links is that you wind up getting postings simply because the poster wants to make money, not because they deserve to be posted. This includes multiple postings of the same thing, postings of questionable "deals", etc. Allowing personal referral links is bad precedent. Yep - that's always the case. And when he got called out on it here, his reaction was to threaten not to post anymore. Like us not throwing free money at him is punishing us somehow. Besides, if anyone is entitled to make advertising money from this site, it's the owners -- not one dishonest poster. It is never appropriate to spam affiliate links on forums, especially being a direct violation of the advertiser's TOS. Also, just a few notes about the forums that DO sometimes let them slide and the dishonesty of affiliate marketing... 1. Those posts are usually the site owner, even if he's using a different screen name. Some even throw up a forum just for that purpose. Some/most of the freebie sites do that. 2. In a lot of cases, the site owner goes in and edits the link with their own affiliate codes. Not exactly the definition of honesty either, but at least it's their own site, so they can do what they want. The mods/admins would be crazy to allow this at all. It is an invitation for a flood of spammers. This site does a lot of volume and that equals a lot of cash for the affiliate spammers. There is a lot of money in affiliate marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Verne Andru Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 This is way OT, but since it's still going I'd like to add that HC, in general, has become a huge MF/GC/M123 spam-fest since GC bought HC. While I don't like spammers of any kind, if you let MF/GC/M123 get away with it [albeit on the QT], why not let others in on the act? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jhorne Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 This is a good deal I'd think. Gibson Goldtone Les Paul Jr amp. $299 at Musicians Friend right now, regularly $699. I clicked on M123's price match link over the weekend to see what they would do, and even though it took them three days to reply, they sent a link with a price of $284.95Only another $15 off, but better than nothing on an amp that was probably a good deal at $299... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Spudro Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 , why not let others in on the act? Valid point, but I don't want the floodgates to really open up. Gotta give 'em one thing though, when true stories of MF/GC/M123/WWBW ineptitude get posted, the posts don't get deleted. There is a limit to how much I want to hear horror stories about customer service, but I absolutely want some level of warning before depending on the merchants. Caveat emptor. And I do have my share of horror stories. MF Unlimited has gotten too big too soon and things fall through the cracks... and on the other hand, I have been shipped too many of a low cost item (lighting gels, drum sticks) from the occasional merchant member and not charged. Their effective management is a shambles and at their probable turnover rate it will take years if not decades to fix, if ever. They shouldn't jump in with the Big Dogs until their house is in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BlackHatHunter Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 1. those are DEFINITELY affiliate links. I have the same ones for my websites, though for now I have not really posted them there - or here, for that matter.2. RnR brings value to the board with all his posts, so I have no problem with him making some dough from it3. yes, it should be accompanied by a disclaimer explaining that they are aff links... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members brandass Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 1. those are DEFINITELY affiliate links. I have the same ones for my websites, though for now I have not really posted them there - or here, for that matter.2. RnR brings value to the board with all his posts, so I have no problem with him making some dough from it3. yes, it should be accompanied by a disclaimer explaining that they are aff links... +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcindc Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I strongly disagree. I don't think that affiliate links should be allowed. It's irrelevant who posts them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rush340 Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I strongly disagree. I don't think that affiliate links should be allowed.It's irrelevant who posts them. x2 Where's a mod to clean this stuff up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted February 26, 2008 Members Share Posted February 26, 2008 I strongly disagree. I don't think that affiliate links should be allowed.It's irrelevant who posts them. I agree with dc. They should not be allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Songman68 Posted February 27, 2008 Members Share Posted February 27, 2008 I don't have a problem with them if they are linking me to a great deal. Why should you care if you are turned onto a great deal that you didn't know about before? With affiliate links at least you are helping out a fellow HC member. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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