I’m on the fence about the “battling”. If I saw a deal that looked good to me and someone said “hey, it’s actually cheaper over here.” then I would be thankful that I got the best deal, but at the same time it can be distruptive and feel heavy handed. I think we are thinking about the same user, and I know it can be a little interesting for him because he isn’t allowed to post prices for most of his deals. He might be better off to keep his “advertising” in his own thread, even if it means some people miss the best deals on things.
I personally like picture reviews... with affiliate links, a cup of cafe au lait, and a chocolate biscuit!
I also like the post with PM me, for best deals, cookies, motorcycles and flashlights...
when you do that, you got my attention ;)
edit: I didnt want to say motorcycles, as I am too darn afraid of them..
A picture worths a thousand words. I prefer "picture" reviews, 70% pic/ 30% text. I do not use sugar-coated words to upsell any of my flashlights when I am reviewing, just facts that is reported by a average user (non-expert) perspective. Of course, I hope to improve as time goes.
Honestly, if AFF links is getting me a deal, I’m all for it as a buyer. Else, I just skip over it.
I’ve been so jaded by aff links by so many members ( I honestly don’t even know who posts and who does not post then) that as soon as I see ‘aff’ link I avoid it in the first place as the ‘deal’ is not really a great deal for the most part.
You get better deals on GB (group buys) I feel.
the point with “no aff links to products you don’t own“ is a problem (for me)
around 10 times a week I get a pm from a member asking me to negotiate with banggood (or hkequipment) about a code for a product he wants.
usually i can help and get a code.
i can’t have all of the things i am asked for - but the user should be allowed to tip me if he wants.
Again thanks for the awesome price on the Thrunite 
I just could not commit myself to buy it and now I’m loaded with 18650 flashlights 
I concur. AFF links don’t necessarily have to mean that you have purchased that exact item yourself. That would be unreasonable. The AFF link is not the same thing as a ‘positive’ review of a specific product. Some people seem to have those two things mixed up.
No. I misspoke. I am ok with you having your own thread with your links. They should ONLY be in THAT THREAD unless you are giving an unbiased review. And there shouldn’t be 500 BG or GB affiliate threads but I don’t have a perfect way to regulate that without showing preferential treatment.
i see…
a suggestion:
- only one deals thread per affiliate
- always both type of links
- no active contact - if one is interested he has to do the request…
- if one abuses the trust of the community he will be reported
- no advertising at all in the general topics (exept the OP - “i bought xxx from yyy“
i think that works for all …
Isn’t this how all drop-shippers work?
They get a request, negotiate a price from a source, quote the price to the buyer.
The buyer pays through, the payment goes to the source, and the source rebates a percentage to the negotiator/dropshipper.
It’s a business model — obscure, variable prices, different prices for each transaction.
Do it at a big enough scale, and you can start hiring employees ….
DavidEF: As to the question of why affiliate links are the tools of the devil himself (or however you want to phrase it)…
The general problem with affiliate links vs straight deal postings is that the members who are doing it aren’t necessarily doing it for the benefit of everyone else. As soon as they have skin in the game, the situation is changed and so is how people act/react to it. The tone of the place changes from friends and fellow hobbyists helping each other out to one where someone is trying to make a buck off you.
So no, it’s not that the majority of us are demonizing affiliate links, but that the odds are much higher that when you see an aff link, the person posting it (probably. no offense M4D M4X 
) has a motive other than trying to help out the other members. And that makes the place a little less friendly.
Personally, I don’t mind too much, but that’s just me. I can see where people can, and depending on their values, should feel strongly against aff links on principle.
I would also point out that there is a big difference between giving codes/links in PM’s or to people that have specifically requested them versus posting affiliate links in every thread all over.
In one area it can be seen as deceptive, “trying to make a buck”; in a PM or a specific thread, you as the buyer are there specifically to get the deals they can provide.
You don’t despise a travel agent for getting a cut, they’ve built the relationship with the vendors and are doing you a service to get a good deal.
We don’t need a separate set of rules for affiliate linkers. Affiliate linkers are commercial sellers by default. We already have an entire page of rules for commercial sellers. Rules for Commercial Sellers. Just stick to the existing rules and everything will be fine.
We have plenty of commercial sellers who follow the rules and post in the right places and contribute to non-commercial discussion when appropriate. They have been here for years and we like them, as long as they respect the rules.
I don’t consider someone who uses affiliate links to be a commercial seller. But I think the commercial seller rules are appropriate anyways with one exception: if your write a honest review of a product you own, you can post an affiliate there too (clearly labelled)
Affiliate linkers promote the sale of certain goods and receive commissions on sales. That is the exact definition of a salesperson.
I continued my post. I still consider “them” to be more of a buying agent and not a salesperson. They are not in the employ of the seller.
Yep. Particularly when they’re promoting things they don’t recommend, review, or own and use.
That’s the problem.
That’s why the businesses that have affiliate programs are so damned eager to get people to join them.
It’s cheap advertising, with no responsibility to stand by whatever claims are being made about the product — because oh no, they’re just affiliates, we aren’t responsible for the quality and neither are they.
Slippery slope, moral hazard.
This isn’t about YOU.
I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I still don't see the issue. I try to click on the affiliate link (as opposed to the non-affiliate link) when a member posts a deal I'm interested in. I figure if I pay the same price and its a good price for something I want, I want the member that took time to post the deal to get a little something for their trouble. I really don't care what their motive is (e.g. make money, share a good deal, etc).
As far as the OP trying to be divisive. I don't think so. I, too, have wondered about what the OP is asking. I have asked here and there, but haven't got an answer that makes sense yet. Like the OP, I have no skin in the game. As a general rule, however, I prefer as few rules as possible. Freedom and choice has costs.
is a thoughtful, thorough review
and way down below some of the pictures
there’s mention of one place to buy the light
and of a code at Max’s topic to get a better price.
Happy to go there and click that one.
This is how to do it in a way that really makes clear what the item is, inside and out.
The problem with aff is that the poster is paid by the store to help sell some items. The poster is by definition affiliated with the store. That is a problem when the same poster also is a normal member on the forum and participate in the general conversation and perhaps even build up a good reputation.
The poster sell/give away his/her good reputation to the store to help the store to sell stuff. Infiltrative marketing using the trust given by others. Nasty. And cheap and very efficient marketing for the store. But that is fine as long as the aff link is posted in the commercial seller parts of the forum, and banned everywhere else.
The aff link is by definition a part of how stores attempt to influence the market to increase their sales. Don't let that stuff mix with the normal non-commercial discussions about flashlights. Also reviews of stuff that has been given by a store or manufacturer should be strictly forbidden anywhere else but in the commercial/reseller/store parts of the forum. It is by definition commercial marketing.
Suggestion: Post commercial content only in the areas intended for that purpose. That includes affiliate links and reviews of gifted goods. No total ban. Just make sure ALL commercial marketing is in the right place on the forum.
This is essentially what Rojos also say just here above. See aff links as commercial marketing. And follow the existing rules for commercial posts.
We should perhaps start to help by flagging commercial posts with affiliate links in the wrong areas as spam? That is what it is, isn't it?