They don't need affiliate links for that information. We all come "from BLF", which groups us together, no matter if we use affiliate links or not. Web analytic tools are frightening good nowadays.. Just click a link and "they" know a lot about you, for example Country, City, Referral page (= page you come from = BLF), Pages you opened during a visit (and next visit, and, ..).
About affiliate links:
You know my opinion and it hasn't changed. Affiliate links are supposed to help me to buy more interesting lights (for writing reviews of them). So far I have collected enough points that I got two lights from DX and nothing (yet) from BG. [But hey, at least I have been trying hard!]
I wouldn't call them "hidden", as I state the use of affiliate links clearly in my signature. After all: Clicking the links doesn't cost you (directly) anything, and you can think that as a small "Thank you" for the reviewer or person who negotiated or found the good deal. And if you think they don't deserve the thanks, you can always copy the link, strip aff part away and use the "normal" link. Of course I can start adding non-aff links (for lazy people) if you think it is really necessary.. Just ask and I'll do it.
About sponsored reviews:
So far I have received one "free" light from DX and two from BG. This is always stated in the beginning of the review.
Writing reviews is very time consuming, and those flashlights fairly cheap, so I don't really consider to get paid or those lights to be any different than the ones I bought myself. Writing reviews is simply my hobby -> I love it and do it with passion.
As you have seen, my reviews are honest and that's the way I try to keep them also in the future. I would be silly not to write honest reviews here, as there would always besomeone to pinpoint the dishonesty. That's actually the power of community! Dishonest reviewers get caught very quickly and no one trusts them anymore..
Well, that's my 2c. Hope this clarifies the issue, even a little.
The part of your signature which says "Above post might contain referral links...." its small and not that easy and comfortable to read. In the past I always though that line was describing the link above it (your flashlight collection)... It could be more clear, and maybe posted above the link to your flashlight collection.
Indirectly affiliate link money are paid for by consumers/BLFers. Im not sure why someone feel that they need to get paid for doing what they love, when others just share the love for free... :)
The poll also shows that 82% thinks that it is ok to post referral links. This seems like the day after elections, when all parties make the interpretations of the numbers in such way that everybody is a winner
Of course we can compose my signature together.. I don't really mind even if it would say: "RacerR86 rulez!" ;)
That's being said commonly, but quite hard or even impossible to prove.. If a company sells too little, it will not be profitable. If it pays (very small amount of) affiliate link money and sells significantly more and ends up being more profitable.. Who did pay the money? Customers? What if the customers got their goods cheaper than from other stores (because of large sales volumes)? Who did pay the money then?
With this thread Im just putting the subject up for discussion and looking at opinions.. Most people are against hidden/unannounced affiliate links. I am glad to see that. Hopefully more of the people who posts such links respects others and start announcing that they are posting affiliate links. If not, well, that is up to them...
Its always the customers who pays the paycheck to everyone in a shop. That includes the pay to people who are affiliated and do marketing work for them as well. The less money used on marketing the more money can be used on keeping prices low and thereby gaining more customers..
I think your signature works better now, description is also better. :)
For me as a consumer, it definitely gives me a warm fuzzy to see that the reviewer bought the review sample from his own link with his own money. The old saying goes: ‘eating your own dog food’
That’s what I strive for with my own reviews. If I give an affiliate link in one of my reviews, there’s a 99.9% chance I bought it myself through that same link and if I didn’t, then I make a note of it in the review with whatever reason.
So, I think reviewers like _ the _ are doing it right. And I’ll reiterate that there’s no shame with wanting a little compensation for a review that might take 4-12 hours of the reviewer’s time, not to mention the investment in equipment like cameras and batteries. As a community member, the only thing that bugs me are the folks who aren’t up front about it, who again, are probably even breaking the law.
my summary: say/ use diff color for aff links, if it’s a good/great/mind blowing deal, yes please, and if I like what the poster of the link contributes to the forum, why not help ’em out a little?
