The way that most of the coupon and discount codes websites on the internet keep going is by receiving a fee from your sales. This is very well and generally does not cost you any more (even though I do know one merchant that puts their costs up for affiliate sales!). What happens is that they get you to click on the shop’s advert, which then goes on to track any purchases you make with that shop.
And that is the central failing in coupon websites. Whilst it is fantastic that they are making available to you the coupon codes that might save you cash, they are more concerned in making sure that you click their advert. This means two things to you, the unwary visitor.
To start with, some will do everything feasible to get you to make that click so that they may earn a fee. Frequently this is done by not showing the coupon code to you until you press a link. This button then shows you the code and opens the shop’s website in another window, thus planting the vital cookie on your computer.
Why is this a problem? Well simply put, now and again these sites will get you to click to reveal a voucher code even when there is not one offered or it has expired. They are hopeful that the fact that you are looking for a particular shop’s code that you are about to make a purchase there. They are then earning their commission, even though they have not in actual fact pushed the sales. Even if the marketing standards say that this type of click to reveal should not take place when no voucher exists, I have still seen it happening and it is not difficult to come across sites still doing this.
The next matter is bias. These sites are only interested in showing coupon codes that are supplied from merchants that will pay them a commission. This market is big business and some combine coupon codes with product comparisons. But, they will only compare the costs of those merchants that may send them a cut.
In due course, if you are looking to make a purchase and a site can give you a money off code, then does it matter? The effect is that you save yourself a small amount, they make a commission and the website makes a smaller amount on the sale.
I suppose the shop will just suppose that it is a worthy loss and hope that these websites do send them more trade in the long term. But if your sale has been initiated owing to another site who is an affiliate, then they themselves will lose out on the fee. And this is an added basis for the click to reveal trick – you have to click to see if there are any better vouchers than the ones you have.
Overall, I guess there is no harm with coupon sites in general, it is just the click to disclose system I find objectionable.
Author Resource:
Keith Lunt writes for E-Z-Saver , where voucher codes are always visible and it is up to you whether you click on our affiliate links! If you want to know more about the latest voucher codes that we have on offer or our new product reviews, just pop over to join in.
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