Black Friday shopping, something I noticed, a head's up

[mollyeilis]

Not sure if this is the place to put it, but I realized something today and I wanted to share it as a bit of a "warning" while we're all shopping. Should have asked the mod that while I was asking if it was OK to post *this*! :p


I'm subscribed to one of the "black friday advertisement" websites. I don't normally shop on that day, but it's fun for me to see what all is on sale. I like the knowledge. I never really gave it much thought, as to what sort of site those websites are.

Until today, while reading an email that one sent out, when they mentioned a store with an affiliate program and that they chose to leave the store's affiliate program today...and I realized...oh no, those sites are affiliates of some of the stores they mention!

So when I go and look at xyz's BF coupons, if I click through to xyz, I am sending a cookie (layman's terms LOL) to them. If I don't realize it and decide to shop through Sunshine...I could end up not getting credit for that purchase. Why? Because the credit went to the BF site. Which is lovely for them and all, but not generally my intention when I click through Sunshine.

I've been around Sunshine for over 3 years, and I've seen the BF websites for almost as long, but I just never put two and two together before. If I didn't realize it, I am sure there are others, especially all the fabulous new members I've noticed the last month or so.

So I wanted to give a head's up, to be *careful* that you aren't giving your cookies away (ha) to just anyone, when your intention is to shop through Sunshine. :sunshine:


Hope that helps and that I said it all clearly.

[mmm611]

I'm confused here! I thought if we cleared cookies prior to making the actual purchase, all was good?

[mollyeilis]

Oh don't let me confuse you!

What I am saying here is that what I thought was a "benign" site, where I wouldn't necessarily be concerned about clearing cookies, isn't "benign". A person could come across the advertisement site, not know that they are involved with the affiliate programs, and not bother to clear cookies.

That's what I wanted to make sure of, that we all know that at least one of those sites isn't just an info site, that it could interfere if you're not careful.

[gpp2001]

Thanks for the heads up!

[SunshineGirl]

Molly is right. You have to be super careful. Sometimes when you go to a site and it says "click here to see the coupon or deal" you actually give any sales credit to them just by clicking on it....even if you don't end up on the merchant site. It's tricky but a lot of deal sites do it.

[Blessing and Miracle]

I'm confused here! I thought if we cleared cookies prior to making the actual purchase, all was good?

Not always true. I visited a site to make a purchase before I checked to see if they were a SR merchant. Once I realized they were I emptied my basket, cleared the cookies and waited until the next day to make the purchase and I still didn't receive credit. The second time I purchased from that store I went straight through SR and the credit showed up almost immediately, so I would still be careful. :)

[speechteachri]

Thanks for the info and reminder.

[wilsonfamily4]

This is great advice for newer users. I remember when I first started in the reward world I had no idea that computers kept cookies and places could "steal" the credit. But I lost many credits when I first started. Now I never ever click on someones coupon, even if it looks good. :)

[momof3lovebugs]

Okay, I realize I am blonde but I am totally confuzzled by this? Does that mean if we go to a website before we come here thru like ********s or something then we won't get credit here?
I just placed an order thru disney store (which I don't see pending yet but it's not 10 days I think) and will be waiting for the pending credit to appear. If I looked on their site before here, even if it was days ago and I didn't do a clear here, am I hosed? :(

[mmm611]

Check this thread for the info about the cashout changes.

http://www.sunshinerewardsforum.com/showthread.php?t=51518

I can't help you out with the questiona bout your purchase, sorry!

[SunshineGirl]

Okay, I realize I am blonde but I am totally confuzzled by this? Does that mean if we go to a website before we come here thru like ********s or something then we won't get credit here?
I just placed an order thru disney store (which I don't see pending yet but it's not 10 days I think) and will be waiting for the pending credit to appear. If I looked on their site before here, even if it was days ago and I didn't do a clear here, am I hosed? :(

If you don't see your credit within about 3 days and you had been on another site (like a coupon site or ********s), it is most likely that the other site got credit. Or if you have downloaded any kind of deal toolbar.

[Mom2aPrincess]

Thanks for the heads up...I subscribe to a few bf newsletters, but I don't think I've clicked through anything...I'll be sure to be more aware now.

[mollyeilis]

This is great advice for newer users. I remember when I first started in the reward world I had no idea that computers kept cookies and places could "steal" the credit. But I lost many credits when I first started. Now I never ever click on someones coupon, even if it looks good. :)

Aw, thanks! And yes, that's who I was really thinking about, since I've noticed so many new names recently!


Okay, I realize I am blonde but I am totally confuzzled by this? Does that mean if we go to a website before we come here thru like ********s or something then we won't get credit here?


Excellent use of the word confuzzled. :D Even though I'm the one that caused it, sorry.

I remember at one point, we were told that merchants were going to start getting very strict, and looking back to how we very first got to their site, and giving credit (or not) based on that. I haven't noticed that happening, but it sure did make me careful! I make a conscious effort to not click on, say, click-through things from another site, if I think I'll ever want to get credit from that merchant through Sunshine. Just in case.

What noticing this thing with the BF advertisement site has caused in me is...a realization that these sites don't work for free. They aren't working so hard to find ads and put them up and deal with the cease and desist letters just to help us b/c they are good people at the bottom of their heart. They are getting paid, somehow, by doing this. So how are they getting paid? They are getting paid in the same way Sunshine gets paid, only they aren't sharing the credit.

Once my brain really understood that, well that's when I wrote out my post. :) And I was really shocked that I hadn't totally gotten it yet, since I've been thinking about this sort of website for 3 years now. :o


editing to add....so just be careful while clicking around on the internet.

[fronisgl]

Thanks. This is somewhat unrelated but probably answers my question why I'm not getting credit at coupons.com. I go to the deal site first and then go through SR and I seldom get credit. I'll try a new strategy of clearing cookies first. I've been wondering how to fix what I'm doing wrong.