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Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

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Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#21

Post by olefoo »

danneu wrote: post #14

> Not disclosing this modification is putting individual stores at a disadvantage when they and their customers are putting in the work of adding pins. I find it hard to sympathize for the trivial "work of adding pins" when it's Pinterest that created the universe in which those pins even exist and the community that gives them value. > One specific, problematic issue is that when individual online stores pin their o…

Relatively few people here have a problem with Pinterest making money; the problem they do have, is making money by modifying the links the users are posting without disclosing that modification.

I'd be somewhat squicked if I saw that paragraph in the T&C when I was signing up, but at least I'd know and be able to decide if it was worth it. But by going ahead and not putting that disclosure anywhere; Pinterest has shown that they don't respect their users. And that may be somewhat poisonous to their prospects (or not, Facebook being the prime example).

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#22

Post by olefoo »

atldev wrote: post #11

This reminds me of the debate on Path's address book upload activity. I don't think it was malicious. It could be covered in a TOS update. But I rarely read the TOS for a site. When I do, it's a serious investment of time to understand what they're trying to say. I think we need to simplify TOS language and standardize on a set of images to represent privacy, affiliation, and payment terms for a service. I would actu…

It's been tried http://khulaproject.com/

I don't think it's a particularly viable business, it might be a good feature of a larger business that was focused on helping customers navigate the complexities of modern life; but on it's own, the value in one instance is too small to motivate purchasing.

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#23

Post by feint »

I don't see this as a problem at all. From a user perspective, I would much rather see this than flashy banner ads polluting the experience.

The same thing happens on sites such as RetailMeNot.

Good on Pinterest for monetizing and they should continue being aggressive and explore other opportunities.

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#24

Post by spacemanaki »

Does Stack Overflow also do this, at least with Amazon links? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong because I wouldn't want to spread misinformation. But IIRC Amazon links turn into something like "rads.stackoverflow.com/..." which I always assumed were affiliate. I think it's pretty reasonable, as others have pointed out.

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#25

Post by AJ007 »

danneu wrote: post #14

> Not disclosing this modification is putting individual stores at a disadvantage when they and their customers are putting in the work of adding pins. I find it hard to sympathize for the trivial "work of adding pins" when it's Pinterest that created the universe in which those pins even exist and the community that gives them value. > One specific, problematic issue is that when individual online stores pin their o…

Easy solution for the store, terminate the affiliate relationship.

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#26

Post by k-mcgrady »

wiredd wrote: post #20
k-mcgrady wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do you think they should disclose it? (I'm actually curious). The only users affected are those using their own affiliate links so it would have no effect on the vast majority of users. It seems to me that companies are being asked to disclose more and more these days even when it doesn't really affect users and the company has no reason to disclose the information.

I think it's smart to have it disclosed somewhere (FAQ) because people that know what affiliate links look like can figure it out themselves anyway by looking at the links.

But why does that matter? What does anyone gain from knowing that they are using affiliate links? What does anyone lose from not knowing?

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#28

Post by atldev »

olefoo wrote: post #22
atldev wrote: post #11

This reminds me of the debate on Path's address book upload activity. I don't think it was malicious. It could be covered in a TOS update. But I rarely read the TOS for a site. When I do, it's a serious investment of time to understand what they're trying to say. I think we need to simplify TOS language and standardize on a set of images to represent privacy, affiliation, and payment terms for a service. I would actu…

It's been tried http://khulaproject.com/ I don't think it's a particularly viable business, it might be a good feature of a larger business that was focused on helping customers navigate the complexities of modern life; but on it's own, the value in one instance is too small to motivate purchasing.

Amazing. This is why I like HN. I just wrote up a quick note with an example image here: http://clearsignal.posterous.com/do-we-value-our-laundry-mor... When I get back, link to actual example. Thanks!

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#29

Post by wiredd »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #26
wiredd wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's smart to have it disclosed somewhere (FAQ) because people that know what affiliate links look like can figure it out themselves anyway by looking at the links.

But why does that matter? What does anyone gain from knowing that they are using affiliate links? What does anyone lose from not knowing?

I don't think there is an effective way to hide the use of affiliate links, so they may as well disclose it in their FAQ or TOS just to avoid complaints that they're not being genuine towards their users.

Re: Pinterest quietly modifying users links to generate affiliate revenue

#30

Post by tpiddy »

I remember reading Posterous is using skimlink's competitor Viglink http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1309403

The real question is WHY would companies let Posterous or Pinterest become affiliates at all? Where are the incremental sales? It makes sense for businesses to encourage USERS to become affiliates and promote their products, but allowing user-gen site to monetize their users' links does not encourage their users to link and promote products more.

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