Coupon codes- Angie or Greg? - YouLookFab Forum

Angie or Greg,
How would you guys feel if we had a running thread for listing referral coupon codes we've received from retailers? I'm noticing it is becoming a common practice for retailers to give a "refer a friend" code at the end of a transaction. The codes benefit both the referer and the friend. I've gotten a few of these while shopping from some shops we talk about quite a bit here, but I haven't shared them because I questioned if the fact that I'd be getting a kickback made it inappropriate.

Last night I got one from Grana, and realized that I had searched for a code for myself before I placed my order and couldn't find one, so I was compelled to share the one I got, in case anyone else has been on the fence about trying that company.

Maybe the code thread could go in Style Exchange? If you think it's an okay idea at all. If you don't like the idea of a running thread, would it be considered uncouth to just throw the code out there in a K/R post? Please share your thoughts:)

8 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

Can I second the idea?

columbine(erin)

Thanks for posting this question. I'm interested, too.

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Traci, I'm not sure how your idea would benefit YLF as a business?

elpgal

Angie, It could go into the sales and deals section. I wonder if the link would serve the same function as clicking through Finds and generate commissions for YLF.

Traci

Angie, I'm not sure that it would benefit YLF as a business in any way other than being a helpful service to the members, in the same way we announce sales to each other.

Thanks, Elpgal and Traci. If forum members click onto the respective retailers FROM the YLF site, and the retailer is a YLF affiliate, it makes sense for us.

minimalist

What about *discount* codes (not involving referral bonus) for businesses YLF doesn't have relationships with?
e.g. Etsy shops.

Personally, I would not like to see referral codes (of the sort involving kickbacks) being used here. Used solely among veteran members, perhaps the damage would be small. But too many fashion bloggers who've otherwise not been interested in the forum would then have interest in posting here with the idea of putting their codes in to posts. I don't want to sound like I'm making this out to be some slippery slope; it's the principle that I would find objectionable. Even a few people doing that would make looking at K/Rs and WIWs much less fun for me.

Minimalist, that's one of the reasons I thought to have codes be contained to only one thread in one of the boards that is not viewable without registering. I definitely wouldn't want to see thread after thread offering up codes. Based on Angie's feedback I think it would be important to have a clickable link to the business in any post that shares a code.

Another option would be that we could mention in a post where we give a K/R or review of an item, we could mention that we have a code available if someone wants to pm us for it.

Minimalist makes some very good points. I like your latest idea, Traci.

Intentions are good all around, but for me personally, even the PM-offer option wouldn't sit well, even when done by established members, whether or not visible without logging in.

A vast amount of time, skill, and emotional labor goes into building a site that can foster a community like this, and maintaining the social tenor. Something would feel (quite) a bit off to me, if people who hadn't done that work started participating in a way that brought themselves financial gain. (At least, in the form of kickback-type referral codes; I'm not here to think up exceptions to the point I'm trying to make, however imperfectly!)

A list of discount codes with no benefit to the person sharing them could be useful; and enough traffic to those sites might result in benefit to YLF, perhaps in the form of samples or commission. But that's something different to referral codes as I understand them. A list of shops offering discounts to YLF members would be delightful, especially when visiting a new city or when looking for handmade accessories.

Minimalist, I appreciate how you're looking out for YLF. Thank you.

It goes against our terms of service for people to sell their goods directly on YLF. For example, Etsy sellers and bloggers trying to promote their own goods on our forum through threads of their own is not allowed. Over the years, we've built relationships with retailers who have become YLF affiliates, and those are the retailers who we happily provide links to in return for a very small commission.

Furthermore, I do not accept free samples from retailers, and do not do product reviews. It goes against what I believe in, and why we have YLF.

At this point, Traci, I feel it's all a bit tricky as there is potential for a conflict of interests.

Okay, no problem. Thanks for the thoughts:)

Minimalist again makes great points. Maybe the place for codes is Facebook. I love YLF how it is.

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