Facebook ban?

[Deactivated] on 05/07/2011 - 22:02
Last edited 05/07/2011 - 22:28

Ok here's you chance to be heard. This is my personal opinion at this point in time - not Ozbargain's.

I personally detest these like us on facebook and get a code for discount for something or other - or something free.

No I am not against the getting of a discount etc, but this is Ozbargain, post the deal here, or get your likes somewhere else.

And what does this like us mean. Its surely nothing anyone can believe, as these likes are cheaply bought. Yes I guess while Google and others treat these likes somehow favourably some SEO companies think its smart. But really its an avenue for scams.

So what do we do. Ban them from the front page, but allow in a special forum? Ban them completely? Only allow if the code is posted here. Over to everyone for opinions.

BTW may want to read this latest FB posting here where, the deal maybe a little suss according to some of our members

http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/48293

General Discussion

Comments

  • issh on 05/07/2011 - 22:14

    "Everyone to receive you free USB Bluetooth Dongle please email me (email address is located in my Info description) your contact details Thank you all for the GREAT response :) We will be doing these deals often! So keep in touch and watch for updates people!"

    i guess we'll just have to wait and see

    Ban them from the front page, but allow in a special forum?

    There have been some good ones from "likes" off Facebook
    i.e. Gum, Beer, Bandit.fm Credit, Coke

    Note: these are all free

    But then on the other hand, there are companies which post here just to get likes for the FB account, and deliver little/none in return

    but allow in a special forum?

    If this applies to FB post, i say do it to Group Buy post as well (as many members will agree that there are a few too many post off these sites)

    Ban them completely?

    Nope, as mentioned previously there were some GREAT things that were given out for a like, and if they were banned a majority of users will not know about them and hence will not be able to get them

    Only allow if the code is posted here.

    Again, depends on what the deal is, sure if it was a code(non-unique) it'd be better to link the the actual website(not facebook in order to get a like), but if it was the case of a unique code(i.e. 7/11 Coke Promotion) then again, many Ozb users will have missed that out as well

  • djones145 on 05/07/2011 - 22:16

    have to agree there has been some great ones
    like the coke one and gum one

    and some bad ones
    i reckon just allow the oz bargain users remove it through negative voting
    we have very quick :P

  • neil on 05/07/2011 - 23:46
    +8

    Facebook is just another mechanism to get deals. Don't think there is any need to ban them. Companies use Facebook likes as a marketing metric to gauge how well their campaigns are going for them. If members get good deals, then why ban it? There is no need to use a real account. Have a FB account dedicated to OzBargain just like you would an email address.

    Not pointed to anyone in particular, I'm sick of people complaining about let's ban group buy deals, let's ban Facebook, Twitter, RRP quotes, blah blah. If you don't like the deal, move on and ignore. Why waste energy arguing bad deals, when you go about finding good deals. /Rant over

    Favourite Facebook deal, Free $16 Canadian Club & Dry 4-Pack Voucher. Like Us @ Facebook

    • joannatan on 06/07/2011 - 01:06

      love this, i got 5 cards

  • StewBalls on 06/07/2011 - 01:54
    +1

    I'm behind you 110% on this one Ozpete, all this Fakebook likey-likey crap is lame!

    Sure, shuffle them off to somewhere in the forums or another section of the site for Farcebook fans to look at without them soiling all of OzB, but yes I'd definitely like to see them off the main page!

  • scrimshaw on 06/07/2011 - 02:08
    +5

    It's easy to only remember the bad stuff, but nobody every remembers the good ones.

    Banning FB from appearing on the main page will stop good deals like these coming through:

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/46169
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/46923
    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/39231

    Also since the forum is mostly unregulated and lacks quality control, we'll all be throwing both good and bad deals into it, and decreasing the visibility of potential good deals. It'll just end up being another "Off Topic" category — nobody ever posts or reads it.

  • Tal_Shiar on 06/07/2011 - 02:38

    if bad deals are repeatedly submitted, why not just move them to the competition forum? Since most of these deals will have people liking them to get the item, then removing them once they have it

    Use this forum to discuss online/offline competitions and related promotions from stores/merchants that are not suitable to be posted as deals.

    But really, how hard is it, to setup a 2nd facebook account for such things? Complaining about spamming family friends is just a cop out for being lazy and a tool for keyboard warriors

  • interiordesigns on 06/07/2011 - 08:33
    +2

    i have to agree i love the facebook deals.. i got one through windu for a 60 pound voucher. got two free nights accommodation. dont ban them just because you dont like facebook. these deals are good and if they are on a normal site then know one would say anything.

  • andy19363 on 06/07/2011 - 10:11
    +10

    (Aimed at nobody in particular……)

    deals are deals….. some are good, some are bad….. some you like, some you don't…. some apply to you, some don't.
    It surely can't be too hard for people without a facebook account to ignore deals with facebook in the title or text?
    Why people bother wasting their time negging deals and posting about how lame the deal is because they don't have facebook, is beyond me. It's a matter of complete indifference to most of us whether or not you have/like facebook. Spend your time telling your mates how terrible facebook is….. don't bore the rest of us with your petty-axe grinding.

    If you don't have facebook -> deal doesn't apply to you -> ignore it

  • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2011 - 12:04

    Excuse me

    Why do you above have to go on a rant about someone expressing an opinion or a thought.

    I asked if people had any thoughts about whether these should be on the front page. This has been expressed by some in some of the facebook threads. While not stated its implied that things are just left as they are.

    Instead some veiled comments about people wasting time expressing a view.

    A simple - hey let them be, would be nice.

    Thanks people.

    • andy19363 on 06/07/2011 - 12:36
      +1

      Why do you above have to go on a rant about someone expressing an opinion or a thought.

      just offering an opinion…. or thought…. like this one….

      I personally detest these like us on facebook and get a code for discount for something or other - or something free.
      No I am not against the getting of a discount etc, but this is Ozbargain, post the deal here, or get your likes somewhere else.
      And what does this like us mean. Its surely nothing anyone can believe, as these likes are cheaply bought. Yes I guess while Google and others treat these likes somehow favourably some SEO companies think its smart. But really its an avenue for scams.

      Didn't realise that I was ranting….. apologies
      I'll just use a simple 'yup' or 'nope' next time :)

      • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2011 - 14:59
        1. It wasnt a rant against other peoples opinions here.
        2. It was trying to explain that this was my personal point of view on this topic - not a mod view
        3. I wasnt criticising peoples points of view on the topic, just the points of view they have on the people discussing this. Eg "people wasting time etc" "sick of people complaining".

        Do we want to be like the politicians who complain that anyone who has a view different from them, is wasting time, being obstructionist, negative etc?

        So yup or nope, to which of the questions?. Just because I call people out on being personal, then you are going to pick up your toys and not play?

        Be a little reasonable, you came here to express the view that, if I interpret you first post correctly, you want the status quo to exist - which is a valid and acceptable position.

        • andy19363 on 06/07/2011 - 16:28
          +1

          Do we want to be like the politicians who complain that anyone who has a view different from them, is wasting time, being obstructionist, negative etc?

          the point is that there is generally no different view…. "I am not on facebook, therefore this deal is crap and should be negged", "lame facebook deal", etc etc, does nothing to inform me about the product in question…. all this does is inform me about your feelings towards facebook, which really should be considered 'off topic'. Slapping a negative on it based on that stance potentially reduces my chances of even seeing the post.
          You gave your personal opinion, as did I.

          Ok here's you chance to be heard.
          Over to everyone for opinions.

          depending on what you say….. clearly….

          If you don't want discussion, perhaps develop some sort of multi-choice answer system….
          "Hey let them be" would be my choice…. :)

        • maryrose on 06/07/2011 - 20:54

          Andy I think you are missing his point, play the point dont play the person, making it personal just weakens any argument.

        • andy19363 on 06/07/2011 - 21:41
          +2

          play the point dont play the person,
          making it personal just weakens any argument.

          I played the point in my first post…
          I clearly stated that the content was not aimed at any members in particular.

          I clearly stated my views on deals, (be they from facebook or anywhere else).
          I then gave an opinion regarding the negging of such deals (as I would about anyone negging a deal simply because it didn't apply to them)
          I finished with a reasonable piece of advice for such folk, whoever they might be…..

          I was then accused of ranting….

          whereabouts did you think it got personal?

        • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2011 - 10:06

          and this is?

          Why people bother wasting their time negging deals and posting about how lame the deal is because they don't have facebook, is beyond me. It's a matter of complete indifference to most of us whether or not you have/like facebook. Spend your time telling your mates how terrible facebook is….. don't bore the rest of us with your petty-axe grinding.

          I like some people would interpret this as being personal

          Guess you don't - so we'll agree to disagree etc.

        • andy19363 on 07/07/2011 - 11:25

          I like some people would interpret this as being personal

          I had hoped my

          (Aimed at nobody in particular……)

          proviso had covered that point. The 'you' in the text is as the 'your' in the original post

          or get your likes somewhere else.

          ie, not specific

          the written word can be so open to interpretation :)

        • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2011 - 12:03

          ah yes the written word, My "you above" was also targeted at Neil, not just your comment, Youse (oh I hate that word) would have made it clearer….

        • andy19363 on 07/07/2011 - 12:37

          ahh, indeed…
          I had always thought of 'youse' as purely a quaint Australian term, but it does fit the bill very well. I can't think of another word that covers it….. in other forms of English it would be perhaps, 'you lot', or 'you guys', 'you people'.

          We should start a campaign….. :)

        • StewBalls on 07/07/2011 - 15:40

          If you want to use the term 'youse' you've gotta pay Jeff Fenech a royalty each time you pay homage to his legendary "I luv youse all, and that!" ;)

  • Brooklyn99 on 06/07/2011 - 16:15
    +4

    My personal view would be to ban only facebook deals set up by REPS who insists that we have to go to their Facebook and like it first before displaying their deal or coupon code

    Majority of the other facebook posts are already viewed by the OP who then post out the coupon code so that the rest of us do not need to like the page. From then on, it would be up to the individual on whether they want to like it or not. These ones we do not need to ban.

    • maryrose on 06/07/2011 - 20:55
      +1

      This makes the most sense of all comments so far

  • llama on 06/07/2011 - 20:05
    +2

    I personally do not understand the concept of Facebook and this "like" business.

    Why do these lamers need to have people "like" them anyway?

    Why do they need to bribe people to like them?

    I don't like beggers. But I like freebies.

    So, I just just a highly offensive, fake Facebook name. Get the freebie, then I "unlike" immediately afterwards.

    Dunno why, if they wish to promote their businesses, they don't use something that generates REAL interest, rather than bludgers like me ROFL

  • samfisher5986 on 06/07/2011 - 21:07
    +6

    are you serious? This is a joke thread right?

    So its ok to post a bargain where you have to fill out forms, do a survey, validate your email and do all kinds of time consuming things….

    But taking 30 seconds to create a fake facebook account once in your lifetime so you can get stuff, often FREE delivered to your door is bad?

    If a business is going to LOSE money to give you a deal, what is so wrong with giving something back and liking them on facebook… (they don't particularly benefit at all if you use a fake account if this is what you want to do)

    Also in regards to scams etc, same thing happens to anything that requires your address, name etc. We would need to ban all of these as well. You don't need a lot of information to attempt identify theft.

  • Mikinoz on 06/07/2011 - 21:11

    +1

  • spliniter on 06/07/2011 - 22:15
    +1

    lol rep is funny called him DeviousBastard.

  • nubzy on 07/07/2011 - 00:50
    -1

    I have a fake account but this method of promotion pisses me off too. I think it is disgusting and excludes older customers and people who are interested in the product, but do not wish to have a facebook account. They should offer another method for people to get the freebie if they do not have farcebook.

    • neil on 07/07/2011 - 01:38

      Disgusting? I know plenty of older people who are on Facebook (hi mum!). I certainly am not complaining when people get discounts through RACV or senior discounts at restaurants. What if people don't have a computer/Internet? There are so many variables that we could apply to these things.

      I can give you the example of my workplace
      We promote via
      Printed mailouts
      Email newsletters
      Faxes
      Conferences
      Facebook
      Advertising on other sites

      Each platform can have different deals. We can gauge how each form of promotion works and how effective it is by comparing the cost to customer sales. So in the example that Pete cited, the company is giving away a BT dongle ($2 value from FP) to the first 100 likes. $200 cost of promotion. Out of the 100 people you may gain some customers which you can verify via the like list. A printed mailout campaign costs whatever printing/envelope price + $.50 * whatever amount. So at the end of each month, we can see how our advertising is doing. We post everyday on Facebook and often get customers engaged with our product and this shows with sales which can be easily traceable via referral links. Likes, retweets, and analytics numbers are all used as metrics to measure the engagement in that particular marketing channel.

      I understand people think it's stupid for a company to give away items in exchange for a "like". That's certainly true in many cases. But it's the companies loss. If you score a freebie, then what difference does it make? I mean 486 people voted for a candy bar hack that required sitting in a store and carefully examining them for winning labels including nubzy (and myself). Yet we can't spend a few seconds clicking the like button?

      • samfisher5986 on 07/07/2011 - 01:57
        +3

        I guess to comply with nubzy, Ozbargain should post the daily bargains in the daily newspaper so you don't discriminate to the 80+ crowd who don't use the Internets.

        Typical Gen Y, business's OWE ME free products at their own expense and they aren't allowed to gain anything out of it!!!!!1111111

  • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2011 - 09:59

    The idea that I was floating was whether or not facebook posts have a place here on Ozbargain

    Thanks to Neil, Samfisher and others we have a full understanding of why a business wants to post facebook deals. In my mind there is no misunderstanding of why they post facebook deals. They are businesses that want to promote their business.

    So moving past that reasoning and on to the point about those deals being posted here.

    Scrimshaw highlights three facebook deals that have been extremely popular.

    Lets look at them.
    1. Was for condoms, which excited so many of our members, probably so much that they had pre receipt ejaculation problems (Just having a little phun here guys).
    2. A deal extreme $5 card offer. (Latest posts show some trouble with receiving this - but hey we have that with many other non facebook deals)
    3. React gum. Well received and no problems at all.

    There is one common thread with all these. They were user posted. Not rep posted.

    In one of these how to access without using facebook was also provided by a member.

    Reps come here and we give them the courtesy of posting their own deals, rather than other sites which ban rep deals. So this raises the point that mediaMode made, that reps be discouraged from posting facebook deals.

    If they come here to promote to us their deal, then why not just post the deal here rather than ask us to go and like them on facebook. Over for more animated discussion.

    • neil on 07/07/2011 - 10:55
      +4

      That is a good point.
      Pete, you know how I like me a good statistical analysis:

      158 posts to Facebook

      11 Rep posted deals involving LIKEing something have EVER been posted.
      BT dongle 10 7 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/48293
      Free gold 9 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/46278
      Wimdu voucher 0 -2 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/45993
      Discount tan 0 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/43918
      Discount code 0 -2 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/41400
      SMS must like to comment 17 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/39432
      Music fest 4 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/37866
      Boxing discount 0 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/34884
      Sms need to like to upload 4 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/34335
      dstore coupon 4 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/31043

      TOTAL Votes 34
      Avg 3.09
      MAX 17
      MIN -2

      Based on numbers alone, the community seems to be fine with it. Bad FB LIKE deals (like for a discount code) will be voted badly. Good FB LIKE deals (Free SMSs) are voted well.

      Now, if we further drill down in those deals, we can see that FB deals that require a LIKE in exchange for a coupon code are not well received at all. So I would be in favour of banning these types of deals albeit there has only been 3 in the entire history of OzBargain.

      Misc other counting:
      Deals with 4+ votes, rep posted deals
      9+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/46278
      10+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/39432
      9+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/38578
      4+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/37866
      8+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/36393
      9+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/deals/facebook.com?page=8
      http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/31407
      4+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/31043
      8+ 0 http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/30483
      42+ http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/26756

      • llama on 07/07/2011 - 11:24

        I am not technology challenged, and have nothing against Facebook. But that "LIKE" business is what really pisses me off.

        I like deals of any form, but when a company "bribes" people to like them then I reckon it's really lame.

        It reminds me of theose "file sharing" forums where you have to click a "thanks" button or post a positive comment in order to see the links. When they appear, you find out that the links are dead or contained a trojan or something.

        The "votes" are fake. So what happens is that posts that appear to be "well liked" are actually not particularly good (or are complete crap).

        (see my next post)

      • llama on 07/07/2011 - 11:32

        This "FB LIKE to see deal" is kind of like if OzBargain was set up as follows:

        a) An attractive reading "deal" is posted on OzBargain.

        b) All details about the deal (eg: price, links, etc) are hidden

        c) Only if you vote + (like) to the deal, you are allowed to read it.

        d) Only deals with lots of "likes" are published.

        To me, that is exactly how those Facebook "like" deals operate. You have to Like FIRST, before you even get the deal. In my mind, that is completely arse-about to how it should be.

        So, to summarise - I have absolutely no problem with Facebook Deals. But the "you MUST LIKE before you get the deal" is objectionable to me.

        • andy19363 on 07/07/2011 - 12:03

          I would certainly be very critical of deals that were hidden until 'liked', however, one would assume the post on ozbargain would contain those details, if it didn't it should be negged as per any other detail-free post.

          Any deal that depended on a certain number of 'likes' being achieved should also be covered by the 'deal not active' ruling already in place here.

          The 'deals depending on likes' thing should also be criticised….. As we may recall, logitech shop (who can do no wrong at present), were guilty of this early on in their involvement with ozbargain, with deals released based on positive votes.

          As to the rest…… I have no problem…. even the 'you must like to get the deal' ones…. People jump through far more hoops to get a free amazon app or 10% off from book depository…..

      • CuteChocobo on 07/07/2011 - 12:50

        I like statistic analysis too =D

        All in all, OzB just like 'free' deals no matter what form of media/communication medium it comes from!

    • samfisher5986 on 07/07/2011 - 13:39

      Your question has already been answered.

      If a business is offering a discount or something for free, it is not unreasonable to ask for something in return.

      Just to fully explain this for everyone.

      1. Offer free/cheap product in a Facebook deal
      2. Lose a lot of money offering this deal
      3. Post on Facebook about new products or other deals
      4. Hopefully gaining the money lost + more in return.
      • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2011 - 14:15

        Sam we understand this completely - it's standard business practice. We have moved on a bit from that. We can also decide how business is promoted here. We do that already and have some guidelines in place. When a business understands these they can work within those parameters.

        To take your point extreme, then any business can list anything anyway, as it means sales = something in return.

        Now I know you dont mean open slather, at the same time we dont want total restrictions - there is a balance in between and lets discuss what those maybe.

        It may just end up being the same as now, but without discussion and thoughts how can we construct anything?

  • [Deactivated] on 07/07/2011 - 11:59

    Apologies, and thanks to Neil for the great stats, I agree it really is the having to LIKE that I "dislike". Fake accounts while playing a game with poster doesn't mean I like having to do this. (Thanks also llama for the further insights)

    But probably the greatest is the not knowing what the deal is etc until you make the like.

    Likewise I think if they want our support as a community why not play here as well as Facebook.

    So IF this is an issue with others, what suggestions on "rules" do you have?

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