Differences in Reporting
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As I'm fairly new, I've seen you have the option to mark a deal as expired. There is also the option to 'report' a deal, when this gives you the opportunity to report for missing content etc. but also an expired deal. Is there a difference between these two options when finding an expired deal? Are they both the exact same?
It did confuse me too but hope this is understandable.
It does appear that an expired deal can be reported in two ways:
- By selecting from the dropdown list when you click on the report button (accessed by the ... ).
- There is also the option to report as expired.
It's my opinion that there is no difference in which way you choose.
I will guess that the biggest reason to report a deal is because it's expired. So that option has been given (without needing to go to the dropdown list).
It appears that deals can be reported as "expired" for a few reasons. - some of which are:
The expiry date on the deal has been passed.
The price has increased (so the deal is no longer "a deal").
The item has sold out - so no longer available.
I think care should be taken in reporting as expired if the "get deal" tab doesn't take you to the deal - it could be due to the browser you're using.
Hope I've got things right - no doubt someone will say if I've not.
Thank you David, that explained things very clearly. I did wonder if the 'expired' button was just a shortcut for ease.
I've never had an issue with the get deal tab, I've only ever reported when the price has gone up or the deal has ended in some other way. Thanks for helping me keep on track!
Sometimes you find a product that has increased by a couple of quid yet it is still way cheaper than the RRP and a good deal. Although last time I used the report to tell the poster I got a reply, which would have taken then longer to write than edit the price saying they would not change it as it would take them too long.
So the reports go to the poster, and not admin? Sometimes I comment about how its expired then report. I found one that had gone up by a penny so didnt bother reporting that one, obviously, but some went up to full price so I did press expired. I just assumed admin looked at them and removed them.
j4m1721 When a product is out of stock, or the price has changed, you can simply report it as Expired. If the post is recent, it will have to be checked by one of the mentors / admin, but if it is an older post, it will be automatically expired.
All other report types are checked by mentors / admins, which included duplicate posts, spam, inappropriate, Not a freebie, ecc.
jmsonl Are we at cross purposes? Did you by chance report it to the poster via comments (not by either of the reporting ways mentioned)? My understanding is that the person reporting a deal as expired, is not named to the person who posted the deal. Although the deal posters are notified the deal has been reported as expired.
My understanding is based on numerous past topics "who expired my deal" etc. and personal experience when someone was repeatedly maliciously reporting my deals as expired.
davidstockport Yeh I reported it and must have left a message too - was still a deal, yet I think it is important that we keep the deals up to date. Some people take it as a negative. I have no problem editing a deal or having something expired. It is only hassle when I am looking to buy something and the post is out of date.
jmsonl So it was presumably because of your MESSAGE (via comments) that the poster was able to respond to you not because of your report. That had us all confused I think 
davidstockport Yes I understand yet remember having a conversation with admin in chat ages ago, and I can't find it, where they said to use the price report function to inform the poster. I have found one of mine that has a price change. Can you report it and I will tell you if I get any info. Can davidstockport only report it rather than everyone reading this. https://www.latestdeals.co.uk/deals/womens-superdry-embellished-hot-shorts-cali-blue-chain-ebay
jmsonl Sorry I'm loathe to attempt to report a five month old deal where the price has dropped significantly. My own action would be to inform the poster via comments. They can then edit the price or as the price is better repost the deal.
If the original deal poster doesn't wish to take either of the above actions I can see nothing against the rules in anyone else reposting the deal with the lower price. (especially after five months) reposting fetches it to the attention of those who might be interested.
There doesn't appear to be a "price change" option in the report facility - although I suppose the "other" option could be used but my opinion is that it isn't the best way.
For the benefit of the "points gatherers" not reporting might mean the loss of five points - that's half a penny in vouchers (I genuinely hope no one is that desperate )
davidstockport OK no problem I just thought it would be interesting to find out what happens. I really do remember having a discussion about this with someone from the site though about this.
Would you be so kind as to answer another question? I posted it in chat re better pricing.
One of my deals keeps getting reported as expired when it is clearly still available. Found it really odd, could understand once but it’s been at least 3 times today on the same deal.
Can’t help wondering if people are abusing the function to expire the deal so people can’t hit the like heart. 
myusernamehasgo I notice many of your deals are "sized" items - could it be, as I've mentioned as a suspicion before, that some people will wrongly report as expired because the size they want has sold out?
Perhaps you will post which item it is to see if my suspicion has any foundation in your case?
davidstockport a superdry backpack hat is one size so can’t be reason you have given I’m afraid.
myusernamehasgo I handled a report of your post as incorrect yesterday. One explanation for this is that often the user is already logged into the store's website, and there is an automatic postcode check saying the item is not available for the specific area. We have many Argos offer reports that are out of stock for many but not all users.
I'm not sure that is the case with your offer, but it may be one of the explanations.
There are always a few trolls or points gatherers hoping to get 5 points for reporting deals as expired, although sometimes it might be a genuine error. Some time back it was made clear that those who repeatedly misused the report system would be prevented from doing so altogether.
There is also a possibility that people might want deals expired so they can repost them themselves.
Out of interest - some well meaning person could if their own size wasn't in stock, report a deal as expired, when some other sizes were still available. If only one size out of perhaps a dozen was available that could almost be justified.... Complicated innit
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