Should There Be a Requirement for Deal Posters to Answer Questions on Their Deal
Latest Deals
It is natural to me , I post a deal , I know about it and why I consider it a deal .
As such I am happy to answer any questions , especially if someone finds the same deal cheaper - it is all for the good of our membership .
Perhaps you don't agree it is a deal , or wonder why I consider it a deal when similar items are posted daily ?
I am always willing to answer questions (shouldn't we all be ?), give extra detail if asked and will freely admit and congratulate if someone points out a better deal for an identical item .
I am I different from the majority of members ?
These this one surely someone will post I donβt know much about them but seems to have pretty good reviews
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ATMOKO-Therapeutic-Vibrating-Waterproof-Rechargeable/dp/B088KLKNQ3
Yes for Β£10.50 seems reasonable , funny feeling it will be posted shortly - but doubt the poster (I wonder who ? ) will answer any questions I may have .
I don't think it should be a requirement, but certainly helpful if they can answer certain questions, the poster of a deal might have no more information about the product than already contained in the vendor's description and manufacturer's specifications... as available to the person asking the question as the poster of the deal.
An example: someone finds a smartphone that is perhaps 40% below the RRP that person shouldn't need to be an expert on smartphones or electronics to post the deal.
I perhaps presume (wrongly ? ) That Deal posters post deals they understand and know to be good and why it is a good deal ?
I , like many of us, can and do answer questions and expand on what is in my posts should members ask . Obviously deals are subjective and a "deal" for me is not a deal for everyone .
However shouldn't we at least know why it is a deal before posting ?
X % off an Amazon marketplace item (always discounted from a made up price ) or y % off a clothing sale dale (normally posted 3 per day by certain members) rarely amount to a genuine deal .
Golfforall Perhaps I didn't make it clear - I used a smartphone as an example: I know very little about smartphones but do know that if a branded one usually selling for Β£500 is offered for Β£300 that is a deal. I would post as a deal without being expected to answer questions about the phone. Anyone with questions should be able to get answers from the vendor or manufacturers.
davidstockport Taking your example , I would assume , as the poster , you would know why it is Β£300 . eg
a) about to be superseded by a new model
b) price matching another retailers deal
c) an inherent fault has been discovered in the model post production
d) damaged packaging
etc etc
If I posted such an item myself I would know why it is reduced by 40% and advise accordingly . Obviously this would not apply to Amazon marketplace "tat" such as massagers , shavers, resistance bands etc that are all sold at 60% to 80% off totally made up prices .
It would kill profits from clicks for Latest Deals so there's no way they'll make it happen. I don't know if you noticed but I gave up on trying to make this site better a while ago and only drop by now and again these days only to find half of Amazon and the latest place to buy Carex handwash for a quid.
That said, there are always a few interesting topics in this discussion bit so I can see why people stick around; for the community. You're mostly a decent bunch.
Yes I remember we have that in common , I am still trying to sow little seeds here and there to remind members that they will only get out of the site what they put in .
If we want to find a deal on here , someone has to post it ? Posting non deals just to garner points for vouchers is not only unhelpful but also swamps the few decent deals that are posted .
No, I wouldn't be in favour of any compulsory measures. Someone that posts a deal will likely just have the same amount of information as someone else clicking on the deal to take a look. I don't always choose the cheapest option when making a purchase, as there are websites I won't purchase from. That can be down to a bad experience in the past, companies with a bad reputation, unfamiliarity with a company, etc. Plus, LD users that do their grocery shopping in stores rather than online may not have a particular supermarket chain in their area. So many of them may just want to see the best deals in a particular store. Rather than only see the best price for an item out of all the supermarkets
The majority of members like myself aren't on the site continuously all day they just pop in now and then , so it would make it virtually impossible for members to answer questions in a timely manner. In any case most deals contain a link which takes you to the information available about that item so not sure what other info you really require .
I get your point , maybe a "requirement" is too strong a word ? Perhaps members should be "encouraged " to respond to any questions ?
This often promotes discussion on the merits of an item and alternatives that are better and /or better value .
After all it is a "Deals site" but sadly viewed by many as a voucher earning site .
Golfforall I see you point and agree it would be useful to promote discussion on an item with regards to personal experiences, alternatives or better value similar products.
I am relatively new here and quickly became disillusioned also at the calibre of postings on the site especially Amazon deals at inflated RRPs or a deal just because you've paid 80 odd pound upfront for Prime and can now get it delivered so called "free", but I suppose first and foremost the site is a business not a community site and the owners want to make as much money as possible.
I tend to know about the items I post as deals so can normally help but I've noticed on hotukdeals you may get a lot of questions about a deal but here you don't generally. I don't post deals at hotukdeals anymore but do make comments in hotukdeals threads.
TheChimp I left that other site over 2 years ago , mainly due to the obsession with posting the same computer game 20 times a day at the same price from multiple retailers . I still have a look though , for instance someone posts ,say, a laptop then useful informed information is often added as to best price , alternatives , new model arriving soon etc . Sadly I never see such discussion on Latest Deals .
I don't mind people posting where you can get it cheaper, but I receive a lot of newsletters with offers, which I think are good value as I take the offers at face value and would expect the buyer to do their own due diligence. I haven't got the time of inclination to do price comparison.
It always takes me at least 15 minutes to post a deal as I write it out and edit in my own words . Never a question of see discount , click , paste, 100 points thankyou .
I think I'm doing something wrong ? Surely it's better taking a bit more time to post 1 good deal rather than 3 "non deals " ? (unless of course the deal poster is only interested in earning points ) as opposed to helping the community .
I think all the deals I post are good value, as you will see if you review what I post. I don't post Amazon deals. I spend about an hour posting deals, which are normally from newsletters I have signed up for and yes I do it for points! Otherwise I wouldn't bother as it is time consuming Golfforall
Not a bad idea actually. And then the deal doesn't go live until one of the LD team members have reviewed the answers. Those who genuinely want to share deals as opposed to just point gaining wouldn't mind answering questions.
Golfforall .... I definitely agree with you with most of your post ... a few times someone has pointed out that an item is cheaper elsewhere- a couple of times same item exactly and yes cheaper ........ then there was one comparing a very cheap Home Bargain product with an expensive item not the same .... that's as it should be and I gave my reasons for believing it still to be a better deal (at its reduced price) because of the returns policy, quality and guarantee etc. It's up to individuals which way they want to go with the purchase. I also agree with davidstockport that a deal poster doesn't need to be an expert or have experience of the deal they are posting. As a deal user, I would expect it to be down to me to research if the item suits my purpose etc etc.
I agree it should always be buyer beware , and we should always do our own research . However would it not perhaps slow down the many "posters for points " we sadly have if they could be asked to justify and clarify their "deal" to the membership on occasion ?
How many posts get even one reply , let alone hundreds ? I doubt there is much danger of the "deal poster " being swamped by genuine questions .
Golfforall and SarahHorsfield ... got to admit that I get hardly any replies ....and I almost hesitate to admit that if one of my deals does get a comment, I get a wee bit excited because it's so rare!
BORDERJOE Unfortunately many deals disappear off the first page within minutes (submerged by the sheer volume of non deals posted purely for points ) . Why should we take care to post only good deals when the majority of the membership are posting any old dross purely to garner points .
I've almost given up now , what is the point when a deal it takes me 15 minutes or more to assemble disappears from notice in less time than that !
Latest Deals doesn't appear to want good deals , it only wants volume ! Sorry I disagree .
the only trouble is - how do you define a good deal? what looks good to some is maybe less interesting to others and of course some web sites do talk up the deals somewhat to make them appear better than they are - Amazon has quite a few of these where the so called original price is far to high for the product making the deal look better. I have a price history plug in so can see the prices over the last few months which helps but no everyone has this. Also Amazon is well know for changing prices by the hour which is why I rarely post deals these days. All said and done though Id rather see all the deals that get posted - If I am interested in the product I can look at the deal and make my own mind up if its a good deal or not.
I do think its a good idea to comment on deals that have ben posted if you think its not the deal it appears - or there is a better deal out there.
There is normally a clue when 3 " non deals" are posted "click and paste " from the same retailer within one minute by the same poster every single day .
Agreed deals are subjective but it doesn't take a genius to work out that the vast majority of "deals" posted one here are in no way deals by any stretch of the imagination .
didbygraham what I find a deal you might not
I think it depends what your in the market for
SarahHorsfield Thought provoking comment from a member who has never posted a deal ? (under this username at least ) , I think the word "subjective " in my previous comment covers your point ? Without the need for an inane GIF ? .
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