Thanks Brendan - I hadn’t previously seen this discussion. Perhaps this is an issue that Choice really needs to be more open about in the community - both what it’s doing and why? Obviously there are concerns, both here and in other parts of the fora, about how Choice as a consumer-focused entity can meet that mandate while staying viable.
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@mcziel2 @grahroll @postulative As mentioned above your feedback is greatly appreciated. I’ll be sure to raise this directly with our internal stakeholders, and please keep sharing your thoughts on the matter - either in the comments here, via private message if you’d prefer or also directly on our site.
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I think it was mentioned earlier by Brendan - CHOICE has been trying affiliate links since 2008. Initially with GetPrice, then Winnings, Amazon, Appliances Online, WhistleOut.
Some of them work for a time, some of them don’t pan out for a variety of reasons.
My particular interst is being able to close the loop for CHOICE members with a click. For the longest time we have given the best product then expect people to do their own research on buying. Many people on choice.community I assume are interested in doing the research - but not everyone.
Ideally we would implement an API that collates best deals on the net, but this is quite difficult from a digital development perspective (inordinately expensive) so we’ve been trying to leverage other companies that have affiliate links already.
The handy thing about affiliate links (besides closing a loop and a trickle of extra funding) is that they also tell you about bad links - they tell you when something is discontinued. This is a really valuable service for us as manually doing this is difficult without a lot of automation across 200-odd product categories.
We just keep on coming back to mission which is about safe, fair and just markets for all Australian consumers, which tends to keep us on track ethically. As long as we keep within those guard rails, we believe affiliates and partnerships are fine to experiment with to see how they can serve the needs of Australians.
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Thank you Matt for the reply, and I do understand the idea behind it all. Would it, as I mentioned previously, be worth making the CHOICE Home Shopper the default link for the product or develop the search link with your sister organisations and then just regionalising the search terms. With the CHOICE Home shopper you already have the item the purchaser is interested in and making it a small fee for service for non members or even a fee for members but still giving them a saving would produce a revenue stream without having to seek affiliate links.
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Somewhat off topic but relevant re business issues.
Has Choice considered a subsidiary or Choice brand essentially like the US Better Business Bureau? While it is not what it once was it combines business’s membership fees with ombudsman services with standards all member business are expected to uphold, and referral services to its membership. Being a BBB member was once more important than paypal (and similar) protections today.
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There are websites that already do this for a range of products, such as staticIce (for IT products). I know there are some really bad price aggregators out there, but some do a decent job - perhaps Choice could do a review of price aggregation websites and then consider whether any of them may be useful for members when considering particular products?
In fact, WhistleOut does a decent job, as does PC Part Picker… (I must admit that I run ad-blockers so have no idea how much advertising is on any of these websites.)
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It maybe useful to see how other sites treat this in a transparent manner.
Whilst OzBargain is owned by a for-profit media company it relies on trust and transparency for growth and retention of it’s community driven deal site. When they installed affiliate links for deal links there was a community outcry afaik and there was long discussion on how to balance values.
I can’t find the discussion yet but here is a page explaining the current model - Affiliation Links on OzBargain - OzBargain Wiki
Main points:
- Have a pop-up to give an option to go direct
- Also on the same popup have a link explaining how this works which on Ozbargain links to the above link.
- Members (those that register) don’t get the affiliate link as they contribute to the site.
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I have subscribed for many years and always followed Choice recommendations, however I was shocked when links to retail outlets were included for recommended products.
I emailed them and their response was basically they need to raise money to maintain the business..
At the moment the link is JB Hifi, a previous one was to The Good guys.
Many people would see this as an endorsement of that company.,
in line with product testing.
If they are ok to have a commercial arrangement with these companies you have to ask what arrangement they may have with product manufacturers
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Welcome to the Community @Postman,
Choice has always been very upfront about embedded ordering links used from time to time.
Last updated in 2024, this is the formal statement
Anytime Choice does a ‘cameo’ on a product it is clearly stated the product was supplied by the manufacturer/importer. The Choice commentary is not always favourable to the product. Choice also is clear that products in routine testing are purchased by staff on the open market to avoid getting ‘specially prepared’ product.
As for relationships, Choice has also published reviews of online merchants including
as well as for grocers, etc.. Are you implying these are not honestly done and reported because of the links?
Is there something else you need to make you more comfortable with their independence and objectivity?
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Specifically from the CHOICE link about funding you provided.
We link to a variety of retailers, as well as direct to branded eCommerce websites. Links are normally provided by an affiliate network, but we also work directly with retailers in some cases. Please note that a retailer link alone does not constitute an endorsement of the retailer by CHOICE. We’re not able to show every possible retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
@Postman, there are a variety of stores linked. Yes, CHOICE does receive some commission from sales if a buy now link is used. Only on recommended products is a buy now link provided.
As an example of variety of providers in the fridge review, the buy now link for LG fridges is to lg.com online store.
Yet another product not an LG one and in the same review, the buy now link is to Appliances Online. Another takes you to the Good Guys and another to Appliance Central for different products in the review.
The buy now link is provided to take a potential purchaser to a store that does have the product listed on their site. In some of the comments about some products, some interested buyers have not been able to, or have difficulty in finding a supplier. See the below comment about a fridge that can actually be purchased via the buy now link, where the poster had been unable to find a retailer.
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Well in your 2024 report on retailers JB hifi and THe Good Guys didn’t rate so high and you still have links to them.
I am sure that some people would assume the link has some endorsment, if that is not the case then you shoul say so.
By the way, what criteria is used to see if they are suitable for your link.
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Not my link nor my report, I’m not a CHOICE employee. I just volunteer as a moderator to help other users.
The criteria is that the store has the product as far as I am aware. A potential buyer does not need to use a link obviously, but sometimes only certain retailers carry that brand or model of stock. If anyone clicks the ? next to the buy now link it states “Clicking a link will take you to a retailer’s website to shop, where available.”
CHOICE have made it clear on their home site that they are not endorsing a particular store when a buy now link is used, as noted in my previous post. I do take your point though that they could add to the ? text something like “This is not an endorsement of the store”.
Perhaps something @BrendanMays could raise with the relevant CHOICE area.
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For clarity the Community is not Choice Magazine. Choice sponsors this as a social media out-reach. Some Choice staff monitor it; they are identified as Choice Staff and also have blue shields on their photos.
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