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Ah, the old "the internet can solve information aggregation, for free, for all" case. From price search engines to review aggregators to services-searchers, th
by mwexler 4y ago
Ah, the old "the internet can solve information aggregation, for free, for all" case. From price search engines to review aggregators to services-searchers, the vision of the internet was that it would allow us to find anything, properly annotated and metadata-tagged, at no cost to anyone because information wants to be free. Easy to find the lowest price, from a vendor who has good reviews, for a product that appears to work and do what it promises, with some tips and tricks submitted by current users for a bonus... all just open and available. Those were the days... that never were.
Every price search engine, review aggregator and services-searcher (think Angie's List or other "find a trusted provider" orgs) since the 90s is either gone or just does affiliate links. So, even if you see multiple stores with links (Amazon AND Best Buy, 2 whole options!), it will only be to stores with a payback vig. Some of these sites will also use advertising to help pay the rent, and of course, eventually allow sponsored products to show up higher in the list.
I loved the idealism of the 90s, when we thought the mere presence of the internet would bring these things to life. It's too bad that the only way to make this stuff work is to basically sell out, if only a bit... and sometimes, the whole farm.
But is it always a sign that such a site or info provider can't be trusted? In some cases, sure. But note that Consumer Reports, one of the oldest and most trusted product recommendation orgs in the US (not trusted by all, of course, but by many) charges a subscription fee AND has affiliate links, and they still continue to survive with some sheen of quality (though, again, some think they are buffoons... I know this thanks to the Internet).
- razemio 4y agoI agree. Maybe my comment sounded a bit harsh. Let me rephrase it. It is totally fine for me, if there are affiliate links. You have to pay the rent somehow. However, if it's the site's only focus (excluding products because there is no affiliate link) and the content is obviously auto generated, I have no use for it. It would have been nice of the creators to get money for the affiliate links, but allow other products to exist on the platform. I think the revenue would still be more than high enough.
- mwexler 4y agoYeah, I jumped to a conclusion. You make a very valid point about inclusivity of listing all the products recommended (or recommended highly enough), not just the ones that pay a vig.
- nend 4y agoYou misunderstood, OP isn't complaining that there are amazon affiliate links or that this site is trying to make money. They're pointing out that only products that are sold on amazon, are being aggregated. So the web app isn't fulfilling the claim of "listing Reddit's favorite products", but instead they are listing "Reddit's favorite products that are sold on amazon". Which causes such issues that another commenter pointed out, there are no ThinkPad laptop models listed as a favorite product for /r/laptops.
- pvillano 4y agoMany useful recommendations can't be bought at all. My recommended pan is any antique cast iron, my recommended antidepressant is exercise, my recommended boat is don't get a boat. These options are part of what makes going to Reddit better than a retailer for reviews
- Night_Thastus 4y agoHave clinical depression? Just jog! (Not that anyone should be going to Reddit for medical advice/prescription recommendations, though) Agree with the boat though, excepting those that have obscene amounts of cash burning in their pockets.
- BoorishBears 4y agoThese sound like great examples of the noise you get on Reddit and back up OP's approach in my eyes. If I ask for antidepressant recommendations I want something with an Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Code of N06, not some glib remark about exercise. It's great exercise can help you feel better, but antidepressant has a very specific meaning. If I ask for recommendations for a boat, I want something that floats in water, not some glib remark about how boats sink money. Yes boats a very expensive, but I'd ask "should I get a boat" if I was that early in the decision making process And an "antique cast iron" is a very vague criteria and will lead to a goose chase, where as recommending a basic Lodge that will do the same job for 99% of the population without throwing them in the deep end of learning how to strip and season a 50 year old pan from scratch
- 4y ago