I guess I’m not clear on what “coupons” means in this context. Is it like real, paper coupons, but in digital format? Or is it something only content creators get after someone clicks on an affiliate link? Or is it something like cookies stored on your computer? I’ve never heard of coupons in the internet universe, so I’m not sure where the scam is.
For clarity: So if I click your affiliate link then somehow honey pops up when I do that and takes over? I’ve never had honey pop up randomly for me. Or does one have to have a honey app installed? In which case, if the customer is dumb enough to click on honey after they first clicked on the affiliate, then it makes sense honey takes the credit. Is the honey app working off the backs of affiliates? As in, they know when a link is an affiliate and they’re there to take over? I’m not quite clear from your video how it all comes to pass. When I have looked up coupons in the past, most of the time they’re old or aren’t cheaper than the present deal. And if I have to click to see code, I just leave anyhow.
Essentially if you interact witht he Honey plugin at all while visiting a store you got to via an affiliate link... Honey replaces the affiliate code. So if the Honey extension pops up and says "Sorry no coupons found" and you click the close button to close the extension notification... Honey gets the affiliate sale. Essentially any interaction with the Honey extension while visiting a site inserts their affiliate code. Stealing from the actual affiliate that led you to the store. On the flip side if you browse a web site on your own without getting to it via an affiliate... and interact with the Honey extension... no matter if a coupon code is found or not... they insert their affiliate code when there wasn't even one to begin with. This time essentiall stealing from the merchant. Because you didn't go to their site via an affiliate link to begin with so why is Honey getting money? They shouldn't be. But they've tricked everyone to install their browser extension promoting coupon codes that many times don't even exist.
@ right so they’re disguising as coupon codes which will be the last research one does, and is always sure it uses their affiliate. If the merchant has a deal with them, and the user is looking for a deeper sale than the affiliate, then while shady, it’s more shady that the company people are buying from and honey don’t seem obligated to mention being an affiliate, where as affiliates do. It’s also on the user to not look for coupons beyond the affiliate, but they should be made aware. If I “want” to use an affiliate link. I make sure I go back to affiliate link as my last process in my purchase chain. I would assume cookies and any site between would take the baton. Same as if I click one affiliate and then I see another creator and click on their link without thinking. Now, goes to that creator not the first one, correct? So, if I did look for coupons which is seldom, I’d get the code and go back to the affiliate and click that link again. I have never used honey. But it’s good to know that merchants are favoring honey taking the link over without disclosing to the buyer this information. Merchants can also take accountability here making their affiliates aware and customers too what honey does. I don’t think it’s wrong per se, just not upfront and ends up being a kind of stealing, yes, without stealing.
@@jorykevinberger7047As a merchant myself I can tell you I was not aware that Honey was doing this. Because as a merchant that seldom has coupons… Honey was getting affiliate sales for a customer already on my site and checking out when Honey would pop up and ask “Want to look for coupons” and the customer of course would be like “Sure!” Or even if they were like •Nah…” the moment they would click the close extension window Honey would sneakily add their affiliate code in a new tab it would quickly open and then close. In other words, taking credit for an affiliate sale they didn’t really have anything to do with. So it’s not just creators this is hurting… it’s merchants also. We terminated Honey’s affiliate account when we learned this was happening.
Thanks for taking the time to give us a heads-up, dude! Congratulations on the new place. Miss your face on URM stuff 🤘
Thanks for making this video!!! I am getting more and more disheartened by the increasing disgustingness of "the man", including even spotify
Had no idea! Uninstalled honey just now thanks to your video. Any tips on coupon hunting?
When you remove the plugin, make sure to report it as a scam. Firefox, Apple, Google should all block these things.
Just heard about it a few days ago hopefully we finally unite and do something about these companies cheers maestro thanks for the share
We all need a Luigi Mangione to deal with these companies scamming people all the time.
Just my 2 cents….
I guess I’m not clear on what “coupons” means in this context. Is it like real, paper coupons, but in digital format? Or is it something only content creators get after someone clicks on an affiliate link? Or is it something like cookies stored on your computer?
I’ve never heard of coupons in the internet universe, so I’m not sure where the scam is.
Things like this and subscription based products makes everything seem like a scam..
For clarity: So if I click your affiliate link then somehow honey pops up when I do that and takes over? I’ve never had honey pop up randomly for me. Or does one have to have a honey app installed? In which case, if the customer is dumb enough to click on honey after they first clicked on the affiliate, then it makes sense honey takes the credit. Is the honey app working off the backs of affiliates? As in, they know when a link is an affiliate and they’re there to take over?
I’m not quite clear from your video how it all comes to pass. When I have looked up coupons in the past, most of the time they’re old or aren’t cheaper than the present deal. And if I have to click to see code, I just leave anyhow.
Essentially if you interact witht he Honey plugin at all while visiting a store you got to via an affiliate link... Honey replaces the affiliate code. So if the Honey extension pops up and says "Sorry no coupons found" and you click the close button to close the extension notification... Honey gets the affiliate sale. Essentially any interaction with the Honey extension while visiting a site inserts their affiliate code. Stealing from the actual affiliate that led you to the store. On the flip side if you browse a web site on your own without getting to it via an affiliate... and interact with the Honey extension... no matter if a coupon code is found or not... they insert their affiliate code when there wasn't even one to begin with. This time essentiall stealing from the merchant. Because you didn't go to their site via an affiliate link to begin with so why is Honey getting money? They shouldn't be. But they've tricked everyone to install their browser extension promoting coupon codes that many times don't even exist.
@ right so they’re disguising as coupon codes which will be the last research one does, and is always sure it uses their affiliate. If the merchant has a deal with them, and the user is looking for a deeper sale than the affiliate, then while shady, it’s more shady that the company people are buying from and honey don’t seem obligated to mention being an affiliate, where as affiliates do. It’s also on the user to not look for coupons beyond the affiliate, but they should be made aware. If I “want” to use an affiliate link. I make sure I go back to affiliate link as my last process in my purchase chain. I would assume cookies and any site between would take the baton. Same as if I click one affiliate and then I see another creator and click on their link without thinking. Now, goes to that creator not the first one, correct?
So, if I did look for coupons which is seldom, I’d get the code and go back to the affiliate and click that link again.
I have never used honey. But it’s good to know that merchants are favoring honey taking the link over without disclosing to the buyer this information. Merchants can also take accountability here making their affiliates aware and customers too what honey does. I don’t think it’s wrong per se, just not upfront and ends up being a kind of stealing, yes, without stealing.
@@jorykevinberger7047As a merchant myself I can tell you I was not aware that Honey was doing this. Because as a merchant that seldom has coupons… Honey was getting affiliate sales for a customer already on my site and checking out when Honey would pop up and ask “Want to look for coupons” and the customer of course would be like “Sure!” Or even if they were like •Nah…” the moment they would click the close extension window Honey would sneakily add their affiliate code in a new tab it would quickly open and then close. In other words, taking credit for an affiliate sale they didn’t really have anything to do with. So it’s not just creators this is hurting… it’s merchants also. We terminated Honey’s affiliate account when we learned this was happening.