Referral fees inferring shilling?

[Lula]

I found this thread to be rather disturbing
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/referral-fee.152481/

On the one hand, businesses have the right to employ a referral fee system (even my accountant and dry cleaner do this!). But, on the other hand, many of us refer new posters to vendors, certain stones, etc. Does Amysbling get the referral fee from BGD? I doubt it (I think the referral fee applies to customers of BGD who refer other customers, but, to be honest, I'm not sure). But regardless of BGD's policies, if the OP in this thread thinks Amysbling works for BGD, what does that say about how newbies perceive this site? That it's a site that says it's consumer driven but is filled with shills? Ugh.

ETA: Apparently BGD told the OP that Amysbling would be eligible for the referral fee! Double ugh.

 

[HopeDream]

This is difficult territory!

I always imagined that the PS discount covered referral bonuses- If you're part of PS chances are you've refered someone to a PS vendor (or will soon) and so you deserve a kickback in the form of a discount.

PS is a pretty small fishpond. I personaly wouldn't go after a referral fee unless I was recommending a vendor to a non-PS friend or family member, but if anyone elso wants to, go nuts. If it becomes well known that anyone collects fees with regularity their impartiality will be called into question.

 

[Lula]

I just reported the post to the admins, so they can deal with it.

 

[iheartscience]

They won't give a stranger on PS a referral fee. WF has the same system, and it's only for people you know in real life. You have to give their full name and email address to get the referral fee.

As far as it being shilling, I don't think so. Even my work out club offers similar incentives.

 

[Lesley Harris]

Hi All,

I want to clarify our referral program. The $50 and $100 referral gifts are only given to existing customers who refer new customers. They are not given to anyone else. If a poster here on Pricescope makes recommendations to another poster who ends up making a purchase here at BGD, unless the original poster is an existing customer, he/she will not be eligible for the referral gift. I hope that clarifies any misunderstandings or misinformation here.

 

[Gypsy]

They won't give a stranger on PS a referral fee. WF has the same system, and it's only for people you know in real life. You have to give their full name and email address to get the referral fee.

As far as it being shilling, I don't think so. Even my work out club offers similar incentives.

What Thing2 said. Honestly, I'm a previous customer of BGD and recommend to them as well as other vendors on here, and in real life. I don't think I've ever even ONCE thought about the referral program of any vendor (and other vendors have them as well) when recommending anything or anyone. And therefore, I can tell you, while I'm certain my words have garned a vendor a sale or two, I've never TRACKED people I've referred who have purchased then gone to the vendor to say "ME, ME, ME I deserve a reward." I'd feel ridiculous if I did. The reason most of us refer vendors we've worked with is because we've had good experiences and just want to make sure other buyers do too.

Also since it isn't posted here. This is the remainder of what Lesley wrote in the original thread linked to above and I thought, since the word shiling (very serious here on PS) is being thrown around it bore repeating in this thread.

Thank you so much Amys Bling for sending greatballsoffire our way. It is a huge compliment that you have trust in our product without having made a purchase of your own.

The question of who gets a referral gift came up here on Pricescope several years ago when Brian and I were still at Whiteflash. On a consumer forum it is natural for posters to become excited about products and companies and to make recommendations based on what they have read and seen, without having necessarily made a purchase at any particular company. The rule was implemented then that referral gifts were not to be given to Pricescope posters who were not existing customers. I know that I speak for all vendors here when I say how grateful we all are for the support and trust you have in so many of us. The fact that you feel comfortable referring perfect strangers to make one of the largest and most important purchases of their lives at one of the vendors who participate here is a testament to what an incredible place Pricescope is.

 

[psadmin]

Hi All,

I want to clarify our referral program. The $50 and $100 referral gifts are only given to existing customers who refer new customers. They are not given to anyone else. If a poster here on Pricescope makes recommendations to another poster who ends up making a purchase here at BGD, unless the original poster is an existing customer, he/she will not be eligible for the referral gift. I hope that clarifies any misunderstandings or misinformation here.

In my view this promote Shilling and is not allowed on Pricescope Forum.

 

[AnneinGA]

Lula,
I think it's important to note that the desire for the referral did not start with Amysbling. Here's the post from the OP that got help.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-with-3-stone-setting.152175/ and Amysbling was talking about settings not diamonds. The fact that the OP liked what he saw doesn't mean that Amysbling was shilling for anyone, in this case BGD.

I think shilling is defined as someone who is only trying to push one vendor for personal gain. Those folks are pretty obvious on here. Most everyone I've seen here suggests options from more than one site based on what the OP is asking for. As a small business owner myself, if business comes my way from a client, I am happy to give them a referral thank you - but they are not pounding the sidewalk telling everyone they know about me and no one else - I don't pay for referrals. Word of mouth is one of the very few rewards for excellent service as a small business owner. If suggestions are done with the intent of helping the OP's and being neutral in suggestions, I don't know how that is wrong.

 

[Lula]

Lula,
I think it's important to note that the desire for the referral did not start with Amysbling. Here's the post from the OP that got help.
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/help-with-3-stone-setting.152175/ and Amysbling was talking about settings not diamonds. The fact that the OP liked what he saw doesn't mean that Amysbling was shilling for anyone, in this case BGD.

I think shilling is defined as someone who is only trying to push one vendor for personal gain. Those folks are pretty obvious on here. Most everyone I've seen here suggests options from more than one site based on what the OP is asking for. As a small business owner myself, if business comes my way from a client, I am happy to give them a referral thank you - but they are not pounding the sidewalk telling everyone they know about me and no one else - I don't pay for referrals. Word of mouth is one of the very few rewards for excellent service as a small business owner. If suggestions are done with the intent of helping the OP's and being neutral in suggestions, I don't know how that is wrong.

The admins have stated their position on this, so I have nothing more to say on the appropriateness of the vendor referral fees.

However, I do want to make it clear that I have no complaint about AmysBling or any comments she made or help she gave to the OP. Rather, my complaint was about the confusion that vendor referral fees may cause in the minds of newbies.

 

[iota15]

PSAdmin - could you clarify what you consider "shilling" in Lesley's post? I've never bought from BGD, but I will send people there from time to time... of course, never with the intent of getting a referral fee or really, any benefit.

Personally, I understand Lula's concern. However, I don't think BGD is wrong to have that policy, and "shilling" is really quite a negative way to describe BGD's understandable small business policy. Plus, how were Brian and Lesley supposed to write their policy - a referral fee is given to all existing customers, except those referred through PS prosumers/consumers, unless those PS prosumers/consumers have a prior personal connection with the new customer.

What I understand Lesley's post to mean is that if an existing BGD customer refers a new customer to BGD, then they get a small referral reward - regardless of whether that new customer obtained that information through a personal connection or through PS. I don't believe any shilling has been going on, and certainly none that has not been called out by other posters. But if this is a perceived problem, I think it is up to PS to implement a mandate of no referral fees for non-personal, PS referrals.

 

[iota15]

To be clear - I think all PS vendors should not be allowed to pay referrals made through PS - whether or not it is from an existing customer, unless that PSer has a personal connection with the new customer.

By the way - I don't think this has been a problem here AT ALL, and this is what effectively happens anyway. (The newbie was very nice to try to acknowledge Amysbling though )


(ETA - I've never bought from BGD in the past, but I have contacted them numerous times to call in stones as well as for a custom jewelry quote. Jamie and the BGD team are top-notch professionals. They don't need "shills".)

 

[psadmin]

I have added my clarification in the following announcement and any further discussions regarding this should be addresses here:

https://www.pricescope.com/forum/an...ement-about-brian-gavin-diamonds-t152723.html