There’s an interesting debate going on between Jeremy at Shoemoney.com and Rand over at SEOmoz.org about disclosure. It started with this post by Jeremy, where he says “When I read an affiliate marketers blog and I see links to anything I assume they get paid for it… So basically my disclosure policy is you should assume I am getting paid for or will get paid for anything I ever mention.”
Rand takes issue with this approach here: . His feeling is “It seems like after this post, it would be very hard for me to take Jeremy’s advice about any product, service or website seriously.”
The comments on both posts are well worth reading.
My feeling is this: I’ve often bought stuff on someone’s recommendation, in the full knowledge that they stand to benefit from my purchase. It may be a new vacuum cleaner, where the salesperson is getting an undisclosed kickback from the manufacturer; it may be an e-book where the person recommending it gets an affiliate commission. It’s the way the world works. It’s my decision whether to trust the recommendation or not, based on past experience.
Seems like a debate between pragmatists and idealists to me. Both sides make good points. The Romans had a term for it – “Caveat Emptor” – let the buyer beware.
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