Sponsored News Content on TechPowerUp

[btarunr]

TechPowerUp endeavors to be an independent and dependable source of fast, concise, and richly detailed reviews and news on PC hardware and gaming. We rely on revenue from web-advertising to stay free and pay our bills. We understand exactly how you feel when you're bombarded with excessive ad frames, autoplaying videos, take-overs, image-overs, and other web-advertising techniques prevalent these days. We promise to spare you such ads. Even when we do wrap-around take-overs, they're done in a static, and non-invasive way so as to never interrupt your reading experience. Over the past few months, we have been toying with sponsored news posts.

The sponsored news post campaigns we've run so far include online retailers selling discounted software and game keys. These software/games are recognizable brands (eg: Windows 10, Office 2016, AAA games, in-game credit, etc.). Some of our readers have raised questions on the business model of these retailers, and our decision to market them. We have tested these sites ourselves, and don't find their merchandise constitutes piracy. We are yet to see convincing evidence to the contrary. With our sponsored news posts' comments sections being hit by the same feedback, we decided to close the comments section of sponsored news posts, which led to feedback threads mushrooming in our forums.

@GlacierNine provided us with a beautiful template on how to approach our readers.

We welcome feedback on our choices of sponsor, and we encourage you to do any of the following:

• If you find that the company we marketed didn't give you what you paid for, let us know so we can publicly shame companies that don't deliver. We really want to know - we are not trying to support scammers
• If you'd rather we didn't do sponsored content, or did less sponsored content, consider supporting the TPU Patreon, which directly funds us and allows us to be more independent, and bring you more content, free of any concern over our relationships with advertisers or manufacturers
• If you have any questions or queries about how we choose our sponsored content, we encourage you to post your comments below. We take all feedback seriously, and we ask that you make your feedback effective by keeping it clean, constructive, sans-rhetoric, and without ad hominem

 

[FreedomEclipse]

• If you find that the company we marketed didn't give you what you paid for, let us know so we can publicly shame companies that don't deliver. We really want to know - we are not trying to support scammers

I think there was one of these cases mentioned in the thread that i started regarding the issue a while ago. Cant remember who it was but a member mentioned that he had bought a key and they either didnt get it or it was invalid.

The main argument wasnt against TPU having sponsored ads but who they were getting to sponsor them like the thing with the grey market key seller. Run sponsorships from anything. it doesnt matter to me if its not tech oriented just so long as it aint seedy or dodgy as f**k. I found those key seller ones pretty seedy hence why i made a thread about it then someone else did the same a few months later.

Hell, get a sponsor from Johnson for their baby lotion or other care products - I dont care. so long as its not dodgy or seedy AF or political

 

[Maban]

I wouldn't ever consider supporting the Patreon if grey market sellers are advertised. TPU needs to take them down first before that's even an option for me. They are shady as a whole. I don't care if one is supposedly more reputable than another. The whole concept has a completely tainted reputation.

I don't mind that TPU has ads. I don't block them because I enjoy this site more than most. I do care when TPU is advertising things with a high likelihood of shady dealings and putting them where a paid ad has no business being. Keep the ads to where ads should be and keep them proper.

 

[eidairaman1]

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/the-latest-offender-cdkoffers-com.253413/

 

[Exeodus]

The "company" lists the same address as the last one (URCDKeys): https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_R...ort_Park_View_Hotel-Inglewood_California.html

While I am no detective, but I have seen CSI while staying at a Holiday Inn Express once, so I can see something is suspicious here. Did no one on the TPU staff bother to look?

Wow.

 

[W1zzard]

.. and now I know why there's SO FEW posts in this thread. Its URL is "/threads/sponsored-content-on-techpowerup.251940/", which causes adblock to block the "post reply" button from working. I've now changed the thread title, to change the URL, and posting magically works

Cant remember who it was but a member mentioned that he had bought a key and they either didnt get it or it was invalid.

There was one dude who said he received a broken office key. After a few emails back and forth without any useful outcome, he sent us the key and we downloaded, installed and registered it just fine, so user error.

Also two people who "didn't get a key" - got it within the next 24 hours. One them used a VPN, so billing address didn't match IP country, which triggered some fraud checks

If you run into issues, please do contact me at w1zzard@techpowerup.com

 

[R-T-B]

I appreciate that you are trying to ensure the keys indeed work. My issues here go deeper than that though, into the fact that they are EULA violations if they are resold vlk or oem keys, and we all know they often are. Out of curiosity, have you ever ran a tool on them to check their release channel?

I'll be frank though: I already reported you. (It's a principles things for me understand, as a software developer). I didn't want to, but I felt it'd help me sleep better at night. Anyways, never got a reply. So the licensee aparantly doesn't care. In that spirit neither do I.

I still think this is a legal can of worms you should never have opened, but I'm not in the business of telling you how to run your org. I'd suggest everyone recognize if Microsoft does not care, then neither should you, really.

 

[Deleted member 67555]

I appreciate that you are trying to ensure the keys indeed work. My issues here go deeper than that though, into the fact that they are EULA violations if they are resold vlk or oem keys, and we all know they often are. Out of curiosity, have you ever ran a tool on them to check their release channel?

I'll be frank though: I already reported you. (It's a principles things for me understand, as a software developer). I didn't want to, but I felt it'd help me sleep better at night. Anyways, never got a reply. So the licensee aparantly doesn't care. In that spirit neither do I.

I still think this is a legal can of worms you should never have opened, but I'm not in the business of telling you how to run your org. I'd suggest everyone recognize if Microsoft does not care, then neither should you, really.

Duh!
Look at it like this....
The people buying these are usually enthusiasts trying to save a buck.
Microsoft wants to make sure their software is as broad as possible and works in as many variations as possible.
The people buying these do just that.
It's a win~win for both sides...Cheap OS...Free Beta testers.

 

[R-T-B]

Duh!

*shrugs* Wasn't obvious to me.

 

[Good3alz]

Thank you again Microsoft for taking care of this issue for me.

I appreciate that you are trying to ensure the keys indeed work. My issues here go deeper than that though, into the fact that they are EULA violations if they are resold vlk or oem keys, and we all know they often are. Out of curiosity, have you ever ran a tool on them to check their release channel?

I'll be frank though: I already reported you. (It's a principles things for me understand, as a software developer).

Agreed!

TechPowerUp ...We rely on revenue from web-advertising to stay free and pay our bills. ...Over the past few months, we have been toying with sponsored news posts.

@GlacierNine provided us with a beautiful template on how to approach our readers.

We welcome feedback on our choices of sponsor, and we encourage you to do any of the following:

• If you find that the company we marketed didn't give you what you paid for, let us know so we can publicly shame companies that don't deliver. We really want to know - we are not trying to support scammers.

OH no! Not the PUBLIC SHAME!! oh...

Like that will get us a refund?!

 

[hat]

I've just submitted an order for 2 Windows 10 keys at urcdkey. Within minutes I was able to view the keys on my account with them. I have yet to actually try to use one, but so far, so good...

 

[Vayra86]

I find it pretty ironic to see a topic deleted just now? or was it moved? about CD keys from Kinguin and a PSA basically warning users about a certain deal.

Confusing. We can only speak of gray market if it concerns TPU sponsored ads?

 

[R-T-B]

Confusing. We can only speak of gray market if it concerns TPU sponsored ads?

The argument seems to be that, yes. Something something we vet them so they don't scam you, i guess.

 

[Solaris17]

I find it pretty ironic to see a topic deleted just now? or was it moved? about CD keys from Kinguin and a PSA basically warning users about a certain deal.

Confusing. We can only speak of gray market if it concerns TPU sponsored ads?

I deleted it. I got an alert that he was posting the thread multiple times.

 

[R-T-B]

I deleted it. I got an alert that he was posting the thread multiple times.

Appreciate the clarification.

 

[Vayra86]

The argument seems to be that, yes. Something something we vet them so they don't scam you, i guess.

Absolutely disgusting...

I deleted it. I got an alert that he was posting the thread multiple times.

So they're all gone, or is there still one left? Because that is usually the operating procedure, a fair warning is given at the very least...

 

[Good3alz]

I find it pretty ironic to see a topic deleted just now? or was it moved? about CD keys from Kinguin and a PSA basically warning users about a certain deal.

Confusing. We can only speak of gray market if it concerns TPU sponsored ads?

I called MS
I did online chat with MS
I filed a BBB complaint to MS.
I gave Microsoft all these links to threads STARTED by mods (btarunr... "Location: Hyderabad, India " ) saying Windows CD keys and Office Keys $10-$12.
I don't think it is right for any website to have sponsors that are not legit.
Why don't you do the same?

Like one said, take a Johnson & Johnson baby lotion sponsorship instead of a rip off overseas software scam company.

Since I lived in Bellevue Washington, I might contact a friend of mine.

 

[Steevo]

We need to keep the backlights on, so advertising is good. Does the site handle users and visitors differently? I only ask as there is a plethora of info here that visitors should be "paying for" by ad revenues if they aren't joining and contributing.

Is there Amazon affiliate links for products? I'm on mobile and the site looks virtually clean of ads with no ad blocker. It's really a marvel compared to other tech sites littered with ads and intrusive junk.

 

[sneekypeet]

Is there Amazon affiliate links for products?

I do believe W1zz has automagically made it so links change so he gets a cut. I know it works with Newegg, not positive on Amazon.

 

[W1zzard]

I do believe W1zz has automagically made it so links change so he gets a cut. I know it works with Newegg, not positive on Amazon.

Actually these days it works with Amazon and not with Newegg

I'm on mobile and the site looks virtually clean of ads with no ad blocker. It's really a marvel compared to other tech sites littered with ads and intrusive junk.

Yeah, why would I want to make you miserable

 

[redeye]

I've just submitted an order for 2 Windows 10 keys at urcdkey. Within two minutes I was able to view the keys on my account with them. I have yet to actually try to use one, but so far, so good...

my experience with at least 10keys bought off of amazon.ca, (under under 12 dollars CAN) is that you should immediately use it
and install it as a clean install. after that your can move the sdd/hdd with windows10 pro on it to the new MB. (the motherboard is the key)

you can not move that license to another Motherboard, although had a asus z390-i strix died on me, bought another one, reinstalled in place of the old one, and the OS did not complain... not sure why it worked, because you can not reuse the key on another MB. (not complaining... in any case, if it did not worki would have hjust bought another key off of amazon... (less than 10 bucks)

IMO would not “save” the keys, (the first key i bought the saler suggested to you install it within 3 days... (i guess because it is oem, and microsoft expects that the oem would be installing the OS immediately)

and IMO use microsoft account. the key is tied to the motherboard, cannot be used to upgrade a home to pro win10. can not moved to another board. great thing that because it is permanently tied to the motherboard, microsoft does not care what account it is tied to (gave two motherboards to my brother, he used his account... no problems)

only warning i got was the standard click though aggrement “if you did not buy it from an authorized resell do not use it” LOL. that was the last one i bought (started thinking i have to many OS, every Motherboard i have not has a win10 license, lol. (at least 10, and i only really use 3...) crazt things you purchase when win10pro license go for 10CAN, now 5 or less.

 

[Steevo]

Actually these days it works with Amazon and not with Newegg


Yeah, why would I want to make you miserable

Thanks boss. You take good care of us.

What are ways us users can help drive revenue?

 

[W1zzard]

What are ways us users can help drive revenue?

Just enjoy the site Before you buy something from Amazon, click one of the Amazon links on TPU, then buy from that tab (any product). Patreon support is always appreciated (yes I know I need to put more love into promoting it, just no time atm)

 

[r9]

Thanks boss. You take good care of us.

What are ways us users can help drive revenue?

Take out one of your kidneys and send it to W1zz.
I'm sure somebody from the sponsored ad clientele will be able to turn it into money. lol

 

[Vayra86]

Just enjoy the site Before you buy something from Amazon, click one of the Amazon links on TPU, then buy from that tab (any product). Patreon support is always appreciated (yes I know I need to put more love into promoting it, just no time atm)

Seriously I love your stance and effort with TPU. I'm sure you're aware of the potential problems with these ads, for as far as they matter to you. I just really, really hope this won't backfire at some point.

You have my support - just wanted to make that clear - despite my concerns with this.