Smugmug Coupon --> Banned from DPReview?

flyingdutchie

It has not happened to me, but i got an e-mail from a smugmugger that said that mentioning your smugmug's coupon in DPReview posts will get you banned.

Is this true?
If so, which of Phil's rules are you braking?

(i'm not yet posting this question on dpreview...:D)
Thanks!

wxwax

As I understand it, he's become somewhat sensitive to the whiff of anyone promoting smugmug on his site.

flyingdutchie

wxwax wrote:

As I understand it, he's become somewhat sensitive to the whiff of anyone promoting smugmug on his site.

But banning people...!?
That's indeed 'sensitive', like a tooth-ache.

Andy

I don't see any mention of this by Phil.

DoctorIt

Sweet, I've never been banned from a site... I'm on my way over there!!

dragon300zx

DoctorIt wrote:

Sweet, I've never been banned from a site... I'm on my way over there!!

Me Too.

Andy

I'd actually ask please, that you not provoke the ire of Phil. He has his rules and ways.

There are 25 threads a week over there discussing photo hosting. Lots of happy Smuggers talk about the service, and then post their code to save someone $5. Some other folks object to this. They complain to Phil. If he gets enough complaints, he takes action.

Anyhow, please don't promote shamelessly.

flyingdutchie

Andy wrote:

I'd actually ask please, that you not provoke the ire of Phil. He has his rules and ways.

There are 25 threads a week over there discussing photo hosting. Lots of happy Smuggers talk about the service, and then post their code to save someone $5. Some other folks object to this. They complain to Phil. If he gets enough complaints, he takes action.

Anyhow, please don't promote shamelessly.

It's just that i got an e-mail of a fellow smugmugger that Phil was banning people who had no more than a link with a referral code (e.g http://www.smugmug.com/?referrer=r8ldSd3xm3edE) in their signature, and no more than that. Here is an excerpt of that e-mail (note that Tartarfan did not write the e-mail):

a smugmugger wrote:

I am writing you to let you know that Phil Askey is on the hunt for people in his forum that are using the Smugmug 5.00 coupon in their address and banning them from the forum. I removed mine and now it is only on my website at Smugmug. Tartarfan was banned, but was able to beg his way back on after removing the coupon from his signature

... beg his way back ...

So, before i'd ask on DPReview itself, i'd ask here and see if this was really going on.

Bob Bell

Phil cracks me up. I bet that site starts 80% of the camera rumors out there and he cracks down on 5 dollar coupons for his readers.

Just my opinion but down stir them up over there and have them join Dgrin, I like it around here the way it is, everyone is very nice.

dragon300zx

Andy wrote:

I'd actually ask please, that you not provoke the ire of Phil. He has his rules and ways.

There are 25 threads a week over there discussing photo hosting. Lots of happy Smuggers talk about the service, and then post their code to save someone $5. Some other folks object to this. They complain to Phil. If he gets enough complaints, he takes action.

Anyhow, please don't promote shamelessly.

There goes my fun.

David_S85

Promo codes and DPR
All mentions of promotional codes are banned at DPR. Phil has mentioned that on numerous occasions. The bannings stemmed from the avalanche of Gmail promo code posts that overran the place a year ago or more now. And yes, he will ban anyone at anytime for that or any other silly reason. Believe me, I know from what I speak of. Don't test Phil.

flyingdutchie

David_S85 wrote:

All mentions of promotional codes are banned at DPR. Phil has mentioned that on numerous occasions. The bannings stemmed from the avalanche of Gmail promo code posts that overran the place a year ago or more now. And yes, he will ban anyone at anytime for that or any other silly reason. Believe me, I know from what I speak of. Don't test Phil.

I understand that. But those were posts for just that reason; to share gmail accounts. These posts had nothing to do with photography, lenses, etc.

But he won't tolerate even a link inside a signature in a normal to-the-point post?
Ah well, then i'll remove my promo-code and the link to smugmug... sorry smugmug

DoctorIt

dragon300zx wrote:

There goes my fun.

Yeah. Harumph.

Ric Grupe

Andy wrote:

I'd actually ask please, that you not provoke the ire of Phil. He has his rules and ways.

There are 25 threads a week over there discussing photo hosting. Lots of happy Smuggers talk about the service, and then post their code to save someone $5. Some other folks object to this. They complain to Phil. If he gets enough complaints, he takes action.

Anyhow, please don't promote shamelessly.

Way to take the "high road", Andy.

IMO dpreview is a valuable resource for photography on the web. Particularly if you want an honest opinion on a piece of gear.

However, not one of the forums over there holds a candle to dgrin.

Awais Yaqub

Well i had a smugmug promoting signature he never banned me for that
but some other reasons :

snapapple

I wouldn't worry about it. You don't need a coupon in your sig anyway. Yu can put it on your site.

The way I found Smugmug was by reading a post by Andy on that site. I thought he seemed like an interesting guy and clicked on his site address. I was taken to his Smugmug site. I was impressed enough to join Smugmug. I paid full price. He didn't even have a mention of the coupon on his site. I thought the price was fair for what I was getting. I have since received my little bonus for having someone use my coupon to join. So it all works out.
There is no need to take those unnecessary risks. Just be cool, play by the rules and remember, "what goes around comes around".

wxwax

snapapple wrote:

remember, "what goes around comes around".

That's what worries me. :uhoh