Make sure you’ve read the first part before you read this. If you’ve already read the first part, I received a reply from SwagBucks!

Here is their reply: 02/21/2009

Hi Joshua

First and foremost I want to thank you for making such a great post on your blog last night. We welcome this type of discussion and happy that you are bringing a community concern up to the surface. This is not something that we have been avoiding and were planning on announcing (publicly, not hidden in our T&C or FAQ) our policy decisions late in this coming week. It is something we have been thinking about quite extensively and you laid out both sides of the situation very well.

You are absolutely correct that these Swag Codes do amount to us giving out free money, but you are not 100% correct in the assumption this is bringing our referrals (after all the codes are really only preaching to the converted), and thus alone not responsible for our growth. Additionally, one important aspect of the codes (for us), that was not mentioned – and partially discounted on your blog, is the fact they were designed as a tool for user engagement on our blog, facebook and twitter. Its meant to be a reward for those users and this is why the codes stem from these channels.

In regards to past policy and your reference of our post on the Swag Codes blog as an indication in a shift in policy, I don’t quite see this. We most certainly applaud the Swag Codes blog, they are great supporters and what we love is that they do not share the code, but instead direct folks to the right places to find the code. This is sharing codes in a positive manner and we are cool with that and this idea will be taken into account when we shape the final policy.

Most of us at Prodege came from the music industry where we saw first hand file sharing destroy it, and the RIAA make futile attempts to go after music lovers. We are not about this. We are not naive enough to think that codes are sacred and they won’t get out. They most certainly will. However, that should not stop us from cultivating special relationships with key members / blogs like yours, the Swag Codes blog, and others that want to share the codes, but would be willing to do it in a way that furthers both our mutual goals (us to continue to grow and engage, you guys to continue to earn). Only when these goals are aligned will we succeed together. On top of that, it is important for us to have members understand that codes are NOT the best way to earn Swag Bucks (even if they are the easiest), and that they should not be taken for granted (we have members enraged if 24-48hrs goes by with out a code / and crying if they miss a few).

In regards to members who have been banned, we are not surfing the web finding codes and deactivating users. Again, we are not about this and we really do value every user on the site. For these people we come across who are openly sharing the code, we have emailed them and started a constructive dialogue, and many have become friends (and many we now run special Swag Codes offers with). Others have given us the middle finger (overtly or otherwise), and surprisingly or not, many of these people were trying to abuse us and the system in ways which was unacceptable (most beyond posting swag codes / telling us to go F*ck ourselves). We do not deactivate users randomly, and in the case of Swag Codes being posted, it has never been a case where a user wakes up and finds himself deactivated.. In these cases dialogue is always first course of action and we honestly don’t like the idea of having a policy of deactivating users for doing something we politely ask they don’t do.

In regards to this statement:

I’ve heard that when SwagBucks support gets tired of replying to a ticket they just stop.

This is completely not true, we have never just stopped answering users with questions. Unknowingly forgot to respond (possibly), dropping it because we were sick of responding – never.

I hope this addresses some questions, and I again applaud the blog post.

Thank you.

Hey,Thanks so much for visiting my blog and replying! Let me start by saying that where you quoted me about you guys not replying, I stated that it was something I had heard but I should have made that (just something I had heard) more clear. I didn’t mean any offense, and I’m glad to see that it isn’t true (as I’m sure others are!).

Here, you say: “You are absolutely correct that these Swag Codes do amount to us giving out free money, but you are not 100% correct in the assumption this is bringing our referrals (after all the codes are really only preaching to the converted), and thus alone not responsible for our growth.”

When I state that these bring in referrals, I realize that we (SwagBucks users) do get free stuff out of these codes, but it is more than that. When they first came out, I was happy to be able to tell people that if they join SwagBucks I can give them a code to start with (on top of the 3 SwagBucks you already give for signing up). I no longer do this, but it was a great way to get referrals. Even now, I’ve talked to a few people interested in joining SwagBucks but they want to wait until a code is released. I also don’t recall saying that the codes alone are responsible for your growth.

“Additionally, one important aspect of the codes (for us), that was not mentioned – and partially discounted on your blog, is the fact they were designed as a tool for user engagement on our blog, facebook and twitter.  Its meant to be a reward for those users and this is why the codes stem from these channels.”

It is a great idea! Obviously it is working well — I remember the night you released a code after getting 1,000 Twitter followers; I stayed up late just to get the code and see what happened.

A lot of people use the same tools to get referrals using the codes, which goes back to the point above.

“In regards to past policy and your reference of our post on the Swag Codes blog as an indication in a shift in policy, I don’t quite see this.  We most certainly applaud the Swag Codes blog, they are great supporters and what we love is that they do not share the code, but instead direct folks to the right places to find the code.   This is sharing codes in a positive manner and we are cool with that and this idea will be taken into account when we shape the final policy.”

On this I feel that you’re seeing it backwards to the way that I’m seeing it. From the very first code up until now, the codes have been available on the Swag Codes blog (with the exception of special codes that he doesn’t release). At first you showed no obvious issues with releasing the codes directly, which was the point of linking your comment on the Swag Codes blog. Now you do show issues with it, but I’ve spoken with him and I know that you haven’t contacted him to request that he stop posting all codes or to only post hints. He does make sure that special codes don’t get released or even posted in the comments. However, as of recently “they” includes myself and some others that have been brought in to help with the blog posts over there. If you would like to speak with Dan about the code posting I’m sure he’d be more than happy to discuss it with you.

For the rest of your message: wow. Some of the reactions you’ve received amaze me. The codes definitely aren’t the best way to get swagbucks, but they sure are a nice bonus. ;-)

Thanks again for the reply guys. I’ll post these updates to my blog to follow up on the last post. I’m looking forward to your public update on the policy decisions.

Feel free to release one of those special blog codes for my blog readers anytime. ;-)

With respect,
- Joshua

Update 03/02/2009: Read Part 3.

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Tags: « Policy • SwagBucks • SwagCodes »
by N.G. Woosh