SpyDeals

Publication Rules

We want to share as many real, useful deals as possible while also protecting the community from spam, deception, and fraud. That’s why we work with guidelines instead of a long list of strict rules. Not every deal fits a single mold, so we leave room for common sense.

Our Support/Moderation team makes many decisions every day. Sometimes that remains partly subjective. With these guidelines, we make clear what we’re aiming for, so you can call us out if you think we’re deviating from them.

1) We post deals that clearly have value

The baseline is: a deal must help the community. Usually that means a good price, but value can also be found in:

  • good delivery options (free/cheap, fast, pickup options)
  • good terms (returns, warranty, consumer rights)
  • good availability (enough stock for a popular product)
  • scarcity / hard to get (only for products we allow)
  • limited target group (e.g., students, new customers, 1x per account)

The more complete your submission, the higher the chance it stays up. If information is missing, we may ask you to add it or we’ll adjust it.

Reposting:

  • sharing the same deal or discount code again is allowed after 2 calendar months since the last submission
  • if a deal is marked as “no longer available,” it may be posted again after 72 hours (if it’s back)

2) We allow many stores, but we check reliability

We try to screen webshops and sellers based on basic data and public signals (including company info, contact details, reviews, return terms). We don’t look at whether we personally earn anything from it: safety and quality come first.

Some categories are extra risky (e.g., counterfeits or unsafe electronics). We’re stricter there.

Direct webshops (own site)

Factors we consider:

  • clear contact information (incl. address)
  • shipping and return terms that are correct and easy to find
  • enough positive experiences online
  • traceable company information and history
  • fits SpyDeals (value and reliability)

Marketplace sellers

For marketplaces we use minimum requirements based on activity and feedback:

  • bol.com: business seller, active at least 12 months, at least 30 recent reviews, average score 8+
  • Amazon and similar platforms: business seller, active at least 12 months, at least 70 reviews, 95%+ positive
    • for Amazon.nl: at least 15 reviews
  • AliExpress: active at least 1 year, 300+ feedback, 95%+ score
  • Alibaba: 300+ reviews, 4/5+ seller rating and “verified”

Exceptions may apply for sellers previously approved by us.

3) No self-promotion or deals purely for personal gain

We don’t want to become a platform for people who mainly post to earn money themselves. That’s why, in principle, we don’t allow self-promotion, affiliate spam, or conflicts of interest.

Did you, as a consumer or employee, happen to find an extremely good deal and genuinely share it with the community? That’s allowed. We may still ask for extra context or proof.

Not sure whether your deal is allowed? Email first: [email protected]

Companies with an offer for the community can get in touch for evaluation through our partnership process.

4) Megathreads are allowed, as long as it stays clear

Megathreads (multiple stores in one topic) are allowed if they truly help and aren’t mainly about “throwing everything into one pile.”

Conditions:

  • one clear topic (e.g., “sneaker sale overview” or “supermarket deals”)
  • each individual deal in the thread meets the rules
  • not intended to “claim” deals or block the feed

Practical:

  • we place the thread in the most appropriate category
  • the “Go to deal” link points to the first product mentioned or a relevant landing page
  • if deals sell out they may be struck through; the thread can expire if everything is gone
  • items from a megathread may also be posted separately, as long as they’re not in the megathread title
  • maximum 10 stores per megathread

5) Permanent deals: only if it’s really worth it

Some offers run continuously. We don’t want them all over the site, except when they’re genuinely valuable for many people.

Allowed (examples)

  • free entry where payment is normally required (museum/location)
  • strong trial subscriptions with a low entry price
  • sharing member benefits (e.g., cinema or pickup codes)
  • relevant additions within gaming subscriptions

Not allowed (examples)

  • “new additions” to video or audio streaming as a standard content update
  • apps/books that are always free
  • sharing subscriptions (e.g., sharing Prime with others)
  • products at normal price that otherwise don’t meet the deal rules

6) Discussion is welcome, but respect comes first

Comments often make a deal better: price checks, experiences, warnings, alternatives, etc. Off-topic is sometimes fine, as long as it doesn’t ruin the vibe.

We remove:

  • personal attacks, insults, intimidation
  • deception, scam links, spam

We try to leave as much up as possible, but we intervene quickly when the code of conduct is violated.