The New York Times Company Launches Digital Subscriptions for Wirecutter | Hacker News Reader

The New York Times Company Launches Digital Subscriptions for Wirecutter

nytco.com

8 pointshaunter6 comments

The Wirecutter has used affiliate links, which makes me think twice about their reviews. If xyzcorp's widget is the best out there, but not available to be monetized via an affiliate link, would they include it in their review? If this gives them the freedom to evenly consider ALL options, then I'd consider a subscription.

Still, I don't know of anyplace else to get unbiased reviews (other than Consumer Reports, but I feel like they're out-of-touch with technology) without resorting to a Reddit thread or similar.

I've generally been really impressed with the quality of Wirecutter reviews, so charging for that content doesn't seem particularly unreasonable.

The big question is: will this be enough to push anyone to get a NYTimes subscription who was on the fence previously?

This has to be the larger play. I don’t think the Wirecutter is going to push anyone over the edge, but it rounds out the value of their subscription service and probably a first in things to come.

At some point, if they offer a large enough diverse selection of written word media of modest appeal they probably can increase their subscriber count. Probably as good of a strategy at this point as any and they are in a position to do it.

I might fall in that category. The problem is I've been turned off in a big way by stories of unethical practices at the NY Times in preventing people from cancelling subscriptions. Combine that with what people are pointing out about affiliate links, and the whole thing starts to seem suspicious.

Pay to see product reviews which I google only when I'm buying something moderately expensive when there are tons of other websites and youtube videos doing the same thing. No Thanks.

It seems weird to put a paywall in front of a website that makes money from affiliate links.

While they’ll get revenue from the subscriptions, every reader that doesn’t subscribe and stops reading their articles is now lost affiliate revenue.

Is affiliate revenue that low that this trade off is worth it?

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