When Huawei earbuds hit €169, shoppers expected mydealz, Germany’s self-proclaimed consumer champion, to sound the alarm. Instead, the platform allegedly buried mentions of superior Sony and Sennheiser alternatives. Why? Because mydealz earns fatter commissions from brands like Anker that play ball with their revenue model. This isn’t a glitch in the system, it’s the system working exactly as designed.
The Business Model Behind the “Friend” Mask
Let’s be blunt: mydealz is not your shopping buddy. It’s a GmbH (limited liability company) with payroll, overhead, and profit targets. The platform’s core business isn’t saving you money, it’s converting your clicks into cash. Every “hot” deal, every upvoted comment, every flashy banner serves one purpose: driving affiliate conversions.
The German portal operates on a simple principle. Retailers pay commissions for sales generated through mydealz links. These commissions range from a few percent to double digits on electronics, with brands like Anker reportedly offering particularly generous terms. The site then gamifies the experience, awarding users profile badges and “Pepper” points for posting deals, creating a community that feels organic but functions as a sophisticated marketing engine.
Many international residents report waiting weeks for banking appointments in major German cities, despite Germany’s reputation for efficiency. Similarly, mydealz users wait for genuine deals while the platform’s algorithm decides which products deserve visibility based on profitability, not value.
The Anker Obsession: Commission Over Value
Spend ten minutes on mydealz and you’ll notice the pattern. Anker Powerbanks. Anker Solarbanks. Anker chargers. Anker earbuds. The brand appears with suspicious frequency, often crowned with “hot” ratings while competitors gather dust in the comment sections.
The numbers tell a story. Anker’s Solarbank 3 Pro sells for €999 through mydealz affiliate links, earning the platform a healthy commission. Meanwhile, the Solakon ONE offers comparable specs, 2.11 kWh capacity, German data servers, IP65 rating, for €599. That’s a €400 difference for a product that, according to user reports, delivers “everything one wants from a balcony power storage system” with an “intuitive app” and “true plug-and-play installation.”
The same pattern emerges in consumer electronics. When GameStar tested USB chargers, they found the Anker Prime 160W for €130. They also noted “far cheaper options” that deliver the same three key benefits without triple-digit pricing. Those alternatives? Ugreen Nexode X at €56 and Verbatim GaN Charger at €46. The mydealz front page features Anker. The others? Buried.
Blocked Brands and Buried Alternatives
Here’s where the platform’s neutrality claims collapse. Multiple users report that mydealz maintains a de facto blacklist of brands that refuse to pay tribute to the affiliate model. Sennheiser, the iconic German audio manufacturer, allegedly found itself blocked after engaging in “Eigenwerbung” (self-promotion), code for posting deals without paying mydealz its cut.
The block list extends beyond premium audio. Chinese platforms like AliExpress face wholesale exclusion, with moderators claiming “quality concerns” while users suspect the real sin: these platforms won’t pay German affiliate commissions. When a €20 flashlight deal appears on AliExpress for €5, mydealz users won’t see it, unless they dig through comments where resourceful community members share what the algorithm hides.
This isn’t about protecting consumers from knockoffs. It’s about protecting revenue streams from competition. The platform that claims to hunt bargains actively suppresses them when they threaten the business model, creating a gap between perceived savings and actual financial reality that would make German tax authorities blush.
The Moderation Game: Paid vs. Organic
mydealz employs moderators, and moderation is necessary. Without it, bots would flood the platform with spam. But moderation power creates monetization opportunity. Users report deals posted by “mydealz Redakteure” (editors) receive artificial heat, pinned to homepages, boosted in algorithms, defended in comment threads.
One user built a browser extension that summarizes comments and flags better alternatives mentioned by the community. That tells you everything: the real value lives in the comments, not the curated deals. Veteran users know to never trust a deal without comments. They understand that “Hot” ratings measure discount percentage, not product quality, a 90% off piece of junk is still junk, but it generates clicks and commissions.
The platform’s defense? Transparency. mydealz does disclose affiliate relationships in mouseprint at the bottom of articles. But disclosure doesn’t equal objectivity. As one observer noted, the site pushes “any junk from retailers like MediaMarkt” where “the ruble rolls in cooperation.” The moderation isn’t about quality, it’s about quarterly revenue.
Real-World Impact: When “Hot” Deals Cost You More
Let’s quantify the damage. A shopper buys Anker’s Solarbank 3 Pro for €999 because it’s “hot” and “recommended.” They miss the Solakon ONE at €599. That’s €400 wasted, enough to buy a WISO Steuer software license that could save them hundreds more on their tax return.
The audio space shows similar math. Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds cost €180 on mydealz. The platform downplays Huawei FreeArc at €75 or Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro at €139, both test well, but neither pays mydealz commissions. That €105 difference could cover a month’s BVG ticket in Berlin.
The platform’s own magazine inadvertently proves the point. When reviewing the Pixel 10a, they disclose: “This article contains partner links. We receive a small commission if you purchase through these links.” The price doesn’t change for consumers, but the product selection does. The editorial team admits they only recommend offers they’ve “carefully checked and compared with current market prices.” Yet somehow, Anker appears constantly while alternatives languish.
How to Protect Yourself
Smart German shoppers have developed survival strategies:
1. Read Comments First, Deals Second
The community often tears apart bad products within minutes. Look for technical details, long-term ownership reports, and alternative suggestions. The best deals emerge from discussion, not promotion.
2. Cross-Check with Independent Sources
Use idealo.de and Geizhals.de for price history. Check Connect.de and GameStar for product testing. The 15 minutes spent verifying saves hundreds in mistakes.
3. Question Brand Prominence
When one brand dominates a platform, follow the money. Anker makes good products, but no brand deserves unconditional trust, especially when hidden financial advantages and biases in personal finance narratives shape what you see.
4. Calculate Total Cost
A €599 Solakon ONE plus €20 shipping beats a €999 Anker with “free” shipping. Factor in capacity per euro, warranty service, and app quality. The best deal isn’t always the one with the biggest percentage discount.
5. Understand the Blocklist
If legitimate brands like Sennheiser disappear while unknown Alibaba rebrand #47 gets promoted, the platform has prioritized commission over consumer welfare.
The Bottom Line
mydealz provides value. The community shares genuine bargains, and the platform exposes overpriced mainstream products. But it’s not a neutral arbiter, it’s a business that optimizes for profit, not your wallet.
The next time you see a “hot” Anker deal, pause. Scroll to comments. Search for Solakon, Ugreen, or the specific product category on independent comparison sites. Ask yourself: is this product hot because it’s good, or because the commission structure rewards promotion?
Germany’s consumer protection laws are strict about labeling affiliate content, but they can’t regulate algorithmic bias. That responsibility falls to you. In a marketplace where lack of transparency in financial products with poor value is already rampant, adding another layer of obscured incentives helps no one, except mydealz’s balance sheet.
The platform won’t change. Your shopping habits can.