After the previous fiasco and given the tainted history of the group, this should hardly come as a surprise to anyone who knows of it:

Subscription fee poll [link to original]

Hookups Announcement [link to original]

Apparently the revenue he generates 'under the table' from the ~30,000 group members by inserting disguised referral links into all of the Amazon deal links, which he uses to "pay his rent" (previously in his own words), is not enough for his tastes. Making money off of the group members is what it is really about for the owner and always has been -- and without them knowing about it. And because the group owner has control over everything he can censor and delete whatever he wants to cover up the truth of what has happened previously and continues to transpire.

Edit: As a matter of further clarity, a big issue with the previous drama that went on at Hookups was about him not being upfront and honest about where the money is/was going, as well as being unwilling to tell anyone (even his own previous staff members before they all quit) about how much it is/was. He had people doing the work of scouring for deals and putting together announcements for him, and then he would go in later after the fact and edit their posts to put in his own referral links, which they understandably took issue with when they found out. That's just the tip of the iceberg as they say. If you want to know more you can always read up in the link above.

To anyone who may have a friend in the group, I encourage all of you to let your friends know (by posting on their Steam profile wall) of the story behind Hookups and the exploitative practices and hidden agenda of it's owner. Encourage them to leave the group and spread the word in the same way. If we all committed to doing this we could have a collective impact on things!

Edit: I got banned from the group lol. No surprise there. Truthfully, it actually happened shortly before I made this thread, when I simply posted "Agree 100%" as a reply to someone who left a comment in the group regarding the subscription fee poll. So, you see how it is.

11 years ago*

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I think this thread needs a better name.

While bored at worked I did a few simple searches on Google to see how people searching for information would find it.

Hookups drama = the original SG thread
Hookups scam = reddit thread

But unless you search "Hookups money" (which is a bit of a strange thing to search) this thread doesn't really make much of an appearence.

I don't even know if it's possible to change the name of threads, I was just copying and pasting my thoughts. Eitherway, much like the original thread on the Hookups situation, this has been a great way for the original members directly effected by a certain man's choices to really vent and tell our side. Even the people that aren't commenting this time round, I know must appreciate the thread and what it offers to the people unaware.

With Renjility walking (leaving the website practically useless) and with Sammy's support becoming almost non-existent, aside from a few people who wish to jump into the empty moderator positions, if it isn't really making much money now, then he can't be feeling all that much motivation to continue ('cause we all know by now he doesn't run the group out of the goodness of his heart).

11 years ago
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For people looking for an easier way to purchase Renjility deals since he left Hookups or simply don't wish to use SteamTrades, you can now do it here

11 years ago
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And why do that instead of going straight to him cutting out the middle man?

11 years ago
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Ask the people that stuck around in Hookups until the bitter end just to have the exact same service. Besides, we aren't a middle man, they deal with Renjility directly, all we're doing is promoting his service.

11 years ago
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So does that mean you are not getting a cut of sales? Not judging, just asking for a clarification on what you get out of it. Not that it matters so long as the rules of ethics are being followed (as they apply equally to all). That's what this whole thread is about.

I also noticed that Renjility made a few giveaways to promote the group, which is something that never happened with Hookups, so kudos on that.

11 years ago
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And that is exactly what we're getting out of it, AAA games to giveaway. We've only ever been able to fund games of that size to giveaway during large events, Christmas for example (where we had to stock pile the larger games for months in preparation).

We're not claiming Renjility's deals to be exclusive to us, the buyers deal with Renjility directly and we're getting a 0% cut.

11 years ago
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Cool, thanks for the info & the giveaways from you and Renjility.

11 years ago
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That Hoookups guy. Short tempered and lacks common social knowledge judging by his actions. He seems kinda dumb. I feel sorry for him. But why god do reps from SteamGifts butt into all this e-drama nonsense?
You guys all seem to be carving for attention - just like him. The situation is like american reality tv. Jersie Shore or something. A fuckin disgrace and everyone involved kinda disgusts me.

11 years ago
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I think you may be judging hastily without knowing certain facts of the situation. My guess would be probably to investigate his claims that he was being 'harassed' by one or more persons, at which point it appears he never got the memo about not 'shooting the messenger' so to speak. Not the best analogy but you get the gist of it. Anyway, one of the mods would have to answer this though as I cannot speak for them.

11 years ago
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I get where you're coming from but why on earth should someone investigating this? It's not like we're the local Steam Cyber Police For Mobbing Cases, are we? If he's really being bullied (which I think everyone in here strongly doubts) he can report to Steam Community Officials.

I wasn't really clear enough. Information is good. Thank you for your OP. But discussion with poeple like him isn't. We don't have to see both sides of the coin to judge this case.

11 years ago
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Who knows? Maybe he initially approached one of the staff here privately to complain about this thread or demand that it be closed (I could definitely see this). Or perhaps regarding someone who is a Steamgifts user 'harassing' him following what they read (or said) in this thread. Naturally those may be things to which we are not necessarily privy to. Not sure though. If you haven't, it might be worth reading through the conversation between Jade and Sammy on her Steam profile wall as a matter of context.

11 years ago
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I literally don't know how to answer you other than the fact that besides everything you said about Sammy, you're wrong. No one here is craving for attention, they're informing unaware people about the bad practices that go on in and around that group. If you don't like the way in which people express their opinions, then don't post here at all, cause clearly everyone "disgusts" you. The mods also have their reasons for leaving this thread up and expressing their OWN personal opinion. Bobo was kicked for sarcastically congratulating some troll and Jade was kicked for actually TRYING to reach out and help Sammy. And Sammy isn't dumb, he knows exactly what he's doing, if you read his comments in the original drama you'd know that he isn't just blindly making bad decisions, he makes them knowing fully well that he is lying and actually believes everyone else is too thick so see through it. If everyone disgusts you for giving their side of the story or expressing an opinion, I suggest you just get the fuck over it.

11 years ago
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Maybe I wasn't clear enough. I don't have any problems with this thread at all or the information provided within. Thank you for that.

But I do have a problem with people trying to get involved in either actively harassing or pseudo white-knighting a guy who's obviously a scammer and then playing suprised after seeing him being a selfcentered profilactic censoring asshole once again. The case is pretty obvious. We all know it.

And Sammy is in fact dumb for thinking no one sees through his censor sherade. He's not capable of doing anything other than self-pity while thinking he can create sympathy or at least rescue his reputation that way. Actually he's driving members out of his group by keeping the drama alive with useless emotional spam annoucements no one actually cares about. He's part of his own problems in many ways.

That's what I would call pretty dumb, yes.
He'd be far better off ignoring everyone and everything as a whole. By ignoring btw I don't mean actually banning everyone suspicious of raising a comment on that matter, but simply ignoring them in his mind and carry on with his group. A few weeks or months and the tide would simply vanish.

11 years ago
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Well now I can't say I disagree with you at all. Seems we're on the same page after all.

11 years ago
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Well maybe, until perhaps the next time he were to do something foolish that is -- because as you pointed out he does contribute quite a bit to creating drama and problems for himself. I would agree with what you said for the most part.

11 years ago
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Fight the system or you are part of it!

  • Steven Hyde
11 years ago
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its a car. AND IT RUNS ON WATER MAN!

11 years ago
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So................ The group isn't shutting down then?

He just deleted the announcement and pretended like nothing happened.....?

11 years ago
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no, he did that so people would stop bothering him, and look. it worked. So can you guys let this thread die now please?

11 years ago
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he pretended he was closing the group and posted that rumors thing(at least part of which was a blatant easily proven lie) so people would leave him alone? I thought that was what the deleting of those announcements was for....tell me he didn't post more?

11 years ago
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As much as I could remember, most if not all of it was a lie and was proven by evidence given in both SG threads. Sadly for him the majority of people realised that and spoke up. I still don't know what in those announcements was meant to make people stop bothering him. All he did was open himself up as a drama-queen and almost ask for attention.

11 years ago
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Are people even bothering him is the real question

Also after reading what I think most important parts of this thread + the other threads... I wonder how he possibly was not having enough money.. yet having over 1600 games, a level 35 steam profile (indication of investment in his own profile) and a shitton of keys. But hey maybe thats just me that thinks these things a bit odd.

11 years ago
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I think this has run its course.

11 years ago
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Closed 11 years ago by Shad0WeN.