Comments on: Dealing with Dodgy Merchants & Affliate Networks http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/ Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:43:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Abraham http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-94721 Abraham Fri, 23 Jan 2009 06:25:29 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-94721 you are wrong Frank. lot of people want to use this way. but just some of them are making money :) you are wrong Frank. lot of people want to use this way. but just some of them are making money :)

]]> By: Paul http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-92459 Paul Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:27:49 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-92459 You are incredibly accurate in your description. As it happens, I have just had an unpleasant experience myself. Since you said not to mention any names, just follow my name and read about my personal experience. You are incredibly accurate in your description. As it happens, I have just had an unpleasant experience myself. Since you said not to mention any names, just follow my name and read about my personal experience.

]]> By: Frank http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-92255 Frank Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:23:39 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-92255 Lots of people have to make money the dodgy way. Lots of people have to make money the dodgy way.

]]> By: Jay | Wealthy Affiliate Insider http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-91011 Jay | Wealthy Affiliate Insider Sun, 07 Sep 2008 07:10:14 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-91011 Viatalk, a big voip company which most people would know about, has an affiliate program through CJ.com but they also have an independently managed one. I didn't know that they were on CJ and used the latter. These people are absolutely nasty. I sent them a bunch of sales in Aug 2007 and a bunch of emails requesting payment like 6 months after since I wasn't getting paid. Right now I pretty much am forgetting about it but I did some research and found that they've been ripping off affiliates for a while and still doing it. Viatalk, a big voip company which most people would know about, has an affiliate program through CJ.com but they also have an independently managed one. I didn’t know that they were on CJ and used the latter.

These people are absolutely nasty. I sent them a bunch of sales in Aug 2007 and a bunch of emails requesting payment like 6 months after since I wasn’t getting paid. Right now I pretty much am forgetting about it but I did some research and found that they’ve been ripping off affiliates for a while and still doing it.

]]> By: Luis http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-88673 Luis Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:03:53 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-88673 Certainly better than Clixgalore, my experience with CJ has been great, however, stay away from www.clixgalore.com as they are completely incompetent! Their customer service is a disgrace, and they robed over $2,000 from one of my partners! Beware. Their service is horrible and they will rob you blind!!! Certainly better than Clixgalore, my experience with CJ has been great, however, stay away from http://www.clixgalore.com as they are completely incompetent! Their customer service is a disgrace, and they robed over $2,000 from one of my partners! Beware. Their service is horrible and they will rob you blind!!!

]]> By: Matt http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-88541 Matt Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:06:32 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-88541 @ Jon, I could see the alexa search bit if I was just tracking pageviews, but doesn't adwords and YSM conversion codes only fire if someone went through an adwords ad first? @ Jon,

I could see the alexa search bit if I was just tracking pageviews, but doesn’t adwords and YSM conversion codes only fire if someone went through an adwords ad first?

]]> By: Steve http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-88496 Steve Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:04:15 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-88496 Great post! A long while ago, I learned the hard way not to mess with the 1-man shows. I recall working several weeks on organic SEO, blogging, establishing backlinks to my parasite blogs etc. and out of nowhere, the merchant got upset because I was out ranking him and making all the sales. So he shut down the affiliate program. Affiliates beware. All around great post. I enjoy your blog a lot! Great post! A long while ago, I learned the hard way not to mess with the 1-man shows. I recall working several weeks on organic SEO, blogging, establishing backlinks to my parasite blogs etc. and out of nowhere, the merchant got upset because I was out ranking him and making all the sales.

So he shut down the affiliate program. Affiliates beware.

All around great post. I enjoy your blog a lot!

]]> By: thediscounthunter http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-85848 thediscounthunter Wed, 28 May 2008 14:28:20 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-85848 Thanks for the post - love this blog always loads of very useful info on here. I have had trouble with some networks in the past and hate what they do to people - after all they are supposed to be helping affiliates! Thanks for the post – love this blog always loads of very useful info on here. I have had trouble with some networks in the past and hate what they do to people – after all they are supposed to be helping affiliates!

]]> By: One Step To Fitness http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-84942 One Step To Fitness Fri, 23 May 2008 12:12:30 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-84942 Dodgy Merchants can also create some sort of a psychological problems if we don't pay heed to their issue.Yes, a proper follow up is the need of the hour to prevent any sort of troubles. Dodgy Merchants can also create some sort of a psychological problems if we don’t pay heed to their issue.Yes, a proper follow up is the need of the hour to prevent any sort of troubles.

]]> By: gm http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-83407 gm Wed, 14 May 2008 17:00:32 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-83407 Hey thanks for the info. New to the game so this helps. I had a ppc campaign running for few weeks got a decent amount of clicks but zilch conversions. Surely at least 1 person bought something but not not a penny earned. Wonder if there is a way to test short of me buying a product through my aff link(s)? I have since stopped wasting my money on the campaign until I can figure out if it's just not converting or something fishy going on....Any suggestions? Hey thanks for the info. New to the game so this helps. I had a ppc campaign running for few weeks got a decent amount of clicks but zilch conversions. Surely at least 1 person bought something but not not a penny earned. Wonder if there is a way to test short of me buying a product through my aff link(s)? I have since stopped wasting my money on the campaign until I can figure out if it’s just not converting or something fishy going on….Any suggestions?

]]> By: Gab http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-83343 Gab Wed, 14 May 2008 05:11:50 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-83343 This Zach guy is a dick spammer. @ Stu: I've had that happen to me where the ads come outa nowhere. I was a newb at Azoogle back then (the AM is now with CX Digital; I have a different AM at CX, though, Nate, who IS a cool dude ) . This Zach guy is a dick spammer.

@ Stu: I’ve had that happen to me where the ads come outa nowhere. I was a newb at Azoogle back then (the AM is now with CX Digital; I have a different AM at CX, though, Nate, who IS a cool dude ) .

]]> By: zach http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-83329 zach Tue, 13 May 2008 21:50:24 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-83329 Hi, i really like your site layout. I will continue reading here, so i subscribed! Maybe you could check out my site, and even subscribe if you like. Thanks, Zach. Hi, i really like your site layout. I will continue reading here, so i subscribed! Maybe you could check out my site, and even subscribe if you like. Thanks, Zach.

]]> By: Naghty Neo http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-83015 Naghty Neo Sat, 10 May 2008 05:54:09 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-83015 As an adult webmaster, I agree with you on scrubbing and branding problem. The big sponsors do not engage in lot of scrubbing. But branding is a big issue. This is becoming more and more in general and reality type pay sites where the sponsors is selling their brand name more than the membership. They know once the name of the site is pushed into the minds of surfers, they will come back and buy for which the sponsors don't have to pay to affiliates. Having said that, I must agree that adult sponsors are much better than those Ebook merchants who will pop-up an email collection box with free stuff offer. We spend money on adwords, do pre-selling and carry them to the merchants site. Baaam... the email collection box pops-up. The surfer enters his email and join his news letter. We lost the sale and the merchant sell the product, upsell again again to make money. Damn... As an adult webmaster, I agree with you on scrubbing and branding problem. The big sponsors do not engage in lot of scrubbing. But branding is a big issue.
This is becoming more and more in general and reality type pay sites where the sponsors is selling their brand name more than the membership. They know once the name of the site is pushed into the minds of surfers, they will come back and buy for which the sponsors don’t have to pay to affiliates.

Having said that, I must agree that adult sponsors are much better than those Ebook merchants who will pop-up an email collection box with free stuff offer. We spend money on adwords, do pre-selling and carry them to the merchants site. Baaam… the email collection box pops-up. The surfer enters his email and join his news letter. We lost the sale and the merchant sell the product, upsell again again to make money. Damn…

]]> By: QuadsZilla http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81986 QuadsZilla Tue, 06 May 2008 02:52:17 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81986 What you call "Scrubbing" is correctly called "Shaving". Scrubbing has to do with a pre-approval process designed to lower the likelyhood of accepting a fraudulently credit card. What you call “Scrubbing” is correctly called “Shaving”. Scrubbing has to do with a pre-approval process designed to lower the likelyhood of accepting a fraudulently credit card.

]]> By: Evan http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81931 Evan Mon, 05 May 2008 23:46:02 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81931 Great post...affiliate can lose orders unless they are vigilant to followup with affiliate managers... Great post…affiliate can lose orders unless they are vigilant to followup with affiliate managers…

]]> By: Jon http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81914 Jon Mon, 05 May 2008 23:00:16 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81914 "Bidding on their own Brand with an Affiliate Tracking ID" ... how do you tell if it's a merchant using a tracking ID or just another affiliate? @Matt & finspin...I had the same thing, then one day after putting a statscounter code on the landing page, I noticed that people were arriving via an alexa search for something like "thanks for the order" They were trying to find a backdoor into digital download pages. Looks like alexa will index pages even if they have "no index" tags, or if they are only available through an order redirect. More here: <a href="http://www.artofmoney.org/alexa-search-offers-online-crooks-a-helping-hand/" rel="nofollow">Alexa Search Offers Online Crooks a Helping Hand</a> “Bidding on their own Brand with an Affiliate Tracking ID”
… how do you tell if it’s a merchant using a tracking ID or just another affiliate?

@Matt & finspin…I had the same thing, then one day after putting a statscounter code on the landing page, I noticed that people were arriving via an alexa search for something like “thanks for the order”

They were trying to find a backdoor into digital download pages. Looks like alexa will index pages even if they have “no index” tags, or if they are only available through an order redirect.

More here: Alexa Search Offers Online Crooks a Helping Hand

]]> By: Nick http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81779 Nick Mon, 05 May 2008 18:29:45 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81779 Hey Stu, Nice post as usual. "Meta Redirects or Javascript redirects normally do this pretty well (remember that some people do turn Javascript off). When I want to keep stuff really hidden I’ll use double redirects to prevent the AM from back tracing the redirect or seeing the real redirect as a referrer." Could you please explain how to do this? How would you hide the referring page? Thanks, Nick Hey Stu,

Nice post as usual.

“Meta Redirects or Javascript redirects normally do this pretty well (remember that some people do turn Javascript off). When I want to keep stuff really hidden I’ll use double redirects to prevent the AM from back tracing the redirect or seeing the real redirect as a referrer.”

Could you please explain how to do this? How would you hide the referring page?

Thanks,

Nick

]]> By: finspin http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81684 finspin Mon, 05 May 2008 15:51:08 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81684 [1] Matt, I have the same problem. Numbers in my AdWords/Yahoo conversion tracking stats are higher than in my aff network stats. The difference is not that big but still I was wondering if there is some logical explanation for that or are they just ripping me off. Thanks for this informative article. [1] Matt, I have the same problem. Numbers in my AdWords/Yahoo conversion tracking stats are higher than in my aff network stats. The difference is not that big but still I was wondering if there is some logical explanation for that or are they just ripping me off.

Thanks for this informative article.

]]> By: Vanya http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81650 Vanya Mon, 05 May 2008 15:04:32 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81650 God knows how much I've lost!!! Thanks for the tips! God knows how much I’ve lost!!! Thanks for the tips!

]]> By: Affiliate17 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81556 Affiliate17 Mon, 05 May 2008 12:31:39 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81556 Very useful information, we should definitely exchange ideas sometime Very useful information, we should definitely exchange ideas sometime

]]> By: Matt http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/comment-page-1/#comment-81525 Matt Mon, 05 May 2008 11:39:09 +0000 http://www.earnersblog.com/dealing-with-dodgy-merchants-affliate-networks/#comment-81525 I have a merchant where I have an adwords pixel on the thank you page and it's a ecommerce transaction. I noticed there are more conversions being reported than what is showing up in my network report. For example, yesterday I had 2 transactions showing in my network, but 3 conversions in my adwords report... and each of those 3 were for a separate keyword so something seems awry. Are there some logical reasons for this difference? I have a merchant where I have an adwords pixel on the thank you page and it’s a ecommerce transaction. I noticed there are more conversions being reported than what is showing up in my network report. For example, yesterday I had 2 transactions showing in my network, but 3 conversions in my adwords report… and each of those 3 were for a separate keyword so something seems awry. Are there some logical reasons for this difference?

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