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Affiliate programs - Worst experiences...

by David Snape
20 replies
Hi guys,

Please don't mention any affiliate programs by name or give any way to identify them. (Because WF will probably delete this thread if you do)

I just want people to be aware of the affiliate program pitfalls and problems.

So, please share away
#affiliate #affiliate program #affiliate programs #experiences #programs #ripoffs #scams #worst
  • Profile picture of the author pizzatherapy
    I had earned an amount of money, by a rather large website through an affiliate network. The website then switched affiliate networks. The balance remained in my account after they departed. I requested they settle with me.

    I contacted them a number of times about the affiliate balance owed to me....

    I never heard from them again...I would not do business with them again.

    Be careful of the affiliates you decide to promote...
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  • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
    The way to usually have a good experience with a CPA network is to develop a good relationship with your AM. It won't always work, of course, but it helps.

    Tom
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  • Profile picture of the author tdanz
    If you go for PPS - pay per signup, and your traffic is not converting well enough, they might convert your account into revenue share.
    So better base your calculations on rev share to not lose money.
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    • Profile picture of the author David Snape
      Originally Posted by tdanz View Post

      If you go for PPS - pay per signup, and your traffic is not converting well enough, they might convert your account into revenue share.
      So better base your calculations on rev share to not lose money.
      Wow, what away for THEM to make more profit. good point
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      • Profile picture of the author SunnyDays81
        The worst experience I've had as of late was when I earned commissions promoting a lead program, run by two people named "Mike" and "Glen".

        One day I woke up and all of my I-Payout commissions were gone and they claimed my commissions were credited to someone else.
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        • Profile picture of the author David Snape
          Originally Posted by SunnyDays81 View Post

          The worst experience I've had as of late was when I earned commissions promoting a lead program, run by two people named "Mike" and "Glen".

          One day I woke up and all of my I-Payout commissions were gone and they claimed my commissions were credited to someone else.

          I recently had a similar experience on two rather large commissions. I'm sorry that happened to you. You are not alone in this experience. (I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with "mike" and "glen" and they weren't using IPayout - so similar experience, different program.
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        • Profile picture of the author kindsvater
          Plenty of merchants who have simply stiffed their payments. A few have been upset when the former affiliate website was then changed into a 'do not buy their product site' - but that's the risk you taken when you don't pay an affiliate who has page 1 rankings.

          It was a bad day when Ebay reduced their 7 day cookie to one day.

          The worst experience, though, was being the #1 affiliate for a merchant and having the merchant decide to cancel their affiliate program. OK, it happens. Except the merchant then tried to copy my affiliate site to replace their crap site. They ended up paying to advertise on my site.

          .
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          • Profile picture of the author David Snape
            Originally Posted by kindsvater View Post


            The worst experience, though, was being the #1 affiliate for a merchant and having the merchant decide to cancel their affiliate program. OK, it happens. Except the merchant then tried to copy my affiliate site to replace their crap site. They ended up paying to advertise on my site.

            .
            Sorry to hear of that bad experience! Sorry also to hear that many merchants have stiffed their payments. Unfortunately, I have had enough bad experiences with affiliate programs that it doesn't surprise me!

            On the plus side, it's cool that they ended up advertising on your site. What they did was still wrong though.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom Addams
        Originally Posted by David Snape View Post

        I agree Tom, I have one experience where having that relationship has saved the day (over and over again).
        I know precisely what you mean. I fell into this way of thinking purely by chance. When I first began as an affiliate, some time ago now, the AM really took care of me. Exceptional guy. Being naive, I assumed all AMs would be this way, but soon found out that wasn't the case. These days I always seek out the AM, try to befriend, then if we click, I click with the program. I've learned a lot over the years, too. Good AMs know how we all send traffic, after all.

        Tom
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        • Profile picture of the author David Snape
          Originally Posted by Get Rich Methods View Post

          I know precisely what you mean. I fell into this way of thinking purely by chance. When I first began as an affiliate, some time ago now, the AM really took care of me. Exceptional guy. Being naive, I assumed all AMs would be this way, but soon found out that wasn't the case. These days I always seek out the AM, try to befriend, then if we click, I click with the program. I've learned a lot over the years, too. Good AMs know how we all send traffic, after all.

          Tom
          You are right Tom. The AM makes a big difference. Run from the ones who dn't give good answers or who try to be evasive or who act like "how dare you ask that".
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  • Profile picture of the author whenyouSEO
    They are all risky, so always withdraw after you reach the minimum threshold and use multiple networks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kralj187
    Won't go into too much detail of any of my bad experiences with affiliate programs.
    Just a general tip for all users out there: The bigger the company you work with the bigger the chance that you get paid...
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  • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
    I was working with an affiliate program and was making good money through a couple of their merchants when one of the programs suddenly dropped the commission rate 3 full percentage points, making it impossible to make any money through the advertising methods I'd been using.

    I was able to negotiate the rate back up to something I could work with, but this is a prime example of why you shouldn't put all of your eggs in one basket. Had that have been my main source of income and the merchant wouldn't have agreed to a rate change, it could have completely crippled my business.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Snape
    Great Thread so far everyone! I would love to turn this into a place that aspiring affiliates can get a 'heads up' on how it can be in this business. Please keep sharing.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Snape
    So recently I was promoting a program for rather large commissions. I spent a bunch of cash on ads and ended up making three sales.

    All Three were taken away from me. The first 2 apparently went to other affiliates who were offering a 'bonus package' --- the program owner said customers are allowed to change which affiliate they join under for the first 30 days. Then I was patiently waiting to get paid on the third sale. After 45 days, I contacted them. They claimed that 'sale' never went through. I ended up with all the expense but no pay!

    That's one of the reasons I started this thread. But there are a number of other stories I have. It seems like it is fairly common for affiliate programs to not fulfill their obligations (or find reasons not to) This is something that all affiliate marketers should know about.

    The reality is different than the hype!
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