Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do?

androidean · 09-26-2009, 10:50 AM

Hello Warriors,

I'm promoting a product with PPC campaigns that is on a high-competitive market. I have the adwords conversion tracking code installed on the thank you page of the product so I can track the conversions.

During the last week, I sow the total number of clickbank sales promoting that product has been decreased by far, while adwords keep reporting the same (+ or - ) conversion rate.

I analyzed my competitors and I found that one of them is cookie stuffing visitors.. So, every time a visitor buy the product after visiting his site, he is credited for the comission - even if the visitor - before buying - clicked on my aff link.

I don't think it's legal, but I'm not sure.. this is why I'm asking now here.

If it's not legal, I'll report it to clickbank customer service and then they will take care of.

E. Fire · 09-26-2009, 10:56 AM

I think most networks have disallowed this for some time, but I don't know if Clickbank does.
Report it to Clickbank anyway, and also to the vendor if you're able to contact them.

Scott Murdaugh · 09-26-2009, 10:56 AM

Cookie stuffing is definitely not allowed by Clickbank.

Do what you need to do, it's against their TOS and is essentially fraud.

-Scott

WinsonYeung · 09-26-2009, 11:08 AM

Cookie stuffing is not allowed, however it's extremely profitable but this method is way too BlueFart. You do the promoting, and "they" earn the omission...

Gary McCaffrey · 09-26-2009, 11:13 AM

If the visitor clicked on your link before buying, then surely your cookie would overwrite that of the cookie stuffer?

androidean · 09-26-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary McCaffrey

If the visitor clicked on your link before buying, then surely your cookie would overwrite that of the cookie stuffer?

In this case not! I tried many times and it seems that the the cookied he sent on my browser can't be overwritten.

I think there are 2 different cases of cookie stuffing: the first one is that the cookie is sent to a browser without the click on a aff link - and this can be overwritten.

The second case happen when the cookie is sent without a click on an aff link, but it can't be replaced because it's stored on your browser. Both of them aren't allowed by cb right?

Thank you.

5starAffiliatePrograms · 09-26-2009, 11:29 AM

Yes report it. Cookie stuffing is stealing.

Scott Murdaugh · 09-26-2009, 11:55 AM

I've been seeing a lot of terrible advice lately on this forum...

Yesterday I saw someone recommend that newbies get fake testimonials to promote products, luckily that thread was deleted.

Quote:

Thus you should only stuff visitors from google if you decide to stuff, that is.

You SHOULDN'T STUFF.

It's stealing... Would you recommend "stuffing" an old ladies purse while you're at it?

TERRIBLE advice.

-Scott

Scott Murdaugh · 09-26-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

If you can't live with it, then maybe this business is not for you.

I've been in "this business" for several years now...

I can live with it... Banned accounts, unpaid commissions and karma are a bitch. If you want to stuff be my guest...

It's still TERRIBLE advice to be giving out to those who may not know better.

-Scott

androidean · 09-27-2009, 02:57 AM

Well, guys.. I reported the problem to CB support. Now they will decide what to do.

ANyway, let me repeat my previous question please:

Quote:

I think there are 2 different cases of cookie stuffing: the first one is that the cookie is sent to a browser without the click on a aff link - and this can be overwritten.

The second case happen when the cookie is sent without a click on an aff link, but it can't be replaced because it's stored on your browser. Both of them aren't allowed by cb right?

Thank you in advance for your support.

asupport · 09-28-2009, 07:18 AM

Cookie stuffing is against TOS. Report him! Marketing practices like this should not be accepted.

Chris Parker · 09-28-2009, 07:42 AM

Yes, you should definitely report his practices to CB. What a D-Bag!

seasoned · 09-28-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Lancaster

Right...how is it stealing if the person comes to your website to read about the product. It's only normal that you should be credited if he buys it. If you would stuff your competitors site with your cookie, then it would be stuffing.

Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Every affiliate company is shaving. What, that's stealing, too? No, it's just normal marketing environment. They wouldn't meet their ends if they wouldn't scrub and shave. If you can't live with it, then maybe this business is not for you.

OK, then nobody here should expect any money from ME anymore! Do you think I just get entranced by whatever now? FORGET IT! HECK, I am considering buying a supplement, based on someting I read, and went to SEVERAL sites to get information, to confirm it.

BESIDES, name ONE site, that is not the vendors site, that sells ONE product! When they stuff, they generally stuff ALL.

Steve

Intrepreneur · 09-28-2009, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary McCaffrey

If the visitor clicked on your link before buying, then surely your cookie would overwrite that of the cookie stuffer?

Gary that signature of yours is rocking.. I'm signing up to see what happens!

christinne · 10-13-2009, 11:04 PM

It seems that some if you have not understood CS, most people / webmaster use it at least in their website and you could not always detect them....it's like a virus which spread over the internet. What I suggest is get 'anti - cookie stuffing' like your 'anti virus' software.

09-26-2009, 10:50 AM	#1
androidean Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 25 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? Hello Warriors, I'm promoting a product with PPC campaigns that is on a high-competitive market. I have the adwords conversion tracking code installed on the thank you page of the product so I can track the conversions. During the last week, I sow the total number of clickbank sales promoting that product has been decreased by far, while adwords keep reporting the same (+ or - ) conversion rate. I analyzed my competitors and I found that one of them is cookie stuffing visitors.. So, every time a visitor buy the product after visiting his site, he is credited for the comission - even if the visitor - before buying - clicked on my aff link. I don't think it's legal, but I'm not sure.. this is why I'm asking now here. If it's not legal, I'll report it to clickbank customer service and then they will take care of.
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09-26-2009, 10:56 AM	#2
E. Fire Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA. Posts: 50 Thanks: 31 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? I think most networks have disallowed this for some time, but I don't know if Clickbank does. Report it to Clickbank anyway, and also to the vendor if you're able to contact them.

09-26-2009, 10:56 AM	#3
Scott Murdaugh ResultsCopywriting.com War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Springfield, Mo USA. Posts: 565 Thanks: 92 Thanked 161 Times in 84 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? Cookie stuffing is definitely not allowed by Clickbank. Do what you need to do, it's against their TOS and is essentially fraud. -Scott
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09-26-2009, 11:08 AM	#4
WinsonYeung Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sunny Singapore Island Posts: 1,354 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 32 Thanked 87 Times in 56 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? Cookie stuffing is not allowed, however it's extremely profitable but this method is way too BlueFart. You do the promoting, and "they" earn the omission...
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09-26-2009, 11:13 AM	#5
Gary McCaffrey Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Belfast, Ireland. Posts: 687 Thanks: 10 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts Social Networking	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? If the visitor clicked on your link before buying, then surely your cookie would overwrite that of the cookie stuffer?
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09-26-2009, 11:29 AM	#7
5starAffiliatePrograms Affiliate Advocate War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 544 Thanks: 32 Thanked 83 Times in 45 Posts Social Networking	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? Yes report it. Cookie stuffing is stealing.
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09-28-2009, 07:18 AM	#11
asupport Contentattack.com Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: , , Germany. Posts: 98 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Social Networking	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? Cookie stuffing is against TOS. Report him! Marketing practices like this should not be accepted.
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09-28-2009, 07:42 AM	#12
Chris Parker Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 48 Thanks: 4 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? Yes, you should definitely report his practices to CB. What a D-Bag!
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10-13-2009, 11:04 PM	#15
christinne Warrior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Competitor Doing Cookie Stuffing. What should I do? It seems that some if you have not understood CS, most people / webmaster use it at least in their website and you could not always detect them....it's like a virus which spread over the internet. What I suggest is get 'anti - cookie stuffing' like your 'anti virus' software.
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