Buying Through Your Own Affiliate Link

Some merchants on ClickBank do spell-it out that you can't do that but it can't really be prevented on ClickBank but you should honor it so check out their affiliate page for their terms.

I have a few products on ClickBank and here is my take. If you want to promote one of my products as an affiliate then yea go for it. If you have no plans on promoting it and you're just buying it through your affiliate link for a discount then I "frown down" on it since it's supposed to be an affiliate program not a rebate program.

It's not ethical to do that, if you are an honest business person don't ever do that, and I believe in karma, although you can order from your own affiliate is not the right thing, don't clickbank realize this, why they don't do something about this bug?

if it is for the purpose of promoting the product i would go for it and use your own affiliate link because you are doing it to benifit them but just incase it is best to make sure the seller does not have any rules against it but im sure most wont

I see both sides of this issue as well. I will admit I have purchased a couple products through my link, and it was so that I could review the product prior to promoting it. I wanted to know the ins and outs so that I could write good content on my promotional page. I guess I kind of think of it along the same lines as getting a review copy from the creator. But I do agree also, that you should be promoting the product for other people to buy. Not just looking for a way to get a discount.

Why don't you get in contact with the vendor and tell him you are planning on selling his product and ask him / her if it is ok with them to buy through your own affiliate link.

Another good reason to be in touch with the vendor is that some of them have special bonuses and companion reports to help with your efforts that are not mentioned in the generic "affiliate tools" page.

If you demonstrate that you are going to give a serious effort at selling their product, many vendors will work to help you sell for them.

Matt

That's one of the reasons why new clickbank products have such massive gravity, because people buy through their own link.

If the vendor is running a high ticket launch through their own merchant then they have complete control and often don't pay out when you do it, so don't get upset when you're denied.

Personally, I always buy a product before I promote it. Unless of cores its one of those big launches products that don’t really provide that option.

I find that I'm more critical in my product reviews if I pay just as much as my referral would pay and I think that helps build trust.

In the past I have asked for a peek at the actual product and found that a lot of venders would just give me the product… and it’s easy to say something good if you didn’t have to pay of it.

I’ve found that I sold less… even of the best of products that I got way. I guess something just communicates. But, I don’t sell anything I wouldn’t buy myself.

It's frown upon and some people do it, personally I don't because I don't really care for saving a couple dollars. But if you're a newbie and need to save a bit of money then buy through your affiliate link, just don't brag about it.

Whether it's 'right' or 'wrong' I'm not sure...

Personally, I think it's worse to promote a product you've never even looked at (never mind used), than to grab a copy at a reduced price to review for promotion.

Think about it, if you work at a clothing store, you'll get staff discount and sometimes will be encouraged to wear at work what is on the shelves to show that you approve of the products you're selling.

Car sales people are often given the opportunity to have company cars (usually costs them a cut in their salary), so they drive and use the product they are trying to sell every day.

To me, it makes sense to use a product first. In the 'real' world, often there's a discount for buying the product you're selling. Why should it be different online?

I agree with Dietriffic. It makes sense to use a product first.

Besides, it's not only business, it's reasonable. Any savvy consumer and businessman will prefer to buy a discount product than the same product but for higher price. For example, I like xSitePro affiliate program policy:

"Do I earn commissions on my own purchases?

Yes. All purchases, even those you make yourself, will earn a commission as long as the links on your web site are used to come to our storefront."

It's very savvy, I think.

For product affiliate marketers whom say use their own affiliate link to make a purchase for the purposes of testing / reviewing I have little to no problem with this. Many people above have said that they use this method so they can test the product before they begin any type of promotional activities; this is very fair. Why begin wasting your own money on advertising PPC and the likes to eventually finding out that the product is actually not worth MUCH at all?

It makes perfect sense; both sides of the fence; I would say its just about each individuals ethics/morals ultimately.

Some will take advantage of the system as with anything in this world its natural?

If some people think that it's not ethical to buy products through their own link, they can ask their spouse or friend to do that.

This has raised a point I have never thought to use, I have bought a lot of products through Clickbank but have never bought through my affiliate link.

I am often persuaded to buy through another IM link to get the massive bonus they throw in as the incentive.

On the other hand, I have yet to promote products I have bought. If purchasing through one's own link with the view to reviewing it before promoting it, as a Clickbank member seems reasonable if Clickbank do not disprove of it.

I have bought products for full price and returned them after being disappointed but I would not do this if I bought the product through my own link in which case the seller and Clickbank would both benefit at my loss if I did not go on to promote it. I think it would complicate more and show up in your figures if you bought through your own link and then decided to return the product.

If an affiliate who goes on to say sell 100 units after buying the product through his own link for the purposes of reviewing the product, then the seller and Clickbank would be gain enourmously and for for allowing that affiliate to get the product at the full price less his commission would be win-win all round.

I don't think it's a big deal at all and yes, it is common practice.

This is one of the hidden costs of ClickBank.

A person that would normally buy at full price
can easily recognize the CB check out and
head over to CB, paste in their affiliate code,
promote to themselves and then the product
owner loses 50% - 60% of the sale plus they
get to pay CB 11% for the priviledge.

Great deal.

Clickbank allows this. I have bought through my link to see if the product was as described and guess what? It wasn't. If I'm going to promote a product I need to know that it is what it says it is. Now if your just buying through your link to get the discount...thats your choice but maybe you'll have a product for sale there one day. Would you want someone doing that?

I actually buy all my amazon stuff with my affiliate ID using money I've made from selling affiliate stuff. I make Amazon money just to turn around and spend it right back with them. I just bank all my earnings with them and spend it there when I want something.

I don't know if they disapprove of it but hey it's never leaving their company so I can't imagine they can complain.

I thought this was against Clickbank's TOS, and maybe it was at one time, but I just spend about 30-40 minutes trying to find their policy on it and I can't find a word about it either way. It's possible it's there and I couldn't find it, Clickbank has never been known for their ease of use in finding what you want if it's not one of the main pages.

So IF it's not against the TOS, I think it's reasonable to buy through your own link if you're considering promoting the product. If you're buying it for personal use, and another affiliate introduced you to the product, perhaps even convincing you to buy, then I think that affiliate deserves the commission.

I know not everyone will agree, but that's just me. You get to decide what is right for you.

I am just curious...

How much does your product sell for?
What % do you pay affiliates on clickbank?
How much does it cost you to get a customer?
What is the lifetime value of your customer?

Not that we haven't already had a lot of fun but I have to ask in what way does this hurt you or your sales? Do you not make the same amount regardless?

Survival of the fittest.

Save your money get your rebate, if you can save money why not?

Or, assuming you do in fact have the intent of selling whatever product it is you are requesting, contact the vendor and ask them to give you a copy. Seriously, if you want me bring you sales and new customers, the least a vendor can do is pony up a a review download. It's not actually costing them anything, because I can guarantee I wasn't going to buy it...I can also guarantee that if I can't get a review copy fairly painlessly, I'm not going to promote it...I have better things to do then deal with that.