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Why people strips the affiliate ID from the links?

by ForumJoiner
22 replies
I tell you about a great product, some that will solve your problem. I don't charge you for this information. You see that is an affiliate link, and you copy the link and you strip my affiliate ID.

What do you gain by doing so? The (sometimes small) commission I make will not come from you, but from the vendor - you'll pay the same price anyway.

A little gratitude for me, because I fixed your issue, is too much? Is it envy because I get money and you pay money?

So what's, in your opinion, the real reason why people strips the affiliate link?

I've seen many times how to mask your affiliate links, but very few times why people really behave in this way.
#affiliate #links #people #strips
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    Originally Posted by ForumJoiner View Post

    So what's, in your opinion, the real reason why people strips the affiliate link?
    It's called Greed. That's the reason some people would like to steal your affiliate link.

    Look into 'Cookie Stuffing' to see the most greediest bunch...

    The good news is that you can protect yourself from those who wish to steal your affiliate sale...

    There are many ways to cloak your link, I have a free tool at my website a free & simple link cloaker:

    AffiliateNicheMonster.com/affiliate-link-cloaker/

    Instructions:

    1) Enter the title and web address (including the http:// prefix) of the target web page.

    2) Click on the Generate Cloak HTML button to generate the cloaked web page code.

    3) Click anywhere in the Cloaked HTML box to select all of the text.

    4) Right-click on the selected text and select "Copy" (or press CTRL-C) to copy the text to the Clipboard.

    5) Paste the code into a BLANK text file, save it as "mypage.html" (or whatever you want to call it).

    6) Upload the file to your web server. You're ready to go!

    Hope that helps!

    - Jared
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumJoiner
      Originally Posted by webdesignhq View Post

      It's called Greed. That's the reason some people would like to steal your affiliate link.
      Greed is something I understand. We both have to split a cake, but you want the bigger size.

      But ... in the case of affiliate IDs, I'll not take any piece of your cake, so we don't compete for the same slice. You pay the same, no matter if the vendors give me a cut or not. So you can't take more, anyhow. Where's the greed in this case?
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      • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
        Originally Posted by ForumJoiner View Post

        Greed is something I understand. We both have to split a cake, but you want the bigger size.

        But ... in the case of affiliate IDs, I'll not take any piece of your cake, so we don't compete for the same slice. You pay the same, no matter if the vendors give me a cut or not. So you can't take more, anyhow. Where's the greed in this case?
        This is why is boils down to the fact "Why should I make you money" .. Yes some people are actually rude and could not give a rats a$$ at how much you gave them a solution to their problem. Some people do actually have this train of thought and the sad fact is it's more people than you think..

        This is the same reason why years ago many people would just view the html of websites, get the paypal return url and go download the IM ebooks for free. Technology has gotten smarter since then and so has many IM but still till this day people view the html just to see if you was dumb enough to leave a download url open.

        Next WSO you run notice how many pull your sales page just not to order. Hmm .. makes you wonder when you have the same exact sales letter on the WSO.

        Personally I would not cut out anyones affiliate ID .. If I like what they offer I will buy it but thats me...

        James
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    It's not what someone gains.. It's the fact that they do not want to make you any money. Some people figure why should I make you money..

    I wrote an affiliate handbook long time ago and tried to explain to merchants about this very problem. I also explained to them "not to make banner ads with their freaking url in the banner" it cost affiliate sales and thus cost the merchant to lose affiliates..

    Many merchants still till this day create affiliates text links and banner ads (image ads) with their domain name in them. This is why it is so important for you to take things into your own hands and create your own affiliate ads, use .htaccess to create hidden links, create your own website for such products, and etc...

    I have already posted this but here it is again

    Code:
    RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule hop/example.php$ http://myaffiliatelink.com?referral=1 [R]
    The above example you would use mydomain.com/hop/example.php - NO THIS PAGE DOES NOT NEED TO EXIST ON YOUR SERVER AT ALL

    Using .htaccess it is that simple to hide your affiliate links.. No encryption, no software, no cloaker, no tinyURL crap (sorry mike ).. Simple and staight forward .htaccess rules.

    James
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumJoiner
      Originally Posted by TheRichJerksNet View Post

      It's not what someone gains.. It's the fact that they do not want to make you any money. Some people figure why should I make you money
      An answer to the above question could be "because I made you a favor, by providing an useful information to you." I guess many people don't think in that way.

      I am very interested in the psychological reasons that make people behave that way. Does anyone know an (e)Book about this topic?
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    See my updated post ...

    James
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    • Profile picture of the author RonnyLua
      Thanks for the brilliant tip on the htaccess redirect.

      Really gets on my nerves when you know your affiliate ID gets stripped off and your work goes down the drain.
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  • Profile picture of the author Simon_Sezs
    Alot of people will buy through their link not yours. And hiding the url in a redirect may make it harder to figure out but if someone wants to bypass your cloaked link, they will.

    A lot of people are down on cookie stuffing. I don't necessarily think it is unethical when they are landing on YOUR page and it is YOUR review and you are stuffing exclusively for the product you are reviewing. You just stuff your visitors and give them a direct link to the offer.

    That way, they don't really think that you are making anything out of it plus it gives your review an "unbiased" view.
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    • Profile picture of the author ForumJoiner
      Originally Posted by Simon_Sezs View Post

      Alot of people will buy through their link not yours. And hiding the url in a redirect may make it harder to figure out but if someone wants to bypass your cloaked link, they will.
      I think that the vendor's site has also an important part. In some cases, even if I come from an affiliate link, it maks it the moment I arrive there. (http://Vendor.com/?id=1234 becomes http://vendor.com). On other sites, http://Vendor.com/?id=1234 remains http://Vendor.com/?id=1234.
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      • Profile picture of the author MizzCindy
        Originally Posted by ForumJoiner View Post

        I think that the vendor's site has also an important part. In some cases, even if I come from an affiliate link, it maks it the moment I arrive there. (Vendor.com becomes Vendor.com). On other sites, Vendor.com remains Vendor.com.
        EDIT - FYI, in the original post, the above links do not appear as they do in this quote. Just to avoid any confusion...

        I'm still working on understanding link cloaking in general, so forgive me if this is a silly question.

        In the above example, does the vendor control what appears in the address bar once someone arrives at their page (vendor.com/id=1234 vs. vendor.com)? Or does the method of cloaking control what appears in the address bar?

        Thanks!
        Cindy
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  • Profile picture of the author awesometbn
    I think this has to do with the level of trust you have built up with your visitor / customer. You may have to work harder to build that trust. Perhaps through quality reviews and honest content, or providing something the visitor finds useful and valuable. Keep them coming back, get them to think of you as a trusted resource, someone who can give them the answers they need, without misdirection or distractions. One thing I know for sure, the entire process of marketing to your target audience is to go above and beyond their expectations. Dazzle the customer!
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  • Profile picture of the author oyebaz
    Its greed that's all, pure greed.

    oyebaz
    greatescape-2008.com/cpa_1
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohamed_Mnafeg
    I have tow things to say
    Just give them a good bonus as a reward to buy through your affiliate link
    Don't hide your affiliate link just use a redirection software.

    belive me your conversation rate will increase dramatically
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    Another thing to consider is possibly moving away from affiliate marketing and developing your own products. That way, no matter how the sales are made, you set your own return.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sirius Lin
    One reason I can think of for people trying to strip your affiliate ID, especially when it comes to Clickbank products, is so they can substitute their own ID in to give themselves a 'discount'.

    ~ Sirius
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    Obviously most people who replied here did NOT read the original post!

    This is not about buying through your link.

    Greed has nothing to do with this. If I remove your affiliate link and buy the product WITHOUT changing it to another affiliate link, just a direct purchase, that just prevents you from getting a commission. It does nothing for me since I pay full price anyway.

    The only reason I can think of is if they dislike you for some reason but want the product- but how often would that be the case?

    If I don't trust you, why would I buy the product after reading your review?

    I can understand people changing your aff link to theirs, since they benefit.

    I can also understand people stealing things, since they benefit.

    I can't understand this practice, since it does nothing for the person who does it. I'm curious how many people actually do this when they buy something. If someone does it to you, how would you know?
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    • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      Obviously most people who replied here did NOT read the original post!

      This is not about buying through your link.

      Greed has nothing to do with this. If I remove your affiliate link and buy the product WITHOUT changing it to another affiliate link, just a direct purchase, that just prevents you from getting a commission. It does nothing for me since I pay full price anyway.

      The only reason I can think of is if they dislike you for some reason but want the product- but how often would that be the case?

      If I don't trust you, why would I buy the product after reading your review?

      I can understand people changing your aff link to theirs, since they benefit.

      I can also understand people stealing things, since they benefit.

      I can't understand this practice, since it does nothing for the person who does it. I'm curious how many people actually do this when they buy something. If someone does it to you, how would you know?
      Chris,
      Alot of people are just naturally hateful.. It boils down to the fact as I posted before on this matter..

      "Why Should I Make You Money"

      This is a sad fact but alot of people have this mentality, why should they make you money, they dont know you nor do they wish to make you any money. They just happened by your website looking for something. This has been going on for years and will never stop no more than warez will ever stop.

      Now there are some networks such as ShareASale that allows you to make your own links and link directory to products.

      Again I would never cut anyone out as I am sure most honest people will not...

      James
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      Obviously most people who replied here did NOT read the original post!

      This is not about buying through your link.

      Greed has nothing to do with this. If I remove your affiliate link and buy the product WITHOUT changing it to another affiliate link, just a direct purchase, that just prevents you from getting a commission. It does nothing for me since I pay full price anyway.

      The only reason I can think of is if they dislike you for some reason but want the product- but how often would that be the case?

      If I don't trust you, why would I buy the product after reading your review?

      I can understand people changing your aff link to theirs, since they benefit.

      I can also understand people stealing things, since they benefit.

      I can't understand this practice, since it does nothing for the person who does it. I'm curious how many people actually do this when they buy something. If someone does it to you, how would you know?
      I've had discussions with people over doing this. Yes, some do it for spite. Some do it to give themselves a discount.

      I was surprised how many do it because they think they're doing the product creator a favor. Their thinking is "why should the guy who put in the work to create this have to split the money with someone who just emailed/posted a link?". If they strip off the affiliate ID, then the product creator gets rewarded for their hard work without having to split it with some dirty marketer...

      One of the things that makes affiliate marketing, especially for digital products, so attractive is also the thing that fosters this attitude. My impression is that most people have no problem with a salesperson making 5-10% on a sale. That is familiar to them. When the marketer can make 50%, 75%, even 100% commission, buyers think the marketer is taking advantage of the poor seller and try to protect them. They don't understand about list building, back end sales funnels, loss leaders, etc. They also don't realize that the seller might not have made the sale without the referral from the marketer, so any profit made is more than they would have had otherwise.

      Overall, people are generally good. They aren't stripping your affiliate ID to screw you over, they're doing it to help the seller.
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  • Profile picture of the author blokh
    The solution for an Affiliate Network or a merchant is not too difficult. But "WE" as the problem to that too ...

    A merchant can very easily register a the affiliate ID who sends the user and set a cookie on that user's computer, and note down the IP Address of the user to make sure you identify the user if he/she comes again. Now, no matter if they replace your ID with theirs or not, since your ID was first registered, the sale goes to you.

    I DID THIS ON ONE OF MY PRODUCTS

    But I got so many requests from our Affiliates to not do this because it overrides the 2nd referer who sends the user to our site.

    For example, a customer read John's blog and read our review on it, clicked on the affiliate link and decided, he doesn't want to buy it ...
    The next day Mike sent an email the the customer telling him to buy our product and explained why, the user comes and buys it from us, the credit will go to John, who didn't really make the sale. So we changed it to the traditional tracking method.

    So it gets tricky at the merchant's end.

    Using iFrames help ... why redirect ...

    use the iframe and open the affiliate offer on your site instead of sending out the user to the merchant's site. As long as you reference the Affiliate ID in the URL when you call the iframe source, it will work fine. Works with most affiliate networks.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheRichJerksNet
    iFrame is out of date coding and not very cross browser friendly.. You could cost yourself more sales than what it is worth.

    James
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    because they know they can get away with it and also from my experience some people are so miserable in their own lives that they will do anything in their power to stop you from succeeding or making money off them, even though it is the same price if they get it from you or not
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