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What To Do If A Merchant Isn't Paying Affiliate Commissions?

by wrays
12 replies
Hello,

Don't know if anyone experienced this before, I hit a wall and need some advice.

I have been promoting a product for a merchant who's using 1shoppingcart.

I have made some sales and the merchant owes me some commissions. But I haven't received a single penny and this has been going on for many months.

The PROBLEM is that the merchant does not reply to emails or his own support ticket site. I found him in Warrior forum and had sent him a couple of PM, BUT he did not respond too.

I even contacted the 1shoppingcart's helpdesk... BUT they told me that they could not help and advised me to keep contacting the merchant...

What options do I have?

Please advise...

Thanks.
#affiliate #commissions #merchant #paying
  • Profile picture of the author timpears
    First thing I would do is stop promoting this low life's stuff.

    I doubt that you can do much unless it is enough to hire a lawyer for. And even then, if someone does not want to pay, it is damn hard to make them. You would need to get a court augment and then find some of their assets to attach. Probably more trouble than it is worth.

    Sorry, wish I had better advise for you. But hopefully someone else that is more knowledgeable than me will come up with a better idea.
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    Tim Pears

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    • Profile picture of the author wrays
      Hi timpears,

      Thank you for the inputs, I really appreciate that.

      Perhaps I was being very unlucky....

      I experienced 3 merchants who did not pay me BUT thanks GOD one already paid after I contacted him in this forum.

      But another 2 merchants just kind of ignoring my emails.

      Now, I understand why people prefer to promote Clickbank products even though it's harder.... but Clickbank never FAILS to pay your commissions.
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      • Profile picture of the author David Jackson
        Originally Posted by wrays View Post

        Clickbank never FAILS to pay your commissions.
        That's true. The check is always there.

        David Jackson
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        Powerful, Free Marketing Tips to Help Grow Your Business!
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  • Profile picture of the author prostarprofitsdotcom
    There are some great suggestion here.
    *Make sure you have hit the payment thresh hold
    *Promote affiliate with well know affiliate networks (You can also test some new unknown affiliate and test them out to see it they are good.
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  • Profile picture of the author debra
    Send him a Big Fat 1099 form for the commissions earned. See if he can ignore the IRS.
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  • Profile picture of the author powerblogger
    You can take them to small claims court for breach of contract
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    • Profile picture of the author Toby Lewis
      Originally Posted by powerblogger View Post

      You can take them to small claims court for breach of contract
      Actually if you read the terms, some vendors will explicitly state that they do not pay out commissions when you buy through your own link and it's the only sale.

      If you bought through your own link then I don't have much sympathy, but if you actually made some sales then just keep on hassling them and be careful to promote reputable marketers in the future.
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      • Profile picture of the author wrays
        NO, I did not buy through my own affiliate link. I made LEGIT commissions (although not much... it's about $200 - $300; one merchant owes me $350), and I have the screen-shots of my earnings saved in my PC.

        I just don't know what to do, I have tried to contact the vendors but got no response from them. That's why I am asking for some advice here.

        Originally Posted by Toby Lewis View Post

        Actually if you read the terms, some vendors will explicitly state that they do not pay out commissions when you buy through your own link and it's the only sale.

        If you bought through your own link then I don't have much sympathy, but if you actually made some sales then just keep on hassling them and be careful to promote reputable marketers in the future.
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        • Profile picture of the author reapr
          Originally Posted by wrays View Post

          NO, I did not buy through my own affiliate link. I made LEGIT commissions (although not much... it's about $200 - $300; one merchant owes me $350), and I have the screen-shots of my earnings saved in my PC.

          I just don't know what to do, I have tried to contact the vendors but got no response from them. That's why I am asking for some advice here.
          I have only been stuck twice in ten years. I research merchants before signing up if they are not part of an affiliate network. Regardless there are some real duds out there.

          The latest about a month ago stuck me for 130 bucks. I call it a cheap lesson. The affiliate manager acknowledged I had the money and even went as far as requesting my paypal email. Which I supplied. After that any responses were nil. My last email about 2 weeks ago stated that if I did not hear from them in 3 business days that I would pull down all links. I could have called their order line but I figured my time was more valuable that pursuing that amount. I will be putting the word out about this merchant in the near future with screen shots of the commisions. It is a hot little product and becoming more so and it is a tight niche.

          I did find a replacement through an affiliate network that has payed me on time always.

          It is not worth messing around with these low life merchants. There are too many well respected merchants out there that want your business!

          One thing I have learned is with independent merchants set the threashold as low as you can. First problem you have with a payment do not make idle threats just state that in x number of days if it is not resolved you will take down all links.
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          • Profile picture of the author wrays
            Thank you guys for all the advice!
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  • Profile picture of the author Rich Struck
    You have to be ruthless. The second a merchant doesn't pay, take down the friggin' links. I can't tell you how many times I've heard this exact same story. This is one more reason why you are almost always better off to sell your own product.
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  • Profile picture of the author KatyaSenina
    I suspect a merchant of doing that. Not sure yet. I just stopped promoting them. Don't feel like figuring it out... I go with my gut feeling. Just know they are stealing commissions.

    Either they are stealing or their product converts like cr*p. Haven't earned anything with them.

    I just don't bother anymore. You should just move on... To someone more reliable.
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