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Need Advice: High-Quality Leads Sent, No Commissions Recorded Except for Test Transactions

by jFrost3
9 replies
Hi everyone,

I run a luxury fashion search app, and since the start of the year, I've sent a couple of thousand high-quality leads to different retailers through two affiliate networks (Rakuten and CJ). Despite this, I've seen zero commissions recorded from real users.

I suspected a tracking issue and ran two separate test purchases from different IPs, environments, and devices (iOS 17, to match my users) after their Safari history was cleared. Both of these test transactions were successfully recorded. This leaves me wondering why user-generated sales aren't being tracked.

Has anyone else experienced similar situations where only test transactions are recorded but not actual user purchases? Could this be related to issues like attribution, retargeting, privacy settings (iOS 17), or something else I haven't considered? I'd appreciate any insights or suggestions on what to investigate next!

Thanks in advance for your help!
#advice #commissions #highquality #leads #recorded #transactions
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  • Profile picture of the author Monetize
    Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

    Hi everyone,

    I run a luxury fashion search app, and since the start of the year, I've sent a couple of thousand high-quality leads to different retailers through two affiliate networks (Rakuten and CJ). Despite this, I've seen zero commissions recorded from real users.

    I suspected a tracking issue and ran two separate test purchases from different IPs, environments, and devices (iOS 17, to match my users) after their Safari history was cleared. Both of these test transactions were successfully recorded. This leaves me wondering why user-generated sales aren't being tracked.

    Has anyone else experienced similar situations where only test transactions are recorded but not actual user purchases? Could this be related to issues like attribution, retargeting, privacy settings (iOS 17), or something else I haven't considered? I'd appreciate any insights or suggestions on what to investigate next!

    Thanks in advance for your help!


    If I were you, I would contact the affiliate network/manager and address these concerns with them.

    You probably need permission to make test purchases, as this could get you in trouble with the networks.
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    • Profile picture of the author jFrost3
      We actually communicated with them and it was their suggestions (their technical team to be exact). Any idea or even guess what might be causing this?
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      • Profile picture of the author Monetize
        Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

        We actually communicated with them and it was their suggestions (their technical team to be exact). Any idea or even guess what might be causing this?


        If the affiliate network technical team told you to run your own tests then you need to move to another network.

        If there's a possibility of a bug in the code of your app or your links, I would have an A.I. like Perplexity check the code.
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  • Profile picture of the author jFrost3
    Hi Monetize and thanks for the valuable feedback!

    If there's a possibility of a bug in the code of your app or your links, I would have an A.I. like Perplexity check the code.
    While there's always a chance of a bug, I'm not sure that's the issue in our case. We've checked and double-checked the code and even shared it with the affiliate network's (Rakuten) technical team. After that, we conducted two tests on clean devices from different IPs, with default privacy settings, and the purchases were successfully registered.

    What I'm starting to suspect is that, since the products are expensive, users don't purchase them immediately (unlike our tests). Instead, they get retargeted by advertisers, and because advertisers typically use a last-click attribution model, the commission is then attributed to Google, Facebook, or the platform where the user was retargeted. Does this make sense?
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    • Profile picture of the author Monetize
      Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

      Hi Monetize and thanks for the valuable feedback!



      While there's always a chance of a bug, I'm not sure that's the issue in our case. We've checked and double-checked the code and even shared it with the affiliate network's (Rakuten) technical team. After that, we conducted two tests on clean devices from different IPs, with default privacy settings, and the purchases were successfully registered.

      What I'm starting to suspect is that, since the products are expensive, users don't purchase them immediately (unlike our tests). Instead, they get retargeted by advertisers, and because advertisers typically use a last-click attribution model, the commission is then attributed to Google, Facebook, or the platform where the user was retargeted. Does this make sense?

      I have been affiliate marketing for 20+ years and heard just about every variation of a problem under the sun.

      There is a possibility that your tracking is being superseded, that is not a new problem and it could be fixed if people were honest.

      If that is the case, be more selective about what you promote.

      You might also consider developing a search app for something that people will buy right away.

      I think that using the apps is a great strategy for affiliate marketing.
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  • Profile picture of the author jFrost3
    I have been affiliate marketing for 20+ years and heard just about every variation of a problem under the sun.
    Sounds like a lot of problems :-)

    There is a possibility that your tracking is being superseded, that is not a new problem and it could be fixed if people were honest.
    What do you mean by "superseded"?

    If that is the case, be more selective about what you promote.
    Do you mean other advertisers, other products? Or something entirely different?

    Last and not least, I greatly appreciate all your help and patience!! I feel like a newbie after this problem surprised me... I was focused on the app development all this time.

    Take care, and have a wonderful day!
    jF.
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    • Profile picture of the author Monetize
      Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

      Sounds like a lot of problems :-)
      When I received my first Clickbank check, it was $800 and I was hooked.

      I was working full-time and that was extra pocket money.

      I really was hooked bc I have always liked having extra money anyway.



      Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

      What do you mean by "superseded"?
      Dictionary definition.



      Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

      Do you mean other advertisers, other products? Or something entirely different?
      All of the above.

      When whatever you are doing doesn't work, you have to do things differently.

      You are very welcome.
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  • Profile picture of the author jFrost3
    If you were in my shoes, would you consider switching to CPC, or do you think it's a waste of time?
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    • Profile picture of the author Monetize
      Originally Posted by jFrost3 View Post

      If you were in my shoes, would you consider switching to CPC, or do you think it's a waste of time?

      I would continue developing apps.

      Whatever you promote with the apps is irrelevant.

      It just needs to be profitable.
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