When Did Clickbank Get So Scammy/Spammy?

22 replies
I know what you are saying. Clickbank has always had scammy products in their marketplace. Nothing has changed. But please read on...

Up until recently, Clickbank has always had kind of an under-the-table unwritten alliance with scammers and internet marketing mavens (for now, we'll just assume the two are mutually exclusive groups )

But now, it's so in-your-face and out-of-the-closet.

Like before, you could always advertise your site on Clickbank's login page and marketplace for other people to possibly become an affiliate if they so choose.

But now, right there within the account, they are pushing these Clickbank products to OTHER CLICKBANK ACCOUNT HOLDERS to buy! (Mass Mobile Money, Push Button Cash, etc). Does anyone not see a problem with this?

And now, they openly promote obviously scammy products in their newsletters, like paid surveys and the like. Clickbank, as an official entity, is trying to persuade affiliates to promote these "featured vendors".

I'm not even going to elaborate on the fact that, since they started going full throttle with these newsletters, I've been getting all types of extra spam from other people to the email address I use for Clickbank (and I don't list it anywhere else).

But is anyone else alarmed by this trend? Hopefully, I explained myself well.
#clickbank #scammy or spammy
  • Profile picture of the author ChadOath
    I guess I'm alone on this. LOL.
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  • Profile picture of the author Przemek Bloniarz
    I also noticed it, I think that they only care about money now. This is the triumph of form over substance - good marketing, poor content.
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    • Profile picture of the author writeandreview
      If what you're saying is true, I expect, at some point, that Clickbank will be forced by the market to take a direction similar to Google's.

      Clickbank is positioned either to lose a lot of customers or to be a leader in a rapidly expanding digital marketplace.

      Within a few years, most people will read their books through electronic media.

      At this point, Clickbank has to be considering strategies to deal with the looming possibility that Amazon will distribute all the legitimate books and authors and leave the dregs for everyone else.
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  • Profile picture of the author pavionjsl
    It does not matter the products offered. The ones that are good will survive the rest will die. Refunds etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author ChadOath
      Originally Posted by pavionjsl View Post

      It does not matter the products offered. The ones that are good will survive the rest will die. Refunds etc.
      I guess my problem is mainly that Clickbank itself is now marketing these shady products TO ITS OWN USERS.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
        Marketers marketing to... marketers!?
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        • Profile picture of the author ChadOath
          Originally Posted by Dan C. Rinnert View Post

          Marketers marketing to... marketers!?
          I detect a hint of sarcasm, Mr. Rinnert.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by ChadOath View Post

        But now, right there within the account, they are pushing these Clickbank products to OTHER CLICKBANK ACCOUNT HOLDERS to buy! (Mass Mobile Money, Push Button Cash, etc). Does anyone not see a problem with this?
        I can't, I'm afraid.

        What exactly do you envisage is the problem with it? :confused:

        Originally Posted by ChadOath View Post

        I guess my problem is mainly that Clickbank itself is now marketing these shady products TO ITS OWN USERS.
        Why wouldn't/shouldn't/couldn't they?

        As a Clickbank affiliate, you can't realistically hope to earn an affiliate commission on a product sold to an existing affiliate, anyway, since affiliates are allowed to buy through their own affiliate links.

        And it's not as if anyone can sign up as an affiliate and earn and get paid a commission on a first purchase, anyway, because Clickbank has the "customer distribution requirement" in place for the express purpose of protecting affiliates from that (without which, clearly, their whole system wouldn't work at all).

        Sorry if I've missed your point, but where's the problem, here?
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    • Profile picture of the author BenoitT
      Maybe you should open our own e-book marchant platform and do it better than Clickbank . It's true they don't care that much to be ethical.
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    • Profile picture of the author Fazal Mayar
      Originally Posted by pavionjsl View Post

      It does not matter the products offered. The ones that are good will survive the rest will die. Refunds etc.
      thats exactly what others will tell you....but dont you find this really un-professional? I knew it was going to happen eventually...Clickbank should start reviewing products manually before accepting them. But I doubt they have the time for this.
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      • Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

        Clickbank should start reviewing products manually before accepting them.
        Oh God please NO!

        Clickbank wouldnt possibly know what's a good product or not in all niches, and it's not their job. They make it silly stupid for a customer to ask for a refund if he's not satisfied, so let the market decide what's a good product and what's not.
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        • Profile picture of the author VanessaB
          What I want to know is what makes these products,

          (Mass Mobile Money, Push Button Cash, etc).
          "scams"?

          -Dani
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      • Profile picture of the author ChadOath
        Originally Posted by Fazal Mayar View Post

        thats exactly what others will tell you....but dont you find this really un-professional? I knew it was going to happen eventually...Clickbank should start reviewing products manually before accepting them. But I doubt they have the time for this.
        I agree with everything but the 'manually accepting' part. LOL
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  • Profile picture of the author P.Sharma
    you know although it is hard for us to do anything about it, it is not clickbank's fault at all. They are in the business to make money and BUYER DISCRETION is what they promote. I mean you have to know what is good and what is bad, they are going to push anything that makes them money and is under law - right.

    although this might be an ethical issue for some, clearly it isn't for CB now
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  • Profile picture of the author DesktopDayjobs
    I noticed all of those things as well. It is truly alarming when you think about it. Clickbank seems to be completely catering to the big wig vendors and giving them even more of a competitive advantage over other vendors.
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    • Profile picture of the author Willie Crawford
      Originally Posted by DesktopDayjobs View Post

      I noticed all of those things as well. It is truly alarming when you think about it. Clickbank seems to be completely catering to the big wig vendors and giving them even more of a competitive advantage over other vendors.

      I have to disagree with that statement in that any
      Clickbank merchant can probably apply to have their
      offers shown in those places on the CB site and in
      communications that CB has with merchants and
      affiliates.

      Of course not everyone can or would pay their prices,
      or perhaps meet their qualifications. I don't know since
      I haven't applied.

      Willie
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  • Profile picture of the author entry
    Originally Posted by ChadOath View Post

    Re: When Did Clickbank Get So Scammy/Spammy?.

    When RAP came into place lol
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    I Have to say a Massive...THANK YOU to every Warrior who has helped me, and thanks to every warrior who helps me in the future...
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  • Profile picture of the author AnneE
    See I thought Clickbank had been pretty spammy all along. There are hardly any products listed there which I think are worth their price. People sell stuff with hugely inflated prices and offer 67% commissions, based on the logic that tons of people will promote ANYTHING if they get a nice paycheck.

    You actually think it has gotten WORSE? Wow.. I shudder to imagine.

    Which reminds me that I need to go request a refund on a Clickbank product that I bought which contained some valuable information but fell WAY, WAY short on it's claims. And it wasn't even in the Internet Marketing arena. I've put into practice what they suggested and seen an improvement in the bottom line, but again -- nothing like what was promised.
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  • Profile picture of the author supersport
    I also have been getting many spammy emails from Clickbank. I have from the day I started but lately it seems like it's getting worse. That is definitely a huge mistake. I am starting to lose interest in Clickbank and I am sure i'm not alone.
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  • Profile picture of the author kingmike
    I have been seeing these offers too from clickbank, but the thing with clickbank is that its all about the money and they will do everything to maximize that.

    Again clickbank is the busiest digital market place on the net so they wont know the good products in all niches precise they have to maximize profit and minimize loses, its up to the market place to be aware of whats hapening to the market.
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  • Profile picture of the author Clojo
    I started IM using Google Sniper, which has taught me loads, but I have been quite uncomfortable about promoting most of the products on ClickBank if I am honest. Feel like I am ripping people off. I created one Sniper which uses a clickbank product, which was pretty good. I bought it, but still not everything it said it was. I have now converted to physical products, Amazon mainly. Feel much more comfortable with that.
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  • I have noticed these things too and now see, with this post, that others have also. I wonder if with so many new networks appearing if they are feeling a little pinch, thus pushing a little more openly.

    I know there's nothing wrong with promoting your business and products to increase buyer revenue, after all that's what we all try to do. But most of us try to find ways that are not too "in your face".

    CB has changed. Just my opinion!

    Old Dog
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    P.S. If I can be of any assistance in your "Off" or "On"- line sales and marketing please PM me or email at WinnersChoice-Warrior@yahoo.com . Old Dog

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