Using Your Clickbank Links For Discounts - The Truth Revealed!!

by Teravel

Posted: 13 years ago 23 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

Alright, so I have seen this topic countless times on the Warrior Forum.

"Can you use your own Affiliate Link to purchase a product you want to promote?"

A lot of people believe this is an 'Ethical Dilema" where it really depends on the person purchasing through their own link. Others believe it is alright to do simply because the product owner would get the same profit per sale.

A few threads here on the Warrior Forum that discuss this topic are...
http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...b-account.html

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...iate-link.html

The problem with these threads is that they have no solid answers for those who are asking this question.

So here is the 100% real answer direct from CLICKBANK CUSTOMER SERVICE!!

I contacted Clickbank Customer Support via Email, asking the following (From personal experience)...

I have been looking all over your site to find your terms about purchasing
products through your own affiliate link. So far I have had no such luck.

Could you please explain your rules for purchasing products through your own
affiliate links. As an Affiliate, I would do this in order to review a product I
was promoting, which would benefit the seller. Also, most sellers I have
contacted have either given me a free review copy, or told me to purchase through
my own link for a personally discounted price.

Are there any rules against doing this? Thank you in advance.

~Teravel Mercado

Clickbank responded within 24 hours with the following answer.
**Please Note, this is cut/paste directly from my email.**

CBCSR(Eileen H): CLOSED: 2011-04-04 01:52:31 PM
Hello,

We strongly advise that you do not order any products through your own HopLink.
If you choose to do so, your account may be suspended from receiving payments for
any of your sales.

We understand that you would like a discount on products you wish to promote,
but ordering through your own HopLink is not acceptable and ordering through your
own link will cause your account to remain unpaid, even if you do meet the CDR.

While we understand your wish to purchase the products you hope to promote at a
discount, this is not the purpose of opening a ClickBank account, and is
forbidden in the Client Contract to which you agreed.

Please be aware of the Customer Distribution Requirement, which states your
account must reflect sales made with 5 or more different credit card numbers, and
the sales must have been made with two different payment methods (either Visa,
MasterCard, or PayPal). Note: PayPal purchases do not count toward the minimum 5
different credit card numbers.

This requirement is in place to help prevent affiliates from abusing the
ClickBank Affiliate Program by using their accounts for the sole purpose of
collecting rebates and/or discounts on their own ClickBank purchases.

Please note that if your account is ever found to be violating our Client
Contract, it can be terminated and any funds earned through purchases through
your own HopLink can be held.

You may review our accounting policies by following the link below:

Accounting Policy - ClickBank

Thank You,

Eileen
ClickBank Client Support

I hope this answers this elusive question for everyone. I also want to suggest that if you have any more questions like this, that you contact the customer support of the site in question. Many large sites like Amazon, Clickbank, CPA's, and many more, have great customer service help for these types of questions. Don't be afraid to ask these questions. People are paid to answer them for a reason!

~Teravel Mercado

#clickbank #discounts #links #revealed #truth

Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Teravel

You may review our accounting policies by following the link below:

Accounting Policy - ClickBank

Thanks, Teravel.

"Interesting" that she should mention that, and provide that link, when actually there's absolutely nothing there at all that backs up what she says above. Typical Clickbank, though. :rolleyes:

And typical Clickbank that different people asking the same question can get totally different answers, too (with different paragraphs pasted in). :p
- [ 1 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3706409].message }}
Chase Shelby 13 years ago

Good info to know. I always wondered what would stop people from doing this, and now I know. Thanks!
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
Want to join a successful team of internet marketers who are making 100% commissions?
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3706450].message }}
- oneplusone 13 years ago
  
  Getting an e-mail response from what could be a lower-level member of staff doesn't prove anything dude.
  
  If you can point to some specifics in their TOS which clearly states it isn't allowed, it would help.
  
  It does mention people who use their accounts to get discounts, but it uses the words sole purpose.
  
  Which suggests to me it is okay, as long as you aren't using your account to ONLY get discounts and nothing else.
  
  Before they were much clearer, they said it was okay but "not encouraged" in their TOS.
  
  I'm not saying I believe it is/isn't okay ethically/morally or whatever -- that's one for the deep thinkers on here to discuss
  
  [ 2 ] Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
  Signature
  'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3706525].message }}
  
  myob 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by oneplusone
  
  ..I'm not saying I believe it is/isn't okay ethically/morally or whatever -- that's one for the deep thinkers on here to discuss
  
  Have you no shame or conscience?
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707253].message }}
Teravel 13 years ago

Getting an e-mail response from what could be a lower-level member of staff doesn't prove anything dude.

What reason would they have to lie to me? I promote products through them, thus I am making them money. So why would they put my account in danger of their own rules when that would hurt their business?

If you can point to some specifics in their TOS which clearly states it isn't allowed, it would help.

Following the link from the email, and clicking on Customer Distribution Requirement, you will see the following...

help prevent Affiliates from abusing the ClickBank Affiliate program by using their accounts for the sole purpose of fraudulently collecting rebates and/or discounts on their own purchases.

They want to Prevent Affiliates from Abusing Clickbank by Fraudulently collecting rebates or Discounts on their own purchases.

Sounds pretty clear to me that Clickbank doesn't want people using their own links to get discounts.

It does mention people who use their accounts to get discounts, but it uses the words sole purpose.

If you purchase a product through your own link, you are denying the owner full profit from his advertising directly through Clickbank (Which leads to his sales page without an affiliate link). This would technically be considered Stealing, even if your "Sole Purpose" isn't to just get a discount.

We can all twist words to benefit our own needs. Your "Sole Purpose" arguement carries little weight.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

"Failure is feedback. Feedback is the breakfast of champions." -Fortune Cookie

PLR Packages - WSO
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707190].message }}
- Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Teravel
  
  They want to Prevent Affiliates from Abusing Clickbank by Fraudulently collecting rebates or Discounts on their own purchases.
  
  "Fraudulently", yes, perhaps.
  
  But what they actually say (or refer to in this email - they've said different things in other ones) is "help prevent Affiliates from abusing the ClickBank Affiliate program by using their accounts for the sole purpose of fraudulently collecting rebates and/or discounts on their own purchases."
  
  "Sole purpose", they say.
  
  And who can blame them?
  
  Originally Posted by Teravel
  
  Sounds pretty clear to me that Clickbank doesn't want people using their own links to get discounts.
  
  To me, on the other hand, it sounds pretty clear that they wanted to answer your question without admitting that thousands of Clickbank affiliates make the odd purchase through their own affiliate-links, as they have done for a decade, that they're fully aware of that, and that it isn't actually prohibited in their terms of service and/or accounting procedures.
  
  Originally Posted by Teravel
  
  Using Your Clickbank Links For Discounts - The Truth Revealed!!
  
  Using Your Clickbank Links For Discounts? - yes, apparently so.
  
  The Truth Revealed? - no, I'm afraid not: far from it.
  
  Originally Posted by Teravel
  
  We can all twist words to benefit our own needs.
  
  And few do so more regularly or with greater variation than Clickbank.
  
  [ 4 ] Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707308].message }}

timpears

13 years ago

If I owned a store that sold groceries or furniture or what ever, would I go to a competitor to buy these things for myself, or to evaluate them in order to see if I wanted to sell them in my own store? That would be plain stupid.

I bought a whole bunch of products from Clickbank through my own affiliate link. The only complaint they had was that I refunded some of them because they were junk. I guess Clickbank thought I did it a little too often. They did suspend my account from getting payments, but it was restored promptly when I asked them about it.

If the vendor will not give me a review copy, then my only alternative is to buy it through my affiliate link. If they don't like it, then damn well give me the review copy.

Thanks
1 reply

Signature

Tim Pears

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707318].message }}

Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by timpears

If the vendor will not give me a review copy, then my only alternative is to buy it through my affiliate link. If they don't like it, then damn well give me the review copy.

I agree.

I will add one thing, though: when I do buy someone's product through my own affiliate-link for purposes of deciding whether or not to promote it as an affiliate, if I decide that it's no use at all to me for that purpose (for whatever reason - not necessarily but sometimes because it's crap), I never ask for a refund. Because the purpose for which I bought it was "reviewing it", and I've done that. As far as I was concerned (even if not as far as my potential customers might be concerned), it was fit for the purpose for which I bought it, because that purpose was simply "looking at it" and I did that. And of course it's a legitimately deductible business expense for me anyway, so who cares?

(I don't actually believe that there are many vendors who'd mind my doing this, anyway, without ever asking for a refund - I really don't. And if there are, that's their problem. They made their vendor's cut of the sale out of me, anyway, and that's all they were ever entitled to).

And for the record, since this thread's allegedly supposed to be "the truth revealed" (

), I've discussed that with Clickbank: they know I do that, and they have no problem at all with it.

Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707590].message }}

pizzatherapy

13 years ago

We strongly advise that you do not order any products through your own HopLink.
If you choose to do so, your account may be suspended from receiving payments for
any of your sales.

Nothing could be more clear...

You will still find people buying through their own affiliate link...

And Alexa I will have to respectfully disagree with you.

(I don't actually believe that there are many vendors who'd mind my doing this, anyway, without ever asking for a refund - I really don't. And if there are, that's their problem. They made their vendor's cut of the sale out of me, anyway, and that's all they were ever entitled to).

Honestly I do not understand your reasoning on this.

I am a clickbank vendor and I greatly resent someone buying from their own affiliate link.

Greatly.

I would resent the fact that you are purchasing my product for 1/2 price.

But further, why would you risk having your account terminated by violating Clickbanks TOS?

If you want a review copy of one of my products, ask me.

But don't try to rip me off....

Here are some real life examples:

Marlon Sanders, and Jimmy D. Brown do not allow customers to purchase their products from their own affiliate links.

There may be more marketers who feel exactly the same way....

My advice? Don't do it...

Thanks
3 replies

Signature

Help Support Pizza! Pizza T-Shirts for Pizza Lovers! : Find Pizza On Earth!
I am a PowToon Ambassador
Discover Simple Easy Video Creation Tool

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707672].message }}

Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by pizzatherapy

And Alexa I will have to respectfully disagree with you.

No problem there ... I will still respect you in the morning.

Originally Posted by pizzatherapy

Honestly I do not understand your reasoning on this.

I can only repeat it, really (which won't help)?

Originally Posted by pizzatherapy

why would you risk having your account terminated by violating Clickbanks TOS?

I'm not violating Clickbank's TOS. This is the only point where I take issue with you. I'm just not. This will sound arrogant but I believe I've read them, studied them, discussed them with a lawyer, and discussed them with Clickbank far more than most people here.

I'm often the first person here to pull people up for violating other people's TOS: can you really imagine I'd do that and then post about it openly?

I can only repeat that I've discussed it with Clickbank and they have absolutely no problem at all with what I'm doing.

Originally Posted by pizzatherapy

If you want a review copy of one of my products, ask me.

Thank you very much.

I always do that, anyway. I only buy one "for review purposes" when I don't get that one way. And as explained above, I don't ever ask for a refund even if I hate it. Sorry if you think this is unreasonable, Albert. I don't. But I accept that you do and that you're not alone.

(Would you like me to buy it through my best friend's link instead - the person who told me about it originally? You won't earn any more.)
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707843].message }}

Chris Worner

13 years ago

Originally Posted by pizzatherapy

Nothing could be more clear...

[SNIP]

And Alexa I will have to respectfully disagree with you.

Honestly I do not understand your reasoning on this.

[SNIP]

But further, why would you risk having your account terminated by violating Clickbanks TOS?

If you want a review copy of one of my products, ask me.

But don't try to rip me off....

You are a vendor and you don't know Clickbanks Affiliate ToS?

Affiliate Dos and Don’ts (I suggest you have a thorough read)

Since you wont actually read the ToS, for the benefit of everybody reading, I shall quote it below(This is in the don't section btw);

Don’t feel that you must purchase the product you want to promote. You’re never required to purchase a product to be able to promote it, though sometimes owning and using the product can lead to new ideas on how to promote the product.

It doesn't say anything about affiliates not being able to purchase through their own links. Unless my reading and comprehension skills have taken a holiday.

Chris

[ 1 ] Thanks

Signature

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708883].message }}

terryrayburn

13 years ago

Originally Posted by pizzatherapy

Nothing could be more clear...

I am a clickbank vendor and I greatly resent someone buying from their own affiliate link.

Greatly.

I would resent the fact that you are purchasing my product for 1/2 price.

[/B]

I'm not a Clickbank Vendor (yet), but if I was, I would feel privileged if all 300,000 Warriors bought my product through their own account

[ 2 ] Thanks

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3711656].message }}

mediasurgeons

13 years ago

Is it me or has this been debated to death this week?!

Bottom line is Clickbank have no interest in telling you that it is okay. They certainly don't care if you do it and the vendors have set a commission rate that they're happy with so pretty sure they don't care either.

Either you buy through your own links or you don't. You're certainly not going to change the mind of anyone already buying through their own links and if you really want to take the morale high ground and pay full price for your products then all power to you, nobody is stopping you.

Really don't understand how this can annoy you. You set a price your happy with and the customer gets what they're looking for.

Sure it would be nice if they asked you for a review copy but most people don't have time to ping numerous emails back and fourth for the sake of $12.

Plus these people buying through their own links maybe the people that keep you in diamonds and furs. You could be biting the hand that feeds you...

Thanks
1 reply

{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3707891].message }}

George Wright 13 years ago

Originally Posted by jacobjoseph

Is it me or has this been debated to death this week?!

LOL, more like all or part of the last 3 decades. And still no real answer. And that's how CB want's it.

The same is true with many questions asked of PayPal. Ask 3 reps and get 3 answers, all quoting chapter and verse of the portions of the TOS that backs their answer.

We humans tend to go with the answer we want to hear.

George Wright
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

"The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708050].message }}
- bretski 13 years ago
  
  Chances are a CB account rep doesn't know who the heck you are when you submit a ticket unless your bringing in money by the bucket. I am sure that nobody is going to tell you "sure, that's cool... have at it".
  
  Not everyone has a CB account and I believe, as many here do, that if you are a true marketer and if you use your own account to purchase a product there is no harm and no foul.
  
  If, on the other hand, you create an account just to purchase a product at a discount that is another story. That is the reason for the CDR. It makes it difficult yet not impossible to manipulate and exploit the system.
  
  It's like the difference between someone working full time at a store or a restaurant to get an employee discount and then someone getting hired on part time and never showing up for work and still expecting an employee discount. Think about it
  
  As far as a vendor getting ticked if someone purchases through their own account or me, as an affiliate, getting ticked if someone purchases through their own account? I could care less.
  
  Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  ***Affordable Quality Content Written For You!***
  Experience Content Writer - PM Bretski!
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708212].message }}

misterkailo 13 years ago

I did that for 10 of my purchases. I've never gotten in trouble with CB.
- Thanks
Signature
Limited Spots Left... How to Generate 150+ Leads Daily And Earn $3000-6000 Per Sale Without Talking To Anyone
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708162].message }}
VegasGreg 13 years ago

Well, I don't have copies of prior TOS, but I really do recall at one point where Clickbank actually encouraged people to buy through their own links as it would help you review the products and help promote them.

Things could have changed over the years, I haven't read their details for a long, long time.

But I have never been put in "Time Out" for buying stuff.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature

Greg Schueler - Wordpress Fanatic... Living The Offline Marketing Dream...
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708541].message }}
- myob 13 years ago
  
  Yep, the truth can now be revealed that I've been stealing up to 75% of vendors' profits for many, many years by buying through my own links, and never been busted yet.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708638].message }}
O0o0O 13 years ago

Clickbank doesn't care if you buy the products through your affiliate link.

The only time they care is when you first sign up with them and have to show 5 different buyers before they start paying you. That's what they were talking about in the email.

After that, you're free to buy through your own link. But of course they're not going to blatantly say "after you get 5 different sales, then you can buy through your affiliate link". Rather they imply it both in your email as well as in the Accounting Policy.
- Thanks
Signature

Do you offer digital/physical products, services, consultations, events or subscriptions?
Sell on our platform! We're better than Shopify (more affordable too!) [Warrior Discount Inside!]
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3708848].message }}
AUKev 13 years ago

My personal philosophy is that if I become aware of a product through someone else's link (blog, email, webinar et. al.) and I choose to purchase the product, then I will make sure to do so from their link (since they made me aware of the product). If I find a product on my own or from somewhere that is not promoting the product, then I buy through my own link.

There is a product from a poster to this thread, that I purchased awhile back (through my link), just to check it out to see if I wanted to promote it. I liked the product and have since sold a half dozen units in the past month. Had I not purchased (or had to pay full price), I highly doubt that I would have promoted it.

I struggle personally with being in this industry. It is hard for me to promote a product that I have not used.

The saddest part of all, is how many times a product has been SO BAD or completely misrepresented in sales copy, that I ended up refunding it, even after getting a deep discount by purchasing through my own link. Just shows you how bad some products are.

If CB were to find it a major problem, they would not allow it, or not pay the commission. I am an Amazon Affiliate, and have purchased through my link and I do NOT get paid a commission for those transactions.
- Thanks
Signature

Lifetime Access to Seattle Clouds and BiznessApps for 1 Payment
Android App Profits - The Definitive WSO on Profiting from Android Apps
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3712086].message }}
Brerrabbit 13 years ago

Hi folks

This is my first post so please don't shoot me if I am making mistakes.

I have purchased a number of products and sold a number of products and have been paid by Clickbank. I now find that my access to to the clickbank ssl account website is blocked when I want to purchase something. I am not sure whether I have been blocked for requesting refunds or whether there is something on my computer blocking access to the Clickbank ssl account website.

If I use another computer and plug it into my internet connection I am able to access the website. Just my pc seems to be blocked.

What do I do to get around this problem as it is so frustrating not being able to access the website
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3764165].message }}
pizzatherapy 13 years ago

Ok Alexa and Chris Worner.

I stand corrected.

While not illegal, and not specifially against the TOS of Clickbank, it is something I will not do.

But that is just me.

We can agree to disagree on this one.

Thanks for setting me straight.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
Signature
Help Support Pizza! Pizza T-Shirts for Pizza Lovers! : Find Pizza On Earth!
I am a PowToon Ambassador
Discover Simple Easy Video Creation Tool
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[3767417].message }}
- BobK 12 years ago
  
  If you really need to buy something through your own Hop Link, have someone else buy it for you and hand them the money (cost) in exchange for the product.
  
  This of course depends on the type of product..
  
  You'll get the product and the credit towards your account..
  
  Party on!
  Bob
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[6829485].message }}

Using Your Clickbank Links For Discounts - The Truth Revealed!!

Trending Topics

How do I effectively build and nurture an email list for affiliate marketing purposes?

Are billboards still effective in driving customers?

Are Solo ADs the Most Cost Effective Way to Promote your Product?

Been a while! Any of you Old Timers here?

How much does the rebranding affect CR ?