Guru IMer using backdoor URL for MY CB signups...ticked...

by 57 replies
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OK, after being seriously TICKED off, to say the least - -the very least, at the following handling of my affiliate signups by the product seller, I'm interested in what you think is affiliate program etiquette.


FACTS:

1) A very, very well known IMer (going to keep the name private) started selling something that I knew was great (past experience with his stuff and sales record, etc.) - so I started promoting for his new product via his Clickbank link (using my URL for it, thanks goodness).


2) My team and I personally spent time writing content for promotions: articles, press release, etc - -and submitting and publishing it on the web all over: items to directories, press release places, Social Networking, etc. - the whole nine yards.

3) Results: he has since closed his door to the public on his site, and has our visitors subscribe for follow up emails. Note: My client did. Here's where it turns ugly...

4) The CB links leave no cookies, nada. Yet his emails, get this - - - have NO affiliate links at all in them - -AND include a back-door entrance - -with NO affiliate code or our URL at all NOTHING! We spent all that time, money and effort for promotions and for what? To be cheated!

OMG! I KNOW this person and cannot believe this, especially with the background of his character he presents to the public and espcially to fellow IMers. It's truly amazing. Wow, did he just drop a LOT in my IM book. I mean, come on! Like that was ethical?

When a different top IMer -- one I still highly respect - had something similar happen - this was well after long-term growth where his company paid in full and in timely fashion as described in his program, he forewarned all us affiliates that his program was changing and what to do on our end. To me, this is appropriate affiliate program management. This shows integrity, honesty and planning. Well done.

But the above? I can't say anything at all positive about that, especially since that person KNOWS the IM arena inside and out and KNOWS what he is doing, sending out a backdoor URL. That's just plain ugly, in my humble opinion. Maybe I'm truly not seeing the big picture, but why not:

- TELL affiliates there are changes - both on your site and via emails. Don't let people continue to promote when it STILL says you pay 50% when you set things up in this manner? That's cheating us and that affiliate page STILL says that - even today.

OK, what do you think? I could very well be wrong, but hey - I don't have to like it
#main internet marketing discussion forum #backdoor #guru #imer #signupsticked #url
  • Question - you say you "know" this marketer. So why haven't you approached this with them directly??

    You're frustrated, I get it. I even understand why. But after a while I start to wonder why people so often feel the need to share their drama.

    Instead of posting this to get "proof" that you are "right", go to the marketer directly and solve the problem. Then either continue marketing this CB product, or don't.

    Does it really need to be any more complicated than that?

    Ken
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    • If every single post *had* to be essential, this would be a pretty quiet place.
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    • Jennifer says it all!
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    • I see this issue has come to a resolution of sorts. I'm glad that Diana posted the issue here, if for no other reason to notify other affiliate marketers to some vendor tactics.

      Not sure, but perhaps it's the same impetus as you have when you preface many of your posts with "as I always tell my students ...". Of course, you edited your first post on this thread to exclude the part about what you always tell all of your students.
      See above. We already know you have students. No need to mention it over and over and over.
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  • I can understand your disappointment but the question I have is - Was anything mentioned in the affiliate signup procedure about what to expect?

    It may just be that the person didn't put enough thought into their affiliate program and you had expectations which were not based on anything they'd said, offered or promised.

    I imagine if you tell them what you've noticed and ask them to respond, they'll do exactly what needs to be done.

    It seems weird that you've come here to air this in public and not mentioned whether you've even spoken to them about it or not.

    Andy
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    • I agree. I wasn't saying otherwise - just asking for clarification of where the expectation came from. Sometimes people really do come here and post before thinking things through and then realise afterwards that they got all worked up for nothing, so rather than make assumptions I was just asking.

      Sorry if that seems weird or unfeeling.

      It's useful to have threads like this anyway and sometimes posting questions to the OP helps others reading the thread consider things too.
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  • re: "3) Results: he has since closed his door to the public on his site, and has our visitors subscribe for follow up emails. Note: My client did. Here's where it turns ugly..."

    There is something that you may not have seen that may help with this. (or at least may stop it happening for you in the future).

    PM me and I'll pass it on.

    Roy
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  • How long did it take you to write that post? Less time than it would have taken to call or email this "top IMer" you know so well?

    I'm with Ken - what's the point? Take it up with this guy.

    Mark
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    • I HAVE. I HAVE. I HAVE.

      Everyone read that now?

      ...and yes, the program STILL today says it's open AND pays 50% AND the seller does know what he's doing and is alerted to this back door. All is in the open.

      Sorry to have left sll the details out. Wasn't trying tp spend an hour on my post, but hey, my bad there - appologies.

      OK, heading off here. Thought I'd get some constructive yet very helpful, positive replies, but maybe this just isn't written right from the start or this just isn't worth posting about, even though I've read many other posts on this topic in a similar fashion, so appologies all.

      Go ahead and delete, rip it up, etc. Unsubscribing and moving on with this, too. Poor topic, poor discussion, poor choice for it, etc. Appologies. Adios. Thanks anyway


      Heads up: just monitor what you promote. Basic business.

      Enough said.
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    • No Problem Diana. Glad it helped.

      Roy
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  • Hi,

    I think there are far more time wasting threads than this one. To be honest, if it is important to the person writing the thread, then it should be relevant, end of.

    Many who have written quite long replies telling the guy to stop wasting his time is a wee bit hypocritical. The fact is, there IS something to learn here, I for one didn't think to keep track of the products I am promoting in this way, now I will be more alert.

    In off-line business people have the law to protect them. Online we are on our own and it is good to be vigilant and let others know if there is potential theft methods or whatever.

    Keep it up Dbarnum
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  • Why take it up with someone who has already betrayed your trust?

    Are you going to believe what they say?

    We aren't getting the other side of the story, but based on the OP, it sounds like it's a deliberate attempt to benefit from the traffic affiliates send, then not pay them anything.

    All the best,
    Michael
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  • haha sounds good to me brother

    Ken
  • And in the end we didn't knew who is the IMer that is doing it and this turned out to a "is this a public forum or not" discussion.

    Not cool.
    • [1] reply
    • Yeah, i feel you Diana. It must be really painful doing all that groundwork, only to discover that all your efforts have gone to vain. Hope you recover well from this setback.
  • Banned
    [DELETED]
    • [2] replies
    • Banned
      I didn't see any attacks on Diane. People posted their observations.
    • He's been named in a post further down ..


      .. it's a Warrior called asap

      Harvey
      • [1] reply
  • I smell a rat too. Been burned that way before...never again.

    You should pull away from the chap asap, and basically cut them off at the knees.

    If I ever do anything like that, could you do me a favor and please name and shame me in public?

    -Floyd
  • Okay, so many people have just told dbarnum to basically keep a lid on it and stop complaining. So, let's examine what is really going on here.

    1. Everyone NEEDS to vent. This is how we release pressure. It is a proven fact that men are not usually great at venting and expressing themselves. . . This is why so many males FREAK OUT. The pressure builds up and. . . BOOM. Women, on the other hand, LOVE to communicate and express themselves. That clears that up. Now onto the next. .

    2. When someone reaches out, and this is what is clearly going on here... One does not tell them to "Be quiet." One must respect that someone has bared their soul and shared their feelings. . . To anyone who did the brush off...

    How would you feel if you were having a bad day, AND you tried to vent, to reach out.. and you were told, "Who cares. . ."

    Do you see what I mean? This is supposed to be a community. When someone reaches out. . . Don't bash them, take a sincere and genuine interest and present a solution. You never know when YOU might need to reach out. Here is a GREAT expression for you.

    "Be Nice To The People On The Way To The Top. You Will Need Them On The Way Back Down"

    It does not take but a few minutes to be considerate and present a solution to someone who has clearly reached out and obviously respects what people say here. Don't lose that respect and trust. . .

    Regards
    Andrew
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  • Dear Dbarnum,

    If the guy is doing what you say then I hope he gets what's coming to him.

    I have an inkling who it could be, but that means nothing really. It's just a guess on my part.

    What a sneaky, cheating, lying crook he is though.

    Don't let the scumbag get you down.

    Steadyon
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  • A Clickbank URL drops a 60-day cookie on the prospect's computer, yes? So even if the person you referred signs up to a list that includes a non-affiliate link to the product, you still get a commission if they buy within 60 days, yes?

    So other than CB having a stinking short cookie length, I'm missing the problem.

    Since everyone here is jumping in and saying how horrible it is, I assume I'm missing the problem.

    Jay Jennings
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    • Update:

      The seller has fixed things. There is now a price increase showing + the CB affiliate ID commission info shows during check out - - yeah!!!

      So hey, maybe squeaky wheels get grease or things were just out of sync, or who knows. But I have my confidence and faith restored in this seller. And to me, that's important. I like to truly believe in the seller, not just the product.
  • How is that possible? CB creates the cookie, not the vendor. His emails do NOT need to have affiliate links in them for you to get credit... that is what the cookie is for.

    I've tested that with many products, and it works fine.

    If no cookies are appearing on your computer, maybe you have spyware or something else that is blocking or deleting them.

    It sounds like you don't know how the CB process works, and that is leading you to a false conclusion about this person cheating you.

    Why do people always assume they are being cheated, rather than consider that there may be some other explanation? Yet so many here jump on the bandwagon and assume something sinister is going on, without even seeing the site in question.
  • A lot of people really do not understand what cookies are and how they work.

    It's a file on your pc.

    When someone clicks on a hoplink, CB puts a file on thier pc which saves the aff id of whomever last initiated that click (the affiliate CB id from the hoplink).

    That file stays on the persons computer for 60 days (in the case of CB).

    When someone gets to a checkout page on CB, CB will look for this file (the cookie), get the aff id that was stored there, and if it finds one it will credit that affiliate with the sale.

    There is no need for the vendor to ever use your hoplink in their emails - as the cookie has already been set.
  • Wow. Same exact post from the other thread you posted in.

    And same result! Reported...

    Why not read the rules and try to amp up your post count the right way?

    Be better for ya, I guarantee it...
    • [3] replies
    • You got it!

      Anyone else want to help stomp some bugs?

      It's FUN :p

    • yeah, and the way you see it is that we are all thieves.

      If you think you are in a den of thieves, then go find somewhere else to hang out.

      or maybe you don't understand what "no honor among thieves" means?

      It means thieves will steal from each other. So saying that, everytime someone says they're getting ripped of, etc, is saying that they are a thief themself and had it coming to them...
      • [1] reply
    • Just goes to show you, no matter how good someone's reputation Is, you can still get burnt by them.
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