Networks and Affiliates4u forums

[Azam.net]

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I agree with Jeff on this one. Obviously there would/could be legal implications and I'm not an expert on the permissability of this, but ideally such affiliates should be outed on these very forums.

It seems unlikely that will happen so I'm all for the networks sharing information about affiliates who are blatently fraudulent. At the end of the day, fraudulent affiliates not only affect merchants/networks but, as someone said above, impact on honest affiliates, who have to suffer with lower commissions as a result.

I also would agree that there is a lot of negativity on these forums. Human nature is such that people raise their voice more often when they are unhappy than when they are content. People post when they feel a merchant or network has been unfair, but rarely say "such and such a merchant is brilliant - keep up the good work". That's why I now make a special effort to publicly (as well as privately) praise networks and merchants who treat affiliates with respect and offer fair rates of renumeration.

There are affiliates on this forum who have stated they are earning tens of thousands of pounds from various affiliate programs: if I was in such a position I would complain less and praise far more

At the end of the day, we ALL need to respect each other more. I thought those affiliate get2gethers would involve punch-ups between merchants and affiliates, but we get on fairly don't we? Just like many an aggrieved couple we often bicker and row but at the end of the day really love each other (sorry, but it is Valentine's ).

[aly]

Originally posted by tonystubbings
I have a general question. Recently we have terminated several Affiliate account because of fraudulent activity.

Would it be appropriate for us to post the details of these affiliates on this forum?

As you are the middle man, rather than an affiliate or a merchant, I would think you could possibly have legal problems regarding confidentiality etc but............

If there were NO legal problems would you as the middle man be happy to name both affiliates AND merchants you have had to suspend due to fraud and give details of the fraud etc ?

Cheers
Aly

[linkyjinx]

quote:
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Originally posted by tonystubbings
I have a general question. Recently we have terminated several Affiliate account because of fraudulent activity.

Would it be appropriate for us to post the details of these affiliates on this forum?
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other affiliates should be told if there are dodgey dealers here, I guess naming & shaming isn't going to happen - makes it sound like a 'den of theives' plotting to over throw the networks....I'll admit, I niked a 'cream egg' once from a merchant on one of the networks here (when I was 14) felt bad while eating it mind....

[Mobipack]

If networks were only paid on result, a lot of problems would get solved.

In my opinion, there is an obvious conflict of interest when networks get most of their turnover from merchants' management fees.
A merchant who has removed the tracking code from his confirmation page, but pays the flat fees every month, is still a good client. Otherwise he is a waste of time and money for the network...

I feel that some people have a very short term view of their business. They just don't realize how negative the impact of a fraudulent merchant can be on their reputation.

Until that situation has changed, I think affiliates will need to do the cleaning themselves and use this for forum for it.
I agree this forum shouldn't be the place for that, but what other choice have we when not everything is done by the networks?

Jeff

[Lee_Owen]

I like this forum because it's different, it's strange to have an 'unofficial' and 'independent' board cater for affiliates, middlemen and merchants. The thing that can confuse me is the merchant or middleman may well post their new programs up or details of offers, but what exactly are you to discuss if there's a forum for each network and also a post from a merchant, especially when they miss info out?

If you shouldn't ask questions then perhaps there should be two levels, read only for affiliates and post only for merchants, if it's to be a noticeboard rather than a forum. But if Matt 'the Guvna' Woods is to allow discussion then obviously this is going to see a range of questions to difficult queries.

Take Kitbag and England and the posting by AF, announcement yesterday about pre order banners today but site says offer starts tomorrow but is that an important question to ask by e-mail or just one to ask on here in the hope that a casual passerby from either merchant or network answers it by the end of the day or a fellow board member interjects.

Vitriolic complaints in my view, should be sent to the gaffers, queries should be allowed but you shouldn't expect merchants and networks to answer on here even though they post their programs and instigate discussion because of their action.

Merchants and networks can't expect affiliates not to openly discuss a variety of issues when they themselves post as representatives of their companies, like someone has probably said already, you can't have one way traffic in an environement like this.

I'm sure these issues have been dicussed for years by the more rich or three times the poorer amongst you all, I think as long as people on here realise that the forum is unique that you have affiliates, merchants and networks all on one board and that each party needs to know that whilst discussion needs to be ongoing between all, complaints and heavy issues should be kept to e-mail.

Passing comment on these issues however should not and likewise affiliates the merchants and networks need to realise that passing comment probably is exactly that and if there's any legal issue with complaints and wrongful finger pointing then that should be taken up with site admin and not in an open forum.

I posted something in the CJ forum the other day, a bit hastily but it wasn't to get an answer from CJ it was to just get quick feedback from someone else. To me the individual forums are there to talk to fellow affiliates who are with that network, not necessarily to talk to CJ or the merchant, but I'm sure we, as well as the Guvnor, are as chuffed to have them at hand.

I sincerely hope nothing upsets the message board and that admin do keep a tight control on it within reason, because as I said, it's a unique set up and I'm sure Matt's a trillionaire by now but a little present from merchants or networks or affiliates - through signing up to merchants might be welcomed by him at Xmas to prevent him charging networks for presumed support forums.

PS: I'm not daft, my commission is 2% on food and drink and 5% on other goods, any socks or nitted jumpers please send to Mr Woods just in case cold war breaks out.

PPS: As Matt might have some swing - oo er - with the networks, a commitment of stay from merchants would be nice instead of a flurry of sites being scrubbed out in one month from one network, add a revision or end date or a warning note/image of non payment, or even all three. This may put a halt to some bad feeling from affiliates and would make all accountable.