in depth research re 180 solutions and an idea

[betterHalf]

Tweet

http://www.benedelman.org/spyware/180-affiliates/

has a WEALTh of info re 180 solutions and their stealing from both affiliates and merchants.

If this has been suggested before, forgive me, couldn't see it. The idea is basically this:-

We seem to have no power to persuade the networks to kick out these scumware / spyware / thiefware / stealware companies such as 180 solutions. The reason is explained in the article above - essentially networks who tolerate/co-operate with scumware companies have a *conflict of interest*. Even if no commission is due, if 180 solutions (e.g) can help the network apply a commission (and thus 'earn' the network a 30% overrider) they are basically getting money for nothing. Dubious or what? Of course, I am NOT suggesting that this actually happens :-) but of course it could!!!

So,anyway, no wonder they arent listening to *us*.

However, they might *listen to the merchants*. Problem is, most merchants aren't (shall we say) particularly up to speed on this whole affiliate thang, and probably have no idea what we are banging on about.

So... lets take the list of merchants NOT on 180s exclusion list (see article at head of page for this list, strangely Dell, Walmart etc are excluded from 180's theft!) and email them *as an association of their affiliates* explaining in simple terms why they are being stolen from, perhaps even more so than us!

I bet if (for example) Lloyds realised that even people finding their site via google organic listings had a REAL chance of having a cookie slapped down by these 180 solutions type sucm, and thus having to pay a hefty sales commission whan no sales commission was due and no sales activity had taken place they might suddenly get interested. After all, it could be costing a merchant as much as 20% of their commission budget!

Those with a real interest in this? PaidonResults, Buy.at etc - any ethical decent network that refuses to deal with scum and theftware 180 solutions type companies.

Ideas?
.