Stealing Exclusive Codes

[tbp]

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I've just discovered a dedicated page for our business on a voucher code site. We have in fact never issued any codes and the bit where you discover that we haven't got any is well down the page after the usual several paragraphs of blurb about our company.

Surely thats something that the networks should deal with.

Step 1 - Issue a warning, and ask for it to be removed. Ask the affiliate to send written confirmation that they have received the warning.

Step 2 - If it happens again, then block the affiliate from the network. Thats it, the affiliate loses their revenue stream. There can't be a better incentive to play within the rules.

Seems to me that the networks are far to lenient on letting people break the rules, and a few bad affiliates are spoiling things for everyone.

[jess1]

Jason, becuase I dont know what to do is the simple answer, if I name and shame means every one will just shoot this person down and could make matters worse for them and for merchants who do benefit from their legit codes. What I don't agree with as we can all see some people do agree. So its not my call to make. Its a really tough one. All I can do is ensure that the programs I run are clean. Does that make sense?

Im not Judge, jury and the hangman.

Affiliates have got to take the lead on this one its not about sweepig things under the carpet, its about looking at the consequences this could have, as it does not just effect my client, it has affects on other peoples business that find this practice acceptable and are working with this company. I have notified the aff network. If they dont respond, then... Ill re think things.

[Frostie]

they are offering a discount that we do not fulfil and it is confusing our customers.

I had a similar discussion with Buy.At about this type of behaviour after finding a merchant being pushed with "CLICK HERE FOR A DISCOUNT CODE" even thought the merchant has NEVER issued a code. EVER!

I spoke to Buy.at and it got passed up the chain and on Monday received an email response from Steven Brown. Although the response was both welcome and informative it gave no clear indication of;
Yes we will take action NOW
or
No its down to the merchant to decide

I've just exmailed Steve for exact information on this particular incident. It would be nice to see what action is actually being taken.

Affiliates have got to take the lead

Jess, you know me, for the past 5 months I have been one of many voices raising the issue. Some networks are making great progress on the handling and distribution of codes, notably DGM, Webgains, Affiliate Window, POR. However when blantant incidents like the one I mention above, and you have mentioned, come to light time and time again it does become tiresome and makes affiliates think its not worth reporting it. Hardly ever do people see any action or good come of it.

[everythingplay]

everythingplay.com will be happy to issue exclusive codes to any affiliates that would like one. Just drop me a line and we can sort one out for you.

[aotagain]

And do you, by any chance, have to click for a cookie before you get told there's no voucher code?

Now that's uncanny - how on earth did you guess that ?!
Actually there are at least 5 chances to click and drop a cookie and that's not counting the links in the forum.

I think a trick has been missed though, because disabling the back button would probably get more clicks through to merchants

I think some sites deserve a gradual approach to warnings, as in many cases you can tell there's no deliberate attempt to deceive, mislead or cookie stuff.

On the other hand imo an immediate 'asbo' is more in order in some cases. There's no difficulty in coming down on the side of right or wrong, regardless of whether we are all in business to make money, there is a line that shouldn't be crossed and if someone goes through it with a bulldozer, then they are putting their entire business at risk. Perhaps not tommorrow, but in the fullness of time as they used to say in Yes Minister.

[loquax]

if I name and shame means every one will just shoot this person down and could make matters worse for them and for merchants who do benefit from their legit codes.

Well perhaps that is what is necessary? We all sign up to ts and cs set by networks, we're all expected to be "professional" (yuk) - and if you break the rules then you take the consequences?

It is coming down to networks/agencies/merchants taking affirmative action - because as an affiliate I want to know whether (1) you're protecting the interests of ALL affiliates and (2) if breaking the rules goes unpunished then I want to make sure I'm on the bandwagon and reaping the rewards.... because if the people creating the rules aren't bothered by them, then why should anyone else?

The days of nicey nicey affiliate marketing need to go if these issues are going to be tackled and dealt with effectively.

Has anyone above affiliate level though got the gumption to do that?

Jason

[Frostie]

gumption

What a beautiful word GUMPTION is

I thought you'd made that one up!

[jess1]

everythingplay.com will be happy to issue exclusive codes to any affiliates that would like one. Just drop me a line and we can sort one out for you.

Lol cheeky chops!

Frostie, Im kinda out of the loop how far you got. I spoke to CBA and I hear the round table was cool :0)

I can see this being a tough one for the networks to police what has gone but I know that some networks are putting some measures in place for the future. How ever if it involves putting more code on the merchant pages, then its a no go for a lot of merchants, it was all they could do just to get the tracking in place. I feel there is a shift in the way merchants want to use vouchers and with affiliates. Some merchants don't want to appear along side voucher domain names in the serps, they feel they are being seen as bargain basement stores. When you tell a merchant about the benefits of associating they kinda get it, but then they start thinking along brand terms. There are a whole group of merchants out there that think they are a brand but really they are just building a brand. I would argue that voucher sites can help do this. If we look at the high street brands M&S, HMV, Argos... all in their front window are discounted products to lure the customer through the door. Surely this is what voucher sites are, the shop window to get the customer through the door? I have a concern (possibly unfounded) that some merchants seem to be only looking at the first time sale and not looking at ways to upsell, get them coming back. Surely once affiliates send a new customer, job done? Or should be so the merchant can get on with bringing that customer back again and again, otherwise whats the point of a long cookie? I think Im selling coal to NewCastle here. The cost of aquiring a new customer, how much? % of a sale, but what is the life time value of that new customer. So there is a place for voucher sites but not at any cost if it means customer services have to stop and follow the crumb trail back to an affiliate who was never issued a voucher code. Did I yak on too long? Sorry

[WillD]

A thought…

If I issue an exclusive code to one affiliate and another one starts promoting it, I can track back the sales from the rogue affiliate and stop his commission (After all the normal warnings yada yada…) Then perhaps I should then award that commission to the original affiliate… no Idea if I can do this on the tradedoubler interface and I would have to amend my T’s and C’s but it would make a point.

If you have an exclusive GLTC code and it’s been nicked, let me know as I have a way of hiding codes in to re-directs so that it’s not actually visible to anyone except GLTC (the code & offer automatically triggers when the punter clicks through – same as the network tracking)


If you would like a code – let me know.

Cheers

Will

[befuddle]

Some networks are making great progress on the handling and distribution of codes, notably DGM

DGM? Really? What codes? Please can Chris or DGM send me the details?

[drivetowin]

Jess

You mention codes being shown past their expiry date - if there is one problem I have with discount vouchers it is that so many merchants give us absolutely no idea when a discount is due to expire. Equally they publish discount codes here on the forum and by email for us to use which is great but very rarely send an email to tell us a code is being discontinued - don't know if it's true for all sites but the way I often find out about a code expiring is because one of my site visitors sends a snotty email to say the code doesn't work any more.

[befuddle]

I have 90 emails in my Gmail outbox that include the line "what is the expiry date" which is sent to merchants/affiliate managers almost immediately after I've read the original email.

Very often the code does actually have an expiry date and is not just an ongoing promotion.

It's also wise to list an expiry date, even if it is 5 years in the future as some codes are.

Finally, just because a code has the word "VALENTINES" in it, doesn't also mean we have to assume it expires on the 14th Feb.

[Barry]

I have been using 'click here to reveal voucher' buttons since 2002 when my site was first conceived and it was a way of assuring that I got the commission in return for advertising and promoting a code that was issued to me as oppossed to someone just browsing the site and using the copy and paste button and typing in the merchant url directly to get there. I don't see whats so bad about that.

Saying that I am busy working on my website tonight to insure that if a merchants code is out of date (in the hidden area) people will not have to have a cookie planted to see the out of date voucher. Up till now I have never got round to it and I can see that its getting on a few people nerves.

I also have a few problems with merchants on my site listed in google that have no description or voucher - this is due to an error I made last week when trying to implement these above changes. Whereas up to this glitch I have never included a merchant on my discount site without there being a discount offered.

Basically the database I use on my discount site is the same as my old cobbled together shopping directory and a few merchants without vouchers at all have leaked through to my discount directory due to my crappy coding. I am also trying to remedy this problem by clearly stating if a merchant has no voucher and so not to get a click under false pretenses. I feel its important for me to start listing sites without codes to enable me to get users to submit codes that they may have found on merchants who I don't have codes for (as most merchants enjoy the extra sales.)

The reason behind this is simple, I have only been to one get together before and have only met a few of you, but this year I want to get to the expo and meet alot more. - I don't want to be thought of as a commission nicker or someone who is ripping off anyone. In fact sod the 'thought of' I really don't want to nick anyones commission or lower the value of the very industry I earn a living from.

It will add that an end date to any promo should be compulsory information (or informed as soon as it runs out) so that I can manage to maintain this in a proper manner.

Also if you are a merchant who does not for some reason like the distribution of codes that you add you name to my thread here:-
http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/m...companies.html

or add it in your program T&C so that I can see not to include your vouchers on my site that are meant for the use in other channels you may see fit.

Sorry if my grammar is really rubbish, english is not a strong point (even though i am british - just a bit dull) and I hope I have got my point accross

Ta

[aotagain]

Can't see anything wrong with 'click here to get the code' - its all part of tracking and qualifying visitors - the next page could well be a 'how to' page that links to the merchant, which would probably improve conversions.

Problem is the ones that have 6 links to get the code, all of which drop cookies, while going straight through to the merchant website, with no pre-sell, where there's never been a code for that merchant in the history of the universe. So the visitor wonders what on earth the merchant is playing at - bad customer experience etc. Arrives plonk in the middle of the merchant site with no sign of a code anywhere.

Accompanied by a dedicated sub-directory for the merchant with no original content about the merchant, just plastered with 'voucher codes' blah, blah.

I'm sure most merchants can differentiate between the two !