Comet's New "Last-Referrer" Policy

[payg]

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I have just finished wading through the recent Comet threads and I am still a little confused.

What I am clear about:

• Contrary to commission-based affiliate programs the World over, Comet has recently changed its policy so that it will now steal my commissions when one of my visitors clicks through to Comet from one of Comet’s own PPC Google ads before completing a purchase. This will obviously happen a lot and therefore nullifies much of the benefit of a 30-day cookie.
• Because this will happen a lot, it will save Comet a lot of money - all savings being 100% at the expense of affiliates and the networks.
• This is great news for Comet if they can get away with it.
• So far, they seem to be getting away with it. The full ramifications of Comet’s new policy seem to have been buried in the confusion surrounding the precise mechanics of how and where commissions are being reversed.

What I am not clear about:

• The precise mechanics of how and where commissions are now being reversed

For the last week or so I have been using the new Comet data feed, which contains all of the new CM tracking codes. Is Comet now stealing my commissions at source, or, does it still have to steal them afterwards? In other words, in trying to assess Comet’s conversion rate under the new regime, can I assume that the sales recorded this week are no longer subject to an 80% reversal rate? Is Comet’s new tracking software now fully operational or is it still a work in progress?

I would be very grateful if someone could supply a definitive answer to these questions.

[marcg]

• Contrary to commission-based affiliate programs the World over, Comet has recently changed its policy so that it will now steal my commissions when one of my visitors clicks through to Comet from one of Comet’s own PPC Google ads before completing a purchase. This will obviously happen a lot and therefore nullifies much of the benefit of a 30-day cookie.

What if the visitor clicks through to comet from another affiliates link - would you consider that affiliate to have 'stolen' the commission from you?

The visitor has clicked on your link, been to the comet website, and not decided to buy anything - the job you're doing to promote comets products and services obviously were not good enough in that instance, but the job of the PPC ad was.

How about if the visitor clicks on the comet PPC ad first, then doesn't decide to buy anything, then later comes back to the comet site through your promotions of them and makes a purchase then. Should comet get thier money back for the PPC they paid for that user?

I really object to people using terms like 'stealing' in instances like these - no one is stealing anything, affiliates are just missing out on something they didn't deserve anyway.

[ian]

Last referrer swings both ways, so sometimes you will be 'stealing' from other affiliates and sometimes they will 'steal' from you. Thats just the way it goes, and it isn't stealing.

I'm not sure if they have recently stopped, but I can't see a ppc ad on Google for 'comet' so they aren't cleaning up on brand searches for recurring visits.

As for your question "The precise mechanics of how and where commissions are now being reversed" - your guess is as good as anyone elses as it has been clearly shown that they are reversing purchases that were clearly not theirs to reverse.

[Shane]

Far as I see it the last point of contact that influenced the buying decision should get paid.

I just spent around couple of grand on a program that, unknown to me when I commenced and not mentioned in the small print, employs a first cookie set policy, and it's a 90 day cookie !

They insist on being number 1 on ppc so literally they are taking the pi$$ in my view.

Chances of them getting first click on PPC .. hmm around 45%+
Chances of me getting clicks in the 90 days after their cookie set .. hmm around 70%+ (based on deleted sales data)
Chances of me getting my cookie set first ... hmmm around 12%
Chances of me promoting them on this basis hmm... ZERO

Stopped pushing them on adwords..simply will not work on the first cookie set basis especially when restricted into second position on PPC.

Sure I know that it will work both ways.. some will click my ad then the merchants later and I'll get paid but I just think the odds are stacked against affiliates on these terms.

Best thing is that it's for a product that you do a fair bit of research on before taking.. you wouldn't necessarily just search and go for it there and then so cookies are very important for this particular merchant.

The common line is last cookie set so why do some merchants expect us to take a first cookie set program, especially if it's restrictive and obviously weighted in their favour ?

[Hari Seldon]

What I am clear about:

I know you think you are but trust me you're not - if the last referrer was from a PPC ad then whoever paid for that ad is rewarded with the commission.

There's a fuller expanation in the other Comet thread but you really shouldn't go around making unsubstantiated accusations that anyone is "stealing your commission", it could get you in a whole heap of trouble.

[Hari Seldon]

I just spent around couple of grand on a program that, unknown to me when I commenced and not mentioned in the small print, employs a first cookie set policy ... Chances of me promoting them on this basis hmm... ZERO

Ouch, was this via a Network? You'd have thought the Network would have highlighted something so contrary to the norm.

Obviously it's the merchant's choice how they want to manage their PFP programs but I wouldn't have expected many Affiliates would be interested in promoting them on that basis.

[km8]

• Contrary to commission-based affiliate programs the World over, Comet has recently changed its policy so that it will now steal my commissions ....

... Is Comet now stealing my commissions at source, or, does it still have to steal them afterwards?

No offence, and not commenting on the merits or otherwise of your arguments, but if I was Comet I would boot you from the program and possibly sue you too!

Whether they or you are right or wrong, you're well out of order calling them thieves on a public forum. What ever happened to professionalism?

Perhaps the moderators should consider whether they wish to take the risk of aiding the publication and dissemination of that kind of potentially libellous accusation?

[kevquinlan]

Can we please take the Personal stuff and the definitions of PPC etc into PM - we need to get to the bottom of the real initial problems

high reported number of Declines that were in fact genuine

If ANYONE is getting paid for the comet sales that are being declined (and have the networks seen any evidence to this effect?)

Trying to encourage Comet to de Dupe from ALL sources so that less sales are recorded that we will never get paid for.

We are in danger of making ourselves look stupid by bickering and then why would the networks or Comet bother with us?

[ReviewSaver]

I just noticed this after making my own post, it was regarding Comet in fact. 20 declined sales and 19 are 'Not last referer'. So something is definately having an impact on me, if that's the case perhaps focus more attention on other home appliance retailers such as Currys where I get none of these declined sales and a much higher success rate now.

[christophercampbell]

Hi,

Comet transactions declined with the reason 'Not Last Referrer' are sales where the last click was from another channel. Comet's de-duping policy awards sales to the last referring channel therefore any orders where you were not the last click would be declined.

If you are seeing high levels of declined orders we would be happy to look into them further to give you more information about which channel they are being attributed to.

Please feel free to contact me at chris.campbell@affiliatewindow.com

Thanks

Chris Campbell
Account Manager