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[getvisible]

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have AW said they've dropped 180 specifically?

[Marc Gear]

Originally posted by getvisible
have AW said they've dropped 180 specifically?

Yes, about 6 posts up

[drooper]

So does this nasty commission stealer affect independent programs?

I think there needs to be a little clarity here.

Lets say a merchant has a program at a network that is pro-parasite (or indifferent) and also have a program at a parasite free network. There seems to be a train of thought that says simply promote the merchant through the parasite free network. I encourage this because it puts a little pressure on the network that is pro-parasite and shows loyalty to the networks making efforts to remain parasite free. However this doesnt mean that your commissions are entirely safe due to the way this parasiteware works. If someone has spypopware installed on their pc and they visit your website, different software can do different things. Firstly it can look at the text on your page and if it sees keywords relating to your merchant it can execute a popup. Faced with a choice of clicking your link or a popup (which the user thinks is yours) which offers them 10% off which do you think the user will click? Secondly, the software can wait until the user has clicked on your link and cause a popup based on the merchants url in the address bar, again offering a discount if the user clicks here and setting a new cookie. Thirdly, the software could simply discreetly overwrite your cookie with their own when the user clicks through.

Different spypop products work in different ways, the point is your commissions arent safe just because youve switched networks or are promoting an indy. Also, dont be mislead by bogus codes of conduct, when the COC was drawn up it was and is widely seen by many as nothing more than officially recognising the parasites right to exist. Many affiliates were against the coc being drawn up at all for this reason but certain parties declared themselves spokespersons for all affiliates and have made choices for you. I speak not only of the coc but the the agreement with ebates over an exclusion list which prevents their mo money maker (mmm) software from poping up on websites that are on the exclusion list.

At first the ebates exclusion list may sound like a good idea and your first thought may be "how do I get on it"? The bad news is you cant, youve missed the boat. If you think about this a bit deeper you start to realise that the person who decided he represents you and makes your decicions for you has simply given legal grounds to popup their mmm on your site since the exclusion list recognises their right to do so if youre not on it.

Swapping your links out is a noble act but its not the only option. Probably the best way to fight is to inform your audience and merchants of the horrors that are happening. Why would a merchant want a shopper to see an affiliate popup when said shopper is already on the merchant site? All that achives is forcing the merchant to pay a commission that they would have avoided if the user came to their site via a search engine. You can educate your users by telling them that they may have this type of software on their machine. All it would take is a prominent link which reads "get rid of spyware on your computer" or "We dont use popups, if you see one click here" or words to that effect.

[getvisible]

lmao - damn my head hurts!

[Malcolm Cowley]

Hi

As if anyone was in doubt that I would bring this thread back up after launching Marks and Spencer :-)

Just another small merchant to add to the list of duality

[Matthew Wood]

Would also be nice if someone from OMG would give us their stance.

Spoke to OMG yesterday..

As a financial program provider they do not have any software affiliates such as the above mentioned on their network so you can have peace of mind with that. So another 'ethical network' to add to the list.

Hope that helps

Matt.

[Tyson Pearcey]

We're in the business of making 3 different groups profitable, our merchant clients, our affiliate partners and OMG.

For us to use "software affiliates" which would remove opportunities from our affiliates (life and blood of our industry) we would not be making the right choice for our business and our partners.

We have always taken the stance of, non-use of "software affiliates" and we will continue to take that stance.

Matt, thanks for the talk the other day and bringing this thread to light. And just to make the point 100% clear about OMG's position on "software affiliates" .............. Never have, Never will.

Cheers
Tyson
www.omguk.com
Bringing on new converting clients every month.

[Chris]

Very cool guys, excellent to see 180 been terminated , if only the US would follow suit and get this scum outed....

Cheers

Chris

[DaveR]

Originally posted by Matt Wood
Spoke to OMG yesterday..

As a financial program provider they do not have any software affiliates such as the above mentioned on their network so you can have peace of mind with that. So another 'ethical network' to add to the list.

Presumably 180 Sol have now been removed completely from AWin after their 7 days notice. Big thumbs up for AWin.

Can the first post be edited to add OMG and AWin so as not to mislead?

Dave

[Wardy]

Updated.

Cheers
Wardy

[DaveR]

Cheers Wardy

I'm in the process for changing links over to those ethical / fair networks.

It's great to see that one thread can have so much impact.

I think those networks that have been pro active should be rewarded (it's not simply a case of trying to penalise the other networks)


Dave

[999gi]

OK - ethical question for you guys

Is it bad form to say promote MFI on buy.at when all my links are generated based on a CJ feed? (I think I know the answer to this!)

Before anyone says get an MFI feed from buyat, its much easier for me to use CJ as having a large number of feeds from CJ (and AW) in the same format makes life so much easier for me. Consequenly from an admin perspective AW & CJ are my preferred networks.

[Supercod]

I would say it is bad.. and 2 wrongs don't make a right.. but since CJ has had years to put the issue of spyware right for honest affiliates who still make up the majority of income for them (I would imagine) and would make up even more if spyware wasn't stealing a percentage of our sales.

So don't lose any sleep over it If it had been one of the ethical networks then I would have said bad man

[Malcolm Cowley]

Hi

I can make it easier than that for you 999gi :-)

Ill just get some more merchants to move over to us then you can use all our feeds and they will be in the Majority for you :-)

[Tyson Pearcey]

One more to the list,

Your Loan - DGM ---> Your Loan - OMG