3 Mobile Affiliates - Worst Performing Mobile Merchant?

[Ballswinger]

Anyone else having problems viewing their stats today??

https://secure.3-mobile-affiliate.com/actions/login.php

[bewise]

I haven't been on the forum in a while and it's not good to see that thiings haven't changed in the world of 3 mobile. I just checked November 2009's stats and I had 49 sales declined and 6 approved. Adam I'm glad that you say you have a good understanding of the affiliate side, however I should let you know that it is now the case that the majority of merchants (90%+) do actually pay per approved sale. Furthermore these merchants are selling top end handsets worth hundreds of pounds and even in those cases where people are purchasing Nokia N97's and iPhones we still get approval rates of 40% as an absolute worst case, not the abysmal rates that we are getting with 3 Mobile. Furthermore I do not think that it is appropriate for you to suggest that we "milk" other affiliate programs whilst it lasts, as that suggests that we are trying to get whatever we can and not deliver value for money. I think I can speak for many of the affiliates here by saying that we pride ourselves on delivering quality leads and doing a good job for the people that we generate business for. I certainly do not want to milk any affiliate program, instead I want to build long lasting profitable relationships with companies that reward effort and hard work. I am proud to say that I do have many great relationships with a number of merchants, where we work together to grow each others businesses. It seems odd that the leading 3 mobile affiliate would tell other affiliates to "milk it", hardly sound business advice is it?

As you have so many stats at your fingertips for both the affiliate and retail channels, could I make a suggestion? Because your credit checking is so stringent on these top end handsets, why not stop selling them? You must be ordering an awful lot of stock that simply sits in your warehouse because nobody can pass a credit check for them. I also find it quite offensive that you say that those affiliates that have chosen to learn and adapt to the program have managed to make it work. Judging by the length of this thread and the lack of anybody saying anything positive on 3 Mobile's behalf, that suggests to me that this is simply not the case. If I am wrong please can the people who have learnt and adapted come forward and tell us what the majic formula is...please, because it seems to me that a lot of people on this forum, people who have been in the mobile phone affiliate industry for a long time just simply can't seem to make it work. Perhaps what we need is a day of training at 3 Mobile's headquarters, where we can learn how to make the program work... A 5 step program maybe?

Maybe I could make a some suggestions to improve the program. I think what you need to do is adapt your program and simply stop offering products that nobody can pass a credit check for. 3 Mobile should not offer top end handsets, they should leave these to reputable retailers that magically manage to get their customers through the credit checking process, the lucky devils, how do they do that? This would make the customer experience a lot more enjoyable and it would also make affiliates a lot happier because they wouldn't see a 10% approval rate or worse each month.

By the way my advice to anybody looking to promote 3 mobile, strip their feed right back so that you only offer extremely cheap phones on cheap tariffs and whenever you can sell a 3 mobile contract through a retailer rather than direct. This will help your conversion rates no end.

[futureweb]

Quick update:

Thought my stats looked Christmassy with lots of Red and not so much Green



Andrew

My stats look pretty much the same - while I see your point, I can also see it from the networks point of view, they can only validate valid sales - things have got worse in the mobile world but to be expected IMO with the current financial climate no one wants any risk at all.

And just to back Adam up a little 3 (sumit) have always been very good to us - great comms, always friendly and helpful and I think it may be a little harsh to blame it all on them, there are other forces at work and mainly the dreaded credit crunch.

[3maffiliate]

I think I may have a simple solution to the issues that everyone on this thread are having with the 3 affiliate program - other than dumping the program completely.

Since most of my sales are failing the de-duping process, and I assume most others are experiencing likewise, the following information, provided by this 3 affiliate program will help re-build trust in the program:

WHEN A SALE FAILS DE-DUPE DISPLAY THE AFFILIATE ID OF THE OTHER AFFILIATE WHO IS REWARDED THE SALE AND IF APPLICABLE THE URL THAT THE SALE ORIGINATED FROM OR OTHER USEFUL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.

I want to be certain that some legitimate affiliate is getting rewarded for the sale and that these sales are not getting rejected as the result of cherry-picking elsewhere in the process. Having to state which affiliate got rewarded the sale will remove the incentive to state sales as failing de-dupe when other factors may be involved. At least this way there will be more transparency and we will get to the bottom of the problem. At the very least this will build confidence in the program.

I mysel, am just starting to see the effects of de-duping on my sales and it does not look credible.

[TheMole]

Of course ALL 3 affiliates are in the same boat, huge failed de-dupes and huge declines..........or are they?

[TheMole]

I have studied your this thread with interest and the your legal course of redress. If you have lost sales due to any form of deception, skimming, or selective payment without declaring the method of such, this is a crime and under the section 447 of the CA (amongst others) this could be investigated with powers of warrant (Google Companies Investigation Branch). If it were found that any company (or agent of) looked liked they were conducting such a program, they can be ordered to produce the documentation that proves or disproves the allegation. If they refuse to produce the documents, they would be subject to a search warrant / court order. If they were found that a company had undertaken any form of filtering of commissions, and they in total exceeded £1,000,000 over the time of the transactions across all affiliates, it would probably be referred for criminal prosecution of those involved. The service is free and anonymous and having read this, I can understand why you all have concerns. If you would like to message me feel free…you may have private comments. I am sure that all you really all want is a fair reward for a fair effort and that is what law provides for….use it if you don’t get it sorted whether this program or others with similar complaints.