Spnsor Shit List...

[abostonboy]

I think we should have a thread with just that title. Lots of "shady" shit going on.....

[DirtyRatStudios]

Sounds intriguing :D

[basschick]

i'm not as enthusiastic about this. webmasters need to be very careful of their facts for a public shitlist, and honestly most people aren't. if you decide to do this, i'd like to see the complete facts that back up each claim listed in the initial post about that sponsor.

i used to see tons of people whose accounts had been canclled by this one sponsor accuse that sponsor of cheating. in reality, none of the people who posted that had ever bothered to read the rules and not one of them was actually complying with them. but all people remembered later was the first part - the name of the program and that they were cheating.

[abostonboy]

Well. Even Bjorn has posted MANY threads about affiliate codes not getting carried through etc. Seems like a lot of "shady" stuff. Then we have sites that haven't been updated in ages and to be quite frank, neither has the payroll to pay webmasters. I currently have three companies that I am waiting for checks for (over 6 months now). Go figure.

[tombarr]

I think there are even some sponsors using stolen content in their members areas. To me that would seem to qualify being listed as a shady sponsor.

[Gaystoryman]

While I like the idea of listing shady operations, I think it would open up a can of worms, not to mention the possible legal ramifications of such a public display. I sort of side with Basschick on this one, as it is too subjective, and I can also see a ton of drama happening from some, who will post what 'they' consider as being facts, when it is supposition.

I'd be very cautious about such a thing.

[gaydemon]

Thats true, but its been fairly easily to spotted scams and non credit on traffic. The stuff i used to post mostly about was Traffic issues or leaks.

Its different to actually straight out acuse someone of scams. I would be careful with how you word it.

I do think its needed with a slight nudge to sponsors now and then like the threads ive posted recently but thats more as a way of getting some sort of response and asking IF there is a problem.

But then we have compaines like Amateur Straight Guys, Bad Bears etc.. them I would have no problem declaring open hunting season on!


Well. Even Bjorn has posted MANY threads about affiliate codes not getting carried through etc. Seems like a lot of "shady" stuff. Then we have sites that haven't been updated in ages and to be quite frank, neither has the payroll to pay webmasters. I currently have three companies that I am waiting for checks for (over 6 months now). Go figure.

[gaydemon]

Absolutly, i see stolen content, passwords or file sharing just as bad as non paying sponsors or traffic leaks. Stealing is stealing no matter if its money, traffic or content.


I think there are even some sponsors using stolen content in their members areas. To me that would seem to qualify being listed as a shady sponsor.

[NaughtyStud]

I can definitely see both sides here ,but I also wish there was somewhere that you could get honest info about sponsors before signing up.I am sure there are a ton of sponsors that are sitting back and raking in the doe $$$, while their affiliates are busting their asses to promote them and not getting anything.I mean how would we (affiliates) ever know they were doing this otherwise.

[Adam Mason]

This is indeed a difficult one. In the past my name and site was getting dragged through the mire on a board I didn't frequent (hell, I never visited any boards at the time!) but Michael was good enough to email me so I could explain. Mind you, at first I was furious... but then I learnt to see the other side of the coin ;-)

Affiliate "experts" sure know the business, sometimes better than sponsors. Yes, hard to believe, but in my case it was totally true and I've learnt a lot since joining the boards. So, I personally don't think such a thread is bad, so long as any threads highlight the "supposed" issues and also give the sponsor the opportunity to get involved and reply as they seem fit.

[archer]

if you want a board with drama, this would be the thread that would cause it... in spades!:eek:

[abostonboy]

if you want a board with drama, this would be the thread that would cause it... in spades!:eek:

I would just like to know what sponsors to sign up for, that pay on time, and that don't play games.

I mean, I only have a limited amount of time to do my own thing after hadling affiliates at BlakeMason.

Right now , I have two sponsors that haven't paid me in over two months. A third finally answered the email and said I am sit out of luck.

[gaydemon]

Well i dont think we need a shit list on here, but you can always just post question about sponsors like i did before this month. Thats no problem with that. But like Archer said, having a real "shit list" is really the wrong way to go about a drama free board.


I would just like to know what sponsors to sign up for, that pay on time, and that don't play games.

I mean, I only have a limited amount of time to do my own thing after hadling affiliates at BlakeMason.

Right now , I have two sponsors that haven't paid me in over two months. A third finally answered the email and said I am sit out of luck.

[fetishlad]

Can I ask what type of sponsors can NOT pay out?

I always thought that pay-outs to affiliates is automated when people use ccbill/epoch ?

I am with verotel and I can NOT influence payouts - verotel does it automatically.

So what sort of programmes do they use? How is it possible?

[Adam Mason]

Some people use NATS or MPA3 for their affiliate program. This means they are repsonsible for payouts and not the actual billing company because all the affiliate details are in NATS / MPA3.

[marcjacob]

I would just like to know what sponsors to sign up for, that pay on time, and that don't play games.

So what you want is a list of honest reliable sponsors, not so much a shit list. I think thats a much more positive way to go and alot less potential for drama!

[basschick]

Fetishlad - pay per signup sponsors, which are often preferred to revshare, do their own payouts. also many medium and large programs like intensecash, topbucks, ars and so on send their own payments on everything.

Adam, my experience is that when it comes to small to medium sponsors, affiliates usually know more than the program owners.

btw, instead of a shitlist, how about a list of good sponsors - sponsors that pay on time and do everything right?

[RDude]

btw, instead of a shitlist, how about a list of good sponsors - sponsors that pay on time and do everything right?

In my opinion that would probably be a better list. Besides, still being fairly new to this - compared to most of you - I'd like to hear about the best and good sponsors:D

[Fister]

Hmmm, a white list of "non-shady" sponsors. This is a good idea provided the definition of a white sponsor is clear. But, if a white-list sponsor goes downhill, then there will be drama in getting the sponsor removed from the list.

[BBD]

btw, instead of a shitlist, how about a list of good sponsors - sponsors that pay on time and do everything right?

I vote for this. A gaydemon approved sponsor list would be great and help everyone out.

[marcjacob]

I dont think this white list would end up in drama. This is a much more grown board than other places. Ive not seen a single fight and ive seen maybe 2 not nice comments since the community started.

Besides I have every confidence that a mod would step in if a thread turned that way.

I personally dont think we need to be scared of what happens elsewhere as no one here wants that type of board.

[abostonboy]

How about something like this:

http://www.netpond.com/sponsor-spotlight/

Where we list sponsors that run good programs and actively support gaydemon.biz.

[abostonboy]

One of the reasons that I brought up this topic is I am STILL seeing webmasters with banners up for Zooted. They stopped paying a year ago. Didn't even send out an email. Maybe if we are going a little "negative" then how about a thread with sponsors that are no longer in business or sites that are down. For example, exploaded is still down for me. If Bjorn didn't bring it up, how would anyone know?

I seriously believe that I am giving away about 20% of my traffic from old sites. Some of these sites have real good google listings as well as Dmoz and Yahoo.

[BBD]

How would you pick and choose the approved sponsors?

[HunkMoneyLuke]

How about something like this:

http://www.netpond.com/sponsor-spotlight/

Where we list sponsors that run good programs and actively support gaydemon.biz.

I believe those are all their paid forum sponsors only.

[archer]

One of the reasons that I brought up this topic is I am STILL seeing webmasters with banners up for Zooted. They stopped paying a year ago. Didn't even send out an email. Maybe if we are going a little "negative" then how about a thread with sponsors that are no longer in business or sites that are down. For example, exploaded is still down for me. If Bjorn didn't bring it up, how would anyone know?

I seriously believe that I am giving away about 20% of my traffic from old sites. Some of these sites have real good google listings as well as Dmoz and Yahoo.


hmmm.... u might have a point after all bostonboy.

i didn't know that zooted had stopped paying(not that i was using them anyway, but still)

one can only keep track of only so much info at a time. :(

[tombarr]

The TGP world has something like this called Cheater Hell. And I think they post when problems are resolved and give the offenders opportunities to correct and then remove them from the list, etc. I know that the TGP board, AskDamageX.com does this also.

[abostonboy]

The TGP world has something like this called Cheater Hell. And I think they post when problems are resolved and give the offenders opportunities to correct and then remove them from the list, etc. I know that the TGP board, AskDamageX.com does this also.

Green Guy runs one for straight link list cheaters as well. In fact there is a black list that quite a few link lists share. Same idea as the TGP thing.

I guess my reasoning in mentioning it is that webmasters only have so much time. Choosing a good sponsor that pays on time and doesn't mess around really helps. Knowing which ones to avoid really saves time.

Examples:

Two sponsors that I use have 404'ed MANY of their old gallery links and they no longer carry the affiliate code.

One sponsor stopped paying me a long time ago. I didn;t notice it until recently.

I just got a 3rd bounced check from another sponsor. That's 3 in the past 6 months from this sponsor.

My friend marketed a new sponsor, made like $1500 in sales over the past three months and has gotten one check for $125. Guess what? His stats got "changed".

Two sponsors that I use to market heavily and still have old links up for, decided to change ALL their join pages to Euro without even an email. Now, I can't sell a $50 membership to a US customer. Wasted traffic.

Wouldn't webmasters like to know who these sponsors are?

[abostonboy]

p.s. Let's say their was a shit list. Take the sponsor that changed all their join forms to euros without a simple email. MAYBE they would take the time to send an email to affiliates and get off the shit lists. Seriously, I think some sponsors just "don't get it".

Or maybe the sponsors with all the 404 FHGs would actually correct the problem.

[gaydemon_jr]

Communication is very simple. I agree with abostonboy. However, a shitlist would not be a great idea. It might turn gaydemon.biz into another bitchy place where people gather to slag off trivial issues they might not have addressed properly. Theres often 2 sides to a story. A list of good sponsors would be good IMHO :)