[ayushpant]

Hi Andrew,

I most likely know what merchant you are talking about here. I had signed up with the same merchant through their website.

After I signed up, first thing I did was e-mailed them asking for their cookie duration which was none. Customer had to sign up there and then else you lose the sale.

The same merchant has $90 affiliate commission on CJ, and a longer cookie duration. I couldn't believe it. I immidietly cancelled my account from their website, and signed up on CJ. Didn't promote that merchant at all, that's a different story.

But, I found it very strange and not so good myself. I know what you must be feeling about this whole issue. But, I guess its a lesson learned. We need to double check that if the same merchant offers program somewhere else and what are their commissions, policies etc. in other places.

I don't think we can do anything about it, since they do not force us to join through their website, and offer the same program somewhere else, so we do have a choice to go with.

At the same time, most merchants have an "Affiliate Link" at the bottom after which you are redirected to the network on which you can join. Most of us are used to the fact that a merchant offers the affiliate program at only one place. So we get tricked there.

In your case, they did not make it clear that you did have the option to join through CJ. I personally feel it is tricking innocent publishers. This way they can just get traffic through you. The customer comes back at a later time, signs up and you get nothing. I read somewhere that an average customer has to look at the product 7 times before making their mind for the purchase. In this case, that merchant gains the customer and you lose your $60 (+$30 through CJ).

It angered me too that they had no cookie duration and lower commission through their website. Fortunately, I happened to search for that merchant on CJ too. I always tend to double check if the merchant is on some other network as well and what they have to offer on the other network.

In case you didn't know do check about the cookie duration of that merchant too by asking them and compare it to the other network.