49thParallel

Stop screwing the consumer!!

Damn, some days I just get so mad at how all of the adult programs insist on making money by screwing the customer. (and yes that includes the majors...and yes, if you are reading this, I'm probably talking about you).

Your fraudelent practices are ruining this industry, and making it virtually impossible for the honest programs to survive.

So, what am I talking about? The favorite trick of almost every program out there is to offer a "free" or "cheap" trial. That in itself is fine. But here's where it gets slimey. Click on the T & C link on the join page of your favorite program. Chances are good that 1,000 to 2,000 words in (and this is not an exaggeration) you will find a little clause that informs the surfer that he must cancel the trial 24 hours before end of trial, or he will be rebilled for a full membership.

Plus, many of the programs have prechecked cross-sells on the join page as well. All with trials.....all rebilling at the same rate as mentioned above.

So, the customer takes out a trial..decides to cancel at the logical end of the trial, and then he gets stung for $30, $40 or even $100 more then he expected.

This is not "creative" marketing. This is "scum" marketing. I certainly couldn't feel good about knowing my money comes from defrauding the consumer.

So, next time you wonder, how does your sponsor pay $30 on a $2.95 trial..now you know. Because you are helping him sleaze his way into the consumers bank account.

Rep

Hey now, some programs can offer $30 pps without screwing anyone - you do bring up valid points though. Fighting chargebacks isn't solved by increasing transaction volume, it's by correcting the problem. Customer support, decent product and ethics (to an extent).

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49thParallel

Yes..but very few can offer these high payouts on trial based signups without resorting to scamming the consumer. Believe me, I am constantly searching for programs to send my traffic to..and I haven't found a single one yet that pays per signup on a trial AND is fair to the customer...Not One!

Babaganoosh

That isn't a guaranteed way to stop chargebacks. It might slow them down but it won't stop them. There's always some asshole out to get something for nothing. Better blacklisting and better enforcement from CC companies themselves is the only way to stop it.

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SoundMan

Most wise surers will CB, the programs that do this hope there newbe ratios is higher so that it will wash out the oldschool surfer, a numbers game. You forgot to mention the pop up hell that most $30-35 programs practice, This is What Really Hurts this industry!

Rep

I know of one or two that can offer $30 payouts but realistically I see where you're coming from. As a webmaster, don't look for the higher PPS payout look for either the long term revenue and a program that retains or a realistic payout and a sponsor that doesn't shave. imho it's the webmasters who bitch and bitch and bitch for higher payouts that cause the competition amoungst programs to raise their pay and present ficticious numbers and consumer fraud.

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49thParallel

It's too bad. Alot of the programs look like they do have marketing talent behind them. But, their current practices put them in the same league as boiler room scams and snake oil salesmen. I for one have absolutely no moral or ethical dilemma being a member of the adult entertainment community...but resorting to defrauding the consumer is simply the path of the weak.

Honeyslut

Why is it always printed that the webmaster is the one doing the screwing ?

People think they can just charge back cause it is porn.

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