affiliate cookie handling - GoFuckYourself.com

RazorSharpe · 06-12-2006, 06:12 AM

I have been looking at quite a few sponsors lately and was wondering why they overwrite cookies. For example, if I send a user to their (the sponsors) site and the user doesn't make a purchase straight away but then visits another affiliates site and visits the sponsors site again (on the same day) and makes a purchase; the second affiliate gets the credit.

I have not checked but do they at least lock cookies if the user types the url into their browser at a later date or do they claim this as a type in sale?

Curious ....

12clicks · 06-12-2006, 06:16 AM

I'd say they overwrite them because the second webmaster is the one that sent the sale.

Also, you could have unscrupulous affiliates cookie users with their refcode without actually trying to make a sale. then you come along and make the effort but the scammer gets credit because the sponsor doesn't overwrite the cookie.

gooddomains · 06-12-2006, 06:16 AM

yep, that's a good explanation

06-12-2006, 06:12 AM	#1
RazorSharpe Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,238	affiliate cookie handling I have been looking at quite a few sponsors lately and was wondering why they overwrite cookies. For example, if I send a user to their (the sponsors) site and the user doesn't make a purchase straight away but then visits another affiliates site and visits the sponsors site again (on the same day) and makes a purchase; the second affiliate gets the credit. I have not checked but do they at least lock cookies if the user types the url into their browser at a later date or do they claim this as a type in sale? Curious .... __________________ Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning.

06-12-2006, 06:16 AM	#2
12clicks Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: God's right hand Posts: 19,789	I'd say they overwrite them because the second webmaster is the one that sent the sale. Also, you could have unscrupulous affiliates cookie users with their refcode without actually trying to make a sale. then you come along and make the effort but the scammer gets credit because the sponsor doesn't overwrite the cookie. __________________ I'm not a dinosaur, I'm a crocodile. I've seen dinosaurs come and go and I'm left unimpressed.

06-12-2006, 06:16 AM	#3
gooddomains Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 10,127	yep, that's a good explanation