Affiliate Software Shaving Issue
 

Hello everyone.

As many of you know, we develop and sell affiliate software called NATS. http://nats.toomuchmedia.com

We have an issue that has come up in the development of the software and we would like the webmaster community's feedback on it.

The problem basically sums up as follows.

A new client wishes to release a program which (very publicly stated) pays 100% on the first billing company in the cascade and 0% on the remaining billing companies in the cascade.

Again, this program/company will be fully honest and up front in what they are doing.

The problem is that although they will be honest, having this feature in NATS may allow others to be less honest about using it. This feature could also extend to paying or not paying on various payment methods (check, dialers, etc.) which of course some programs do not pay on and they are open about. Again though, this allows a non-honest program owner to abuse the feature and defraud their resellers.


Our proposed solution for this issue is to have a hardcoded URL on ALL NATS installtions which can not be editted, modified, or removed by the program owner which breaks down the details of each and every program within the sponsor and what it does and does not pay out on.

We want to keep NATS an honest product as we are just as concerned about the security of end user affiliates using our software as we are the programs who use it. We would love some feedback on whether or not you feel our solution to this issue is a viable one or if you have another idea which will make this feature secure for those who will be honest with it. Or perhaps you feel this feature should not be added at all.

I think aslong as there was a legit way for the affilates to see what they are getting paid for it shoud be ok. However you should also hard code a way to see if certian pay options have been turned on or off at any certian time.

I know it's a long shot but, I'm sure someone may try to turn this option on or off at peak times. Having some sort of history would be a nice option and keep everyone legit.

Interesting twist. I'm sure it's doable. And yes, having it something which is on the fly tempts people to do things like that.

hehehehe, nobody wants another mpa2 story

:Graucho

Which is a part of the reason why we're here asking.

Thanks for the helpful and informative reply. Keep that post count going :winkwink:

Make it failsafe from the affiliate's point of view.

I know it would be easier to sell it and hope that the sponsor will be honest but the reality is that many are not.

Make it a good program that the affiliates can believe in and they will support you by dealing with people that use your program because they know that they can't be cheated.

Good luck and my :2 cents:

Ditto

Seems if someone is hell bent on cheating, they'll find away though.

LOL, you could start a different company, change the name of the software, and just refer those people to that company that needs those kind of shifty changes, so you don't loose those type of people as customers, and plus you keep NAT clean and honorable (kinda) :)

"A new client wishes to release a program which (very publicly stated) pays 100% on the first billing company in the cascade and 0% on the remaining billing companies in the cascade"

Who want too promote a program that have this function? :Graucho
it's looks like a great way to shave for me :2 cents:

I think its reasonable to allow the sponsor to decide if secondary processors should be credited or not. By comparison, a lot of programs make sales on check joins but don't pay affiliates for the joins. I think it should be very clear to affiliates though, like in the stats area it should be displayed if affiliates are getting credit on which processors. This way it will make sure that sponsors aren't tempted to try this all the time and hide this fact from affiliates.

WG

I'd turn them down and just keep the core software unable to do those options.

Or release a specific version that allows that option.

Perhaps I'm being too cynical, but I am dubious as to whether your original client really intends to make it clear to their affiliates that they will only be paid on the first biller (except perhaps deep in the small print of their TOS).

Think about it. On the one hand, scrubbing issues concern people enough these days that cascading billing is often used as a selling point to gain affiliates. Against that, adult webmasters are a cynical bunch so it's not a stretch to guess many would believe that the toughest biller is going to be put at #1.

In other words, this is the kind of "wrinkle" that if it were done openly would probably backfire. If you have a solid piece of software at a competitive price, I wouldn't risk a potential backlash just for the sake of an extra customer.

Historically speaking;

If an affiliate can be screwed, he will be screwed.

Been there, seen it over and over.

Never done it, can't be bothered, not our style, but we've watched people make millions doing it.

They don't post here any more, they pay people to post.

:)

Thanks for the feedback so far, but we need some more, so I'm bumping this thread.

jayeff, to make things clear. Yes, they will be very open about it, thats the whole point of the program. They plan to payout 100% of all joins and rebills on the first biller. Most people will go through it, and it is not going to be the toughest one. I am not going to get into details right now.

pussyluver, yes exactly. By providing full open information on what is paid and what is not paid, and like someone said with a history function about it too, you can be sure that they can not do something you do not know about.

I think something that shows the affiliates what the payout settings are in their little control panel area would be a good idea.