95 New Posts Today

[Zeus]

baygraphix - My questions are...
Do the merchants that Haiko listed support this program ? I mean...do they "sign up "for this?
Do they give the money to the charity, or does it come from a percentage of one cause affilliate income?

All the merchants listed by Haiko in his post: "Merchant List and Contributions"
onecause.com/merchants?action=merchant_search&controller=merchants&order_by=name&num=5000
have accepted One Cause as an affiliate.
These merchants are indies like eBay, amazon, or part of a network accepting parasites like CJ, GAN or LinkShare.
These merchants don't give money to charities. They give commissions on sales made by affiliates to the networks to be redistributed to affiliates.
As an affiliate, One Cause get commissions from all these merchants thru networks like LinkShare and one part of these commissions (211 million) was (maybe) given by One Cause to "charities"

But, One Cause is not a normal affiliate.
1-They are STEALING their commissions from other affiliates and merchants. (See Haiko's Videos)
2-They don't respect the TOS, COC or rules of the networks collecting these commissions. They should be banned on the spot.
3-They are owned by one of the networks, LinkShare/Rakuten. A MAJOR conflict of interest.

I'm pretty sure the top management of all these merchants don't know LinkShare is stealing from them. That thievery is organized by LinkShare and their employees acting as Affiliate Manager for these merchants. Most LinkShare merchants are paying LinkShare to administrate (and accept an affiliate or not) in their programs. It's the best interest of these AMs to push the envelope and help One Cause to steal sales made directly by the merchants. It's why it's important to contact the CEO of all the merchants listed with One Cause.

It seems you have a hard time to understand the relationship between Merchants, Networks, Affiliates and "Charities".

[MichaelColey]

Originally Posted by baygrafix

Do the merchants that Haiko listed support this program ? I mean...do they "sign up "for this?
Do they give the money to the charity, or does it come from a percentage of one cause affilliate income?
Either way, the 211 million given to charity might be less than their profit.

The merchants don't sign up. The affiliate (in this case One Cause) signs up and the merchants accept them. Before you get too upset with the merchants, though, keep this in mind:

1) Many times, the merchant doesn't realize that the software affiliate is doing what they are doing.
2) The big three networks push these software affiliates really hard on the merchants. They promote them as top affiliates. They really sugarcoat these affiliates.
3) Even with merchants that don't allow parasites, these affiliates often have multiple accounts and numerous names (and they change their company names regularly), so they slip in from time to time. It takes a very diligent AM or OPM to stay on top of things.

Most loyalty and charity sites give around 50% of their commissions back as rebates or charity, so you're definitely right that they've profited greatly. The $211 million in charity probably reflects over $400 million in commissions "earned".

[Haiko de Poel, Jr.]

Originally Posted by MichaelColey

The affiliate (in this case One Cause) signs up and the merchants accept them.

YES

Originally Posted by MichaelColey

1) Many times, the merchant doesn't realize that the software affiliate is doing what they are doing.

That's where the network compliance team comes into play ... if the software isn't compliant then the affiliate shouldn't be allowed, but in this case the affiliate is owned by the same co that owns the network so no compliance review or just more rubber stamps.

Originally Posted by MichaelColey

2) The big three networks push these software affiliates really hard on the merchants. They promote them as top affiliates. They really sugarcoat these affiliates.

Once again the affiliate is owned by the same company as the network thus making the conflict of interest compounded even farther and making these actions even more HEINOUS! There is no sugarcoating of that.

Originally Posted by MichaelColey

3) Even with merchants that don't allow parasites, these affiliates often have multiple accounts and numerous names (and they change their company names regularly), so they slip in from time to time. It takes a very diligent AM or OPM to stay on top of things.

True, in the usual money for nothing parasite like Zango but here it's quite obvious that they don't even try to obfuscate the URLs and Aff Id, the hysterical thing, which I don't know if others noticed is that they don't respect the Afsrc=1 but append it into their overwrite ... that kind of willful theft can only be done by an educated thief ... in this Rakutan / Linkshare.

IF action were taken against Linkshare ... the merchants would go to clean networks and the ones who weren't clean would become because of the fall out from the uproar ... look either the Feds clean this crap up or we do ... you decide - This is 100X worse than the CJ settlement FU -- you can't allow this --- YOU MUST SCREAM!!!!!!

[Boom or Bust]

I just posted the following at ePN. I urge others to spread the word being sure to link to the discussion here at ABW. Feel free quote (and edit as necessary) my posting wherever you wish...

One Cause Redirecting on eBay Links
Posted: Nov 15, 2008 9:40 AM

It has come to the attention of the affiliate marketing community at ABestWeb that a loyalty charity site named One Cause, www.onecause.com, promotes a downloadable BHO (ParasiteWare [TM]) reminder application that redirects on many merchant links including eBay. Please visit http://forum.abestweb.com/showthread...2&page=1&pp=25 for discussion and recorded examples of the BHO in action. The example pertaining specifically to eBay is located at http://www.abestweb.com/cam/ebay/ebay.html.

One Cause is currently an eBay affiliate. Their application runs in the background and watches for visits to all the merchants they are promoting. When an eBay link is clicked, the yellow alert bar at the top of your browser will drop down and display the percentage of the sale that will be donated. An affiliate cookie is immediately set that gives credit for the sale to One Cause. This cookie will overwrite any existing affiliate cookies, and will give a commission to One Cause for a sale that they did not refer. One Cause is stealing affiliate commissions AND they're stealing eBay profits.

Even more disturbing is the fact that One Cause is owned by Rakuten, the parent company of LinkShare, an affiliate marketing network that One Cause is a member of. This is a gross conflict of interest. LinkShare is hurting their own members, affiliates AND merchants, by catering to One Cause.

Please ban together to express your concern over this situation to ePN as well as any other merchants you may be affiliated with that are on One Cause' list. We need to take action to stop these sort of unethical practices that hurt us all.

[Boom or Bust]

Well, so much for that. My post lasted about two minutes before they took it down...

[Boom or Bust]

Apparently ePN saw this post as a solicitation for a charity site as determined by a rules link they sent me.

[Snowman]

When posting this in other forums, it's important to state that in order for this redirecting to occur, the user must have OneCause's downloadable software on their computer. Why take a chance on causing hysteria when a lot of people have no idea how this issue occurs.

Despite OneCause's contributions listed on their site, I do not believe they are anywhere near as high as stated. This doesn't lessen the fact that what they are doing is clearly wrong but I have strong doubts that it is causing a significant monetary impact. They are pretty much a no name.

As to Ebay removing your post, that is quite hypocritical of them considering they have made very serious criminal allegations in Federal Court against an Ebay affiliate stealing from their program that is set for trial early next year. This is no different. Theft is theft.

[2busy]

Maybe if you posted it minus the links? If enough information is in your post it's easy to search for and end up right here

I don't work with Linkshare but I see some merchants on that list that I do promote so I've sent emails to see what kind of response comes up. An individual affiliate hasn't got much pull with a merchant but when they see the same questions coming from a large number of affiliates it may ? make a difference.

[Boom or Bust]

At this point I'm hesitant to post anything further. I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize my ePN account.

[jodyq]

EPN monitors everything, thats why I don't work with them. If you state a fact that puts them down they pull you. So I can say anything I want regarding them, it is a shame when you are so dependant on one merchant that you can't exercise your right to state your good opinion in fear of being yanked.

[Vinny O'Hare]

Ed you can send me what you want to post I don't belong to EPN and never will.

[jodyq]

ditto that nyfalcon

[Boom or Bust]

Originally Posted by jodyq

EPN monitors everything, thats why I don't work with them. If you state a fact that puts them down they pull you. So I can say anything I want regarding them, it is a shame when you are so dependant on one merchant that you can't exercise your right to state your good opinion in fear of being yanked.

I'm dependent on our eCommerce business rather than ePN. I'm pro ePN because you can make commission on virtually any product you like. Our site automatically switches to ePN links when inventory levels drop to zero, or are initially entered into the database as zero inventory. That way we can list whatever our hearts desire.

nyfalcom, I appreciate the offer, but I believe you have to be a member in order to post in their forum.

[jodyq]

heee just created a ebay id posted all but 10x's as allowed in ebay.

[jodyq]

Originally Posted by Ed Byerly

At this point I'm hesitant to post anything further. I don't want to do anything that would jeopardize my ePN account.

I understand Ed.. I would not want to be in a position where my words, in which i felt were honest and truthful could put me in a fearful state of any kind. Just sucks Ed. thats all.

[Boom or Bust]

Jody, you're... well... feisty! I like it!

Not certain what you mean by "10x's" though...

[jodyq]

I actually posted on ebay and in the chat room. Not EPN. just created a new id and they only allow 10 posts until you have 10+ feedback.

[priestessconnie]

Just to get this clear, the argument is about the One Cause software redirecting? Then my next question is how many other companies w/tool bars might do just the same, that are like One Cause?

Thank you from a newest newbie, still learning the ropes and to understand the rules.

[Boom or Bust]

Originally Posted by priestessconnie

Just to get this clear, the argument is about the One Cause software redirecting? Then my next question is how many other companies w/tool bars might do just the same, that are like One Cause?

Thank you from a newest newbie, still learning the ropes and to understand the rules.

A Good Cause is another one. There was lots of discussion about this one over the past few weeks too.

http://forum.abestweb.com/showthread...t=a+good+cause
http://forum.abestweb.com/showthread...t=a+good+cause

I'm sure there are others...

[MichaelColey]

Originally Posted by Haiko de Poel, Jr.

That's where the network compliance team comes into play ... if the software isn't compliant then the affiliate shouldn't be allowed, but in this case the affiliate is owned by the same co that owns the network so no compliance review or just more rubber stamps.

Wishful thinking if you expect network compliance to actually do something about parasites. The networks make more money when parasites steal traffic from non-affiliate channels, so the only "compliance" they typically check for is that the parasite doesn't directly overwrite affiliate links. (Obviously this isn't the case with One Cause, apparently because of the conflict of interests.) The big networks have proven over and over again that the only interests they look out for are their own.

[VampireSkunk]

Ed - commendable post to the eBay forum - just one point if anyone follows your example: I don't think One Cause is owned by LinkShare - they're owned by Rakuten, the company that owns LinkShare.

Best to be completely factual - give them no ammo to retaliate with.

[Boom or Bust]

Originally Posted by VampireSkunk

Ed - commendable post to the eBay forum - just one point if anyone follows your example: I don't think One Cause is owned by LinkShare - they're owned by Rakuten, the company that owns LinkShare.

Best to be completely factual - give them no ammo to retaliate with.

Good point. Fixed...

[openrsm]

It appears that Slashdot has this thread queued on Firehose and may appear any time now on their front page.

Seems people are paying attention.

[Haiko de Poel, Jr.]

Nice Openrsm!

----
New Video from today:

Dell -> http://www.abestweb.com/cam/dell2/dell2.html

more to follow ... This is NOT an isolated incident, no way no how - make your voices heard - this is YOUR money!

[knight01]

Originally Posted by Haiko de Poel, Jr.

Nice Openrsm!

----
New Video from today:

Dell -> http://www.abestweb.com/cam/dell2/dell2.html

more to follow ... This is NOT an isolated incident, no way no how - make your voices heard - this is YOUR money!

True, but lets make it clear that it is not just affiliates that are being hurt. It has a direct impact on merchants. Those that use ppc or have organic search engine results are paying commissions to onecause and network fees to Linkshare when those fees and commissions were not rightfully earned.

Merchants need to be made equally aware and outraged. If this makes slashdot, there will hopefully be a tsunami of emails and phone calls hitting Linkshare on Monday.