Ordering from own affiliate sites, ok ?

[Skinner]

I am thinking of ordering some big value items (sisters wedding) from one an affiliate, I only decided I wanted one while editing the data feed.

Its actually cheaper at play.com (who I'm not an aff with and I don't want to join purely to use an aff link, as thats clearly abusive), but with the feed I'm editing it, it ends up about mid-£xx cheaper than play.com. So obviously as I've built an aff site, and got the product on there), I'm tempted to click my Read More... button and buy it.

I know the general consensus is, any vendor would rather they bagged the sale than a competitor, so it should be ok.

What I want to know, has anyone actually checked with a vendor or operator (awin/buy.at/por/mn/etc) what the view is ?

 

[diablo]

It actually varies across merchants, but most are happy for affiliates to use their own links.

Read my blog post here though - there are no guarantees even if the T&C allow it!

http://www.entrepreneur.co.uk/2010/03/09/who-do-paid-on-results-think-they-are.html

My advice would be to contact merchant or network first and ask.

 

[springer]

Or use a cashback site if the retailer is on there. TopCashBack offer over 100% cashback.

 

[diablo]

Or use a cashback site if the retailer is on there. TopCashBack offer over 100% cashback.

Only if you want to build the cashback site's affiliate business rather than your own ;-)

 

[max99x]

just do it, its fine if you do a few sales for the merchant, even if you don't you'll rarely get caught and if you do they'll just reverse it. these big companies make tons anyhow

 

[Skinner]

I spoke to the affiliate in question, I phone them up.

They essentially said "As long as your genuinely using your affiliate status to promote our products, and didn't just sign up to get the discount, go right ahead and order".

I explained I didn't even really want one until I was editing the datafeed, and they are going to look into fixing the paragraphing issue. I like my aff sites to have paragraphs and be easier to read to pad out the page. Rather than one big long lump of text, so I end up spending hours and hours editing the products.

I'm going to check in with some other vendors, maybe would be worth while compiling a list of vendors who are ok with with this ?

 

[suzi]

so what are you getting Skinner... a new tail butt plug??

 

[Skinner]

Its electronics and gadget stuff, my family are chipping in for a wedding present for the sister who is getting married in may.

I am also going to buy a proper monitor thats big screen for myself, the resolution on my big screen hd TV is nothing compared to a true monitor, its ok for viewing video and graphics but useless for coding, so going to get a low response time, high refresh rate, high resolution 32in+ Monitor

p.s. I got the plug, I'm looking for a bridal and saddle next