I was just catching up on the big affiliate marketing stories at BUMPzee! and saw quite a few on the topic of Google Checkout in the UK.
The Affiliate Marketing Blog from Clarke Duncan asks the question, “Google Checkout UK – is commission being tracked?”
Clarke goes on to say…
Affiliate sales are not tracking, Affiliates are losing money, the Merchant is not! If the Merchant was losing money do you think they stick to the Google Checkout Terms if that is in fact part of the terms.
Fraser Edwards posts “Bad News – Google Checkout UK” in Fraser’s Affiliate Marketing Blog, where he observes…
The approval process doesn’t seem to be a fast process so the affiliate networks will now be trying to catch up and get the approval needed. My advice to merchants? If you care about your affiliates at all then simply make sure you never introduce any new payment method that breaks your network tracking.
There is also a lively discussion on the Affiliates4u forum on the subject titled, “Google Checkout – Sales not being tracked.”
On a curious note, Jess Luthi wonders on the Affiliate Program Advice blog, “A4uforum have you lost the plot?”
In her post, Jess discusses a recent e-mail sent out to members of the Affiliates4u forum promoting Google Checkout…
a4u forum what are you thinking of? Have you guys lost the plot?
We are all sitting here putting pressure on our clients to ensure affiliates don’t lose out on sales, picking up the phone contacting networks, not just me but a lot of other people who see Google’s check out as a threat to some affiliates, people like your friends Clarke and Paul. What on earth would possess an influential UK affiliate forum to send out such an advert before we can reach our clients, before the networks are ready?
It beggars belief. The irony is Matt Wood, you are an affiliate, you stand to lose money too!!!
Am I stunned and shocked? I should be… but I’m not, just disappointed really. Makes all our efforts this week seem pointless, I mean what’s the point in trying to make things better for affiliates when the very people that can help bring about the changes in this industry do this?
A4u… foolish foolish move!
So much drama and controversy for a sleepy Saturday.