So this is an email I sent today:

I was intrigued by your sites and proposition until I read this:

While I realize you likely get asked a lot about affiliate relationships please rest assured we are coming to you with a totally open mind of being a great business partner. With that in mind we would consider paying advertising or sponsorship fees as a way for you to get to know us. Of course we would deduct this from any commission we owe you but it does give you a total win/win solution.

So basically, you’re going to pay to advertise on my site, and then, if I choose to affiliate with you after the advertising period, you’re going to take the money you paid for that advertisement out of my commission? So you’re going to take back payment for services already rendered? I really can’t get down with that. Just doesn’t really define “great business partner” to me. Sorry.

Maybe I’m misunderstanding?

Thanks,
Rayne Millaray
www.InsatiableDesire.com
Twitter: @RayneMillaray

Maybe a little bitchier than I had to be, but there it is.

I spoke with other bloggers, and found out that the company is wording their terms a little differently with each blogger. Of course, that’s typical. You pay more, sacrifice more, to work with people who will get your name further out there than others. But instead of saying, “deduct this from commission,” they’re saying, “we’ll pay you commission for anything over the advertising fees.”

Basically, they’re saying, “Come here, let me fuck you up the ass without lube.”

So in a nutshell:

This company is offering you a “deal” to sweeten the pot. They’ll pay you advertising fees on a trial basis so that you can consider affiliating with them. You put their link up, and get paid. You become an affiliate, and they start getting traffic. Now they don’t have to pay you for your link anymore. AND! They don’t have to start paying you any commission until you’ve made the amount they paid in advertising fees.

So really:

They’re taking back payment for services already rendered; traffic already received.

What I’m saying:

Read their terms carefully. Do not accept bullshit offers. Seriously.

<3

Update

The owner replied to my email trying to convince me his proposition is “fair.” This is what he said:

This is ___ the owner of _________.com. ____ asked me to respond on his behalf.

I think fair is a matter of perspective. I can tell you this we have had way too many take us up on our offer and everyone has said this is an amazingly “fair” approach.

What we are saying is that instead of you bearing risk of a blind affiliate where you could potentially gain nothing. We are willing to pay your advertising fee and bear 100% of the risk. And the other part you missed is that if our relationship generates more than your ad rate we will pay you that extra. I don’t know anyone else being that “fair” do you?

Sorry you didn’t see it that way.

To which I responded:

Thank you for your time.

Actually, I’ve been blogging for 10 years, and in those 10 years, I’ve worked with multiple companies who pay for preferred advertising on my site even though I am an affiliate because they want their links or banners up front where they will be seen, rather than just smattered among my posts. Those companies would never dream of deducting the amount they paid for preferred advertising from my commission because they realize that they got what they paid for and it would be unethical to take back payment for services rendered.

Wow. You’ve managed to swindle people. Good for you. Frankly, I feel sorry for those folks.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks,
Rayne Millaray
www.InsatiableDesire.com
Twitter: @RayneMillaray

So not in the mood.