Commission Monster Merchant Start Up Fee

[BeautyQueen]

Hi Everyone
I am in the process of joining clix galore for my online store www.paradiseemporium.com.au and I was also looking at joining Commission Monster also. I have been going back and forth with quite an arrogant sales rep which puts me off right there. However they want me to pay $1295 start up fee to market me to the network. To be honest this is what is holding be back from joining, not to mention that the sales rep cancelled our meeting yesterday and then told me to do my own research on why Commission Monster where the biggest and the best and then told me to call my competitors to see how they were doing with them. Again puts me right off. To me if you have something to sell and a claim to make you should be able and more than willing to back that up. They are claiming they are bigger and better than Clix galore.

I would really appreciate some feedback from people regarding this start up fee and if they feel Commission Monster are a good company to deal with. Also would you recommend that I start my affiliate program with Clix and see how it goes before joining (if I join) Commission Monster.

Thanks

[PeterH]

Hi BeautyQueen,

You'll find that the biggest affiliates in Australia that you're probably going to end up dealing with don't like it when merchants are listed with muliple networks because of the potential of duplicate transactions and transaction hijacking.

In my experience and from a business standpoint Commission Monster charge slightly more per transaction and their systems are more manual than Clix Galore.

I would really appreciate some feedback from people regarding this start up fee and if they feel Commission Monster are a good company to deal with. Also would you recommend that I start my affiliate program with Clix and see how it goes before joining (if I join) Commission Monster.

I think you are going to get a lot of different opinions to this post

In the end I'd recommend you choose the network where your biggest affiliates are.

Have you been in contact with potential affiliates?

I hope this is helpful.

Peter.

[BeautyQueen]

Hi PeterH
Thanks for your comments. I have not been in contact with any affiliates as I am unsure of how to source this information, do you have any suggestions?

Cheers
Marnie

[PeterH]

Originally Posted by BeautyQueen

Hi PeterH
Thanks for your comments. I have not been in contact with any affiliates as I am unsure of how to source this information, do you have any suggestions?
Cheers
Marnie

Hi Marnie,

You can start with a google search using keywords that your customers would use.

I tried http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...cr%3DcountryAU

On my screen the top four results are CPC sites (they charge you by the click)

The fouth is a well known affiliate site in Australia.

http://www.shopsafe.com.au/merchants..._au/chanel.htm

You can see they are already promoting one of your competitors, maybe if your conversion is great and you have a high average sale they would promote you too.

Best get in contact with them.

Another thing you can do is just pop the domain name of a competitor into google like http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...cr%3DcountryAU

This will list a lot of affiliates promoting them, this isn't as good at the brand name search though.

Introduce your business in the merchants corner http://www.affiliateforum.com.au/for...splay.php?f=24 and let everyone know about your business, if anyone wants to know specific metrics like avg trolley size and conversion they should private msg you.

Hope this helps,

Peter.

[BeautyQueen]

Hi Peter, Yes it does help thanks! I think my issue with CM was the rudeness of the staff and as a retailer in a very competitive market customer service is everything.
Cheers
Marnie

[PeterH]

Originally Posted by BeautyQueen

rudeness of the staff

Yes, if you are treated that way when a company is trying to "win" your business one could ask the question "How are they going to treat me when they have my business?"

Please don't take my comments as being anti-commission monster.

Maybe if you had a different rep, your experience would of been better. I know our rep always tries to be helpful when we contact him.

In the end, I think my previous recommendation stands, go for the network that has the affiliate(s) that you wish to work with.

Peter.

[tection99]

Hi BeautyQueen,
Just wondering how you went with Commission Monster?
Did you get good results?

[BeautyQueen]

Originally Posted by tection99

Hi BeautyQueen,
Just wondering how you went with Commission Monster?
Did you get good results?

Hi tection99,
I actually haven't signed up with CM at the moment because of the above issues. I think I am going to start with Clix Galore to test the affilate market. We are in the process of creating banners etc. I have heard mixed messages about both programs, but at the moment I cannot justify $1295 set up fee and the fact that I had to deal with inept sales staff who were so rude and arrogant. Sorry but I am a big customer service freak!!!

[fatcat2442]

that is the most ridiculous start up fee i have heard

[Versus]

It all depends on the return, i think $1295 is relatively reasonable considering their allegedly superior affiliates.

In regards to the rude staff, I only recently got off the phone to CM and the member of staff I spoke to was extremely helpful. I think the same goes with every company, there are happy and not so happy people.
Ultimately you know your profit margins, and if you can't afford to offer more than 10% on any product sale then it's probably not worth your while signing up.

[newbie]

Originally Posted by Versus

It all depends on the return, i think $1295 is relatively reasonable considering their allegedly superior affiliates.

In regards to the rude staff, I only recently got off the phone to CM and the member of staff I spoke to was extremely helpful. I think the same goes with every company, there are happy and not so happy people.
Ultimately you know your profit margins, and if you can't afford to offer more than 10% on any product sale then it's probably not worth your while signing up.

Welcome versus.

Some of the most lucrative programs on offer in this country pay 3% or less. The percentage is wholly dependent on the nature of the business, it is not an arbitrary figure.

Superior affiliates? I do not think any network can claim to have "superior affiliates", allegedly or otherwise. Have you asked them by what verifiable measure they are making this claim?

You are welcome here versus. I look forward to seeing your next post and perhaps hearing what their response was.

[Versus]

Thanks for the warm welcome

I must admit, after reading this forum I have been in contact with dgm (as one of my ppc clients is looking to become an advertiser), and will continue to shop around

In terms of confidence, CM have been the most notable.

I agree that some of the highest paying offers are 3% or less, however it depends on the market, not just the product. I personally think getting paid $2 per submit is alot easier than 3% of a beauty-product related sale. (In terms of average affiliate payout).

And Newbie (I feel really bad typing that!) I did call ask for some measurables to support the "superior affiliates" implication (as it was never said directly, just hinted at), and whilst their was a slight hesitation he did provide me with a case study on a previous client in a similar field, to which they got good results for.

I look forward to reading and learning as this forum is a very good resource.

[newbie]

Originally Posted by Versus

Thanks for the warm welcome

I must admit, after reading this forum I have been in contact with dgm (as one of my ppc clients is looking to become an advertiser), and will continue to shop around

In terms of confidence, CM have been the most notable.

I agree that some of the highest paying offers are 3% or less, however it depends on the market, not just the product. I personally think getting paid $2 per submit is alot easier than 3% of a beauty-product related sale. (In terms of average affiliate payout).

And Newbie (I feel really bad typing that!) I did call ask for some measurables to support the "superior affiliates" implication (as it was never said directly, just hinted at), and whilst their was a slight hesitation he did provide me with a case study on a previous client in a similar field, to which they got good results for.

I look forward to reading and learning as this forum is a very good resource.

It is invaluable to be able to interact with your peers and this forum has proven very useful in making contact with new merchants but, like most things on any forum, every post should be cynically regarded. Take only with a grain of salt. T

For example, you have alluded to a "case study" to support a claim of "superior affiliates". I still think this is wrong. The casual reader might regard that as valid but I disagree as I do not think that any network can lay claim to "superior affiliates"

For example, I consider that we are a serious and ethical affiliate publisher and we do not use CM at all.

At least at one point, CM agreed with our probably-unfounded high opinion we have of ourselves. Their website once included a testimonial from me but I asked them to remove it.

[King]

Beauty Queen, I would also ask other merchants about their post signup experiences with networks. From my experience from both sides of the fence, there is a huge difference between the main two mentioned in this thread. This investigation is best done off-forum.

[Versus]

Originally Posted by newbie

It is invaluable to be able to interact with your peers and this forum has proven very useful in making contact with new merchants but, like most things on any forum, every post should be cynically regarded. Take only with a grain of salt. T

For example, you have alluded to a "case study" to support a claim of "superior affiliates". I still think this is wrong. The casual reader might regard that as valid but I disagree as I do not think that any network can lay claim to "superior affiliates"

I don't think it's a bad thing, from a sales perspective - to say that they have run similar campaigns that have been successful.