Jangro.com - Latest Comments in Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Qiana Jones — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:44:35 -0000

Wow!! I did not know that was going on. I'm really sorry to hear that so many people are unhappy with the program now. Who is the current AM over there?

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Pranav Chavda — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:56:49 -0000

Qiana,

would love to see zappos get back to paying 15% commissions now that free overnight shipping isn't offered anymore.

Not all's bad though, after posts like this one and elsewhere on the blogosphere talking about zappos' 6pm fiasco. Offering commissions for 'leaks' to 6pm, albeit only 5%, was still a good move.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Qiana Jones — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:55:13 -0000

Hi Guys,

I know some of you may remember me as the affiliate manager at Zappos about 2 1/2 years up to about a year ago. I was reading everyones post and it seems like everyone is unhappy with the affiliate program at Zappos. Can you guys give any input as to what you think could make it better or any suggestions to improve things? Has anyone contacted the current affiliate manager with suggestions? If so, what was the outcome?

Thanks,
Qiana

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Chamonix — Wed, 07 May 2008 01:24:47 -0000

The ski goggles on the homepage are at least seasonal and Oakleys... but then again, if they're sending your traffic to 6pm.com and you get nothing from the affiliate sale then that is out of order.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Courtney — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:42:12 -0000

Is there anything Amazon haven't got their grubby hands on? Jeez.

Ok, I will admit though, there is a part of me that quite admires Amazon's sheer level of creativity and determination. I could do with a slice of the latter as I'm afraid it's not one of my stronger points (I can make a mean salsa though!).

I think Amazon should offer to buy Zappos out. I'm not really feeling their name either. 'Zappo' sounds kinda silly to me. But maybe that's just me.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Steezy Steeve — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:52:53 -0000

(edited) Thanks for the heads up! I just joined their affiliate program and was about to start making a few posts on my blog. I think I'll find a new merchant because them sending traffic away to another site where the cookie doesn't follow is just plain dirty.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Sheryl — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:02:49 -0000

I have no personal stake here (I promote services, not products), but I find Shane's comments questionable. In my view, Zappos.com isn't ugly. What makes you "sure" that Endless's conversion rates are almost double Zappos? Their metrics don't support your contention.

Nabs is saying that Endless affiliates are only compensated for one sale per affiliate link click-thru. If you click through a Zappos affiliate link, you are compensated for every purchase the customer makes for 90 days unless the customer overwrites or deletes the cookie (or uses a different computer).

Without knowing how many of each company's customers purchase more than once per 90 day period, it's impossible to weigh the benefits of Zappos unlimited actions vs. Endless's higher commission.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Nabs — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:43:02 -0000

I don't see Endless.com anywhere near to Zappos.com , WHY ?

Endless.com (Action Referral Occurrences = 1 time(s))

Zappos.com ( Action Referral Occurrences Unlimited )

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Scott Hazard — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:13:22 -0000

Zappos has clearly demonstrated that they have an affiliate marketing manager who just does not get it. They let their program go for so long with no management that when they finally opened their eyes, it was a mess! In their mad dash to maintain profitability, they are shooting the value-add affiliate in the foot by redirecting traffic to 6pm.
Log in to your CJ account and you will see the text link to the affiliate page prominently displayed in the #2 position in their text link offerings.
I don't think they shut down the 6pm program upon buying them because the adware guys have CJ links to 6pm that work, so they simply made it private and let the network have their way with it.
I have a feeling that they will change their ways soon enough when senior management realizes what a foolish move this was, but it will likely be too late because with every passing day their affiliates are jumping ship and we don't easily forget things like this.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Pat Grady — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:52:01 -0000

Several months ago, Zappos also started allowing BHO affiliates in (like eBates, iGive and UPromise). These "partners" drain the returns Zappos seeks in their affiliate channel, hurting the channel overall. In addition, individual affiliates are affected by a leak / loss to these automated cookie machines taking credit for their referred visitor's return day sales.

What a mess, from darling to loser in very short order.

By the way, eBates has a 12% Zappos rebate posted on their site... so it's clear what affiliates need to do to deserve top commission rates from Zappos...

At least CJ's happy... [/sarcasm].

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Shane — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:56:31 -0000

It's astonishing to me that Zappos has done basically nothing to their horribly ugly website in all the years I've been using them. I'm a huge Zappos fan, but if I were to just run across their website, I'm almost certain I wouldn't feel confident enough to buy anything from them. I'm sure Endless' conversion rates are close to double Zappos'. It's a shame.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

Scott — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:44:12 -0000

Good point Pranav, I meant to mention the 15% commissions at Zappos.

And yes, even though they could link to Amazon.com from Endless, they don't. At a glance, I don't see a single link out. Amazon clearly knows a thing or two about keeping reigns on a visitor, never mind how to run an affiliate program.

Re: Zappos Affiliates: Look out Below!

shoes — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:43:57 -0000

Warming up the visitor and directing them to zappos is a joy but if zappos sends them to 6pm.com and you get nothing... that's utterly frustrating.