Ebay Partner Network, frustrating rejection

Hello,

I read alot about how to get accepted into this tough program. I put together what I felt was a quality site that complied with all of their basic requirements. Can anyone help point me in the right direction? I am really trying hard to get accepted, but after two rejections I am wondering if I should be seeking an alternative.

Thanks in advance, Nick

www.TheNuttyGolfer.com

 

I would not worry too much about it. Unless you are cookie stuffing, eBay doesn't pay well enough to be worth worrying about.

And if you are cookie stuff, you have a lot of other things to be worrying about.

 

Thanks Will, but everything I have read says that eBay is a very profitable (and the most generous) affiliate program. What is a better alternative for a niche golf site?

Thanks! Nick

 

You can look for offers on CJ, I saw one with good conversion rate there.

 

I've been rejected loads of times by Ebay, I created a great site that looks for auctions that are about to end and have zero bids. I emailed eBay and they told me what I needed to do and they still rejected me.

So I feel your pain.

 

Thanks guys!

I just applied to PepperJam... what's the difference between promoting ebay via PepperJam, and EPN?

Nick

 

You lose 25% and are subject to having all of your earning disappear... oh wait, you are subject to that with any eBay Partner Network affiliation.

I would not pursue EPN as they are totally unstable. They are also lead by Steve Hartman, the guy that brought 3rd party ads to eBay. He is an idiot and any program that he is associated with is one not worth promoting.

 

eBay is very choosy.. you have to have some connections or an outstanding resume to even approach them i'm sure..

 

At first,have you figure out the reason why you are rejected?This is avoid doing it again and prevents rejection of other network affiliates.

 

I created an EPN account after they left CJ and got accepted instantly. But I guess it's a lot harder now.

 

I set up an account a year ago when they first started. And the results were good, so I put more effort into it. What makes it good is that eBay pays you for each new signup (ACRU). If the new members are considered "high quality" (ie. buy more from eBay), they pay you more. I was making $40 per new signup. So I started advertising for items that I thought would get more signups, out of the way items that you wouldn't think of are on eBay. It worked, my signups and traffic and commissions grew to a steady 4-figures monthly. Then all of a sudden, eBay tells me I have engaged in "cookie stuffing", shuts me down, keeps all my money. No one is returning my email complaints, and I am talking to a lawyer about suing. Be careful, it could happen to you.

 

Guilty until proven innocent is bad enough -- but when there is no process in place to prove yourself innocent things get really weird.

It sounds like a lawsuit is just what is needed to force eBay to shape up and fly right.

 

I heard Pepper Jam uses their own tracking, so you often get paid for your converions. Ebay seems to cheat you now and then.

 

eBay's affiliate program is run by nitwits. A bunch of silly folk who probably get drunk at their desk and decide to just ban EPN members to entertain themselves. EPN is very unprofessionally run. They're just completely clueless and offer no explanation whatsoever when handing out bans by the loads. You can't even get through to them. It's almost sickening the way they carry themselves and the way they treat people who are supposed to be "partners".
You almost want to just go down to their headquarters and strangle those idiots in charge. It's really gotten out of hand.
What I found really upsetting was a year ago when eBay was banning EPN members and when EPN members banned together on the eBay boards forcing eBay to give an explanation, eBay said "We want our customers to be engaged."
Whatever the hell that means???? A very asinine statement and when asked to explain further, they hightailed it off the boards.
They were just closing so many accounts, saying "Your account has been expired." Showing absolutely no respect to its loyal members, many of them who relied on eBay's partnership program in order to make a living.

 

eBay is poorly managed in general, and the result is that Amazon.com and Craigslist are slowly but steadily eroding it's market share.

eBay has dropped from the 16th most popular site on the Internet to the 22nd. If they don't get a better idea of what business they need to be in, the fall will continue.

 

For what its worth...I would reach out to Ebay and explain to them why you would be a good fit. This has worked for a couple of people I know and they have overturned their decision. Good luck

 

Don't waste your time with EPN. Today they changed their policies and turned the program upside down. Read their forum.

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Ebay-Partner-Network/The-Uncertainty-In/510127474

http://forums.ebay.com/db2/topic/Ebay-Partner-Network/Quality-Click-Pricing/520144740

 

It's always been scary trying to work with EPN and my guess is that CJ didn't want to align themselves with such an arbitrary commission based system and the direction eBay was planning on going. Its dirty, non transparent, and breeds resent.

I'm using them through PJN, but actively look for a replacement every single day. Like others, if you aren't using them already, don't bother and find something else.

 

It looks like eBay is working hard to alienate the few affiliates who have stuck with them during their ill planned escape from CJ.

Those two links show a lot of pissed off people. To see what they are pissed off about, read Announcing Quality Click Pricing.

 

I would like to know why you seem to be going out of your way to alienate people against EPN when you are not even a member? or did they kick you out?

I wouldalso like to know how you arrive at this untruth? "eBay doesn't pay well enough to be worth worrying about."