Shafted! eBay Affiliates … Beware

I was an eBay affiliate until October 20 of this year. On that day I got a notice that my account was being suspended pending a quality review. They requested raw access logs and details of how I drive traffic. I provided all of the information, and without ceremony, they terminated my account. No explanation except to say I hadn’t provided enough information to “clear my case”, though I sent everything requested — twice.

While browsing around on the ABW forum (abestweb.com) during the past few days I’ve discovered that eBay has started a disturbing trend … they are suspending affiliate accounts without notice and, apparently, without provocation. I discovered that I am not alone but that knowledge gives me no satisfaction. Rather, it leaves a dirty taste in my mouth.

Here’s what one marketer said, “I have been an affiliate for EPN since the CJ days and started doing a few bucks a month which eventually grew to a few more and lately it has been over $10,000 per month – all coming from organic search traffic. So last week I got the dreaded email that my account was ’suspended for review’. Well my first thought was “at least they didnt terminate me” right?

So I answered their questions and now I am just waiting….
waiting….
waiting…..
maybe they are on coffee break….waiting…
its been about 9 days now… still waiting….”

Another gentleman wrote that he had been terminated 3 times in 3 months! He has three threads on the forum (see link below) detailing his saga with trying to prove his innocence.

What kind of madness is this? Ebay changes their business model from revenue share to PPC and they’re suddenly paranoid of anyone who earns a decent income.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Well, if you’re not an eBay affiliate … don’t become one.

If you ARE an affiliate there is apparently nothing you can do to protect yourself. If you start to generate a decent income they will suspend your account pending quality review. I guess the secret to staying under their radar is not to make any money … i.e., don’t send any traffic to their site.

Unfortunately, when they terminate you they keep your commissions. Yep, you read it right. They do not pay you what you have rightfully earned. What a dirty piece of business that is!

So, what can you do if they terminate your account and keep your money?

From the Abestweb forum I found the following course of action that I will follow. I have revised it a little:

1. Remove all the EBAY links and on your site … write a piece about how EBAY shafted you (like I’m doing here).

2. DO NOT CALL THEM. (IMO, I don’t know if this is good advice. I would call them if I could find a number or had a contact.)

3. Write them a letter (or have a lawyer write it for you) and send it registered to the PRESIDENT of EBAY. The letter should say something like: Pursuant to (your state) Small Claims law, you are about to be sued for XYZ … then list the grievances. (search Google for proper wording and be sure to get a lawyer to read your letter before sending. )

4. Ask for the money (they owe you) and make sure you have a contact phone number so their legal department can call you. It may take them 60 days to get around to it … but since you sent the letter they are on the legal clock so to speak. Do not do anything else.

5. On the 61st day file a suit in small claims against them. (if they haven’t paid you what is owed.)

The person who gave the above advice says that you will eventually get the money since it will cost them more money to defend the action than they would have to pay out and the chances of them winning are 50% at best.

I honestly don’t know if you will get your money. But, you will feel better about yourself if you take action. And, if they don’t pay you it is a tax deduction as a bad debt (in the U.S.).

I’m going to do it. I will not lose almost $1k without a fight. I was a huge fan of the ePN affiliate program … but I’m over it.

My bottom line advice. Remove all ebay links from your websites and stop sending them traffic. They do not play fair. They cheat you out of your money and accuse you (by implication) of being dishonest.

Why would you want to affiliate with such as that????

I will keep you posted of the progress in my quest to get my money and “clear my case” whatever that means!

To read more about eBay’s unscrupulous dealings with their affilaites visit this link:
http://forum.abestweb.com/forumdisplay.php?f=492 and browse through the forum.