double standards

I am really getting tired of the double standard that "some" affiliate managers think is ok to work under. If you have an affiliate program that disallows spam (you SHOULD) then what makes you think it is ok to utilize spam to gain affiliates?

Here is one recent email exchange with an affiliate program prospecting for affiliates.

Quote:

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First you must tell me where you got my email address.

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Quote:

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Bought it with hundreds of other affiliate adresses from a polish guy I met on skype. Not kidding.
It is not how you meet it is what you make out of it!
Kind regards,

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Rick
Universal4

I´m assuming you are rushing to do an exchange with him. Hurry now, before it´s too late!

NO, read the above again....

This was an AFFILIATE Manager pitching me a new program.....

Rick
Universal4

Aaahhhhh - I read it a bit too quick, thought it was an affiliate looking for a link exchange. Well, seeing as he´s been so proudly honest about how he found you, perhaps you should post here with the brand´s name so we can all sign up :)

Name and sham

well at least he's honest, got to get some points for that, and let's face it every affiliate program does this (unsolicited mailing) on one scale or another.... shame really.

Wow, he had the balls to give you an honest answer! I usually ask the same and never hear from them again. Must be your lucky day, go play the MegaMillions and PowerBall Rick!

Seriously, the ethics of many an affiliate program are in the crapper. It is much different when they actually arrive at your site and use the contact page, that at least shows some effort. But still, I think they hit index page and go right to contact as far too many non-US brands contact me on sites I have that are clearly US facing ONLY. Chalk it up to being lazy on their part.

Just remember when an affiliate manager contacts me with an email that they should not have this tells me they bought a database. If they buy a database then selling it is no different to them. Just imagine what they will do to their affiliate and player database.

It is just lazy and stupid to contact affiliates in this manner.