Poll: Late Payments at Conference Time?

[mojo]

Do you notice late payments and lack of response when it is conference time?

Do you allow extra time and plan on late payments or replies to queries at conference time? Is this expected?

[ocreditor]

If I understand your question, wouldn't affiliate programs make an effort to make payments on time as they are facing hundreds of affiliates at a public conference?

[-Shay-]

Do you notice late payments and lack of response when it is conference time?

Do you allow extra time and plan on late payments or replies to queries at conference time? Is this expected?

I think a TREMENDOUS shift in priorities/resources before conferences is the norm. Admin work and other important stuff behind the scenes, as well as communications NOT RELATED to setting up a meeting at a conference seems to take a back seat to booking meetings, setting appointments, and reaching out to new affiliates.

Note: I'm not speaking on ALL programs but a "significant amount".

One would think that focusing on doing the things necessary to retain, upkeep, maintain, PAY and keep CURRENT affiliates happy would be equally as important as booking meetings.

[bboyspyder]

It is understandable if there are delays. Some affiliate teams are not that big and priorities shift around such events. Nevertheless as long as everything is tracked properly payments will be done sooner or later.

[lots0]

There are some programs that you might as well not bother to even contact several WEEKS before a conference and at least a week after.

No names, but when a money making aff is ignored/put off because aff managers think partying and talking crap to new prospective affs is more important... I find a new program to promote.

[grem]

Or is a good excuse for programs to not pay up

[-Shay-]

It is understandable if there are delays. Some affiliate teams are not that big and priorities shift around such events. Nevertheless as long as everything is tracked properly payments will be done sooner or later.

Taking an outlook of this nature is one of the reasons why affiliates get the shaft.

As affiliate webmasters, we are commission based advertisers who work for ourselves. If this were a "real world" job where we were self-employed commission based insurance brokers - how many of us would tolerate late commissions before we refused to write policies for that company?

How many of us would accept that the company is "too busy" to process commissions due to a big convention he is going to that he's known about for months - especially when knowing full well that any "payment issues" that occur during "non-convention" months are dealt with by saying "let me talk to the commissions department and see what I can find out".

Sure, these affiliate managers spit out excuses, but WE as webmasters accept them. We accept delayed payments, slow payments, and deal with programs who state they pay well even though others have had HUGE problems with them.

We create our own messes by enabling these excuses to fly and writing them a pass.

You want to pay late because you are too busy with the convention? Not a problem, I understand... tack on a 10% inconvenience fee and pay me when you get back.

Having problems paying US based affiliates? Then help me understand why it is you're paying monthly to advertise on the high traffic sports sites run by such and such media - and add 10% for the inconvenience YOU have caused ME for your lack of preparation.

Cliff notes: It is not understandable if there are some delays.

[mojo]

If it comes down to a choice to go to a conference or pay affilialtes, affiliates are going to lose every time. It's not all programs but it's not just small programs. There are larger programs who work this way too.

What's worrying also is that there doesn't seem to be a back up person to do this task if the AM is away. Are they the ONLY ones that can do payments? It's baffling that no one else is trained to do it.

[-Shay-]

What's worrying also is that there doesn't seem to be a back up person to do this task if the AM is away. Are they the ONLY ones that can do payments? It's baffling that no one else is trained to do it.

Exactly. Really makes one wonder if there's really a "payment department" or a "back office team", as these people are referenced in other months when there's payment issues - Generally speaking of course.

[lots0]

Exactly. Really makes one wonder if there's really a "payment department" or a "back office team", as these people are referenced in other months when there's payment issues - Generally speaking of course.

Generally Speaking, I think you hit the nail on the head.

How many of us would accept that the company is "too busy" to process commissions due to a big convention he is going to that he's known about for months - especially when knowing full well that any "payment issues" that occur during "non-convention" months are dealt with by saying "let me talk to the commissions department and see what I can find out".

I could not agree with you more.
Not professional... and in lots0's smart phone, 'not professional' translates to 'not trustworthy'.