J Todd I am totally surprised by this sudden announcement and would have appreciated a heads up and a chance to disucss this with you first.
While I understand your frustration with late payments, CAP has always taken the approach of working WITH the Affiliate Programs and recognizing what they they are; our PARTNERS. We dont take the stance that it’s an US against THEM proposition. I have always believed if you approach our business with that attitude you will be very unhappy with the results and your earnings.
Right now we ARE facing difficult times. These times were imposed upon us by the indefensible actions of the US Government, not the affiliate programs whom we have all partnered with for years. Like us the programs are REALLY having a rough go of it due to the current market realities. Many have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in stock values and collectively thousands of people have lost their jobs. That’s REALITY. It’s not a plot or a scam all engineered so that they wouldn’t have to pay affiliates.
The pull out of Neteller from the US market left our industry with no reliable payment mechanism for players and this has caused severe cash flow issues for the casinos and programs. It has impacted their ability to pay us in a timely fashion. Would it have been prudent to have had other methods already lined up? Yes, but there wasnt. I dont attribute this to a desire to cause havoc among players or affiliates. Perhaps it was laziness or just being short sighted and reactive rather then proactive. But again I don’t think this was/is anything the programs wanted.
There ARE new payment mechanism which are coming online. EcoCard was just the first workable one to come along. Others WILL be following. That will ease all these problems and return cash flow to more acceptable levels. I am sure that will also smooth out the payment delays.
I have a wife and children to feed too, 80% of my income is derived as a gaming affiliate, so believe me the delays are excruciating for me too. But still I dont lay ALL of this on the programs which have supported my family for years. I blame the Government and am active in the Democratic party trying to effect a change. I think that is an appropriate response.
Unions have always been a way for EMPLOYEES to address grievances with EMPLOYERS. They have never been a means to foster closer relationships between PARTNERS. As I said, CAP has always taken the position that affiliates are private business owners who PARTNER with affiliate programs and that by working closely TOGETHER we can all make more money.
I firmly believe that if you attempt to warp the relationship away from mutual cooperation and basing it instead on fear (“We will slam you or boycot you if you dont do exactly as we say”) will be very detrimental to all parties.
I do not believe a hostile relationship will acheive the ultimate goals you want to reach and urge you to take a positive appproach in this new venture. Something founded on negativity is doomed to failure.
Give me a call when you are available to discuss.