Fascinating discussion. Very interesting to see the responses.
I’d agree somewhat with Professor that making it a negative thing and demanding might damage the relationship – but i’d also point out that while affiliates are not being paid then the “relationship” is pretty much one way.
I’d also agree with Dominique that I’d not join a Union, almost out of personal principals as I’ve never been a union member. Unions tend to want to charge fees – and end up with spokespeople that think that they can “speak for their members” … when of course they have no such unanimous mandate.
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So what I’d suggest is a loose affiliate collective.
We create a website or forum (perhaps using CAP or GPWA or APCW or something new) and we list outstanding debts.
Program XXXXXX (real name) owes Affiliate AFF001 (serial number) $10,000 and it has been outstanding since DEC 06.
We make sure that affiliates are aware that there is a simply page where they can see which programs are owning amounts to legitimate affilaites.
The collective can release a list of programs that are in DEBT to affilaites.
Imagine a report that says something like we have recorded that :
– affiliate program XXXXX owes $300,000 to 27 seperate affiliates !!!
:stirpot:
Wow!! That would cetainly help me to decide who I chose to work with !!
:shooter:
Now of course it’s up to each member to choose which programs that they want to do business with … but I think that a clear and concise listing a report like this would be doing the affilaite community a great service.
As far as I can see – it’s not antagonistic – but it’s reporting simple business facts – and programs do need to get used to the idea that they cannot treat affilaites like easy credit and only pay them when they feel like it.
These programs need to get a bloody business loan and pay their debts !!
Or else the Collective will be reporting on them