I'm Just Sharing

Posted by Mitch on Jan 12, 2009

First, I hope you check out my Big RSS Subscriber Contest after reading this article.

Second, read this:

Dear Mitch Mitchell,

Brookstone has changed the way we assess our affiliate program’s profitability. Based on this analysis, we have found that sales from your website were resulting in a net loss to Brookstone, and we must cease our partnership effective immediately.

Well, thank you very much, Brookstone. Brookstone is one of my favorite retail stores, and I’ve spent a lot of money over the years buying a lot of things from there. I thought it would be kind of cool having them and their products as part of my affiliate domain, so to speak.

But here you go, being dropped because I’m giving them a net loss. Wait, hold on; how am I giving them a net loss? Sure, I haven’t made any sales, but all that means is that I haven’t earned them a net profit. I can’t lose anything for them; that makes no sense. Because I haven’t sold anything, they haven’t had to worry about collecting taxes from me because I’m in New York state. I haven’t had to get product up front, then send it back to them, costing them in restocking fees (by the way, who agrees with me that restocking fees are the biggest scam and crock they’ve ever heard of; at least half the times your product is damaged, so they’re not restocking it to begin with). Frankly, even without making any sales, at the very least I’ve done nothing except promote them and some of their little quirky products.

Of course, Brookstone is having the same problems as many other retail stores, having posted a loss of 2% from the same period last year, the third quarter being the comparison period, but I find it hard to believe that Brookstone could be saving money by cutting someone like me, and other affiliate advertisers, who cost them absolutely nothing except a little bit of loyalty.

Well, that’s how it goes, I guess. I’ll probably still shop at their stores because, the sneaks, they always have those massage chairs in just the right place in the mall whenever I go there, which, lucky for me, is rare. I don’t like it, but, obviously, they’re not the first affiliate to drop me over the last 9 months.

They just came up with the lamest excuse.

17 Comments »

Taris Janitens:

YOu really have to wonder how thats works – what a BS excuse that is!!! They will miss you once your blog is doing big volume – screw em!!

Taris Janitens´s last blog post..Do You Digg What I’m Saying?

Mitch Reply:
January 12th, 2009 at 5:24 PM

Thanks for the support, Taris. It certainly looks like a weak statement, that’s for sure.

January 12th, 2009 | 5:05 PM

Caleb:

This reminds of the lame excuse eBay gave me for dumping me.

Mitch Reply:
January 12th, 2009 at 6:20 PM

You’re right, that makes no sense whatsoever. Well, these companies do always reserve the right to discontinue us, but man, it’d be nice to have legitimate reasons so we can determine what they don’t like. Then again, some CJ companies turn you down right from the beginning without telling you why either, so one never knows.

January 12th, 2009 | 6:07 PM

Make Money Online:

This is weird dude.. How can you possible lose money from affiliate programs?

Ben

Make Money Online´s last blog post..Avoid These Common Traps In Blogging

Mitch Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 6:15 PM

Exactly, Ben. It costs them nothing, not even time, unless I’m actually selling a lot of stuff.

January 13th, 2009 | 11:00 AM

Trade Show Guru:

Hey Mitch,
Brookstone’s explanation makes no sense, and I’d be mad too.
BTW, I just read about how New York state has redefined what having a “physical presence” in their state means and how it is trying to force Internet retailers to collect sales tax on sales to anyone in New York, even if the company don’t have any stores or buildings in New York, if a website in New York advertises for them and generates sales. Now I understand why you’re getting dropped… and I’d be mad about that too.
~ Steve, aka the trade show booths guru

Trade Show Guru´s last blog post..Trade Show Booths and Duct Tape

Mitch Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 4:45 PM

For sure, Steve. NY state just won a victory when the judge refused to hear the case, saying Amazon didn’t have jurisdiction to file the lawsuit. Man, if there was ever a non-answer, that was it. What a dodge.

Trade Show Guru Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:49 PM

Hey Mitch,
Huh? Amazon doesn’t have jurisdiction to be able to file a lawsuit and protect itself, but Amazon does have a “physical presence” and can be required to collect and remit state sales tax. I don’t understand that “logic”. Sounds like the state keeps changing the definitions to help themselves.
~ Steve, the trade show booths guru

Trade Show Guru´s last blog post..Trade Show Booths and Duct Tape

Mitch Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:52 PM

It certainly does. This can be a confusing state at times. Nothing like Cali with its civil lawsuits in criminal cases, but otherwise, it can be really goofy.

January 13th, 2009 | 4:17 PM

Dennis Edell:

Bummer indeed. Sorry to hear it, but still plenty of good affiliates to choose from.

Dennis Edell´s last blog post..Do You Have An Advertising Page?

Mitch Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:47 PM

True, but I had to share the letter because it makes no sense. That plus, as it turns out, this post is #14 on Google under “Brookstone Affiliate Program”. I hope it stays that high.

January 13th, 2009 | 6:49 PM

Kikolani | Poetry, Photography:

The only thing I can think of is if they pay another company to find affiliates, and that company charges them per click off of your website. That is the closest thing I can think of. Otherwise, definitely a lame, weird excuse. I would say that you should write them back and stress that you are a long term customer, and as such, you deserve a more detailed explanation.

~ Kristi

Kikolani | Poetry, Photography´s last blog post..What Do I Want

Mitch Reply:
January 21st, 2009 at 6:13 PM

You know, I’d thought it was enough to just “out” them on this blog, and on Twitter, but you’re absolutely correct. So I just wrote them, and I’ll admit there was a little bit of sarcasm in the response, but there you go. And I have been a big time customer; I have a lot of their products in my house. No more, though.

January 21st, 2009 | 5:09 PM

Tim H.:

Silly Me!, I just realized I was sending traffic to brookstone for months (for free) after they dumped me. Guess I missed the email?
Funny how the brookstone links work fine, even though I’m mot getting paid.

Sending that traffic to a competitor now. Actually, most of their crap can be had for cheaper elsewhere anyway.

Mitch Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 8:26 AM

Hi Tim. You know, it’s kind of sad from my perspective, because I always used to enjoy going into Brookstone and looking at their stuff. Now, I don’t even notice them anymore; how weird.

May 14th, 2009 | 3:52 AM

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