Exclusive Codes Or Commissions For The Masses?

There's a degree of socialism whiffing through the forum at the moment.

The stench has been caused by discount code affiliates stealing exclusive codes and using them on their own sites.

Should these unfriendly site owners be allowed to get away with it? And if not, how should we make it uneconomic to do it?

James (J Lil, Keeky D) of Affiliate Future believes that the issue to should be micro managed where each merchant's codes are monitored and if exclusive codes are used out of place then the offending affiliate will be dealt with.

Another view taken by other networks is that affiliate commissions will be awarded to the affiliate that effectively "owns" the code.

I favour this view as the affiliate should be rewarded for their ability to drive traffic and prove their worth. Whilst the affiliate that steals it should be punished for not playing ball.

I know of one codes affiliate that is making serious cash out of another code affiliate stealing his exclusive codes. To me that's tough shit! We can not reward affiliates for being this unethical.

I can see Jame's point to a degree. They want to open up affiliate marketing to the masses and don't want (I believe) a few affiliates dominating the market to the detriment to the rest. However, I see the situation in a more capitalist light.

There are rules and regulations, work hard to increase your lot, but don't break the rules. Exclusive codes exist so affiliates should work for them. If punters want to search for discount codes then affiliates should offer them on their sites to make sure they are responsible for the last click - within the rules.

If we want to stop code affiliates breaking these rules then we have to hit them where it hurts and where it matters to them - their pockets.

I love the fact that this one code affiliate is loosing a bucket load everyday to a competitor because they're too lazy and arrogant to get their own codes.

Respect for the web-user and others in the industry has gone out of the window for some - all they care about is themselves. But I'm sorry, no individual is bigger than the industry.

And I'd rather have a resolution that has more teeth rather than hope that networks can spot the raping of sites in time AND take appropriate action.