Even though I admit I’ve been promoting different free trial offers for more than 6 months, I find it extremely unfair the fact that those companies are squeezing every single dollar from innocent (let us call them innocent) people who don’t have a clue how affiliate marketing works
How do Free Trial offers work?
Alright from an affiliates point of view, usually you get paid $30-$40 (based on the offer) for every visitor who converts into a paying customer (who pays only $4.99 usually for shipping and handling). So how is it possible? How can they offer such a big payout for such a small fee?
The problem lies beneath our eyes, most probably somewhere at the bottom of the page, written in microscopic words such as “If you do not cancel within 7 days, your credit card will be charged 60 dollars”
Now if you ask me, this is pure illegal, pure robbery and definitely not the proper way of doing business. Watch all those acai berry offers, watch all those colon cleanse products, they are all big lies.
So basically, just because they had Winfrey’s support at the beginning (now no more) doesn’t mean they can steal money, because charging my credit card without my notice is considered theft.
So whom should we blame for all this mess around? For all those spam about acai berries? For all those innocent people losing money accidentally? Is it our fault for not reading every single line before ordering? Or perhaps free trial offers age is over?
Leave your comments below
Category: Affiliate Marketing
Hi,
I would say that middle all these ethical, legal & affiliate issues, I would say it’s essential to do few simple thing before rushing to give credit card number.
1. Check the authenticity of company/organization.
2. Check out the market word for them (more than
3. Stand ready for both positive & negative consequences.
I hope this helps.
BTW I love your blog!
I agree with what Chris said above. I guess we should have the initiative to do a little research on every offer they are tempted with. There are still a lot of great things that are for free in the internet and it’s just a matter of looking for these ones.
Yep. This sounds very similar to the rebate offers that you have to mail in. Good points.
Unfortunately many a times such a trial offer get customers through word of mouth publicity when an innocent customer unaware of what’s in store for his credit card also recommends the offer to another. Here no affiliate was involved but still customers got trapped. Fine prints should be read careflly.