The occasional but rare incidents of "double dipped" transactions still happen and volume bonuses are impacted.
Is there anything we can do about it?

Are you using the redirect or are you using the CJ link structure? I don't see any double dips that I'm aware of, and I use the CJ link structure for everything.


I would rather not have CP mess with anything code related at this point in the year unless it's major. This IS an issue, but keep in mind that in the overall scheme of things, it's not as big as losing the affiliate sales altogether because of a code fix gone wrong.

I ran some numbers, and a double dip ends up being around 15% more income on that sale than if it were credited in the 7% VB tier and 3-4% less income on that sale than if it were credited in the 15% VB tier.

Base $16.99
Markup $6.00
Total $22.99
Income $6.00
Income with 7% VB $7.19

Income being affiliated $4.80 (take off 20% of $6)
Income as an affiliate $3.45 (15% of total)
Income as a double dip $8.25

Difference 15 %



Base $16.99
Markup $8.00
Total $24.99
Income $8.00
Income with 15% VB $10.55

Income being affiliated $6.40
Income as an affiliate $3.75
Income as a double dip $10.15

Difference -4%


(Someone feel free to check my math)

So, as you asked, is there anything WE can do about it? I *think* switching to the CJ structure will help, but I can't be sure.

I use cpshop where I sell my own and other peoples' products [xid inserted everywhere]. In November I had only 2 double dipped orders [total price around $100] so it's not major,of course - it's just a lil' bit annoying [because I was told xid will protect me from double dipping]

How about if it were credited in the 20% VB tier?

I think it does in some cases and doesn't in others. I recall having a problem when I was inserting the xid into the form that went to the cart, but not once I started using a workaround to send the form contents as part of a CJ redirect. Hopefully it's something Marty can look at in CPShop.

As for the 20% tier, I hope it will be an issue. :P But seriously, it would have a very small effect on the final number.

I really try hard not to be a double-dipper. But it keeps happening to me. This week, I've had to email CP three different times w/ various sales that came through as affiliate but weren't. Six items just yesterday. All were sold through 4thclick sites. I'm really not sure why it keeps happening.

I'm having a lot more than usual as well. And it really does hurt once you get into those higher tiers. I agree with Jim in that I don't want them touching a darn thing until after Christmas, but it still is a tad frustrating.

Mine is happening with my 4th click shop too. My cpShop store seems to be OK.

The 4th click store hasn't worked right since August. All of my own products go through as an affiliate sale. It's definitely frustrating when we're in the 15% and over tier! I've emailed CP each time, but it's never been corrected for me.

What will we need to do to fix this?

Who are you contacting? Are you getting any response at all? If it were a few orders here and there I wouldn't worry about it. If it's most all of your sales and you're in an upper tier, it certainly would add up.

Moving forward, maybe it's something Alan can look at with 4thClick to see if he can redirect with an addtocart function. I don't know how he does it now, so I can't really speak to that. But even there, if I were him, I'd be very leery of touching anything for another month.

About a week ago, I switched 4thclick from using addtocart with cafepress handling reporting to CJ to writing my own helper function that calls CJ directly. This should be the most accurate way to handle add to carts.

cm - did you put your CafePress account ID into the 4thclick control panel - this is supposed to let me pass the correct information to stop them from reporting your own sale as an affiliate sale.

Thanks for the update Alan. I was looking around for your email to alert you to the thread and got sidetracked, then totally forgot.

I have some double dips from August and September that have yet to be credited to my bonus. I contacted the affiliate manager and he has passed it on to the people who are suppose to credit my account, but still nothing. I have tried to get this credited since the beginning of October. It's not a lot of money but it is the principle of it. Very frustrating.

Yeah, it's not just about the money. The fact that affiliate sales tracking is not quite accurate makes me worry and wonder what else works this way [does in some cases and doesn't in others], you know

I was emailing the CP affiliate manager & I just got a reply tonight. I also gave him a link to this post so he can check out the trouble we're having.

Alan - Yes, I have my CP account ID in my control panel. It's been there since we started with CJ. Is there something else I need to do?

The most recent incident just happened on Nov 28. Was this before you made this change?

I agree it's not just about the money... it's just frustrating when it throws off our volume bonus & that it's not getting adjusted, even though we're being told that the errors are adjusted monthly. It does make us worry if we might be missing anything else & if there are any other problems with tracking.

i just started using the cj affiliate program (i know i know i'm a slacker) and not to sound like a newb but what IS "double dipping"? I'm not familiar with the term and would like to avoid it if i can.

DW

When you sell one of your products and it shows in your cafepress order report as an affiliate sale...but then you go to CJ and found out YOU were the affiliate

Hugs
Susan