Amateur Straight Guys/Digital Ventures Stopped Paying Affiliates?

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Originally Posted by Lee

Most people working in the industry are, until they screw people over.

Regards,

Lee

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Yeah yeah I know lol

Just wanted to put my positive experience with them out there

I'm an affiliate as well so I know where everyone is coming from

I'm going through a big growing phase with my company and know how hard it is to find good reliable people, and to train new ones.

I hate to see the tide turning when I know their old affiliate manager is no longer with them, but I can also obviously understand having to get paid as well. They are good guys and I think they'll make it through this phase with a positive outcome. :drunk:

Squirt, while it sounds like you got along pretty well with these guys, the affiliate manager is not the person making - or not making - the payments. while he could very well be the guy not answering his emails and icq messages, the real problem is that checks aren't being sent :(

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Originally Posted by basschick

Squirt, while it sounds like you got along pretty well with these guys, the affiliate manager is not the person making - or not making - the payments. while he could very well be the guy not answering his emails and icq messages, the real problem is that checks aren't being sent :(

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Yes checks need to be sent

I'm confident they'll get this worked out and make it through the phase they're in now, but I can't predict the future, I can only go from past experience with Scott and Vern.

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Yeah yeah I know lol

Just wanted to put my positive experience with them out there

I'm an affiliate as well so I know where everyone is coming from

I'm going through a big growing phase with my company and know how hard it is to find good reliable people, and to train new ones.

I hate to see the tide turning when I know their old affiliate manager is no longer with them, but I can also obviously understand having to get paid as well. They are good guys and I think they'll make it through this phase with a positive outcome. :drunk:

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There's a right and a wrong way to conduct business if they are in fact experiencing legitimate managerial issues. So far, they've chosen the latter. If ASG would simply touch base with their affiliates, I'm sure that most of us would understand. I know that we would be more than willing to work with them through this rough period in an attempt to reach a solution that would appease all parties involved.

So far, they’ve chosen to leave us all in the dark for months, thinking nothing but the worst of them.

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Yes checks need to be sent

I'm confident they'll get this worked out and make it through the phase they're in now, but I can't predict the future, I can only go from past experience with Scott and Vern.

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I too hope they get it worked out. They really at least need to tell us what can be expected with the amounts due. As you've read, I and many others have been trying to communicate with ASG for quite a while with absolutely zero response. I even started getting bounced Emails (user unknown) from an address that was valid just a few days prior.

I've been promoting these guys for many years and obviously was very disappointed when this came about. I was pretty forgiving earlier this year when they fell behind. They slowly began to get caught up with payments. I was fine with this because they were at least communicating with me. Then communication and checks stopped entirely.

Hi, guys!

I've been keeping my eyes peeled for mention of this problem...

I started promoting them in March, and stopped in the last week of May when I hadn't received payment.

My first email was anwered with a BS excuse like, "Oh, yeah, you're right, we'll get that out to you right now."

Subsequent emails have gone unanswered.

Fortunately, they don't owe me a lot of $$ - I pulled them down before things got out of hand.

I've spoken to several folks who have attended various industry events with them, and the general impression is that they certainly "enjoy life."

That, of course, could be why there seems to be money to pay models but no money for affiliates...


Ray
owner@realamateursproject.net

Hello!
I work with a site amateurstraightguys a little bit years,
In the beginning of year to me have not sent some checks I has written letter Doug and Jasen I long did not receive the answer, checks have answered in 2 weeks have sent and have apologized...
Now I have not received the check from 05/15/2006 and more me of checks did not send...

Reagarding Amateur Straight Guys, there is probably not much anyone can do at this point.

Most of the affiliates they've had are not promoting them anymore, and the new ones who sign up [hopefully] wise-up quickly and pull banners when checks don't come.

Hence, cashflow issues.


Now, I'm no expert, but here is something I've learned to do, just because of situations like Amateur Straight Guys' non-payment.

I start every new program relationship "slow," meaning I place a banner in a location that gets traffic but doesn't get significant traffic.

When I get checks for those few sales, then I start sending more traffic.


This wouldn't have helped a lot of you who have been promoting Amateur Straight Guys for a long time.

But it saved me - they only owe me a few hundred bucks.


Ray

OK, so ASG have done the same thing to us. I've always tried to be understanding with their situation - but you guys are right, they are leaving us in the dark. I still regularly send them an e-mail every single week to remind them of this issue.

Since April of this year they have stopped paying regularly. But I have been paid small amounts to reduce the total amount that they owe us.

June this year, they paid me a small amount after a long discussion through e-mail. Their main reason was "We forgot to pay you...".

August this year, they paid me a larger amount again. The reason this time was that "Doug is on a vacation and he is the only one with access to the affiliate payments history". OK, so I forgave them this time again.

September this year, I was supposed to get paid and Vern was ready to pay me but "Scott does not let me pay the whole amount in one payment".

As you can see, I've been trying to get them to work with me and I think I (or we) have been patient and understanding enough. They were removed from Guyscout this month but I will still claim the money that they owe me.. it is way too much to just _forget_.

PS. e-mailing vern@amateurstraightguys.com and/or marc@amateurstraightguys.com will at least give you an answer (if you are lucky).

I thought you guys should know.

RE: September this year, I was supposed to get paid and Vern was ready to pay me but "Scott does not let me pay the whole amount in one payment".


That's utter horsepoo - it means they're spending YOUR commission on something other than paying you with it.

There is absolutely NO legitimate reason they should stop paying affiliates. In theory, the money is in their bank by the time your check is calculated.

Unless something "expensive" comes up between getting the check and allowing the affiliate software to write other checks against it.

Out of curiousity, I just paid a visit to the site and went through their forum.

(it's asgonline[dot]amateurstraightguys[dot]com[slash]eve - you'll have to register)

Seems Doug was "on hiatus" for exactly a month starting in July...

You know, there are lots of expensive things that occupy exactly a month, I wonder which inspired his "hiatus."

I'm sorely tempted to go back and leave him a nice welcome back message telling him to start paying affiliates before lawsuits crater Digital Venture's credit rating as bad as this whole thing has cratered their biz reputation.


Ciao 4 Now,
Ray

Here's an idea: Just tell them AVN Online has caught wind of this, and they better get their acts together if they don't want to be caught in a firestorm of bad publicity and press. ;)

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Originally Posted by XXXWriterDude

Here's an idea: Just tell them AVN Online has caught wind of this, and they better get their acts together if they don't want to be caught in a firestorm of bad publicity and press. ;)

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Haha! That's why people post stuff like this... so the bad boys of the industry will be shamed into behaving like responsible adults.



*sniff sniff

From: Doug
To: RevShare Accounts
Date: Oct 16, 2006 7:32 AM
Subject: Re: Fwd: PLEASE REPOND [Fwd: Past Due Payments]

Seth,

I apologize for the lack of response that you have received re: our affiliate program. The truth of the matter is that we have been forced to close the program due to cash constraints put on us by the IRS. We haven't known really how or what to do but have made the decision as of last week to close the program. We are working with our attorney to help us compile all final statistics and payout information and a letter will be issued to all affiliates this week. Our intention is to pay every affiliate every penny we owe them and we won't rest until that's accomplished. We certainly haven't handled the situation well and I acknowledge that but avoiding the situation is no longer an option and is certainly not fair to our affiliates. I apologize again for the lack of communication and I appreciate all the traffic you've sent our way. The Amateur Straight Guys brand remains strong and growing and the elimination of our affiliate program will certainly improve our margins !
and our ability to pay all outstanding monies. My best to you.

Doug

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Originally Posted by Seth

due to cash constraints put on us by the IRS.

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Sounds like someone wasnt paying their taxes to me :)

Regards,

Lee

so basically they will be keeping all affiliate rebills from here on out. one can certainly see how that would improve their margins temporarily.