Amateur Straight Guys/Digital Ventures Stopped Paying Affiliates?

[Xstr8guy]

Oh look. Anyone at the Phx forum is in their area. Maybe someone should swing by and say hi. That is, if they actually have an office inside their PO Box.

Information courtesy of gayjob.biz

Digital Ventures LLC
PO Box 40
Tempe, AZ 85280
United States
Phone: (602) 288-9010
800 Phone: 877 448 3357
Fax: 602 288 9010
Website (General):
http://www.dougandjayproductions.com
Website (Employment):
http://
E-mail: doug@dougandjayproductions.com

Gross Sales: Not Disclosed
Year Founded: 2000
Benefits:
- Paid Vacations
- Phone Allowance
- Relocation Reimbursement




SUMMARY:
Producer of online adult content.

[nastymaster]

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...

[ramp]

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

[guyscout]

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.

[ramp]

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

[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.

[Xstr8guy]

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.

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

[Seth]

From: Doug <doug @ dougandjayproductions.com>
To: RevShare Accounts <whataqueer @ gmail.com>
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

[Lee]

due to cash constraints put on us by the IRS.

Sounds like someone wasnt paying their taxes to me

Regards,

Lee

[basschick]

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

[Dzinerbear]

Well at least they finally came forward with an explanation. They could have continued bullshitting us.

I don't know how they expect to grow their program with no affiliates. I'm predicting that Amateur Straight Guys will be up for sale within the next six months.

Michael

[IntenseCash.com]

That is crazy they had such a huge presence and were very well known. We know a couple of their models that did some shoots with them in Arizona. This is why taxes should always come first then your needs then your wants. You don't pay your taxes and you are screwed.

Mark

[ramp]

Guys -

I recently moved from AZ, after living there all of my adult life and most of my childhood.

One of the reasons I left is because a certain recreational substance, commonly cooked-up from over the counter cold medicines, is running rampant, and has been for half a decade.

Please note, this is not an accusation and I am not trying to start any rumors. I don't have any first-hand information. I don't know any of the parties personally.

But I've known other people who managed to completely "tank" their lives because of this substance, and those examples are - remarkably - similar to this particular story.

"Great presence" - lots of $$ flowing in - success and growth seem inevitable - "right on top of the world" is a good description, until the money starts vanishing like magic before the bills are paid.

Then everything folds like a tent minus its poles.


I'm not out $24k, but I'm not happy about the few hundred $$ I'll never see.

On the other hand, if what I suspect is the root cause of this problem actually is the cause, I feel extremely sorry for everyone involved. The mess is not going to be only financial, it will pervade all of their lives.


Now, why did I even bring this up?

Virtually everyone reading this needs to be careful, because we're all in the business of peddling fantasies.

It's very easy to become detached from reality.

Regardless of the exact mechanics of ASG's downfall, the simple fact is that they became disconnected from the real world enough to turn any minor problem into one that's going to cost the farm.

And it could happen to any of us, should we suffer that same detachment.

So, guys, be careful. Always keep one foot on the dock while climbing into the speedboat...


Sincerely,
Ray owner@realamateursproject.net