[QUESTION] Abusing FatCow/HostGator Referral Program

G'day everyone,

I have been using FatCow's affiliate program for some time now to increase my earnings out of every website I sell. I really do not know why this didn't struck me earlier, but what stop people from abusing FatCow affiliate program?

You get at least 100USD for each referral and the amount increase after XX+ clients have been referred running up to 125USD per referral. Now, as a client you can get FatCow's hosting for as low as 36 bucks including VAT for a year contract, that is 64USD positive difference. And you can cancel the subscription after that period.

Why do not people take an advantage of this? Or do they and I am just being foolish?

Thank you for your thoughts and findings.

Plojhy

Hi, can I call you on this number 866.544.9343 ?



EDIT//
Spread the Word and Earn!

Each time you refer a friend to FatCow, you earn a $35.00 credit.
It's simple. Be sure your referral enters your domain or username in the "Friend or website who referred you" field during the account setup process, and after they've been with FatCow for 30 days, you'll receive a $35.00 credit. [/code]
How do you get $100?

Anyway, it's waste of time to promote an non-name host where ppl have to pay a min $135. The refferal system is also sucks, they don't have a tricking url, users must writte your username when they sign-up. How you promote this?

I don't have a clue what you are talking about.

I get 100USD for a referral using CJ.com

I just paid for my new website 36 bucks, but insert my GFs name, surname etc. in order to look like a new costumer - I basically referred myself and got paid 100USD. And for anyone I refer I get that amount.

I really do not know how you came up with those numbers, such as paying at least 135USD and getting credit of 35USD???


//EDIT


//EDIT 2
Payouts and payments are shown in Czech crowns - those are around 24.1CZK for 1USD. The exchange rate was lower at the time of purchase (two days ago, USD is getting rapidly stronger)

BigTroll you looked at the wrong thing: OP is talking about an affiliate not a referral system. FatCow has both. Affiliates get $100. OP maybe the payout will change eventually, unless they really believe in their product. The idea would be that for the $100 upfront payout they're buying a long term client. But $100 on a plan that costs $40/yr? Something seems amiss. Have you already received payouts?

I don't know about FatCow program but the network i work with holds your earnings for 60 days to see exactly what's going on. If you refer yourself and login to the new account from the same IP or any other way you can reveal it's you - well you won't get paid

neverquitting: That is the thing. They are buying long-term clients, but they cannot now how long the client will stay with them. I used Fatcow's affiliate just once about 5 months ago. Got paid out like they state: 10th day of a month.

This is also stated in their "rules": Non-Commissionable Items Account upgrades, scripting and add-ons, domains, e-mail only accounts. Hosting accounts for less than 12 month terms. Mini-Moo Plan. Save Offers---hosting packages sold at a discounted price after customer attempts to abandon the shopping cart and are provided with a deep discount. Affiliates will not earn commission on hosting accounts purchased in their own name or to existing customers.


Though, I have purchased both hosting plans using this "technique". That is the reason I get the hosting for 36USD including VAT.


Dante12: I have been using BlueHost till now, but they pissed me off so I changed to FatCow to try it out, so theoretically there won't be any IP conflict I believe. My concern is, what stops me from referring my friends to buy a hosting plan, then I pay those 36USD, pay few bucks to the friend and get away with XX bucks?

//EDIT
Perhaps, I would create some kind of brochure or guide how to download FTP client, upload something in order to show some activity from different IP and create an illusion of an active user. Theoretically, I would have one year to abuse their program and once the hosting plans would start to expire and end, FatCow would see that none of my "clients" did not purchase extended hosting plan and perhaps they would shut me down - but theoretically, there is still that one year.

It might complete bullshit what I am telling you right now, but it is something that has been on my mind recently.

People are not abusing it because you would tons of payment methods/credit card for sales, they check where your sales are coming from, you would need many proxies, lots of clicks to lower your conversion and many other factors. You could get away with a sale or two, but eventually if you start doing on a mass scale, they will check on it before releasing payments.

They have fraud protections team to ensure quality leads

so if you advertised i year free hosting, they sign up and pay and then they get a refund from you. then you are not really violating any T.O.S. they are getting a new customer and you make sales easy cause your giving it away for free-ish

If your referrals are always like that your account could not survive longer. This could trick with some little amounts not with the mass scales.

Why not become a direct affiliate with FatCow? Just sign up on their affiliate dashboard and promote the product. I am using iPage affiliate and I earn about $800/mo.

NickJonathan said:

Why not become a direct affiliate with FatCow? Just sign up on their affiliate dashboard and promote the product. I am using iPage affiliate and I earn about $800/mo.

Click to expand...

Because there are horror stories of people getting hosed by HostGator which is owned by AIG. AIG also owns iPage. Most people feel more comfortable and secure going through CJ.com.

I am going to check this.

Does FatCow have better support than hostgator ?

Had this same thing in my mind.
Even if you start buying proxies and vccs still the profit margin is pretty good.
I am sure someone must have tried this already.

The problem is that with time, they will see that all your leads never buy anything. They will probs ban your account and cancel your earnings. You could get away with 1-2 sales.

Assuming you won't get caught while doing it, this could be a awesome trick.