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FreestyleRewards/Coolsavings Still Using Adware: 180Solutions
Coolsavings (FreestyleRewards) is, knowingly or unknowingly, moving on from Direct Revenue and into a relationship with 180Solutions via its Zango download — in violation of various affiliate network terms & conditions, rules, guidelines, etc. reports Ben Edelman this morning. Coolsavings has seemingly solidified its position in Edelman’s Affiliate Marketing Hall of Shame.
Last time this was documented, you didn’t see anyone from affiliate networks showing up to talk about how they’re aware of this, on top of the situation, etc. Don’t hold breath this time folks. Still, you can rest assured that affiliate networks are hard at work guarding your wallet, Circuit City (and the long list of other retailers partnered with FreeStyleRewards).
Says Edelman, “FreeStyleRewards’ merchant list confirms that Circuit City is a FreeStyleRewards advertiser. So not only is CoolSavings FreeStyleRewards buying adware-delivered traffic (in specific violation of an applicable Commission Junction rule), but FreeStyleRewards is also targeting its business partner’s traffic.”
In fact, what other major brands might be targeted by 180Solutions/Zango and, hence, paying commissions they don’t owe? Here’s a list:
1-800 CONTACTS
1-800-FLOWERS.COM
1-800-Patches
A
Abebooks.com
Activa Sports
Aerosoles
Alienware
Almond Plaza
American Blooms
American Eagle Outfitters
Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor Loft
Apple iTunes
Apple Store
ArtGazebo
ARTinaClick
Ashro
Astrology.com
Auntie’s Beads & Aunt Petie’s
Autoanything
avenue.com
Avon
Axiom Home Theater
B
Back Be Nimble
Back to Basic Toys (Scholastic, Inc)
Barbecues.com
Bare Necessities
barnesandnoble.com
Bass Pro Shops
BBC America Shop
Beauty.com
Bellacor
BestBuy.com
Better Homes and Gardens Store
Bits and Pieces, Inc.
Blair
Blockbuster Online
Blue Dolphin Group, Inc.
Blue Nile
BMG Direct
Boden
Booksonline.com
Bose
Brecks
Brooks Brothers
Buy.com
C
Cabela’s
Camping World
CardStore.com
Chadwicks
Charles Keath Fine Home Decor
CHEF’s
ChelseaPaper.com
Chocolate Source
Circuit City
CLUBS OF AMERICA
Colorful Images
compUSA
Computers4SURE
Cooking.com
Country Inns & Suites
Cutter & Buck
D
Dale and Thomas Popcorn
David’s Cookies
dELiA*s
Dell Home Systems
DERMAdoctor.com
Designer Linens Outlet
Diamonds International
Discount Office Supplies
Discovery Channel Store
Dishes, Decor And More
Disney Movie Club (Buena Vista Home Entertainment)
DogToys.com
drugstore.com
Duncraft
Dutch Gardens
E
eastbay.com
Eastern Mountain Sports
eBags
ecampus.com
Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer Outlet
eDiets.com
eharmony.com
eLUXURY
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Entertainment Publications, Inc.
ESPRIT US
etoys.com
ExOfficio
Expedia.com
F
Fashion Bug
FineStationery.com
Fingerhut
Finish Line
florsheim.com
FlowerStore.com
Footsmart
Forzieri.com
Fossil
FragranceNet.com
Frederick’s of Hollywood
FTD.COM
Fujitsu
G
Gaiam.com
GameFly
gap.com
Gardens Alive
Gateway
GiftBaskets.com
Golfballs.com
GreatBuyUSA
Gurney’s
H
H&R Block
H2O Plus
Hale Indian River Groves
Hallmark.com
Hammacher Schlemmer
Harry and David
HearthSong
Henry Fields
Hickory Farms
Home Decorators Collection
Home Depot
homefocuscatalog.com
HomeVisions.com
Hooked On Phonics
Hot Topic
HP shopping
HSN.com - Home Shopping Network
I
ICE.com
Illuminations
Irv’s Luggage Warehouse
J
J&R Computer/Music World
Jackson & Perkins
JC Whitney
JCPenney
Jordan Marie
Jos. A Bank
Journeyskidz
K
KaBloom
kbtoys.com
Kelly’s Running Warehouse
Kohl’s
L
Lancome
Lands’ End
Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant Catalog
Lenox
Lerner
Lifetime Mothers
Lighting Showplace
Lillian Vernon Online
Limited Too
Limoges Jewelry
Lizell Office Furniture
Luggage OnLine
M
macys.com
macy’s-the registry@macy’s
magazines.com
Magic Cabin
Magmall
Martha’s Flowers
MarylandSquare
McAfee Virus Scan
Michigan Bulb
Mission Orchards
Montgomery Ward
Mrs. Beasley’s
Mrs. Fields Gifts
MusicSpace.com
MyInks.com
Mytwinn.com
N
National Pet Pharmacy
NationalGeographic online store
Neiman Marcus
Netflix
Newport News
Nirvana Chocolates
Norm Thompson
Nursery Depot
O
Office Depot
Office Max
oldnavy.com
OneShare.com
Orange Glo
Orbitz
Orvis
Overstock.com
Overton’s
P
Park Inn
Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts
Paul Fredrick MenStyle
Payless ShoeSource
PC connection
PeaPod
PeoplePC Online
Personal Creations
PETCO.com
PetFoodDirect
PETsMART
Plow & Hearth
R
RadioShack
Radisson Hotels & Resorts
Red Envelope
Relax The Back
Rexcraft
Ritz Camera
Road Runner Sports
S
Sahalie
Samsonite
SeaBear Smokehouse
Sears
Sears Home Center
Sears Room for kids
Sears showplace
Sharper Image
ShindigZ by Stumps
ShoeMall
Shopathometv.com
ShopNBC
Sierra Trading Post
SIRIUS Satellite Radio
SmartBargains.com
Smarthome
Smithsonian
Snapfish
Soft Surroundings
Solutions Catalog
Spa Finder
SpaWish.com
Spiegel
Spilsbury
Sportsman’s Guide
Spring Hill
Staples.com
Starbucks Store
Starstruck/Proteam
StarWarsShop.com
Sunglass Hut
Sur La Table
Swell
T
T. Shipley
Target.com
Tech Depot
The Body Shop
The Bombay Company
The Popcorn Factory
Things Remembered
TicketSellers.com
TimeLife.com
Tower Records
U
Underground Station
United Airlines- Air
United Airlines- Escapes
United Airlines- Hotels
United Airlines- Ted
Upper Deck Store
Urban Outfitters
USA TODAY
usolympicshop.com
V
ValueMags
Verizon Online DSL
Vermont Teddy Bear
W
Warner Bros. Online Shop
Watchzone
Wilsons Leather
wine.com
Woodwind & Brasswind
Woolrich
Wynn Las Vegas
Y
Your Kids Direct- Kids Furnishings
Yves Rocher
Z
Zones
CJ must be busy lately with all the hubbub, eh?
5 Comments
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Hi All,
Thought I’d shed some light on this. I worked at CoolSavings up until last September and there seems to be a little confusion here.
1)) The two sites are different
2) CS stopped their Metrics Direct campaign after seeing the articles about the activity and didn’t realize where some of the traffic was going. This was done via a typical online media buy, not affilaite related, folks.
3) The FSR download is not live and if and when it does go live, it is supposed to work in a user-friendly manner. TBD on this one until it is alive and kicking.
blah-gee-tsa
Windy City, Illinois
A quick response to blah-gee-tsa:
“1) The two sites are different”
Well, yes, they’re different sites. But they’re under common ownership. See e.g. a press release describing the relationship as follows: “CoolSavings made strong improvements to its points-based loyalty program, FreeStyle Rewards.”
“2) CS stopped their Metrics Direct campaign after seeing the articles about the activity and didn’t realize where some of the traffic was going.”
The CJ rules at issue prohibit buying adware-delivered traffic. Period. Recall: “Commission Junction will no longer allow special programs engaged in the purchase of media from ad services that download and install software on an end-user’s computer.” There’s no exception for doing this accidentally, for doing it through “typical online media buys,” or for doing it only until caught. The rules are clear: This just isn’t allowed, at all.
Furthermore, after CS was caught buying Direct Revenue traffic, a reasonable response should have uncovered these related buys by FSR. This further FSR issue should have been caught by CS itself, not by me.
“3) The FSR download is not live …”
Irrelevant. The rules prohibit CJ affiliates from buying adware-delivered traffic, period. These rules apply whether or not an affiliate offers a software download, and these rules apply no matter how “user-friendly” that download might be.
Folks, these products — from 180solutions, Direct Revenue, and kin — are bad news. They’re widely known to become installed without consent. They track what web sites users visit. They transmit this information to distant servers. They let companies target their supposed business partners. Responsible firms don’t advertise this way. Firms that want to be affiliated with CJ cannot advertise this way. And, importantly, savvy firms can comport their behavior to industry norms and industry rules without me having to document every facet of their violations.
Clarification:
Never did I say I agree with these types of practices. I just thought I’d give a POV on how the company works.
“Firms that want to be affiliated with CJ cannot advertise this way.”
Hmmm… we shouldn’t hold our collective breath until CJ kicks them out for violating the TOS. After all, they’re still getting their 30%, right? It’s a shame that they would be responsive enough to change their TOS, but not to research violators as extensively as Ben does.
I have updated my article as follows:
1) MyPoints sent a message, admitting buying the ads that I reported, and describing their decision to terminate these ads.
2) CoolSavings continues to run these ads. I’ve posted a fresh example, showing CoolSavings still using these ads to target its merchants.
My article, as updated.