Which is better?

A higher commission of longer return days?

[Reynard]

Merchant A has an affiliate program that pays 10% for every widget sold by an affiliate, but the widget must be purchased immediately after the click through for the affiliate to get the credit.

Merchant B also has an affiliate program, but they only pay 5% for every widget sold. However the widget may be purchased up to 45 days after the click through for the affiliate to get credit.

Both merchants sites are equal is terms of selling ability, easy to use, no 1-800 numbers etc...

Which is better?

[edit]Should say "A higher commission or longer return days?" above.[/edit]

[Mike_Mackin]

What is the product price range?
How many other merchants are selling the same product?

[futuresky]

And how many "Action Referral Occurrences" (in CJ terminology) do you get paid for?

[Reynard]

Product is the same price for both merchants. 499.95$US

"Action Referral Occurrences" = Unlimited for merchant B.

Merchant A is on Linkshare...

[eljefe3]

I would have to say merchant B as most people aren't going to immediatley drop $499 upon seeing your website. However, I would contact merchant A ( linkshare or not) and see what he could do about lengthening his cookies or advise him that you and all other like minded affiliates will go with his ocmpetitor merchant B as his cookies are a lot longer.

[Drastic]

There are lots of other variables. How easy is the site to use? How professional does it look? Etc, etc. the list goes on....

Try both and see which one you make more money with per visitor.

[parabola]

It is absurd to join an affiliate program that does not have a cookie duration of at least a week. I won't go below a month. They are going to click through your link, check out the site, and return to buy and you get nothing?

[BranMuffin]

I agree with the populous in here. I would look for the affilate program that offers more of an "insurance" policy for me. Again, this is not an impulse buy and even if it were, why not cover yourself. I might even approach Merchant B and see if he would match the commission offered by Merchant A. Merhant B may want to know if you can provide volume....My philosophy is: The answer is always "No" unless you ask.

[char_paula]

This is a big ticket purchase and as such not an impulse buy. Go with the merchant B.

[Smiley]

Ditto Drastic, you never know until you try - sometimes things you will never consider make a difference to conversion. Try using A, then using B, then using A and B, then continue with which works best.

Smiley