How To Have an affiliate program if we don't have a cart?

We sell made-to-order items, how can we get referrals?

[happy martin]

Hi,

I have a site that sells widgets for export. We sell both wholesale and retail and the cheapest retail price is about $2,000 US.

Our widgets are made-to-order and need to be shipped internationally. We do not therefore know the packing size or shipping costs until the orders been assembled although we provide customers with an estimate.

We have a brochureware store online but people who are interested in any item must contact us to so that we can provide them with prices, estimated shippnig times, lead time etc.

Is it possible to develop an affiliate program? we'd really like to but without a cart I've got no idea how to track it.

Best wishes,

Martin

[Marcia]

I don't see how it could be worked by percentage of sales, unless it's strictly by phone tracking and then how could the completed sales be reliably tracked. Do customers inquire by phone, or by filling out a form?

You might consider going a lead-based route, paying per valid lead; but that has an element of risk with it, for fraudulent or invalid leads. For that, I'd think about a good outsourced program manager with experience in handling lead based programs.

[eljefe3]

Definitely lead based, and even then you should be able to pay different amounts based on the info that you receive from the lead. Just set up different pay structures based upon info received.

On a slightly different tangent, I see Marcia is about to hit 10.000 posts. Woo Hoo!