cj and datafeeds- what's the norm?

[disgust]

how do you normally find out if a store offers a datafeed? do you ask each individual one via email? do they usually list it on the affiliate section of their site?

[shri]

If they have product links, they generally have a datafeed.

[disgust]

is the reverse true as well? (if they don't have product links, they probably don't)?

[rfung]

One thing I don't get, is why some merchants would only offer data feeds to big shot affiliates. (this is an independent merchant,not CJ). Isn't it in their best interest to have all the product data available to the affiliate so they can better promote the items?...I feel like an idiot when I'm writing a reply to them as far as 'why do I need a data feed'. Like..why not?

I just don't see the reasoning, if someone can?

[disgust]

I submitted a question via the help deal, and they responded.

however, one thing surprised me: even after you pay for access to the feeds, you can only use feeds from 5 merchants? or is this just a suggestion?

[wingslevel]

>Like..why not?

1.) Dup penalty from google - if me and my affs all have the same verbatim description of a fuzzy blue widget, we could get penalized.

2.) Some merchants don't want their affs competing on the same keywords (doesn't make sense to me, but I know lots who think this way)

3.) To lots of merchants, our database reflects a significant investment in time, outside services etc. We wouldn't want it to come into the hands of a competitor.