Newbie CJ questions

[AusDaddy]

Just a few quick newbie questions regarding CJ.

I registered a new site friday afternoon. I have it populated but not quite perfect yet, and the damn dns hasn't fully prophagated through yet. Can I apply for CJ yet? or do they check over the site before accepting people, meaning I should wait till it is right?

Secondly, is it OK to buy things through your own CJ links? Or is it like Adsense where clicking your own adds is a hanging offense?

I thought I had some more questions, but I can't remember them at the moment so that will have to do 8).

[growingdigital]

I recommend that you wait for your site to be active before you apply to CJ. It might not be mandated by CJ, but it will improve your chances of getting approved without any problems.

In regards to your second question: I buy things through my own links all the time. I have never had a problem with this. It's also a good way to keep your merchants in check by verifying they are tracking sales correctly.

[AusDaddy]

Thanks. Both answers are what I had assumed, but I wanted to check though.
Is there really a problem with merchants not tracking sales correctly? I thought that cj was meant to protect against this, (as apposed to going directly to the merchant).

[growingdigital]

Lost sales aren't really that big of an issue in CJ. CJ does everything possible to make sure you get paid. After all, they do get a percentage of each transaction, so it's in their best interest to make sure all sales are accounted for.

I can count on finger the number of times I have had a problem with a CJ merchant skimming sales. Fortunately, this advertiser is no longer with CJ.

The 'sales tests' I do are mostly for peace of mind.

[AusDaddy]

OK. That makes sense.

Thanks again.