Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Wanted to post part of the message I received back from Google regarding payments for those interested:
<Woz> Apparently there are slight delays for October payments as a result of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.</Woz>
So hopefully we'll all have our checks soon and in time for the holidays :-)
[edited by: Woz at 12:09 am (utc) on Dec. 2, 2003]
[edit reason] Paraphrased Email Quotation, see TOS. [/edit]
Google is one of the very few programs that pays on 30 day terms - the majority run at 60 or 90 days terms, and a few even longer. I think jomaxx got it right on the money.
If google doesn't like something, will cancel my adsense account becouse off the Agreement.
Whay doesn't he respect the same agreement?
Now is 04.12.2003 an no sgn on google checks
On my country all the banks will close on 15.12.2003, so i'll see my money in january
Sorry for my bag enlish.
In response to my enquiries the offered to cancel the check HOLD it for an extra month, and THEN send it out, but still as seperate check and NOT as a combined payment with the next month... yey...
I wonder if they would still pay me if I promised them that instead of this month, I'll show hte ad A LOT next month or the month after, but I'd like to get paid for it now...
This is big company bully tactics if I've ever seen them...
And make no mistake, between all the advertisers and AdSense publishers, it's a LOT of money, and every week and day the cehcks spend in transit in the mail, and the weeks they spend "gettign cleared" from overseas banks is money in Google's pocket. With their total advertising volume, I'd figure they make a few extra mill just from these delays.
SN
I keep seeing posts like this. All I can say is that everyone of my merchant partners (22 in total) pay between 4 and 18 days after the month end. That last checks to arrive (CJ & BeFree's Merchants) show up like clock work no later than the 22nd (post marked 18th).
Google promote themselves as offering the highest percentage payout and the best terms....and many here seem to believe this nonsense.....it simply isn't true!
Google promote themselves as offering the highest percentage payout and the best terms....and many here seem to believe this nonsense.....it simply isn't true!
I don't know what your earnings are with CJ or BeFree, but in my case: 1 day Adsense > 3 months CJ, so I will be the last person to criticize G's payment system ;-)
They do? I had been under the impression they refused to disclose their percentage payout.
Google is one of the very few programs that pays on 30 day terms
"that paid", not "that pays"! Since this month it changed!
Anyway: I am easily able to accept up to 60 days - if only Google is not dumping me because somebody wants to commit fraudulant clicks on my website, then I am happy. So be happy just that you are not dumped! Anything else is not so important.
As long as they see no real competition to them, they can break as many terms as they want and keep lowering the cpc we as publisher's get, until Google finds their maximum profit level. I'd probably do the same thing if i was them.
I'm sure Adsense isn't the only source of income for any uf us, and shouldn't we all be spending our time on something productive instead? This certainly won't make the cheque come any sooner.
This is a frustrating experience and quite frankly if it was any other sponsor than google, I would be removing ads until I saw proof of payment. However, I do have a soft spot for Google and feel confident that they will resolve whatever problem they are currently having.
if it was any other sponsor than google, I would be removing ads until I saw proof of payment.
I have to believe that's a veiled threat since it is quite rare for any online advertiser to pay their publishers any earlier than Google does.
Google clearly is dealing with some type of problem here, but it's too early to be hearing the comments that some people have made here. I'm far more concerned with their actions toward publishers who are hit with click spammers than I am about being paid.
Maybe they fired their check cutters. Who knows what the problem is, but they'll deal with it and we'll eventually get our money.
What bugs me is the total lack of communication on the issue. If Google is having problems getting the checks out then they should notify us in some way, on the site or via email, rather than just dead silence.
With normal business, you get paid for delivering the goods. So if a normal business drags you out for 60 days you're just loosing the use of those funds for 60 days. But in Google's case, since I understand they can decide not to pay and you have no recourse, you can lose the funds, period, not just the time use of the funds.
It's possible that checks are cut elsewhere but this move and the tax issue are certainly alot for Google to deal with. I'm sure the checks will be mailed shortly.
I promote over a hundred affiliate programs and very few delay payment over a month so I do consider this unusual. However, I know this is still a young program and the kinks are yet to be worked out...so I'm giving them more leadway...plus, they're Google, one of my favorite companies overall. Moreover, I predict Google will start paying more often and more quickly in the future because I think that's an important ingredient to for a successful affiliate program and I believe Google understands this.
I find that disturbing news on 4th of December, in the absence of a letter of explanation from Google.
Ordinary business practice dictates your creditor receives their cheque by the 30th of the following month, if for whatever reason this cannot be met, courtesy would dictate an explanation be sent.
Thanksgiving should have had no impact on payments, that holiday period should have been taken into consideration with forward planning. Ditto, the tax issue if relevant.
QUALIFIERS
a) I've worked on both sides of business, creditor and debtor for 30+ years
b) I've worked in many areas of accounts as a young accountant.
c) My AdSense balances are quite substantial sums of money.
On the whole, not a good public relations exercise.
Thanksgiving should have had no impact on payments
Forget Thanksgiving! Christmas is coming and I guess that we won't get the checks before Christmas.
Google, say something!
Seriously though I think we need to relax...This is Google and until they go IPO I think we're in good hands.
October would be my first payment (not peanuts either), so I have no past track record with Google with which to comfort me while I wait. After being ripped off big time by a (still in business) affiliate company some years ago, I take everything these days with a grain of salt and an ounce of scepticism.
I'm sure Google will pay, I just would feel a whole lot better if I knew when...
The Internet is littered with the broken bones of thousands of unpaid webmasters. Why would Google put themselves in the position of emulating the actions of so many crooks and failures? Why create the automatic negative associations?
I don't understand why it would delay the checks at all.
don't celebrate thanksgiving so I'm wondering how much of a delay it will be
As others have said, a standard one-day local holiday known about years in advance is no excuse for late payment. 30 days is 30 days - no mention of business days.
Most likely it's volume or problems with applying the withholding rules that is delaying things, but there should still at least be some announcement by Google as to why they are apparently not keeping to their contract.
There could be other reasons. If you have too many publishers, making it hard to serve the right ads, what's one way to get rid of some? Pay them late without explanation and generally annoy them so they leave.
To be really paranoid, there could be a reason why there's no confirmation in the account screen or by email when the tax information has been entered - Google can turn around and say it wasn't entered, so sorry you'll have to (re)enter it and won't now be paid till the next run - which is delayed by Christmas, putting the payment into the next year boosting revenues this year for the IPO. :-)
But whatever the reason, Google seem to be trying really hard to lose goodwill all round this month. And succeeding.
God I feel naive among all this youth or, is it really the youth is very naive among the old stagers with extensive background experience?
