At the same time, this online practice is bad and unfair. In addition, since it is not being sanctioned enough, many good guys may turn into bad guys, simply because they cannot stand what they’ve been seeing around every day.
Today, I see it as some kind of a low-tech adware.
I guess, technically, it may be almost impossible for AdWords to distinguish between good cookies like from Analytics, and those that actually get stuffed while they are supposed to be generated only by a click through affiliate link.
It is almost like some kind of whole that is hard to fix. For many people this is “go for it” sign…
Is this fixable by Google AdWords?
Most major affiliate management companies have ways to detect cookie stuffing; although it is true they don't always kick in until the affiliate has a reasonable number of sales.
In a normal world:
1. A prospect lands onto a web page
2. A prospect clicks onto tracking (outgoing) link
3. Cookie(s) get(s) posted onto prospect’s computer
4. A prospect makes a purchase
5. An owner of the website from 1 gets paid a commission
In a “cookie stuffing” world:
1. A prospect lands onto a web page
2. Cookie(s) get(s) posted immediately
3. A prospect leaves a website without making a single click onto tracking links
4. Later a prospect makes a purchase through a parent website
5. An owner of the website from 1 gets paid a commission although a prospect did not make a purchase through his/her tracking link
For example, there are web hosting comparison sites that post 10 or more cookies at once, from 10 or more different hosting companies.
Cookie stuffing is a matter to be determined between the affiliate program administrator and the affiliates. It has nothing to do with the source of traffic, whether Adwords or otherwise.
What about QS?
Folks use cookie stuffing so they post “nice valid” links to their merchant partner.
If I work with XYZ, and have tons of links to their site, it is enough to have one hidden link, or use JavaScript, to post a cookie on landing action, while linking straight to XYZ.com, misleading AdWords I (don't) run an arbitrage site.
What about perception that a “cheater” always stays a “cheater” – meaning it will cheat on AdWords, first chance used?
What about claim that people (aka Google’s users) are very unsatisfied with the fact they get tons of cookies posted onto their machine, just because they clicked onto “Google’s” ad?
What about claim that an antivirus, anti spyware/adware, etc program went crazy when started blocking those cookies and made Google’s user unhappy?
