Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-13 09:56
Not only did OV raise their minimum to 10˘, they are also testing Gator ads to explore new sources of revenue. Are they greedy or what?
Read for yourself [HERE]
Quoted from: ZDNet
... A small "info" tag on the results says they originate from "top search engines." During the test phase, Gator is using results from paid search kingpin Overture Services, Terra Lycos and FindWhat.com. ...
...For its part, Overture acknowledged that it is testing a relationship with Gator on its search-related pop-unders, but the company said it does not comment on tests. It did say that it's always looking at new distribution partners. ...
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Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-13 09:59
Everybody loves Gator, right?
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netcservices.co.uk
Joined: Aug 06, 2002
# Posts: 1594
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Posted: 2003-Mar-13 09:59
I uninstall it everytime it installs itself.
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Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-13 10:29
We really should not have to uninstall Gator because it sneaks onto our machines—that just stinks big time. Gator shouldn't be auto-installing itself at all behind the person's back.
And Overture is looking to support this scumware and they do not care where they make money from. Overture is lowering themselves to the level of scumware by partnering up with Gator. Is there no limit to their greediness? If OV continues down this path, they will also sink AltaVista too. High bid prices and low ethics = Overture.
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netcservices.co.uk
Joined: Aug 06, 2002
# Posts: 1594
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Posted: 2003-Mar-13 11:07
You just have to get rid of it in the registry and your sorted because you can stick some random comment in there with the same details and it shouldnt install because it thinks it already is....!
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Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-13 22:04
It's just sad that OV is becoming so unfriendly to advertisers. They should just say upfront “If you can't spend tons of money on us, we don't want you and if you don't like scumware, go advertise elsewhere because we like Gator.” I'm very disappointed in them because I would like to advertise on a currently popular PPC, but they are simply doing too many things wrong.
BTW netcservices I've never had Gator install itself on my puter probably because I don't surf much except for some research I do from time to time. I also have software that keeps those proggies off my system.
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FlimFlam
Joined: Sep 04, 2002
# Posts: 138
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Posted: 2003-Mar-14 01:26
Nice clips from Overture's Annual Report (found at http://biz.yahoo.com/e/030228/over10-k.html as previously noted by OAC):
"In addition to the above continuing affiliate agreements, from time to time, we engage in tests with potential affiliates for trial periods to provide paid introductions. Revenue from advertisers who receive paid introductions through Overture, as supplied during these trial periods, can be significant. In the fourth quarter, we had one such arrangement." That answers the question, "Am *I* getting charged for Overture's "tests" with scumbags?"
It's also interesting to note the following list of Overture's Top 10 affiliates in terms of revenue (not in order of revenue):
AltaVista
AOL
Comet Systems
Terra Lycos
MSN
CNET
Applied Semantics (formerly Oingo)
Wanadoo (acquired Freeserve)
Yahoo
InfoSpace (Excite, Dogpile and Webcrawler)
Man, some of that traffic is exactly what I need, but a few of those "partners" are just slightly up the ethical ladder from Gator, IMO.
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ChryslerBldg
Joined: Apr 02, 2001
# Posts: 76
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Posted: 2003-Mar-14 17:15
Sorry Mates....but to me there is nothing more juvenile that complaining about "greed" on a web forum about making money.
Overture is no more "greedy" than you or I. Who are you to tell me how much I or anyone else can legally earn?
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FlimFlam
Joined: Sep 04, 2002
# Posts: 138
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Posted: 2003-Mar-14 22:23
I'm not complaining about their greed. Not complaining about them raising the bids to ten cents. Not complaining about them monopolizing search and securing long-term contracts for such. But I will complain about them delivering bullsh*t traffic with my money due to their greed. Because that impacts me, square in my greed center.
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Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-16 04:34
ChryslerBldg, I define greed as when someone skips out on principle and good will in favor of making money anyway they can. Overture is beginning to do just that IMO. It's OK to make money, but to start raping our money accounts is overboard and it's that trend that I'm against. I can say that Overture is more greedy than I am because I would not do what they do to make money. In fact, I would have lowered the minimum to 3˘ per click to entice more bidding and spending.
It's not about what you can legally earn, it's about doing the right thing when making money. I have nothing against making money. I do have something against their high price hikes for minimum bids—not allowing me to bid what I think I should bid and partnering with scumware. Their actions are speaking --> “GREEDY.”
ChryslerBldg said:
Who are you to tell me how much I or anyone else can legally earn?
You missed the whole point of the thread. Go back and re-read and don't be so quick to post such remarks. And read about the GATOR PARTNERSHIP WITH OVERTURE TOO.
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PCInk
Joined: Sep 13, 2001
# Posts: 479
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Posted: 2003-Mar-16 10:14
I think the Gator advertising will stop a lot of advertisers. When my money runs dry, I will be closing my Overture account if they are still testing with Gator. I don't spend a lot with OV, but they have made a lot of money from ethical advertising that no-one minds. After all they have bought AltaVista and FAST, but now they are supporting an appalling advertising medium.
The increase in price was one thing that many can accept (maybe begrudgingly) but the advertising was ethical and relevant to the the users request. Now they are relevant, but Gator does not advertise at the users request.
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Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-17 11:55
Gator also does NOT advertise at the web site owners request with the popup ads they put over site owners' sites' without their permission which is precisely why 10 big web site owners are suing Gator. And Overture works with Gator knowing how much their advertisers do not want Gator ads over their sites.
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Todd S
Joined: Apr 13, 1999
# Posts: 64
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Posted: 2003-Mar-19 06:11
closed my over account today
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terry_isc
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 50
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Posted: 2003-Mar-20 17:40
I got an email from a woman yesterday who had one of our ads pop up on her desktop. She was pretty upset and wanted me to tell her how to uninstall our software on her machine. Well, we don't have software and have never authorized anyone to advertise for us in such a way. There is so much bad "karma" associated with Gator and similar sneaky software that she not only didn't believe me, but went on to say that she would NEVER purchase anything from us and was going to tell everyone she knew do do the same.
I have sent emails to my rep at Overture and have yet to hear back regarding my concerns about Gator. I take a lot of pride in our site and our ethical way of doing business. I think that this proposed partnership with Gator can only hurt most advertisers. I spent over $200k last year with overture and will probably spend more this year, unless this gator thing is around for good. At that point, I will really have to reconsider Overture as a reliable source of traffic.
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terry_isc
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 50
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Posted: 2003-Mar-25 21:26
Ok, Overture/Gator Update...
I got a call yesterday from a couple of Overture representatives talking to me over a speaker phone. They were telling me about the potential qualified traffic that will come from the G.A.I.N. Network advertising. They showed me examples of how the ads are showing up. If you are unfortunate enough to have Gator installed on your system, and do a search that matches something in the GAIN system, then a new window opens behind the current one with a search engine results page. It is a page of relevant results based on the search criteria of the user.
I still don't feel comfortable being affiliated with GAIN, but with over 40% of our traffic/sales coming from Overture, we are not going to let them go. If ever an effective alternative should present itself, then I would have to reconsider.
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FlimFlam
Joined: Sep 04, 2002
# Posts: 138
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Posted: 2003-Mar-25 23:53
Gator should add a "browserfficient upgrade" that would take control of your cursor and automatically click the links it deems most profit-worthy, errr, I mean relevant. That would get me a lot of traffic. I like it!! <snarf> 
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Richard B
Joined: Apr 03, 2000
# Posts: 446
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Posted: 2003-Mar-26 01:12
Please don't give em any more ideas  Next they will send everyone the product automatically and deducting the cost from their checking account.
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Curt
Joined: Eons Ago
# Posts: 3736
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Posted: 2003-Mar-26 10:00
FlimFlam and Richard ... teeeheee that's funny in a cynical kind of way.
Next they will send everyone the product automatically and deducting the cost from their checking account.
Gator sends me a Mercedes and later finds out that I don't have that much in my bank account.
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netcservices.co.uk
Joined: Aug 06, 2002
# Posts: 1594
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Posted: 2003-Mar-26 10:06
I wouldnt be complining.
File off the serial codes and change the number plates and they couldnt take it back cos they cant prove its theirs 
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Richard B
Joined: Apr 03, 2000
# Posts: 446
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Posted: 2003-Mar-26 12:33
Fortunately they could never get quite that far. If they did, they would get to know Shock and Awe.
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