VBulletin Referral Tracking - Good or Bad?

[mprjr41510]

This message is in regards to using referral links only, like the format shown here.

Example:
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/index.php?referrerid=64319

I have been testing the referral feature on vBulletin, and noticed the referrer credit is only given if the visitor registers immediately upon arriving to the homepage. But in all those instances where the visitor decides to browse the forum before registering (or coming back a day later), the credit is LOST and not accounted for. I enjoy the script very much, but I see this being a HUGE problem - especially for those that rely on this feature. I have a modification request for someone to make the tracking more reliable.

Thoughts?

[Colin F]

Originally Posted by mprjr41510

Thoughts?

Probably with the referrerid saved in a cookie...

I haven't really used the referral system much, but if this were really the case I would post over at vB.com, as this would almost warrant the title "bug" in my eyes...

[mprjr41510]

I emailed the vBulletin support about referral problem, and they said the referral links are tracked by cookies. However, I still find that as soon as visitors start browsing the forum before registering, the referrer no longer receives the credit when they finally do register.

Today I got email from an VERY unhappy member:

"I have referred a MINIMUM of 5 people to this website...
honestly I believe this to be a higher number and yet I
have not been getting credit for them nor being listed
in the top 10 referrer section...you can be sure I will
NO LONGER promote this site!!!!?

I see this as a huge problem and it needs to be corrected. I still request a modification to fix this error if anyone has the time. I know it will make a lot of people happy to see this corrected. We can't ignore this.

I will go ahead and make another post in the "Service Requests" section to see if anyone?s interested in fixing this for a payment.

Thanks,
mprjr41510

[ericgtr]

Hmm.. I promote referrals heavily on my site and haven't had this problem yet, in fact it's been performing great. Just out of couriousity, have you made any changes that could effect your cookies or the cookie prefix to your site?

[mprjr41510]

Hi ericgtr,

Thanks for your reply.

I will check with my partner has made any changes that would effect the cookie prefix, but I highly doubt it.

Can you please send me a referral link to your forum (by post or PM)? I will browse your forum and register so we can give it a test on your site.