I have had this happen several times... have since only promoted something if there was a backup available. If the promoting is on your site and not in your articles that also helps you to be flexible... I know you are already doing this but said for those with less experience following you. As usual, a great read... keep up the good work!

Oh that's PANTS Joan! Still great to know you can get such fab spots in Groogle. I know what you mean about being honestly positive. I think an important part of maintaining that authentic positivity is allowing yourself to recognise and accept when something's pissy. The company I work for is a very 'positive' place to work and that's often great. But sometimes it can turn a bit pathological when positivity turns into denial. A healthy dose of occasional short-lived grump keeps the chronic festering away :) Bit like an occasional cold sharpening the immune system. Looking forward to your own product! Px.

wow, Joan. I agree that these experiences are a reason to have each our own product and I am sure there is much more to be created from going thru what you are. Warren Buffett's oft-repeated point comes to mind. He has always checked out companies that are strong in and of themselves, but then he would check out the people who ran the companies before he would invest. ( and hey, he has done pretty well over the years :-) ). Checking out the people who run the companies is a step we don't have the luxury of doing when we deal with clickbank etc. One of the many things that's cool about WA is we can get to know each other as we go along, and then when someone comes out with a product we have some idea whether we want to be their affiliate or not. A longer-term strategy. and hey, you girl ????when you come out with a product seeking affiliates, count me in !
Diane, reefswimmer

You have a point there Joan. These merchants are excellent companies. Don't know what their problem is. Not fair to the affiliates though.

Oh no! Another sign of the poor economy, I guess. And another reason to stick with the big guys like Amazon for affiliate programs, even tho the commissions are lower. you think?