Cake Poker Issues - Please Read

[Ridge]

I'm sure everyone saw the other Cake Poker Thread here in which I posted about several concerns I have with Cake Poker including:

• Tracking Issues - Players not being tracked, test SU's not tracking etc
• Ethics Issues (Cardspike thieves)
• Massive Chargebacks and Player Fees - Why Does Cake not share these costs?
• Low Conversions - Cake Needs to Step up and convert players we send

Now, even thought dozens of affiliates on this forum posted their experiences and concerns, it wasn't until Shenaz came back of maternity leave that the thread was even acknowledged. So again kudos to her. I am disappointed that more has not been addressed on the forum by cake though.

Shenaz did email me and we set up a phone call to discuss some of these issues. I was pretty encouraged by the call and we discussed most of these issues.

Now, before I get to far into this I want to point out that I've worked with Shenaz other programs and she is really top notch, but I fear like many AM's they are limited as to what they can say and do. This might explain the lack of info being posted on here.

So, first of all I want to call of Cake Poker to become a sponsor on the largest poker affiliate forum in the world, PAL.

Second I think someone at Cake needs to allow their representatives address the issues discussed in these two threads.

Tracking Issues

Several affiliates expressed concerns over the tracking issues with Cake. Several of us tested each others trackers with mixed results. The main thing is that everyone knows that their tracking is sub-par even with the use of bonus codes. Cake even knows this they just failed to tell affiliates.

Now, here is the important part!!!
The big surprise that Shenaz told me was that Cake has been aware of the tracking issues for quite some time. In fact they have been trying to see that its fixed, which is great. But why didn't I as an affiliate know?????

Cake Players must signup using IE!
What I have been told by Shenaz is that players must use Internet Explorer when signing up at Cake Poker. There is some serious issues with Firefox cookies or something. Again, why the hell wasn't I told about this?? Of course if your players enter a Bonus Code it should be a non issue, but as we discovered during testing, even bonus codes are not 100%, but I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt on that.

Hopefully we will all hear soon in a newsletter that this issue has been resolved, but who knows..

Conversions and Fees
I think this is kinda general, but I don't see too much marketing going on to old players and dead accounts. I think Cake needs to improve in this area. Party has always been great at doing this. I remember getting an email where they had credited my account with $50 and I hardly ever played there. Cake needs to get creative and convert the players we send.

Fees
Why in the world do they not think it would be fair to share some fees? I also see weird things like massive fees for a deposit, and then another massive fee for the same player making a withdraw without playing a single hand? This has happened multiple times, and I've never gotten a good explanation, I've been told "yeah that is odd" and hopefully they are trying to find an answer this time.

Cardspike
Now, as you all know Cardspike has shut down (finally) but they took a lot of players money and affiliates money. I think Cake needs to assure us all that they have something in place so this never happens again. I know that Cake is just the brand and blah blah blah, in my mind Cake bears some responsibility in that whole mess. Anyway, moving on lol This is a non issue now.

Anyway, this was longer than I intended. Overall I really like the Cake Program because it has SO much potential. But time and time again there seems to be issues that go unresolved. As affiliates we should be keeping rooms feet to the fire, we make them money and it should be a partnership in which we all play our role and help each other.

I think the main issue here is the tracking issues and this needs addressed like yesterday! Again I invite all affiliates and reps from Cake poker to post their concerns, issues, or progress on these issues because we need to keep each other informed!

This thread will not be allowed to become a "bash Cake" thread because that will be counter productive. Let's have a good discussion and stay on topic.

[Shenaz]

Randy,

I am going to try again to put you at ease here with what we are trying to here.

Tracking Issues:

We have been working on getting a fix released for Firefox for a couple of months now but we did not want to release a make shift solution. It will be launched with our next release which I had mentioned to you. We just want it to work 100% before we release it.

We knew there was an issue, but without the documentation from our affiliates, we did not know what the problem was. I know that a lot of affiliates who have sent in emails but as I was not here I do not want to comment on it.

We are here now and since my last post I have received two emails. One from Randy and another that is it. We cannot fix something when we cannot help check sites and make sure we can 100% fix the issue.

I mentioned that we know tracking is working with IE 100% so it would make sense that if we know it works please let's try to use it. I also suggested to use sign up codes.

PAL - we are currently in talks with Jeremy to become sponsors of PAL. You all would understand our delay as what happened with CAP and PAP.

We are a smaller company so yes we are working on a lot of areas and we realize one of the major areas is conversions. I know that it doesn't help much until you see it, but I can assure you we are working on this issue.

Fees - we do not charge our affiliates 100% of fees, this was explained in the other thread that was started.

For example, lets assume you are on 25% revenue share. Your MGR pre fee deductions is $1000. Your earnings would be $250. Lets say you were hit with $200 in fees. Your MGR is now $800 and your earnings are now $200. You took a hit for 25% of the fees (you paid $50 of the $200 fee).

I know you are not directly complaining about me but we as a team at Cake are working really hard to meet all of your expecations, but you have to contact us directly to get things resolved. We are not yet sponsors so we don't always get to answer you right away.

I personally don't always post right away because I don't want to start a fight as generally when someone posts a large post such as this they are upset about the situation and I don't want to offend anyone.

I really hope this helps, and please do not take any offense. We do take all affiliates' concerns very seriously and by this I mean the whole Cake Team does, not just the affiliate team.

Shenaz

[MJ]

Since Cake has eyes on this thread I'd like to state to them KUDOS for finally allowing one free cashout a month, I realize the processor situation is tough but small networks need to compete in two things: value and banking, I hope for more improvements in both depositing and cashing out at Cake - $35 for casual players is not going to grow a network that NEEDS casual players to keep growing.

Even if losing players never cashout, they still always think they will. Players need ways to deposit and cashout $200 without getting taken advantage of. Note - not just depositing, cashing out too.

Just wanted to point out what I see as an improvement, hope for more.

Tracking - kind of dissapointing we weren't told, and once found out a bit more dissapointing it wasn't a problem that was "attacked" but glad to hear it's almost fixed (any idea when?).

[PTC]

PAL - we are currently in talks with Jeremy to become sponsors of PAL. You all would understand our delay as what happened with CAP and PAP.

Non sequitur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Ridge]

Thanks for posting Shenaz, and of course I am not complaining about you directly. I felt the need to post again and update everyone, especially on the tracking issues that seem to be common.

It is issues like this that make me want to ask players to clear cookies and submit info for tracking. I don't like asking players to clear cookies, but I guess we have to.

The big issue here is that now looking around I realize some affiliate already knew about the FireFox Issue and they insist players use IE to signup, maybe they figured it out on their own I dunno. But Cake needs to communicate better with affiliates.

As for Cake joining PAL, CAP/PAP is an excuse at this point IMO. Rooms were silly enough to get taken advantage of for years by paying huge fees and such at CAP. The very first conversation I had with Lou I knew he was a crook and a very shady guy. What is amazing is that programs still do business with those guys.

PAL is the largest poker affiliate forum in the world and I know Jeremy doesn't charge CAP prices and the fees are mainly to keep out the spammers etc. Hell, I'll gladly pay for fee for Cake if that will mean we can have Shenaz keep us up to date on issues, promotions, etc. So J, hit me and let me know how much the fees are please.

Thanks again or posting Shenaz, this thread is not intended to be a bitch session but as an update to all Cake affiliates. Thanks for coming and posting again! Please keep us updated on how the tracking issues are coming.

[xYassassinYx]

Hell, I'll gladly pay for fee for Cake if that will mean we can have Shenaz keep us up to dae on issues, promotions, etc. So J, hit me and let me know how much the fees are

What an offer, respect to you

You clearly want to promote Cake very much, if it was any other room im sure you would have took the trackers from your site and got a new room right?

Cake does have alot of potential and I really hope players can give them a chance and convert well for us

and thanks to Shenaz for posting even though Cake aren't with PAL yet, appreciated

[Gydian]

I love Cake, but these tracking issues are a real thorn in the side. Please get this fixed soon, and please keep us up to date on what the hell is going on.

[GR88]

Hi All

Im not here to comment at all on Cake Poker issues, tracking issue or anything else...

Im here to state a point about Randy which i think and hope you might all respect...

Randy might in some operators or Affiliate managers eyes "complain" a lot but every post or email that he writes is from the heart, well thought through,and certainly not trying to be a bitch, but to be of help to operators and for that i would like to give Randy a big shout out...

I have worked with Randy since my last place of employment, talked to him more than once on the phone and am working with him at my new home, and unlike many other affiliates that come and just complain without making sence, one person I have always respectively listened to is THE R MAN...

he is a man with extensive knowlege and all operators that receive emails from him should read it over and over again and try to integrate some of his comments...

If i were ever to build my own software(which most certainly will never happen!!!!) Randy would be my consultant of choice without thinking twice as his constructive criticism would make any new operation successful!

Finally, I would also like to call out Shenaz as she seems to want to work on making things better or at least get the upper management listening to affiliates concerns and that is what any good affiliate manager should do... As Shenaz mentioned, fighting just makes things worse, but listening and understanding along with possible changes is by far the best way to go!

Warm regards

Colin

[NickM]

Any updates on this?

[Ridge]

Not that I know of, but to re-state what Colin said, Shenaz is a top notch AM and this isn't her fault at all. Its a software flaw. It still needs addressed though, I've just decided to not push them until they start addressing issues. Also, I did see the someone at Cake made a test signup that worked, I expected to see an email or something, but never got anything.

Either way, Cake seem intent on holding themselves back somewhat, I hope this changes as they are a super cool room.

Colin - Thanks for the kind words my man, right back at you! I hope I don't come off as a jerk that just likes to complain. We all know this industry is STILL in the early stages, it is proved every month by late payments, and no payments by some of the largest companies in the world. As someone that has been in the buz for a while, I feel an obligation to try and make a difference to better the industry, educate new affiliates, and open dialog with everyone.

Rarly is anything personal with me, and I know I sometimes do not choose my words well. I work 7 days a week and sleep 5 hours a day tops because that is what it takes to get where I want to go. So I know I say dumb stuff and don't come off like I mean to at times, that being said I truly speak from the heart as do folks like Graham, MJ, Brandon, Kaus, J, PPP, Nick, etc. The list goes on and on. We have the most powerful affiliate viewing and posting here and WE are the industry. So if we don't say it, who will?

Anyway, as we have seen with past issues, we can make things happen when we all have a common goal. I just hope to be part of some solutions.