opinion

Sharks, Jets, and Geeks?

Okay, back to ranting a bit. Not as bad as the movie "Network", but right up there......

This economy is taking its toll on our industry and I am seeing it every day as far as people's level of panic.

Every day, folks that have worked together for a decade are ripping each other's throats out to make an extra dollar. This obviously sucks.

Some feedback I got from several long-time big players with over 10 years in the industry over the phone today:

Content Distributor: It's like the wild west! You go and stake your claim on a gold mine, go into town to have dinner, come back, and somebody built a saloon on your claim and 5 miners are digging your dirt! Only answer is litigation. Sigh.....

Traffic and Affiliate Programs: Since the economy went South, it is like the old school industry has turned into opposing Urban gangs shooting each other in the neck in drive by shootings, with the colorful added features of all of the non-adult guys showing up at the scene, like a bus load of prep school dudes that just walked into a gunfight.

I am personally seeing these acts of desperation every day, with people and vendors I have worked with for 12 years trying to screw every dime they can out of me just to stay in business.

Where does it end? I have no idea. Wasteland has a good infrastructure and has thus far been weathering the storm. But, I am seeing chaos around the industry..

Take care...... The knives are out in full..... Beware of Brutus.......

Colin at wasteland.com

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

Building Sustainable Revenue Without Opt-Out Cross-Sales

Over the past year, we’ve seen growing pushback from acquirers on merchants using opt-out cross-sales — also known as negative option offers. This has been especially noticeable in the U.S. In fact, one of our acquirers now declines new merchants during onboarding if an opt-out flow is detected. Existing merchants submitting new URLs with opt-out cross-sales are being asked to remove them.

Cathy Beardsley ·
trends

How to Handle Payment Disputes Without Sacrificing Trust

You can run the best-managed and most compliant website out there, but that still doesn’t completely shield you from the risks tied to payment disputes. Buyer’s remorse, an unclear billing description or even a simple misunderstanding can lead a customer to dispute a transaction. Accumulate enough disputes, and both your reputation and revenue could be at risk.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

Tips for Supporting Male Shoppers Managing Stress and Performance Issues

When focusing on men’s sexual health, one crucial topic to discuss is how stress can impact men’s sexual well-being, and what can be done about it.

Staci Cruse ·
profile

Sienna Day Talks Creator Life, Longevity and Loving the Work

When Sienna Day heard her name called onstage at the Euro XMAs in Amsterdam, the newly crowned 2025 MILF Creator of the Year froze — then floated.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Tips for Upgrading Retail Merchandising With AI

When an order from CalExotics arrived at one of our stores in Livermore, I wanted to help build the wall. After reorganizing it, I took a picture and asked ChatGPT what it thought of the wall. First, it noticed a gap in the top row and recommended adding a toy there or changing the spacing. Then it said, “I noticed there are some toys on the right that aren’t in boxes. You should take those down or put them in boxes.”

Zondre Watson ·
trends

WIA Profile: Taylor Moore

With a 70-person team and a growing slate of tools for content creators, the Teasy Agency has developed a reputation for putting talent first. That commitment owes a lot to co-founder Taylor Moore’s own experiences as a cam model.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

How to Get Shoppers in the Mood for Pleasure During the Holidays

Carolers may be singing about tidings of comfort and joy, but this time of year, the holiday rush, social fatigue and long to-do lists can leave many people feeling a bit short of both. Fortunately, consumers are now more willing to invest in self-care — and to expand their understanding of that category beyond cocoa and cozy blankets, to include sensual care and pleasure.

Rin Musick ·
profile

Falcon, NakedSword Deliver Cozy Chaos and Holiday Carnality in 'The Push It Inn'

What do the holidays mean to you? Kitschy decorations? Mariah Carey? Cheesy Christmas movies?

Christian Cintron ·
opinion

How Small Stocking Stuffers Lead to Big Holiday Success for Retailers

With the holiday rush fast approaching, here’s a tip for retailers aiming to be among this year’s big winners: Think small.

Sunny Rodgers ·
opinion

Practical Tips for Bountiful Holiday Streaming

As the weather gets chilly, people spend more time indoors and online. Add in the stress of the holidays, and you’ve got fans trawling through cam sites seeking escape and a dopamine rush. That makes November through January a definite “go time” for online creators.

Taylor Love ·
Show More