Affiliate CPS Reporting: Separate Basket Value from Commissionable Value

Start with three different quantities

A customer’s checkout total, the amount eligible for commission, and the resulting affiliate commission answer different questions. Treating them as interchangeable can make ecommerce CPS reports hard to reconcile. This article proposes a reporting structure for media buyers and advertisers; the actual calculation must follow the specific offer terms and approved transaction records.

Map the components before calculating

Create separate fields for merchandise value, discounts, shipping, tax, and any other checkout components available in the source. Add an explicit commissionable-value field rather than silently using the checkout total. Document whether a value comes directly from the advertiser or is a provisional estimate. If the eligibility rules are unknown, leave the estimate unresolved instead of assuming that every component earns commission.

Use a transparent hypothetical example

Suppose an illustrative order contains $100 of merchandise, a $10 merchandise discount, $5 shipping, and $8 tax. The checkout total is $103. If the hypothetical offer pays 8% on discounted merchandise only, the commissionable value is $90 and the estimated commission is $7.20. Applying 8% to the checkout total would instead produce $8.24. These figures illustrate a definition mismatch; they are not BlueFriday rates or evidence of actual campaign results.

Preserve the transaction lifecycle

Store the order identifier, currency, applicable rule version, and transaction status alongside the amounts. Keep estimated, approved, and paid commission distinguishable. A partial refund may change eligible value, but the timing and method depend on the offer rules. Retain the original reported values and record adjustments so a later reconciliation can explain what changed rather than overwrite the history.

Make campaign comparisons consistent

For media buying decisions, label whether a reported return metric uses checkout revenue, eligible merchandise value, or affiliate commission. Compare campaigns using the same definition and status basis. Do not combine different currencies without a documented conversion method. Discuss unresolved discrepancies with the reporting owner before changing spend based on them. BlueFriday’s media buyer information and advertiser information provide context for the two sides of performance marketing; neither replaces an individual offer’s commercial terms.