Originally Posted by signupdamnit

Doesn't mean much. People often tend to specify different ways of acting with different people. It's easy for a sponsor to come up with a justification for shaving their affiliates (or partners).

"I do most of the work anyway."
"I'm the one taking most of the risk."
"Affiliates are overpaid for what they do. They don't deserve that much."
"Most of these guys are just part timers. I'm only taking their beer money."
"Everyone shaves. I'm not as bad as company X."
"They should be happy I allow affiliates"
"If they don't like it let them make their own site"
"I'm only protecting myself against affiliate fraud."
"They'd be working at McDonalds if it weren't for me."

etc.

I don't know whether these particular allegations are true or not but I would not be surprised. If you don't think you are being shaved in general within this industry I think you're incredibly naive. Sure not everyone does it but it's very common and often it's not even hidden all that well. Usually the sponsor's attitude about related things kind of tips their hand to show what they think of the relationship between themselves and affiliates. After all, chances are if they have the guts to openly take sales from you they also have the guts to do so behind the scenes too. Numbers often give it away as well.