What exactly are Affiliate Programs and are they safe?

[Queen87]

such as choosecars.com

[rover]

You will promote other peoples products or services via web sites, emails, and other means at your own cost and time.
The middleman company will pay you commission for the sales you made.
If you are success you make money.
If not, you have promoted their produts for free.

[Joe B.]

If you want to pursue participating in affiliate programs, you should have two concerns. 1) you don't want to get ripped off and 2) you don't want to be representing bogus products/services. There are two companies who help with both these issues. One is LinkConnector and the other Commission Junction.

These companies act as go-betweens for affiliates and merchants to protect the interests of both.