Next – Do They Care About The Affiliate Marketing Industry?
As we all know, since winning the Best New Merchant award in 2007, Next have behaved like a spoilt brat annoying a lot of affiliates. Their recent actions can only be compared to how a child acts when attending a friends 4th birthday party… You know the feeling, when you see the parents ashamed and embarrassed that its a child of theirs acting up.
Well I do often wonder how the e-marketing team of Next feel? Do they have no shame? As if Next hadn’t misbehaved enough already with their Wiping The Slate Clean comments, the drop in commissions, brand bidding on competitors trademarks they have managed to go even further!
As we all know, the programme will be closing on Affiliate Window come 29th February however in an attempt to piss affiliates off one last time they are going against the grain of every other merchant that has switched networks. Next currently operate a 7 day cookie, during which time they throw a few coppers your way for any sales generated by visitors you referred in the past 7 days. Well on 29th February there is no cookie run out time.
What does this mean? Well normally when a merchant leaves a network, they allow a cookie run out time, usually the same as their programme, so that any referrals you make within the cookie time-frame, will still be honoured. Not Next! Nope they are exempt to honouring affiliates for their hard work.
If I left my links in place, and referred someone at 3pm on 29th February that then went on to make a purchase at 10am on 1st March I can expect £0.00 commissions. This has been the decision of Next which I think is incredible, yet it doesn’t surprise me one bit. All other networks that move from network to network, would honour sales made in the cookie referral period, so why are Next, the award winners, different?
Question is, do I continue to push Next via another network? Then again, after my rants about them, would they accept me on their programme?
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Are you really suprised that Next have sunk this low? Personally I wouldn’t touch their program with a ten foot affiliate poking stick. Like you, they probably wouldn’t have me after what I’ve said about them either. They’ve treated Awin and their affiliates with nothing but contempt.
I’m still shocked that Next won the award. Time after time they prove they don’t understand or don’t care what affiliates think. Thankfully they operate in a market where there are plenty of alternatives to whom we can send our traffic.
Like the new theme btw.
Surely the agency I-level should have advised them of the correct and decent procedure. Poor, very poor.
Hi mate
Interesting post, I asked this question on the a4uforum and awin seem to think awin cookies will be honoured post 29th Feb
http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/affiliate-window/74272-next-when-does-leave-awin.html
I think you may have mis-read Awins response. On the forum thread you mention, Adam says;
“Cookies will not be honoured after the 29th.“
This is backed up by an email that AWin have sent out;
“Note – Next will not be paying commission on sales occurring within the 7 day cookie period from this date.“
I think you’re wrong with your anology of Next! – in my book they’re no more than playground bullies – we’re the biggest so we can do what we like syndrome. Any affiliate still promoting them is doing a major diservice to the industry.
ps I don’t think I’m on their Xmas Card list anymore either
I misread it !!! I think because I could not believe they would NOT !!! that is shocking
Can I join the queue of next affiliates jumping ship please
chris, think what your doing here is brilliant, the traffic light system is fantastic… keep it up!
Well so Next won the award?? after so many things? very much the agency I-level should have advised them of the correct procedure….
Next won the award for being a merchant that grew massively.
Affiliates made a lot of money whilst next tested the water on affiliate marketing. Now that the campaign is at its optimum % commission, affiliates are barketing all over the place. If you cant make it work! dont promote it.
PS, Industry?
Affiliates are a discgrace and I am ashamed to be one.
Wow how very confusing.
Why on earth would anyone do a job that they are ashamed of?
If you took time to read the whole article, and took in what I’ve said, you will notice that I am not complaining, and never have questioned as to Next winning the award. At the time, they deserved to!
You will also see that many affiliates (big ones) have decided to drop Next as a merchant. It has NOTHING to do with making money or making it work Paul. It has more to do with ethics and morals. If you have none, then promote to your hearts content
i totally disagree to the point made that affiliates are not good!