How Exclusive Deals Can Be Improved
After some negotiation with both network and merchant, I was issued with an Exclusive discount code for Wilkinsons via the DGM network. In order to obtain the code, I have agreed to extra exposure such as giving them space on my Page Peel and in my Newsletter, in order to drive sales during the 2 week offer.
When I was given the code on Friday afternoon, I questioned as to how long it would remain exclusive and sadly it wasn’t even 24 hours before VoucherCodes.com, a persistant code pincher, had decided to publish it on their website. Its not hard to see it’s Exclusive as it has a blue EXCLUSIVE TO US image next to it and even has EXCLUSIVE in the title of the offer, so no playing dumb on this one.
This site was actually listed as an affiliate site that rocks despite their constant lifting of codes from others. Refrained from commenting on that post, as I thought Kieron may have been ill whilst writing that post 
VoucherCodes.com even have the wrong information, publishing it as £5 off £35 spend when it is infact £5 off £39.95 and there is no mention of any end date.
I’ve written to VoucherCodes.com and DGM asking that the code be removed immediately and that any commissions made with my exclusive code, either given to me, or at the least removed from VoucherCodes.com. They, like the rest of us, should respect exclusive codes, which some affiliates have worked hard to obtain and not just profit from other peoples hard work.
Recently Tesco and Figleaves have been clamping down on codes that are issued outside of the affiliate channel, whereby any sale made, no commission is given to the affiliate. Surely the next step is to protect affiliates who have been issued with an exclusive code, and if used by another code site, the same rule applies. This is something Webgains introduced last year and you hardly ever see an exclusive code being pinched for one of their merchants.
Sadly I am now in the position of contemplating whether to remove the Wilkinson Page Peel and not feature them in my newsletter, as the offer is no longer “exclusive”. I am tempted to get back in touch with some Webgains Merchants and offer them the space in return of an exclusive code, as long as it can be tracked so any misuse isn’t rewarded.
Time for merchants and networks to spank persistant offenders, similarly to how they insist that discount codes outside the affiliate marketing channel, aren’t used.
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Perfect stated Chris
Fully agree
Doug
I’ve had some merchants go to great lengths to protect exclusive codes they’ve issued to me, including manually allocating all commission for sales using the codes to me.
I guess its just a case of working with a merchant / network that will enforce the exclusivity.
Shame though Wilkinsons is a great ‘catch’.
Hi mate, just a reminder that Paid On Results introduced the whole Voucher Manager concept and how it works back in start of October 2007 http://blog.paidonresults.com/voucher-manager.html so any Exclusive Codes are safe with us, just need to get them pesky Merchants issuing you some
Roger that Chris!
Sure you’ll agree that we sorted this one pretty quickly.
In terms of a permanent fix. We do have a couple of ways that we can track the code. Just involves some work client side and adding in additional parametres to our tags, so that we can capture the data (in this case the v code).
The additional data would allow us to filter sales by the code used. If the code is exclusive and being used by another affiliate. We can remove commissions and allocate correctly.
I’ll have a chat with Wilkinson and see if we can get this implemented for future exclusives…
Clarke you hit the nail on the head there. Yes, POR do offer relibale system, but as you say, its the pesky Merchants thats the problem. Earlier this year I fired of 5-10 emails via the message centre and didn’t receive a single reply
Kev, I agree it was dealt with first thing on Monday morning, but sadly the weekend had passed after it appear on their website early on Saturday. Good to hear that there is a solution in place, or on its way