Next Affiliate Program - The Facts

[Frostie]

Originally Posted by fionah It is also unfortunate that, although Next submitted a response to a particular blog, it was not approved by the blog author.

Who's blog was this then? It was not mine, so please do not try to make out that I am censoring anything as if this is what you are implying, its yet another lie and more spin. Quite sad that, if you are implying that it was my blog and that I didn't approve your comments that you post under a header that says "THE FACTS". An absolute farce Fiona!

My blog, the one that quite rightly slags off next/ilevel is open to all to comment. Nearly all comments show immediately unless the spam trapper catches it, which I am then informed and need to approve or reject. Nothing has required manual intervention within the past 2 months!

Please therefore comment on which blog you are referring to... If it is my blog, then I expect a public apology and fast too!

[loquax]

It is Next’s wish not to partner affiliates who pollute natural search space with negative comments about the brand

I just want to twist this slightly in a different angle... if I was a customer of Next (which I have been) and I received dire service from you, and subsequently complained perhaps on a review website, in a store or to your head office... what would Next's policy be?

Would they.

1. Try and make sure, that as a customer, my complaint is resolved

or

2. Try and gag me for complaining and force me out of the door whilst calling me a pollutant?

The reaction your brand is receiving is because of the action your brand has taken!

Jason

[fionah]

Originally Posted by Frostie Please therefore comment on which blog you are referring to!

I have left my second comment which is awaiting approval.

[Sarah@LBi]

Hi

Regarding Next appearing on M&S brand terms, I have let M&S know so that they can raise this with their search agency.

Thanks

[Elaine]

Fionna - you replied back in August/September when commissions were first reduced, this is when category based rates were first discussed and I agreed to keep promoting Next with the hope that this would be introduced.

In late December, when commissions were again reduced, I made my feelings known immediately to Affiliate Window - who I know were acting on my behalf and liaising with I-level/Next - and I'll state again - I received no communication from I-level or Next asking me to be patient or explaining the situation or relying to my posts or blog. As far as I knew you could have been totally ignoring me - 3 weeks in affiliate marketing is a long time - especially during one of the most lucrative times of the year - January Sales.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

it was not approved by the blog author.

Those sums required for comment submission can be a little tricky sometimes

Excellent angle Jason, would they then ban customers?

[Frostie]

Originally Posted by fionah I have left my second comment which is awaiting approval.

Your first comment was never received and guess what... you second comment hasn't been received. Therefore I have no idea where you are posting your comments Fionah!

Once again, would you be so kind to apologise in public after accusing me in public and not jump the gun presuming I am somehow censoring my blog?

Merchants and Networks all know that I will approve all comments no matter what it says and no matter if its in complete contradiction to what I say as has happened in the past on numerous posts. My blog is there for open discussion and I do not appreciate i-Level accusing me in a public place.

[Julie H]

Originally Posted by loquax 2. Try and gag me for complaining and force me out of the door whilst calling me a pollutant? The reaction your brand is receiving is because of the action your brand has taken! Jason

If it was instore it would be like an SAS style approach - the alarm bells would ring, the shutters would come down and the NAP (Next against Pollutants) would come screaming out of the storeroom shouting 'down on the floor and put your hands behind your back' when this is done they'd approach with a gag, which they'd secure around your mouth.

[john-pp]

Que?

Next is open to constructive criticism regarding the management of the program

And in the very next breath.....

It is Next’s wish not to partner affiliates who pollute natural search space with negative comments about the brand.

Please clarify? Is there such a thing as a non negative criticism? Even "constructive" criticism is "negative" to some degree.

--
john-pp

[fionah]

Originally Posted by Elaine Fionna - you replied back in August/September when commissions were first reduced, this is when category based rates were first discussed and I agreed to keep promoting Next with the hope that this would be introduced. In late December, when commissions were again reduced, I made my feelings known immediately to Affiliate Window - who I know were acting on my behalf and liaising with I-level/Next - and I'll state again - I received no communication from I-level or Next asking me to be patient or explaining the situation or relying to my posts or blog. As far as I knew you could have been totally ignoring me - 3 weeks in affiliate marketing is a long time - especially during one of the most lucrative times of the year - January Sales.

Elaine, I'm sorry if there was any misunderstanding, I assumed Affiliate Window were managing the communications with you. I'm happy to work in direct contact with you going forward.