Comet pause discount codes

[dougs]

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Hi Affiliates

Over the next three months Comet will be researching the impact discount codes and discount code sites have on its traffic. We want to understand the incremental sales benefit and be able to develop a suitable business model for discount code sites.



In principle we understand when voucher codes are used correctly they can drive significant volume and add value to our affiliate programme. To help us formulate a suitable business model going forward we have taken the decision to pause activity with sites that we define as voucher code directories. We would like to stress this is a decision that will be reviewed after we’ve collated enough data, we estimate to be 3 months, to carry out comprehensive research into how best voucher codes can be used.



We would like to stress this does not impact Comet’s ongoing promotions and on site offers that we will continue to roll out to our affiliate base. As stated the specific affiliates will be voucher code directories and as such only a very small number of affiliates are impacted.



The research study will begin in a week’s time on the 27th Jan 2009 so please can you remove all relevant links for Comet. Any questions please direct to Affiliate window.



We are extremely grateful for the hard work all voucher code affiliates have put in to promoting Comet’s affiliate programme and will be in touch later on in the year with our findings.



Should you be unsure whether this impacts your activity please contact Ross Truesdale - ross.truesdale@affiliatewindow.com .

Kind Regards

Robin Chan

Comet Online Marketing Manager

[Frostie]

So you dont want me to push you on my discount code website... but what about the other websitesI run that have no mention of discounts or vouchers? Will I be suspended completely as I am a discount code website owner?

I suspect that if this is the case, then all people with an iCodes site or Promotions site will also be removed from the programme?

Once again I presume this a blanket approach, and that "activity with sites that we define as voucher code directories" isn't the case, but AFFILIATES we define as having a voucher code directory is the correct stance?

I hope that I will be corrected and that its only "sites" and not affiliates that are affected by this.

[ian]

"please can you remove all relevant links for Comet"

I don't think they'll be suspending anyone, just asking people to take down links from vc directory sites. Not sure if that means any site with codes or just those that only list codes.

[KevinEdwards]

Chris,

Comet has previously offered a number of voucher codes and offers all strongly promoted by affiliates running voucher code directories.

We will be contacting the affected affiliates in due course with further details of what can and can't be promoted.

The announcement is a general notice indicating their intentions over the next few months.

In your case I doubt there will be an issue if you continue to promote Comet on other websites you run.

Thanks,

[Frostie]

Thanks Kevin. So its more of a request as Ian has pointed out, rather than removing the affiliate from the programme?

Obviously if I continued to push comet discounts via my discount site, then I would expect to be spanked followed by removal from the programme.

What about if they have an online sale? Can this be listed on what they class as discount sites?

[KevinEdwards]

To reiterate, we won't be suspending affiliates, just asking for certain affiliates to pause certain activity they're running.

[befuddle]

We will be contacting the affected affiliates in due course with further details of what can and can't be promoted.

Well, the links are gone now. Another good commission earner to the dust.

[dougs]

If you add incremental sales Ray then I expect they will be back to you

Doug

[befuddle]

But how can I add ANY sales going forward? Ross has asked that I remove all Comet links from my site.

[KevinEdwards]

This directly affects VOUCHERS, not discounts. Therefore anyone flagging up sales, general category promotions etc on NON-VOUCHER sites will be fine to do so.

I appreciate there are grey areas here which is why we're on hand to allay fears/answer questions.

We won't be suspending any affiliates unless they breach these new T&Cs after they come into force.

As previously mentioned it is quite possible Comet will choose to work with all existing affiliates after the three month period.

Thanks,

[KevinEdwards]

Ray,

If you have any non-voucher sites you can continue to feature Comet and promotions they run in the future.

Thanks,

[befuddle]

Kevin, I'm referring to ShopCodes.co.uk

You say 'can you remove all relevant links for Comet'

Then you say 'This directly affects VOUCHERS, not discounts. Therefore anyone flagging up sales, general category promotions etc on NON-VOUCHER sites will be fine to do so.'

Ross says 'This would mean removing all Comet links from your site'

ShopCodes is a voucher site but it's also more than that. In the email to Ross I provided an example of how I am promoting other merchants that don't do codes. My focus for the past 3 weeks has been to fill my site with the Top Selling Products, Must Buy Products, Sales, Free Gifts and Free Delivery offers, resulting in £100's more commission every day to make this my best January since launch.

So I know this additional content adds value as I'm making sales for merchants that I've never made sales for before and I'd have been happy to promote Comet using these methods alone on the above site without even a code.

[KevinEdwards]

Hi Ray,

I can look into this for you. We're keen that any traffic that is specifically looking for codes does not find Comet content (I appreciate there are grey areas with regards this issue).

Thanks,