Have You Ditched Next Directory And Other Low Paying Programmes - Poll

[Qui Gon Jinn]

The agency looking after the Next Brand is i-Level

Now I am not 100% sure but some of you may remember the Interflora saga many moons ago, did i-Level look after the affiliate program then (not now though)?

Did they also used to look after BT too (until they parted ways & took on Orange)? And wasn't there a previous but different network employee who works there now at i-Level ... he knows who he is who I had an interesting chat with him in Vegas last year about his current employer (who he wasn't with then, his former network, bbg's & BT et al) .. hi honey I am home !!

[hpops]

They also own that new network (PAN - Premier Affiliate Network) or certainly their parent company do.

They used to manage the AA (maybe still do) when it went a bit dodge as well.

[Elaine]

The agency looking after the Next Brand is i-Level

so who makes the decisions to cut commissions Next or I-level?

who do Affiliate Window talk to Next or I-Level?

and why haven't I-Level commented or even been in touch to explain the decision?

exactly what do I-Level do?

[Qui Gon Jinn]

It would be appropiate if Next's representation did the appropiate thing & level with us by engaging with the forum in open dialogue or by email, or don't they wish to come down to our level? Even their lack of communication by email suggests they are uncomfortable about discussing their brand on an affiliate forum & probably have a low respect for affiliates. We've seen that before & there are interesting times ahead with this agency / merchant combo.

[hpops]

There are some merchants and even agencies who would rather their networks dealt with channel communication. I personally think that that is their choice (obviously they've taken the wrong one) but it is a choice that will have been discussed with the network at some point and can have legitimate reasoning.

[Qui Gon Jinn]

Fair point, but interesting they engage little with the forum via any of their programs, yet they attend get2togethers, a4uexpo, have interesting brand bidding groups & one of their directors is up for nomination on the AMC.. hmm .. so they don't particularly engage with the affiliate community but want to represent aspects of the channel.

Hey ho, i must be missing something.

<clicking my pencil as i join the dots ... 23 .. 24 .. 25 .. 26>

[hpops]

Fair point back at ya, hadn't seen the nomination for the AMC!

[ursfehr]

The program is still profitable for me. I evaluate a program based on it's ratio and conversion - if it drops below a certain pre-defined level, I begin to look into the amount of exposure they get (and reduce it if necessary).

[Azam.net]

Can't vote for any of the options as they don't apply to us. Need to have an option: "Never promote programs paying 2, 3 or 4% in the first place as consider it undignified to work for a company paying such a measily commission rate".

Before the days of minimum wage, I used to work in a supermarket for 90p an hour (and the worst thing is the nasty employer would change the clocks 10 minutes forward in the mornings and 10 minutes back in the evenings) and my days of slave labour are over!

[Qui Gon Jinn]

It looks like Next is leaving AW & joining Affilinet & Buy.at, as if that wasn't predictable !! ... is it vulturism? Others may say shrewd business or interesting business alliances .. I am not even sure if the agency has informed AW yet. But I do recall seeing a representative (at there now) from i-level & a former DGM employee (some of whom at Affili.net ) being at the Buy.at party in Las Vegas ... For me personally I don't think this is a wise move with unresolved concerns for some affiliates & something smells rotten. Especially when AW had to clear up the mess & the hard work they seemed to have done trying to sort it out only to have the bones picked from beneath them. Will the deal be better? Well possibly to pull the wool over our eyes & appropiately spun or if the same, what was the point.

Next Directory - Are They Bad To the Bone? » Affiliate Marketing Blog

[Qui Gon Jinn]

The discussion continues on here...

Next Closing

Next are changing!

[Qui Gon Jinn]

So with the farcical episode(s) which has developed over the past few months, are we now back to square one which was the original discussion of this thread with the addition of bitter tastes being left in ones' mouths.

Next - Do They Care About The Affiliate Marketing Industry? | Web Affiliate Marketing Blog | Affiliate Marketing

[Elaine]

Next Affiliate Marketing Timeline

Early 2007 launch with Affiliate Window - commission 4%
Summer 2007 ditch current agency MVI for I-level
August 2007 reduce commission to 3%
December 2007 reduce commission to 2%
January 2008 ditch Affiliate Window for Buyat and Affilinet
February launch with new networks delayed - no explanation
February 29th last day with Affiliate Window and warning that Next
will not be honouring their 7 day cookie period

come on Guys and Gals can you really trust companies who act like this - what's next (ah ah) young urchins cleaning the Next chimney stacks, Next paying their high street staff with Next tokens, which can only be used in Next stores!

Can you see where I'm going with this? did the Tolpuddle Martyrs suffer in vain?

[Frostie]

Next have rejected me because I speak my mind! They obviously don't like anyone who questions or slates their programme, or there apparent lack of respect for the affiliate marketing industry.

[purple]

plenty of other merchants to work with