Which? - another kick in the teeth

**Bob Saver** · 29-12-06

So the Which? programme has been so successful that their affiliate budget for December has run out. That's great news - well done affiliates! So, the reward?

They are suspending paying out on the programme when the budget has gone (around 22nd Dec) until the end of the month, when the January budget kicks in. But that's ok - there was a couple of days notice. Don't worry about all the careful search engine optimisation the affiliates have been doing - we'll have the trial but we just won't pay for it.

Question - campaign suspended, but of course they'll be paying out on cookies dropped prior to the 22nd? And surely they'll be paying out on the cookies dropped before affiliates were told that the programme had run out of budget? Oh no they won't! No payments of any kind even for cookies dropped prior to the switch off.

Will they be retro paying these commissions? Nope. Everything starts again in January. Any trials taken out will go unattributed - nice little bit of bunce for Which? then!

I understand the issues that Affiliate Managers have explaining affiliate marketing to their colleagues (that's if they understand it themselves), but this is just plain affiliate abuse:

Switching off the programme because it's too successful at the prime time of the year.

Then (probably in breach of the contract - such as it is) they are proposing not to honour the sales from cookies dropped before the shut off date - or even those from before the notification that the programme was being suspended.

Then - perhaps worst of all - proposing to carry on in January as if nothing has happened.

This is the most depresing news in a pretty grim few months for affiliates.

Which? More like Why?

**essdeekay** · 29-12-06

That's just awful.

When will these merchants learn?

Si

**Shane** · 29-12-06

you guys still have teeth left ?

lost all mine about 2004

solution is simple.. notify that if they do this, you will no longer push them when they start again, if you do push them then you are supporting this behaviour, it's their choice to run their scheme how they like but it's out choice when and how to push it !

personally I make it a point of no longer working with idiots, liars or scammers.. regarldess of whether that's an individual person, merchant, network or agency

I've found life much more simple since I decided to do this.. sure I miss out on some revenue but quality of life is important and I find for me stress levels it's worth the loss of cash in return for not grinding my teeth at the next mindblowing move a merchant with the collective IQ of the inhabitants of a small pond.

we have the power.. just a shame so many aren't capable of using the "drop campaign" button

**Azam.net** · 29-12-06

I'll second everything Shane says.

**pistol101** · 29-12-06

I'll second everything Shane says.

What was it with loosing teeth in 2004!

**Azam.net** · 29-12-06

Originally Posted by pistol101

What was it with loosing teeth in 2004!

I lost my hair back in about 1999 with the frustrations in this industry

Not talking about TD here, but I see more professionalism when a bunch of 12 year olds girls organise a shopping trip than the way affiliate marketing is run.

Of course, the networks will have you believe that the Emporer has clothes no matter what the reality is.

The reality I see is that the Adsense section of DigitalPoint forums has 268,702 posts compared to the 39,930 ones in the Affiliate Programs section. Unless people wake up and smell the coffee, this industry will not grow as much as it should and remain one that entrepreneurs in other fields look down upon and avoid.

**Azam.net** · 29-12-06

Oh, and I say the above based on what a lot of people are saying. I have spoken to at least five Affiliate Managers in December who are concerned that while the number of affiliate programs is rocketing, there is very little 'fresh blood' coming into the industry. So everybody is scrambling for the same few affiliates to promote them.

I'd guess that of the 30 biggest UK affiliates in 2003, about 24 of them are still the same four years later.

If we want this industry to grow, we need to ensure that affiliates are treated with respect and there is some degree of professionalism. Otherwise most people will stick to Adsense and YPN ads.

Off to remove ads from a network which is having technical problems and a blank space has been showing for days in place of the banners...

**morleymouse** · 29-12-06

Originally Posted by Azam.biz

Oh, and I say the above based on what a lot of people are saying. I have spoken to at least five Affiliate Managers in December who are concerned that while the number of affiliate programs is rocketing, there is very little 'fresh blood' coming into the industry. So everybody is scrambling for the same few affiliates to promote them.

I'd guess that of the 30 biggest UK affiliates in 2003, about 24 of them are still the same four years later.

spot on. the industrys about as stable as our email guy at the xmas do

there are a lot of affiliate programmes, networks even that have everything hinged on a few top performers - surely this cant be good?

say these guys die (bit morbid but it has been known to happen) or just pull out of the industry saying they've made enough im off to lanzarote to retire, a lot of programmes and networks could suffer.

part of managing a good affiliate programme - stability

**aaclapham** · 29-12-06

I'd guess that of the 30 biggest UK affiliates in 2003, about 24 of them are still the same four years later.

For many new starters such as myself there is alot of useful information to digest but no one will tell you the " if you follow my blue print you will be a great affiliate, and make lots of money", for obvious reasons.

So most of the time you are testing the waters and hoping for the best.

I agree totally with Shanes comments. I am sure affiliates build websites around campaigns and put alot of money into ppc, only for the merchant to close at a snap of the fingers.

Just not on!

**Sammy aff** · 29-12-06

When a 'blue chip' says jump, networks always ask how high

When affiliates moan it is always their own fault, drop kick into touch and refuse to take the bate next time. Easy?

**Jonny** · 29-12-06

Could someone confirm whether Which? will be paying commission for trials taken out after the 22nd? I have sent then a LOT of business after this period and haven't received any email saying the campaign's been paused...

Cheers

**Bob Saver** · 29-12-06

From Which?

"We look to pause around Boxing Day as by then we will have reached our target for this month."

Corroboration from someone at TD:

"If the program is paused it means that all new signups once the program
is paused will not be awarded even if they are from a cookie before the
paused period."

**Jonny** · 29-12-06

It would have been nice to have had an email from them; I doubt whether we will be promoting them again if these commissions aren't awarded.

Cheers

**sgpratley** · 30-12-06

"If the program is paused it means that all new signups once the program is paused will not be awarded even if they are from a cookie before the
paused period."

If a programme advertises a 30 day cookie, then pulls this sort of stunt, surely that's a clear breach of contract?

I seriously think it's about time we investigated some legal kick back against this sort of activity. Seems like the networks are too happy just to roll over and say 'ok, whatever' when a merchant wants to pull the plug.

I would have thought Which? of all people would know better.