JOHN LEWIS DIRECT ENDS RELATIONSHIP WITH ‘CASHBACK’ WEBSITES
MONDAY, APRIL 21 2008
RELEASED ON BEHALF OF JOHN LEWIS DIRECT VIA TRADEDOUBLER

John Lewis Direct, the website and catalogue business of the John Lewis Partnership, announced on Friday, April 21 2008 that it is to remove all ‘cash back’* websites from its affiliate programmes effective midnight on Sunday 18th May 2008.

John Lewis has a long tradition of treating all customers equally, regardless of circumstance or shopping channel. The business model of ‘cash back’ sites is at odds with this ethos, as they offer a permanent discount to online customers that are not available to department store customers.

John Lewis Direct will continue to work with its other affiliate partners on the programme.

* A ‘cashback’ website is any site that is deemed to be offering a percentage discount on John Lewis products on an ongoing basis, or where points have a clear and obvious cash value which is returned [credited] wholly, or in part to the customer.

John Lewis Direct appreciates there will be some sites that do not fit this definition exactly. John Lewis Direct have already reviewed these sites on a case-by-case basis with our affiliate networks to reach a decision.

If you operate a cashback site you should have received a personal communication from your network account manager regarding the above decision on Friday. If this is not the case please contact your account manager to check whether you qualify to continue working on the John Lewis Direct programme.

Q&A

I am a member of one of the ‘cash back’ websites, how will this affect me?

We have agreed with the ‘cash back’ website affected that all links through to johnlewis.com are to be removed anytime before midnight on Sunday 18th May 2008. After this time you’ll no longer be able to order from johnlewis.com via your ‘cash back’ website. Any orders completed prior to midnight on Sunday 18th May 2008 will qualify for a commission payment (normal validation procedures apply). Any orders placed after this time will not qualify for commission payment. Please contact your ‘cash back’ website for full details.

Will my order history still be available?
Yes. If you registered an email address and password when you ordered from johnlewis.com, your account will still be active. Click on ‘my orders’ from the John Lewis homepage.

If you have any questions please contact myself or George.

Client Manager - wulfric@tradedoubler.com
Client Manager – george.head@tradedoubler.com


Kind Regards

Wulfy