Important Notice – Changes to Thomas Cook Terms and Conditions

[SimonA]

Hi All

As you may be aware, the topic of voucher and discount site best practise has recently become a hot topic, especially on the A4U forums. This prompted Alex and I to review our relationship with these sites, especially as we don't currently have voucher or discount codes available on our websites.

The conclusion of this review was that we feel a need to alter the way Voucher and discount sites represent Thomas Cook, as we believe that the "click to reveal" method employed by many sites is a misleading call to action, confusing to customers, and unfair on any affiliate targeting consumers early in the user path. We appreciate that many Voucher Sites have already taken action to change this practise, and that where voucher codes are actually offered by merchants, there are valid arguments in favour of this practise.

We have examined the models used by competitors, and both feel the changes implemented by Alpha Rooms, best represent what we are trying to achieve. I have spoken to Dan Morley, who we thank for his advice and guidance on this subject, and been given permission to plagurise the wording of their T&C's. We will therefore be moving to adopt this model (detailed below) in the coming weeks. Anybody complying with the Alpha Rooms terms and conditions, should have a suitable template to meet our standards.

The 25/07/08 is the deadline for these changes, and anybody who anticipates a problem with meeting this should contact me immediately.

The new rules

"The Thomas Cook Group permits affiliate sites to show relevant promotional offers to their visitors, and earn commission where a "click through" leads to a sale. Whilst these offers may be hyperlinked to a relevant Thomas Cook page, they must be visible to users without requiring an action that would trigger an affiliate link and create an affiliate cookie on the visitors machine.

Any affiliate member to be found in breach of the above after the 25/07/2008 will be immediately suspended from the relevant Thomas Cook Group Affiliate Program and will not be paid commissions already earned for that month. A decision will then be taken on whether or not to exclude the website permanently and take further action.

This decision has been taken after extensive examination of available user path data , and in consultation with our networks, other merchants and with reference to discussions on the Affiliates 4 U forum.

These changes are driven by a desire to ensure our customers are not being mislead, and that a cookie is only dropped when our customers have chosen to click through a link that is clearly signposted as that.

In addition, we feel the above rules, best ensure fairness for all of our affiliates and partners, and will help limit the amount of sales attributed to affiliates simply trying to drop cookies on consumers at the checkout stage."

For your information, these changes are applicable to the following brands; Thomas Cook, Airtours, Direct Holidays, MyTravel, Going Places, Panorama, Manos, Cresta & Escapades.

All queries can be directed to simon.applebaum@thomascook.com or 01733 224146

Thanks


Simon Applebaum
Partner and Affiliates Executive
e-Commerce

Thomas Cook UK & Ireland
part of Thomas Cook Group plc

+44 (0)1733 224146
* simon.applebaum@thomascook.com

[mattg]

Simon / Dan,

How about having a cookie 'locked' once checkout has started? Or, say, for a fixed time period starting any session on your site (the next 7 days, or whatever .. you guy's will know what the average click to book lag is, say add 30% to that)?

Or, issue your codes on a per affiliate basis. If the cookie doesn't match the code, it's got to be worth investigating....

My hunch is the more that can be done to encourage content/lifestyle/product review/product offers/customer service etc sites, the more incremental sales the merchant is going to benefit from. And if the affiliates are earning more, well they'll be reinvesting more too. Kick off a virtuous circle....

Fundamentally, from a merchant's POV, I assume the affiliate channel is all about distribution. Do the voucher bank sites help with this?

I'm pretty new to this game, maybe its all been tried & argued about before ....

[Barry]

I agree with the restrictions on voucher code sites and have implemented the technology ready to change by the date.

I also agree with mattg (even though it shots me in the foot) - a locked basket would be a great way of moving forward and stopping voucher sites getting in at the last minute.

Ta

Baz

[SimonA]

Just wanted to bump this as a reminder that the 25th is rapidly approaching. Thanks Simon