After the whole debacle with Next.co.uk you don’t think it could get any worse, well really would you? Of course it can because Next now come out of the woodwork with The Facts.
Hooray, this is what we’ve been waiting for - the facts! The facts about why they reduced their commissions to 1% on sale items and 2% going forward (wtf does ‘going forward’ really mean?), the facts about why they changed from a very good agency MVI to i-Level (?), why they went from a very good Network - Awin - to buy.at and affilinet, why they’ve tried to gag affiliates from mentioning Next.co.uk in a negative way. Now they actually put in writing what they really think about us affiliates.
It is Next’s wish not to partner affiliates who pollute natural search space with negative comments about the brand.
Pollute? Pollute? How to make friends and engage in friendly banter the i-Level (or was it written by Next) way! Really? What can I say except for what a pile of tripe.
I would also like to point out Shane’sblog and the fact that Next.co.uk have been competitor brand bidding. I suppose all’s fair in love and retail! Also, what about the affiliate that is Brand Name Bidding at night? Do they care? Are they monitoring the situation? I doubt it, they’re too busy trawling the internet looking for blogs and forums for people who are ‘poluting’ the space with their honest thoughts and opinions.
I said it before and I’ll say it again, I wouldn’t promote Next.co.uk with a ten foot affiliate poking stick even if they upped their commissions to 10% and it all came gift wrapped. As Duncan says ‘Any pollution relates to the actions, not the comments.’
So, affiliates how to do you feel now - not only are you grubby, you’re also a pollutant!
Its very sad that iLevel have to stoop so low with a title that says “The Facts” yet they have lied in the post itself!
Sums up the agency for me - just as big a disgrace to this industry as Next!
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It’s sad that is has come to this. I make a fair bit from Next and I love their clothes. Why cant we all just get on? If it is not right for you, promote something else. The EPC is great for me.
be happy. Life is short.
Hi Lisa,
I don’t promote Nextat all any more as my standards are much higher than working with a merchant who thinks I’m a pollutant and that my traffic is only worth 1 - 2%. There are far better merchants with a higher commission rate who treat their partners with far more respect.
If you’re happy with the disrespect and lousy commissions then good for you. Keep being happy.
Jules
Hi Jules,
I dont think you get my point. I think they are unhappy with affiliates also. Why can’t we see thier decisions as business. The Budget today was far worse of a beating. At least there is a Next programme that has a good EPC.
As far as being a pollutant I dont know the background. But there are some affils who want to attack the brand name and search space. If they talk like this in forums, they just give us a bad name. I mean could you imagine a company saying ‘I am not happy with your commission or your rules of business so I am going to bring you down’? it doesnt work like that. If you dont like it, dont promote it. Why all the backlash?
the commission is 2% and i make a good wage on it so it works for me.
If all this continues, Next may get fed up with us all and then me and my kids will suffer as I expect their payments. Leave it to the guys that want to make it work and forget about it.
They dont disrespect, they are just a business. At least they dont treat us like Dixons did!
L
Lisa, I don’t think you get my point. You say you don’t know the history well maybe you should read this http://www.affiliates4u.com/forums/affiliate-marketing-lounge/75050-next-affiliate-program-facts.html
Nobody has said we’re trying to bring them down. I also have kids but I don’t rely on one program to feed them. They most certainly do dis-respect affiliates or this wouldn’t be happening now.
Jules
Sorry, but if Lisa is a genuine Next affiliate I’d be amazed. Reads more like an attempt at damage limitation by someone pretending to be a happy affiliate. To make a living promoting Next would mean driving millions of pounds worth of business to Next. Is that what you do Lisa? If so tell us more.
Lisa, Aren’t you happy that others are pulling out and you can promote next all on your own and make a killing until they decide you are polluting their bank balance and kick you out without paying your commission?
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