Comments on: Have I broke John Lewis’ affiliate terms and conditions?

By: Networks Hindering UK Affiliate Growth

Networks Hindering UK Affiliate Growth — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:50:40 +0000

[...] educating all merchants on many aspects of the affiliate process. I’m aware that Kieron has similar opinions on this [...]

By: David Furlow

David Furlow — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 23:23:31 +0000

That is possibly the most ridiculous set of affiliate terms I have ever seen. Infact, there must be a prize of some sort to give John Lewis (oops) for the effort they have put in to this.

What is the point of promoting such a program? Absolutely no point – if I was active in the retail sector id read the first line of that and move onto promoting their competitors.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:29:29 +0000

I am guessing that everyone who received that email has done one of two things….
- not promorted the programme therefore sticking to the rules
- promoted the programme and broken all the rules

No longer do I read these things with a startled expression on my face.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:34:00 +0000

“what are the networks doing about this? Surely they understand the affiliate side of this and should be explaining this to merchants?”

It seems that some are very lazy and will simply copy and paste the terms sent to them on to the programmes t&c page.

By: Steve Dyke aka Vialli

Steve Dyke aka Vialli — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:11:07 +0000

Absolutely ludicrous John Lewis x 4!

It some times make you wonder a few things;

a)Do they know anything at about the affiliate marekting space, I exepct not a lot!

and

b) Do they simply offer an affiliate program, just to keep up with the neighbours. Joe Bloggs Retail has a programme, we’d best have one too.

Come on merhcants, you pay huge salaries to the people at the top of your structure, why not get some of them to think a little once in a while, you will be amazed at the results!

By: KirstyM

KirstyM — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:10:33 +0000

I’ve seen those T’s & C’s on the John Lewis programme. Between that and some issues I had with their lack of ability to deep link about a year ago, I wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole.

By: mark

mark — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:37:56 +0000

I’ve seen this on lots of programs and contractually, we’re all up the creek. The question of course is whether they enforce it. Part of me actually wishes they did so that merchants who do this see the full backlash the affiliate world throws at them. I don’t however wish this on anyone.

This is yet another example which is fast becoming my major rant .. what are the networks doing about this? Surely they understand the affiliate side of this and should be explaining this to merchants?

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 09:27:12 +0000

Hi Kieron, This reminds of the time the ‘well know company who sells & delivers flowers’ tried the same thing! What happened to their program at the time? Bit the dust! IMHO merchants who do these daft things are just asking to be laughed at by the affiliate community. We have to ask why isn’t their network advising them about the potential suicide to their program?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 07:30:04 +0000

You can add me to the list of rule-breakers! I find rules like this ridiculous as it ends up completely restricting affiliates in what they write to the extent that your post / page could never be found on a search engine so unless you were using PPC what’s the point?!

By: PPC Coach

PPC Coach — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:59:16 +0000

According to their terms, you are breaking it. But thank god you can expose these silly programs in a public forum where some good may come out of it. (ie educating merchants as to what is silly and what is acceptable from an affiliates point of view).