 | Cookie Monsters |
It’s been an interesting week in the affiliate marketing world following the discovery by an affiliate that a merchant was adding a surcharge on to the cost of goods if the customer had arrived via an affiliate link. When the affiliate/customer enquired about the surcharge they were advised to delete cookies and the surcharge would vanish.
Surely this couldn’t be the case? But yes it was! A test purchase without a cookie gives no surcharge, but go via an affiliate link up crops a 2.5% (the same amount of affiliate commission) extra charge!
The good news is that the affiliate network acted swiftly and have given the merchant their marching orders. However, what is concerning for affiliates is how long has this been going on and do other merchants undertake such practice.
The issue above has overshadowed another affiliate event of the week and that’s the unsurprising announcement that ASOS.com is closing their affiliate program on Tradedoubler. The program has already ended on Paid on Results. ASOS.com and affiliate marketing seemed to be a match made in heaven, but for the last 12 months or so cracks have appeared in the relationship and inevitably there has to be a parting of the ways. It will be interesting to see how they fair without affiliates and also who will fill the void for affiliates within the celebrity style fashion sector.
Finally thanks to Graham and Buyagift for the England Car Pack prize. I’m not sure how long I will survive driving round the roads of Wales with England flags and logos all over the car. Especially as some police officer Clive Wolfendale considers that “incessant flag-waving in Wales during the World Cup could lead to racism and violence” (The BBC)!
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