Today I received the following email from Tradedoubler re the Tesco programme:
Tesco.com decided to make a change in their policy with regards to affiliates. Tesco.com no longer allows for its voucher codes to be communicated by its affiliates, be it on a website, newsletter or otherwise.
So, they are clamping down on the use of voucher codes to be used through the channels that they want.
Shame they don’t treat their suppliers with the same courtesy.
Did you know that if you take any NCH coupon (the sort you usually find on the side of tins of beans or in local newspapers) that Tesco will accept these regardless of whether you bought the product or not?
Tesco gets paid for these, by the supplier, via the NCH so it really doesn’t give a damn. The only exception are the vouchers it funds itself on the Clubcard mailings, where it takes the care to program the EPOS tills to only accept them if you have bought the right items.
I'm Stephen Pratley, a marketing consultant, agency owner and part-time affiliate marketer.This blog is about my activities and opinions in the online marketing world
Hey Stephen, nice post. Didn’t know about the NCH thing. There is a huge part of me that thinks that merchants need to sit down and work out all of this stuff to do with voucher codes, use of brand etc long before they start getting into the affiliate channel. Changing terms half way through a campaign is unfair on affiliates - who build a campaign to make the most money they can - ever changing goal posts make life untenable for both parties. This leads to a worsening of relationship and disinterest in the program and a reduction in campaign effectiveness for the merchant.