Pixmania and Affiliate Window get discount codes completely and utterly wrong
Now I like Affiliate Window as I’ve mentioned many times on this blog. But the latest action of one of their merchants, Pixmania - and Affiliate Window’s subsequent response to the whole fiasco has really annoyed me.
The whole sordid sorry story stated when Pixmania sent our this absolutely ludicrous email to their affiliates a couple of weeks ago:
Pixmania are offering fantastic new codes on appliances and they have extended the expiry date for one TV code! Pixmania are also offering exciting generic codes for all affiliates, except vouchercode sites, and they have a list of their top products for you to promote!
So, to clarify: Pixmania are offering discount codes for affiliates to use. BUT not on discount code sites?!?!
I’m sorry but this is the most absurd, ridiculous, backward-thinking nonsense I’ve heard in ages. Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.
The “reasoning” - and I use that term very loosely. Is due to “complaints from content affiliates who feel cookie overwriting as a result of these pure voucher code directories is on the rise.”
Well dear me, some so called “content affiliates” - and I count myself as one btw - are moaning on that discount code sites are to blame for losing sales. Again, what nonsense.
The “blame” if we must call it that - lies fair and square with the merchant for releasing discount codes in the first place. Why can’t Pixmania, Affiliate Window and the moaning content affiliates see that? If merchants didn’t release discount codes then we wouldn’t have this problem. But no no, it’s easier to blame discount code sites for having the audacity to - would you believe - actually display official discount codes, released to affiliates by merchants. I mean how dare they? What a cheek, that’s worse than sypware isn’t it???
Seriously guys, stop griping about a bit of competition. If you’re sick of losing sales to discount code sites then either launch one yourself, display discount codes on your site (hey that’s an idea isn’t it, then your users wouldn’t have to look elsewhere) or lobby merchants to stop issuing discount codes altogether.
But do not - and I mean you Affiliate Window and Pixmania - launch some half arsed, cobbled together policy of such total and utter ludicrousness that it beggars belief. If you’re going to issue a discount code to affiliates then play the game fair and release it to all affiliates and not just the the ones who don’t operate a discount code site. Honestly, I’m writing this and yet I can’t believe I’m having to. Words (almost) fail me.
And Adam Ross, Client Services Director of Affiliate Window - I’m really, really, really disappointed at your statement on the A4U forum where you state:
“Merchants’ concerns focus around sites built with the sole purpose of delivering voucher codes to users. The recent increase in merchants placing additional restrictions is down to serious question marks over the value of these sites“
I tell you what, if you have “serious question marks” over the value of my discount code site then why don’t I remove all of your merchants? Then we won’t have this problem. May I suggest that all other discount code sites also do the same too. Let’s see how quick you change your mind when the likes of MyVoucherCodes.com, DiscountCodes.co.uk, VoucherCodes.com etc. drop all of your merchants.
Or lets look at it from another angle shall we? As a discount code site I don’t like the fact that my visitors can visit my site, find a discount code then nick off to a cashback site to use it. So I could argue that they are stealing my customers, so let’s do something about that shall we? No? Thought not.
Like I said above, discount codes were created by merchants so do not try to lay blame on enterprising, entrepreneurial affiliates who have put a lot of time and energy into creating valuable, user-friendly, content rich discount code sites that are of real use to users.
Pixmania/Affiliate Window, this really is a backward step in the world of affiliate marketing.
Reference: Frostie’s original blog post on the subject.
The A4U forum thread that features Affiliate Window’s response.
What I’m listening to right now: Joe – “Why Just Be Friends”
Post from: Affiliate Marketing Blog Here.org.uk
Pixmania and Affiliate Window get discount codes completely and utterly wrong
Original post by Kieron