Tradedoubler and Curry’s… an unhappy story for affiliates.
Check out this shocking information, hot off the press, from Tradedoubler, a UK affiliate network…
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The Currys program will therefore end on the TradeDoubler network on 30th May 2007.
Until this date TradeDoubler has been instructed by DSG to change the commission structure on the Currys programs to:
1% on General Sales and
1% on Reserve and Collect Sales
These changes in commission are effective immediately.
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Currys has been a merchant under the Tradedoubler program for SIX YEARS.
Now we learn that Dixon’s Stores Group (who own Dixons, Currys and, I think, PCworld) decided to “put their affiliate business out to tender” (according to Tradedoubler) and, “effective immediately” the commissions drop to 1% (wow, a STONKING 1%!) to be followed by the end of the Curry’s program (at Tradedoubler) on 30th May 2007.
Wow. An immediate slashing of commissions and four weeks notice that the program will end!
I had seriously considered a business driving PPC traffic to Curry’s products. I think, depending on volume, the affiliate commission was up to 4%.
I’m so glad I didn’t waste my time and effort writing effective PPC ads, designing and building quality landing pages and earning commissions that, despite a 6-year track record, went up in smoke “effective immediately”!
Edit: I just checked the Tradedoubler merchant area and they’re still listing the old info. Depending on volume, you could’ve been earning 3.5% commission… so affiliates earning that would see their commissions shrink by 2/3rds immediately and the program closing in 4 weeks. 
Tradedoubler say they’re aim is to “re-pitch for the business and we will do all we can to ensure we win the business back”.
Ha. Good luck with that, guys. And if you do win the account back, good luck getting any affiliates to sign up again.
May 4th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Currys has now moved over to the Affiliate Window platform. This should in no way affect our affiliates who in the majority are already set up on the AF platform. As part of our ongoing efforts to reward our loyal affiliates we are offering an initial 4.5% commission for our top performers with all affiliates able to earn 3% for the first two weeks.
May 5th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Very interesting, seems like competition is hotting up… I would like to have a chat with you regarding the UK market - is there any chance you could contact me?
Mr MW
May 8th, 2007 at 10:58 am
Immediate effect… what about all the cookie sales that I will not be paid for?
May 15th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
This is the affiliate programme that charges you just to see if your site is worthy before you join them and if it isn’t worthy to them they keep the £5.00…. In reality this means that if you wish to be or remain an affiliate of Curry’s, Pcworld and Dixons you have to take a gamble.
Yep The Market Is Definetely Hotting Up ….