Please Don't Promote The iPhone

So affilaites are only allowed to deliver incremental sales then? We're not allowed to ride the wave of hype to wonga-ville?

I got this email from Buy.at, and although I understand that CPW have limited stock and they don't want to be paying commissions on products they'd sell normally, but surely saying that we're not allowed ot promote the new iPhone in any manner including links from our sites and PPC is a bit daft.

And also reducing the commission rate for this product is totally ludicrous!! This can only come about because of the exclusive nature of the product! This is artificially keeping it's cost high and ensuring that the cost of acquiring each customer is as low as possible as the iPhone PR machine is letting everyone know you can't get it elsewhere.

I'm praying for a free and open market one day. Not impressed. Anyways, here's the email:

Dear Lee,

The much anticipated Apple iPhone 3G is due to go on sale on Friday 11th July.

Carphone Warehouse will be paying affiliates a fantastic £20 commission for all Apple iphone sales generated.

They will also pay commission for all Apple iphone orders from the 7th July that then convert to sales once the product goes on sale.

Commission is based on one important factor, affiliates are forbidden to promote this product under any means, including; links to the Carphone Warehouse Apple iphone page and pay per click. If any affiliate is found advertising the Apple iPhone, Carphone will not pay any commission on the sales generated. buy.at will be monitoring affiliate sites carefully to make sure there are no breaches. This is due to the very limited stock.

Please contact me on the details below if there is anything you are unsure of.

Kind Regards,

Sarah

But on a good note, I got this shortly after the buy.at email:

Thank you for ordering with Carphone Warehouse Online.

We are happy to tell you that we have processed your order. It will shortly be dispatched from our warehouse.

At least my iPhone is on its way :D

the bad news it's dispatched by CityLink - there'll be a good chance I'll spend the next week trying to get it delivered as they'll sniff at my front door and drop a card in.