eToys throws UK out of affiliate pram

Gives sites a week's notice

By Linda Harrison in New York • Get more from this author

Posted in Business, 22nd December 2000 21:50 GMT

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eToys UK is planning to can its affiliate program at the end of this month.

Links to affiliate sites will remain live for a short period in the New Year, but eToys won't pay any more commission. The e-tailer informed its affiliates of the move in an email today - leaving them with around a week's notice, and over the Christmas period.

The online toy merchant asked the companies concerned to remove any UK eToys affiliate links from sites as soon as possible after December 31.

But wait, maybe there is a spot of seasonal goodwill here - the company said it would waive the normal minimum order requirement for commission payment. "Any affiliate with at least one commissionable order will receive normal payment within approximately 30
days from the end of the programme," states the email. So that's all right then - there will be turkey on the table after all.

Last week eToys in the US warned that orders for the current quarter were less than expected, forcing it to halve Q3 sales forecasts. It now expects net sales of between $120 million and $130 million, down from the $210 million to $240 million it had expected. This compares to $106 million for the Christmas quarter 1999.

Losses are also expected to rise at the Los Angeles-based e-tailer to between $66 million and $85 million. ®