XM Satellite Radio and Ocenture have parted ways and terminated the XMiREP program effective September 12, 2007, according to an email sent out to XMiREP participants this morning.
The move isn't much of shocker as the iREP program had the basis of a good idea, but lacked in execution. Conceptually, affiliate programs are always a winner - they provide a "natural" viral initiative and empower the masses to sell your products. iREP takes it a step further by allowing you to make money off of those who you've referred to the program, and in turn making money off of those that they refer.
But it's a whole lot of work for a whole lot of nothing. Using the iREP commission calculator, if I sell 1 radio per month, have 5 Level 1 affiliates and 10 Level 2 affiliates, I would make a whoppin' $85 a month.
In addition, a large part of the problem was that the prices offered through the XMiREP program were higher than what most resellers were offering. Much higher. So those who would be using iREP (i.e., savvy online users) are generally also keenly aware of the price differences. In other words, iREP is asking you to knowingly shaft your friends and family. Never a recipe for success.
So alas, come September 12th, all XMiREPs will cease functioning. Oh well.
Thanks Nathan!
Read the iREP letter after the jump...
After thorough evaluation, XM and Ocenture have decided to discontinue the XMiREP program, effective September 12, 2007. As such, we are asking all of you to immediately cease all XM-related marketing activity and close your individual iREP sites by September 12, 2007.Additional communications will follow that will provide more guidance as termination of the program transitions. XM and Ocenture would like to thank each of you for your support over the past year! If you have any questions, please email us at info@xmirep.com.
Best Regards,
XM & Ocenture
Good, no more annoying iREP commercials.
Agreed. They were pretty awful.
Paraphrasing: Stuck at work and it's not 5 o'clock yet? Screw your employer by using your company's time, resources and bandwidth to sell someone ELSE'S product instead of actually working!
C. Lee, I thought of that very same thing every time I heard those commercials. I would be pretty pissed if I was an employer and I heard that spot. I'm amazed it ever got approved for air.