Yandex Market has suspended its referral programme for sellers, which rewarded existing participants for bringing new merchants to the platform. The company says it will still pay those who met the requirements before the pause.
To qualify, an invited seller had to be new to the platform and deliver at least 15,000 roubles’ worth of goods. The referral reward was initially 10,000 roubles and was later raised to 15,000.
Yandex Market said payments for requirements completed from September 1 to 30 would be credited between October 20 and 25. Payments for the period from October 1 to 4 are due between November 20 and 25.
New sellers can no longer join the programme, and participants cannot invite additional merchants. The company has not explained the decision. RBC said it had sent Yandex a request for comment.
Companies, individual entrepreneurs, self-employed people and private individuals were eligible for the programme. Payment depended on the invited seller meeting the delivery threshold.