11 May 2026
Three rebate hygiene checks before you lock partner tiers
Channel programs often publish partner tiers while claim files still hide double counts. Before you celebrate a new ladder, run three hygiene checks that take an afternoon—and save a season of disputes.
Confirm the claim window matches the sell-out window
Partners dispute baselines when finance closes claims on one calendar and sales pulls sell-out on another. Print both windows side by side. If they differ by even a week around a promotion, note it in the scorecard caption so managers stop treating the gap as partner failure.
Separate growth rebates from volume rebates
Growth rebates layered on volume can pay twice for the same carton. Tag each claim line with its scheme. When a partner’s “growth” sits entirely inside a volume-qualified invoice set, flag it before the payment run.
Keep grey-export suspicion out of the scorecard math
If you suspect diversion, handle it as a compliance track—not as a silent weight inside the performance score. Mixing the two makes honest rural partners look weak and clever exporters look strong.
Bring these checks into your next partner performance review intake; we treat them as table stakes, not optional polish.