The Amazon (Lack of) Help Desk
The Amazon (Lack of) Help Desk
Don't you just love the images that are available when you search for "Amazon"?
They almost make up for the reality of dealing with the actual Amazon Help Desk.
Look, they have my total sympathy.
Help desks are often the last thing to be put in place to support a software deployment.
And they are typically staffed by interns.
Armed with a handful of standard responses, but no real knowledge of the software they've been charged with supporting.
The Latest Amazon Update
I covered this in https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/phil1944/blog/has-amazon-really-done-this
And that's OK. Amazon is culling its affiliates by getting rid of the "easy" access to images via SiteStripe and forcing affiliates to use the (much) more complex calls to PA-API.
I'm happy to create training on how to do that for other WA members.
And in fact have started to create the video training to do exactly that.
Using the PA-API Calls
But when I tried to document using the PA-API calls so that I could illustrate them in the video training, I ran into an issue.
My calls were exactly as shown in the documentation but returned what appeared to be a totally irrelevant error.
A Google search showed that many others had the same issue. You'd think that would tell the something, wouldn't you?
Amazon's Response
In response, Amazon's "help" desk told me to wait 72 hours and all would be well.
I expressed doubt, but what else could I do?
And, of course, after the 72 hours, the problem persisted.
Still No Resolution
In my Google search, one person suggested that the issue was that you had a zero search capacity unless you'd made at least one sale in the last 30 days. I hope that's not true, as it would be a classic Catch-22 situation.
At tis stage, I've asked the Amazon support desk to escalate my query to someone who might actually know what they're talking about.
A little more politely than that, of course.
I'll keep you posted.
Recent Comments
106
Thanks for your detective work, Phil.
Unearthing the real Amazon. I thought the way they treat employees was bad enough. Come and behold, they are showing their true colors with us Amazon Associates as well.
I've made more with AdSense and that is peanuts. Speaking of peanuts, what is the elephant in the room with Amazon these days?
There is a lot more beans to spill.
Rachele
Thank you for your blog post and for carrying out your research, Phil.
I'm thankful that I don't use Amazon as an affiliate. I'm also trying to use it less and less as I would sooner support smaller companies. It will be interesting to hear your final results, Phil.
Have a great weekend.
Roy
That's very true, Phil, sadly!
I have spoken to people who sell physical items on Amazon and apparently, they get looked after terribly. So it appears that the affiliates are starting to get the same sort of treatment.
From a customer service point of view, Amazon are excellent to their customers, at the moment. But as I mentioned in a previous post, I'm trying not to use Amazon because they should treat their affiliates and sellers much better.
I hope your Sunday is going well.
Roy
It could be a wake-up call for them, Phil! Let's see what happens.
I hope your day is going well.
Roy
Phil , this is what lasso told me two days ago. I made a post about it. With the screen shots. Email from Lasso
I hope it's true, Shakida. I guess it depends on whose credentials they use to access PA-API.
I've now been in contact with Lasso and found them very helpful. I'll probably install it on one of my websites.
Just need to totally revamp the website first. After I finish rationalizing all my email lists and automations
Who knows, 🤷🏾♀️. No telling what this horse will do next. I mean Alpaca. 🤣🤣🤣 no known native species of horses in South America
You maybe right Phil. Amazon is already well on it's way I must say even without Bezos. ;)
Myra 💜
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In the UK, you must have a high-traffic website or social media account with large followers. They mostly ask for YouTube. I had to cheat on that one, and I asked my girlfriend's help (she is an ex now) as she had over 30,000 followers on YouTube, but she can't monetise it because she is editing TV programmes and films with famous music and songs. But it helped me offer a YouTube channel which now has 50,000 followers. It keeps me afloat until I can generate enough traffic through my Amazon Affiliate website.
After that, you must have at least three sales for the last 90 days to keep it going. That I have covered.
The picture thing is a no-brainer to me. I have commented on your other post about it. I took a screenshot of one of my posts' image sections. It's an HTML code, just like the one I showed you, only a bit more complex as it pulls the images from Amazon in a WooCommerce gallery mode. I am happy to share the code with you if you want it, but I can't do it through comments, as WA blocks certain tags.
Thank you for that offer. WA frowns on sharing email addresses but if you don't mind going to my profile and clicking on one of the websites listed there, you should be able to send it to me via the Contact page.
That would be great!
Yup, I'll do that then.
Thanks, most appreciated.
I signed up for one, getting me an ebook lol Anyway you should have my email address. Send a word to that one and I reply. I'll attach a text file with the HTML in it.
Thanks, Andy. The Scam Warrior is a much neglected site and I don't even remember what the free books are. You may have "guilted" me into going back and refreshing it!
Anyway, I'll respond to your email.
Cheers
Phil
I've read one of them. It's simple but good material. I like simplicity.
Thanks. I'll have to go back, refresh my memory and see if they need an update.