Who is My Mystery Shopper?
One of you wonderful WA friends bought a ton of items on my second website 3 days ago. Was it you? I need to order some things on Amazon and would like to return the favor. Please fess up here or PM me! I need to place the order soon!
I also had sales the same day on my first website but I don't know if those were organic searchers. If that was one of you please let me know!
I also owe several of you comments...I haven't forgotten!
Thank you!!!
Jessica
P.S. Many members have mentioned that we need to be very careful. If Amazon sees a pattern of the same person making purchases on our site they can deny the commission since they will claim this is someone who knows us.
Recent Comments
19
It wasn't me but I'm curious how you would even know that it was a WA member, especially since you have no idea who it was. Buying from another member I thought was fine with Amazon but maybe not after reading below.
In any event a sale is a sal. Congrats Jessica and hope those sales keep coming!
Erica
Hi Erica. I know because they ordered 17 items (none of which have any relation to my site) and this is not my primary site. This is my newer site that has had a grand total of 1 organic searcher...ever. Most all my traffic there is from WA members so far and a few from Quora.
People are scared to death of Amazon's rules. I think some have been burned and some have heard lots of stories. There is the concern that Amazon will see multiple sales between the same people and determine there is some connection and we will not get the commissions. I guess we have to address that. I don't mean to mislead anyone here!
I have only had one issue myself and it was because that person (who happened to be a WA member was already in my Amazon address book since I had ordered something for her and had it shipped to her). I did not get the commission but that was it. No dire consequences. I don't have friends or family order anything from me...ever. I don't want to risk it if there is a legitimate connection. I am not worried about someone on WA (who I don't know, don't know their address, and never had any connection with them) ordering something though. If the same person ordered from me all the time that might raise the red flag but so far I don't think anything is on a scale for that to happen!
I understand people's concern since it isn't worth risking our whole business doing anything against the rules but I think this is fine since it is truly organic so to speak. I am not pre-arranging anything with anyone and I don't even know who made the order.
Thanks!
Jessica
I think this is a great idea, too. If you don't find the original buyer you can always use my link to Amazon, LOL. I've been trying to get my mother-in-law to go through my link because I know she buys a lot, but she hasn't done it yet. And I've gotten the notice from Amazon that if I don't get sales soon they will de-activate my affiliate account. :^(
People will say that Amazon won't give you credit if friends or family buy from Amazon using your link. For the life of me I can't understand why Amazon would object to this. A customer is a customer - right? What difference does it make if you know the person or not, or if they used your link or someone else's? It makes no sense to me whatsoever.
I is strange but very true that Amazon will not give you commissions from anyone they can see has a connection with you. I will PM you.
Amazon has a very good system that will eventually see if orders appear to be traded between website owners. Having it happen once could get through, but if it appears to be a pattern, they can suspend your account without warning.
I don't have a link to share with the exact rules, but it happened to a friend of mine.
Janelle
I believe Amazon has algorithms in place to keep friends from buying from friends. Though they may buy from you, you might not get credit for the sale. When you call them to question it, they'll tell you that it appears that you are trying to buy from a friend or relative.
They see if someone is in your Amazon address book (anyone you have ever had anything shipped to) or anyone at your address or any address you have had in the past etc. etc. It only happened to me on my very first sale since it was to a WA member thousands of miles away that I happened to have sent something to so she was in my Amazon address book. That is the only problem I have had out of hundreds of sales and many of those to WA members.
These are good points though. Thanks. I know we need to be very careful and not get in the habit of going to each other's sites on a regular basis to make purchases so it doesn't trigger something.
I have not seen anything I the rules against this. If there is, maybe someone can enlighten me.
I think it is a great idea.
It is very complicated. If Amazon knows you have any connection to someone (in any way) they will deny the commission on the sale.
This could be a useful strategy for wa members but it appears it's against the rules.perhaps a discussion to clarify is necessary.I have raised the issue several times but with little feedback
The rules might be the issue.
It is a grey area. It is complex. The only problem I have had with Amazon was my very first sale. It was to someone that was in my Amazon address book (I had sent something to them in the past). If a random WA member orders something from us it should be fine. If the same person orders from our site over and over Amazon could see the pattern and not grant us the commission.
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What a nice mystery, Jessica!
Yes, thanks Carol!