Amazon - the dirty Truth.
WHAT ARE THEY UP TO?
This week I have learned some things about Amazon's affiliate program that I feel are worthy of posting here. Have you had any qualifying 'sales' commission from them? Did you know that they 'have ways' of knowing if anyone who uses your links to them is someone you 'know'? And they WON'T TELL US HOW. [PM me for a .doc of the entire transcript]
"Proprietary information", both of the chat-reps said. The first time I didn't, but today I DID ask the first-line-staff for a supervisor. She told me they would not 'have the ability' to answer my question either......
I said, When you say "you don't have the ability to tell me" - does that mean because YOU CAN'T, or YOU DON'T KNOW?'
WHAT DID SHE SAY?
well - I could copy/paste the chat for you all to see; but that's three full pages of chat, and I don't want to take advantage of our WA servers bandwidth. If you want the transcript, please PM me.
Bottom line - Amazon will (and can, and DOES) disqualify any purchases that 'their system detects/determines' to be made by a person ordering through your site who is someone you 'know' - whether it's a friend, colleague, relative, associate, or anyone else who you 'know.'
I flat out asked her: Are you stalking our email, FB, G+ accounts, etc? Looking for links to those people?
I even gave this example - "Two years ago I ordered a dining set from you and had it shipped to her. So, because her mailing address is linked to my 'amazon' account, she would be ineligible? Is that what you're saying?"
Which is when she said "I don't have the ability to tell you that."
CONCLUSION
So, now you know what I know as of this date. She said she would pass the concern along to upper management. In any case, THIS IS NOT THE FAULT of the Affiliate Program chat-rep. We concluded on very amiable terms, and I invited her to email me anytime; in case anything comes up - and she said she'd been there 10 years, and understands. So - perhaps she's 'senior' enough herself to have some leverage. Or will be one day. Of that, I'm thankful.
But, that doesn't change the current facts for us - WA students..
Some weeks ago, I suggested in my blog here that we could all 'shop through each other's sites for the holidays.' I was all, "Yeah! Networking!! Why not!?!!". Some colleagues were agreeable - and some were frowny-facers.....discouraging it.
Mention of Amazon's disqualification-from-eligibility system came up. I looked into it. I'm sure others have done, too - either through the 'Lane of Hard Knocks', or, like me, just exploring the idea.
Now I know why the masters here take that stance.... And yeah - it's a secret recipe. I don't know HOW they do it, but I know they DO IT - and that, frankly, makes me want to look elsewhere for independent affiliate programs, and use of CJ, Linkshare, and ShareaSale (all of which I also participate in, but have been playing with conversion analytics to see which ones produce.)
Okay - so, I suppose this blog could get me into trouble, or even 'banned', but I wanted you all to know. If anyone is interested --- like I said, holler and I'll send you the link.
Wishing you ALL all the best of success :)
Vicki
Recent Comments
109
A strike. LOL!!! A boycott!!!
I even typed that idea - that I would tell all of my contacts to STOP shopping at amazon....but I deleted it before hitting 'send'. Biting the hand, you know. Except - no food from that hand so far!
Their 24-hour cookie made me by-pass them long ago. Thousands of affiliate programs and merchants with affiliate programs out there to choose from besides Amazon.
Yep!! Exactly. 24 hours???? Are you kidding me? Find your own customers!!!!!
I have some vendors that have 365 cookies - and WA here has LIFETIME credit for sales.
Yeah, and I know for myself I rarely make a purchase in the first 24 hours. Usually day 2 or 3 or maybe weeks later.....after I research all options, look for best price, etc. Heck, I stupidly waited years to join WA Premium.
So think of all the FREE traffic Amazon gets, that eventually turn into sales, that they NEVER have to pay a commission to an affiliate. A lot of people love how they get commission on ALL items in customers shopping cart, whether it was related to what affiliate promoted.
I think that is pretty cool, but only if they purchase within 24 hours or if they leave items in shopping cart, which I think extends the cookie, but I never leave items in my cart that I'm not ready to purchase right away and I bet not many do keep items in their cart.
"A lot of people love how they get commission on ALL items in customers shopping cart, whether it was related to what affiliate promoted."
Yeah, but they don't. They first determine if it's someone YOU KNOW. And then they don't pay on ANYthing that person buys through your site.
Well, I wasn't referring to that particular situation. Just that people rave about being able to make money on items that they did not promote.
I will say though that Adsense has that same crystal ball. I have read comments over the years that someone will get kicked out for click fraud, which there is no way to control IMO, and if the IP addresses are near you, they will claim that you are having your family and friends click your ads for you.
Well, how the heck do they know who you live around? Or if you even know them.
Do they think that other IP's around you don't use the internet as well? I don't see how any of these companies can determine that you KNOW or are related to another person.
Amazon is so unfair. A sale is a sale, why does it matter who does it came form? Disgusting.
I didn't know that, Thanks for posting this and will have to rethink selling for Amazon. There payouts are very low anyway.
I had given them the widget space, and removed my other program links from sidebars. And this is the treatment I get. Unreal.
As if their commissions weren't low enough, now they're looking for ways to dismiss them? Sorry, but I'm not a big amazon fan.
I don't understand why it matters whether its someone you know or not. Besides which, if they didn't buy through you, there's half a chance they might use a different company altogether! Interesting post. They better not ban you, you're too useful to thickos like me!
I said to her: "So, if there was a brick and mortar, physical Amazon store in my neighborhood and you found out I sent them, you would turn them away at the door?"
Her answer: Well, no, but we wouldn't pay you for telling your friends/relatives where to find us.
My response: That is lame. What difference does it make?
I am everytime a bit happier Amazon wasn't accessible by phone when I applied, I have a simulair affiliate program, and they told me in writing!, ofcourse you can order by your own affiliate link, and your roommates, mom dad children etc. no problem at all
Okay, I can post the edited bits here if you guys want - this is exactly the argument I gave both of them.
creepy, thanks for posting it. I would want to ask Amazon and anyone else who would discourage that sort of networking why? What would be wrong with getting people you know to use your links? what about celebrities and public figures who are also affiliates? does that mean that any of their fans disqualify them from commsions?
What's it to them, its all business right? Its people buying products, which is what they want, isn't it?
YEP! And, I DID ask her that! And my request was 'strongly worded'.... Let me know if you want me to send you the entire chat transcript.
Frankly it is against fair trade policies and could get Amazon in trouble in the European courts.
my friend is a out couture maybe I will sell his products on ma site instead of amazon , very good information, I have to think it over
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Firstly the way they only give a limit of 3 months for a beginner to get a sale, then the low commissions, now this. This was the only chance for some beginners to stay in the game, Come on Amazon give us a break!!
Now, though - it's SIX MONTHS. I asked her specifically about the 90-days thing. She said, no, it's 180 days. And then if you make a sale, they will 're-evaluate your site' for compliance and performance.
It's not like its putting them out any expense by having people who have not got sales yet, or is it?