Buying in Amazon

1. 63

   Anathposted 13 years ago

   Can I buy Amazon products from my own hubs using my gift certificates?  Would I be penalized for doing that or it is perfectly fine to do so?

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      Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Read the TOS. I'm pretty sure it's not allowed. From what I've read even if you do buy through your own link you won't get any commission.
      
      Maybe you could buy through one of your fav hubbers and let them have the commission?

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         Anathposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Susana.  I hate reading TOS, It is always easier asking another hubber.
         
         Probably won't risk it then and do as you suggest.

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2. 95

   Susana Sposted 13 years ago

   Yeah I know reading the TOS is boring as hell!

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3. 74

   SteveoMcposted 13 years ago

   You must not click your own ads.  And furthermore you should not click on other hubbers ads.   Clicking on others ads is questionable because all hubs come from the same site.  If this happens too often, it can look like click fraud. 
   
   Check out Google Adsense: What can I do to ensure that my account won't be disabled?
   https://www.google.com/adsense/support/ … swer=23921
   
   TOS is important to understand when these questions arise.  Reading the whole thing is not necessary, although I have done so.  The TOS of Adsense is specific about clicking on ads or encouraging third party clicking:
   
   Prohibited Uses. You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (i) directly or indirectly generate queries, Referral Events, or impressions of or clicks on any Ad, Link, Search Result, or Referral Button  (including without limitation by clicking on “play” for any video Ad) through any automated, deceptive, fraudulent or other invalid means, including but not limited to through repeated manual clicks.
   
   https://www.google.com/adsense/localized-terms

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      Website Examinerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Good advice, although the OP is asking about a different affiliate program, Amazon.

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4. 61

   CYBERSUPEposted 13 years ago

   I agree with SteveMc and Website Examiner.

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5. 74

   SteveoMcposted 13 years ago

   Just when I think I might half way have it, along comes Website Examiner and points out my fatal flaw.   I owe my gratitude to Website Examiner:  Thank You!   
   
   I must be more careful in the future.

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6. 67

   TinaAtHomeposted 13 years ago

   You should indeed buy things at Amazon by clicking your own ads. You may not get the commission, but it counts toward your volume and the more volume you do the more your percentage commission goes up.

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      psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Incorrect, it is explicitly against their terms of service and can get your account suspended.

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7. 68

   waynetposted 13 years ago

   I always click on someones Amazon links I know if I'm going to buy something and if that is another hubber then that's what I do and my split personality does the same too!!

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      Anathposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      love your split personalities waynet

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8. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 13 years ago

   I tried finding this in the operating agreement but my eyes glazed over too many times!
   
   However I did find a post in the Associates discussion group.
   
   Yes, it's OK to click on your own Amazon ads.  You won't get any commission though. 
   
   As others have said, for Pete's sake don't click on your own Adsense or eBay ads though!

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      Rochelle Frankposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I didn't know that... You are sure? ... I mean about buying from your own ads.

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         Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, just found another two threads that confirm it.

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            psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            A year ago I emailed Amazon support when I accidentally used my own affiliate link and they said they would let it pass this one time, but not to do it in the future.  That was from the horse's mouth.

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      Anathposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Marissa, got that.

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9. 95

   Susana Sposted 13 years ago

   Thanks for researching this Marisa and finding out the info I just had a read through the TOS and didn't find anything that said you can't buy through your own links (although I'm pretty sure it used to say something to that effect). It's good to know we can!

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   1. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Susana, I couldn't find anything in the TOS one way or the other, but my eyes glazed over so often out of sheer boredom, I thought I might be missing something!  That's why I resorted to the discussion boards.

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      1. 95

         Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         
         
         Yes I understand - it is rather lengthy! I half read, half skimmed it. If it used to say you can't purchase through your own links its not there now.
         
         Something completely off topic here: Do Aussies buy from amazon.com or is there an amazon type site in Aus that they use more?

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            Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I don't think many Australians buy from Amazon.com, the postage is a killer!  My husband buys books and DVD's from the States occasionally but only on eBay.
            
            There is no Australian or Asian equivalent.
            
            As a Brit, one thing that struck me when I came to Australia was that Australians don't like buying things by mail order, and I'm wondering if that resistance extends to the internet.  The kind of mail order catalogues you see in the UK are non-existent here, for instance.  Which is odd, when you consider how many Aussies live a long way from shops!

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               Susana Sposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               That's very useful info - thanks I was wondering about targeting Australian buyers, but I shan't bother! It is kind of strange that they don't tend to buy online - they must like driving, lol.

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            2. 63

               darksideposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I LOVE buying stuff off of Amazon.
               
               There are new sci fi novels that sell for $28 in bookstores here in Australia and on Amazon they've been $6.99. Even allowing for postage and currency conversion that's around 20 or 21 dollars.
               
               With each additional book the price for postage is reduced again.
               
               Season 5 of Stargate Atlantis was available far ahead of its release in Australia and cost me about $25 I think, and that included postage. In Australia when it came out it was $90.
               
               Not that long ago I was comparing prices between stores in Australia (JB Hi Fi, Borders and Sanity) for various television show seasons and the only thing I could get cheaper in Australia was each season of Friends (my daughter is hooked on it after seeing reruns on Foxtel) and they were $20 a season at Sanity (and around $30 to $35 at JB and other places).
               
               I bought both seasons of Eli Stone for $11.99 each (well they were at the time, seems that they've gone up since then).
               
               Living rurally it was an extra bonus because it's 100+ kms for me to get to a decent bookshop anyways.
               
               I have looked up some online Australian book sellers but I did price comparisons and they were a lot more expensive than the actual bookstores.
               
               So Amazon gets a big thumbs up from me. So much so I just bought a Kindle. Which cost a total of AU$250 delivered (And delivered to my front door within 6 days). Today I was actually in at a Westfield and went into JB Hi Fi and I saw an ebook reader there (Pico) for almost $400. It looked very similar but it had a mobile phone type of keyboard whereas the Kindle has a QWERTY keyboard.
               
               I better stop gushing about Amazon now before I make a mess in my pants.

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10. 70

    lrohnerposted 13 years ago

    This directly from the Amazon Affiliates site:
    
    You may not purchase products during sessions initiated through your own Associates links and will not receive referral fees for such orders. This includes orders for customers, orders on behalf of customers, and orders for products to be used by you, your friends, your relatives, or your associates in any manner.

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       darksideposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I've never bought an item through my own affiliate links and I've been an associate now for... I think at least ten years. I have a username with a -20 on the end.
       
       It's probably a bit silly of them to have that stance, I mean really, how badly would it effect them? If anything it would only entice people to buy more stuff through Amazon. But rules are rules.
       
       But what you've posted here is interesting, it's saying we can't send friends, family and work colleagues to recommended items to buy stuff? While I accept the ban on myself, that's just plain ridiculous.
       
       And customers?
       
       That can mean EVERYONE. Your hubpages and website visitors could be considered customers right?

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          lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          I couldn't agree more.
          
          That said, I couldn't find this in their Operating Agreements or TOS or whatever they call them. But if you go to the generic help screen and look to the right under "Top Questions," you'll see this listed as the last question. I was totally surprised to see it. I don't even understand why they don't want us to buy, never mind our friends and family. They make money regardless. If we return it, we lose our commission on the sale. I just don't get it.

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             darksideposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             It's like an employee getting a store discount.
             
             Unless that is the problem, that if by allowing that it legally defines a person as an employee and therefore they have to afford other rights.
             
             But still, the fact that they lump friends, family and just about everyone else means who can we sell to?

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                lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                Well, I don't think they excluded my dog.

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    Marisa Wrightposted 13 years ago

    This is interesting.
    
    The thing is, if it's not in the Operating Agreement or TOS anywhere, does a note on their "Top Questions" page have any legal bearing?

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       lrohnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Good question. But not so sure I want to test the waters to find out the answer.

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12. 95

    Susana Sposted 13 years ago

    Well that's interesting - I knew I'd read it somewhere. So we can't sell to customers......hmmmm ..... that's one of the dumbest things I've ever seen
    
    Previously when I've had stuff to buy from amazon.co.uk, I've gone to other hubbers websites and bought through their links, but I would mix it up and not always go to the same site.
    
    Looks like it's against the rules, but I can't see how they could know? My thinking is someone should get the commission. Not that I'm endorsing breaking the rules! It's just my personal approach

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