Amazon Clicks

1. 64

   Mutiny92posted 12 years ago

   I know about the rules of not clicking on your own google adsense ads, but what about your amazon ads?  Can your spouse click through them to buy items on Amazon and then you earn a commission?
   
   It doesn't seem right, but I thought I would ask nonetheless.

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      ankigarg87posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think there is also a same condition in amazon.As US peoples gets money from clicks as in pay per click program in amazon

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      1. 92

         Susana Sposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Uh....nope. You can click freely on your own amazon ads as you only get paid if you make a sale.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            You can click freely, so long as you don't buy anything.

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               Susana Sposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Yep click not buy Ankigarg said that amazon was a PPC program - just letting people know that is not the case

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      christoss1959posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I dont think there is a pay per click in Amazon associates account so you shouldnt have a problem..

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2. 72

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   I don't have a spouse. So, I do not know.

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   1. 64

      Mutiny92posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      or yourself :-)

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3. 95

   wildernessposted 12 years ago

   No.  As I understand it (and take it with a grain of salt) any purchases from friends, family, etc.  will not count toward commission.  Certainly clicks from your IP address will not.  There is no prohibition I know of (a big grain of salt here) but you can click and buy, it just won't do any good.
   
   Given that, I have chosen not to click at all.  It's not worth the risk of getting in trouble.

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4. 68

   lrohnerposted 12 years ago

   From Amazon's TOS:
   
   "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."
   
   I read it to say that you can't buy stuff, but it doesn't address your wife, friends or relatives.
   
   And Amazon doesn't ding you like AdSense does. They just won't count your own purchases towards your commission.

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   1. 64

      Mutiny92posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      thanks! Better to be safe than sorry - just curious as I had not heard anyone talk about it.

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      darksideposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I would have thought that the "you, your friends, your relatives" pretty much addresses your wife, friends and relatives.

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         Mutiny92posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         holy cow - how did I miss that in Irohner's post?  you are right that it certainly seems to cover it!

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            sunforgedposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            im with lrohner - it says "YOU" cannot buy even for "listofpeople"
            
            it doesnt say "listofpeople" may not buy.
            
            But your spouse using the same ip and mailing to the same address will be seen as being "you"
            
            so, I dont think you missed anything.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I thought that too, but it's not true.  You, your spouse, your family and your friends are not allowed to buy through your links, and you can lose your account if they do.
      
      It seems nonsensical to me.  I can understand Pay Per Click programs penalizing such behaviour, because they don't get a sale:  but with Amazon they ARE making a sale, which they mightn't otherwise make.  For instance your spouse is more likely to buy on Amazon rather than elsewhere, if she knows you're going to get a benefit.

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         Remixposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I understand their thinking - the point of the affiliate program is to bring in new customers to Amazon, simply giving yourself a discount on something you would have bought there anyways doesn't help them.
         
         Anyway if you do it they don't get too upset, they see the matching IP and just remove the commission.  It happened to me before and it has also been mentioned in the Amazon forum.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Ah, but who's to say I would've bought it there anyway? I'm just as likely to shop around and buy it somewhere else.  If I know I can get a discount at Amazon, I'm more likely to go straight to them.
            
            And like I said, Amway etc profit by attracting your family and friends as new customers - why shouldn't Amazon?

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5. 0

   Amie Warrenposted 12 years ago

   Just don't do it from the same IP address. That's where they get you.

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6. 81

   lex123posted 12 years ago

   It is good to know this information.

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7. 73

   sunforgedposted 12 years ago

   You know I only read that TOS as meaning one cannot purchase something through their own aff link (even if the buyer claims its actually for someone else such as family,friend, client etc)and expect a commission.
   
   I dont see it as a blanket attempt to discourage you from pushing personal acquaintances from making sales at amazon via your links to their own accounts and addresses.
   
   "You may not purchase products during sessions initiated through your own Associates links and will not receive referral fees for such orders..."
   
   you, being the key word.
   
   Thats how I read it, and I dont see how it could be read any other way. It doesnt say {relatives/friends/associates/} may not ...

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