November 26, 2011

Some Amazon shopping links.

May I recommend...
Visit Amazon's Home Kitchen and Lawn Gift Guide

Visit endless.com: Endless Holiday Gift Guide

Visit Amazon's Consumer Electronics Deals Page

Visit Amazon's Video Game Deals Page

Shop Amazon's Auto Deals - Countdown to Black Friday and Cyber Monday
By using any of these links and continuing on from there to buy whatever you want on Amazon, you'll be sending about 7% of the price to me, which I interpret as an expression from you that you appreciate the writing I'm doing here for you. You don't pay anything more for your purchases. Thanks in advance.

21 comments:

mesquito said...

Yesterday I bought some jeans thru the Althouse link.

I'm saying this because I require recognition and approval.

Freeman Hunt said...

The first one (grocery) doesn't work.

AllenS said...

I'm sorry to inform everyone, but using the Amazon link, you cannot buy lutefisk. You can buy lutefisk knickknacks and lutefisk t-shirts however.

Bob Ellison said...

Professor, I value your blog highly and have donated a small amount in cash, and will undoubtedly do so again. But I've been seeing you and others say things like this over and over again:

"By using any of these links and continuing on from there to buy whatever you want on Amazon, you'll be sending about 7% of the price to me.... You don't pay anything more for your purchases."

Basic economics suggests otherwise. Of course, using your links probably adds to the aggregate price of Amazon items only a tiny bit, but add it does. Amazon, too, has a business model.

I think you're right to keep posting these links from time to time, but I'd prefer it if you'd stop saying it doesn't cost anyone anything.

Sorun said...

Perhaps not lutefisk, but you can buy tins of kippered herring, which is getting harder to find in grocery stores where I live.

Bill said...

Every year I'm doing a little more of my Christmas shopping on Amazon (although if they don't learn how to pack stuff properly, that's going to change).

Now I'm in the position of deciding how to divvy up my purchases for the blogs I like. I haven't done Ann or Ace of Spades yet so I'll be trying that this year.

Manfred said...

You will not ... make any public communication with respect to this Operating Agreement, your use of the Content, or your participation in the Program.

Is this post a public communication?

You must, however, clearly state the following on your site: “[Insert your name] is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to [insert the applicable site name (amazon.com, endless.com, smallparts.com or myhabit.com)].”

I can't find this anywhere. Did I miss that statement on your site?

You will not make any orders or engage in other transactions of any kind on the Amazon Site on behalf of any other person or entity, or authorize, assist, or encourage any other person or entity to do so.

Are you encouraging others to do so?

Freeman Hunt said...

The affiliate links have excellent ROI for Amazon. Using them doesn't cost any more than it would to market in some other way.

Ann Althouse said...

@ mesquito I recognize and approve of you!

Freeman Hunt said..."The first one (grocery) doesn't work."

Thanks. I put in a different one.

Bob Ellison said... "Basic economics suggests otherwise. Of course, using your links probably adds to the aggregate price of Amazon items only a tiny bit, but add it does. Amazon, too, has a business model. I think you're right to keep posting these links from time to time, but I'd prefer it if you'd stop saying it doesn't cost anyone anything."

It's their choice of method of promotion of their site, an alternative to advertising or something else. They get higher volume. I don't think you can say that giving me 7% of the price makes things cost more than if they didn't have this program.

Bill said... "Now I'm in the position of deciding how to divvy up my purchases for the blogs I like. I haven't done Ann or Ace of Spades yet so I'll be trying that this year."

The important thing is to go into Amazon through someone you want to contribute to (rather than to go there independently.

"Are you encouraging others to do so?"

Manfred, I think what that is saying is that I can't order stuff for myself by getting somebody to buy it for me. I can't get a discount on my own purchases by a devious work-around like that.

As for being clear that I'm in the Amazon Associates program, I think I'm very clear about that.

DaveW said...

The important thing is to go into Amazon through someone you want to contribute to (rather than to go there independently.

The problem I have is I keep forgetting to do just that. Maybe you could post a shopping link every weekend and not just during holiday time? Reynolds posts them all the time. Just a suggestion.

DaveW said...

Or post these earlier in the day. I was shopping Amazon all day today and totally spaced out on coming over here and going through your portal.

I'd rather give the money to you than let Amazon keep it.

Bob Ellison said...

Ann Althouse said "It's their choice of method of promotion of their site, an alternative to advertising or something else. They get higher volume. I don't think you can say that giving me 7% of the price makes things cost more than if they didn't have this program."

I most certainly can say that in the aggregate, retailers like Amazon will tend to adjust their pricing according to their marketing costs and business models. If 99% of Amazon sales go through affiliates at an average payoff of 7%, then either (1) Amazon prices will tend to rise by 7% or (2) Amazon will cut affiliate payoffs.

Of course, probably only a fraction-- I'd guess 10% or so-- of Amazon sales go through affiliates. Maybe 2%; maybe 20%. The point is that there is no free lunch. You are in the position of an advertiser/distributor, and pretending that your Amazon payoff has no effect at all on pricing betrays flabby thinking.

m stone said...

I agree with Bob Ellison. This is the market in action. No free lunch, (although some truffles will be free for someone).

Robert said...

How about a link to mens's shorts?

Freeman Hunt said...

pretending that your Amazon payoff has no effect at all on pricing betrays flabby thinking.

You're wrong. The 7% is part of the marketing cost. Amazon, even if it didn't have an affiliate program, would have to spend money on marketing. Its affiliate program is a form of marketing, and a very effective one because Amazon only bears the cost if actual purchases are made. If there were no affiliates, the money that is currently spent on affiliate payouts would be spent on other forms of marketing.

We could argue about which forms of marketing probably have the best return on investment, but we'd just be guessing without getting to take a peek at Amazon's analytics.

jimspice said...

Manfred, I've warned her that she's in violation of TOS multiple times, and she doesn't seem to care.

Tim Wright said...

Bought a leupold spotting scope through your link.

Cost me nothing extra, and supports a blog I visit daily.

Thank you Ann and a Merry Christmas to you and Meade.

Tim W.

Ann Althouse said...

"Manfred, I've warned her that she's in violation of TOS multiple times, and she doesn't seem to care."

Oh, spare me your bullshit "warnings." You're looking at something labeled the "operating agreement" and you are reading badly. The provision you're quoting is about not misrepresenting your relationship to Amazon.

I should just delete nonsense like yours, and I think I will in the future. You are besmirching my reputation, for what reason I don't know. Maybe you really are concerned about me. Noted. Now stop.

Ann Althouse said...

Thanks, Tim... and everyone else who uses the links.

jimspice said...

Yup, just about the reaction I'd expect. If I wanted to REALLY "besmirch" you, I'd just report the violation. If you read online accounts of Amazon coming down on violators, it takes a lot less than your loose interpretation of terms.

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