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Amazon No Longer Paying Commissions On Purchases From Live In Family Members With The Same Surname?

by Jon Tees
5 replies
I recently sold some text books to my mother who lives in my guesthouse through my affiliate link. I was paid a commission in the pending earnings area but several days later this commission vanished in to thin air as though it never existed to begin with. So has Amazon stopped paying on not only personal purchases through your affiliate links, but also purchased made by family members who live at the same address and have the same surname as well? What about relatives who live elsewhere with the same last name or unrelated people who have the same surname will you not earn commissions on their purchases as well where does it end?
#amazon #commissions #family #live #longer #members #paying #purchases #surname
  • Profile picture of the author GMD
    Banned
    Have you in any way, shape, or form attempted to contact the reps at Amazon to address this issue and get clarification from the source?

    Barring that, it might be prudent to read the affiliate agreement carefully as this issue is addressed there.

    It's important that when you get involved in anything that all agreements are read and understood so that you're able to use and understand whatever it is you're using properly.

    For example, it amazes me that so many people use PayPal and have never read one of the "legal agreements" (AUP, TOS, and so fourth) yet lose their minds when something doesn't go their way; had they read and understood the service they were using, they'd find the very topic that they're having an issue with has been addressed in writing already. Ditto for ClickBank, Commission Junction, and yes, Amazon Affiliates.

    Use this situation as an opportunity to take some time and read everything; you won't regret the valuable knowledge that you'll surely gain.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jon Tees
    Qualifying Purchases exclude, and we will not pay advertising fees on any of, the following:
    • any Product that, after expiration of the applicable Session, is added to a customer’s Shopping Cart, is purchased by a customer via our 1-Click feature, or is streamed or downloaded by a customer, even if the customer previously followed a Special Link from your site to the Amazon Site;
    • any Product purchase that is not correctly tracked or reported because the links from your site to the Amazon Site are not properly formatted;
    • any Product purchased through a Special Link by you or on your behalf, including Products you purchase through Special Links for yourself, friends, relatives, or associates (e.g., personal orders, orders for your own use, and orders placed by you for or on behalf of any other person or entity);
    • any Product purchased for resale or commercial use of any kind;
    • any Product purchased after termination of this Operating Agreement;
    • any Product order that is canceled or returned; and
    • any Product purchased by a customer who is referred to the Amazon Site through any of the following:
      • a Prohibited Paid Search Placement; or
      • a link to the Amazon Site, including a Redirecting Link, that is generated or displayed on a Search Engine in response to a general Internet search query or keyword (i.e., in natural, free, organic, or unpaid search results), whether those links appear through your submission of data to that site or otherwise.


    This is the section of Amazon’s affiliate operating agreement that covers sales that they won’t commission. No where does it say that they won’t pay if a relative purchases a product for themselves through your link as was the case in my situation. The rest of it deals with purchases you make through your links on behalf of yourself or other people. Even so I recall being commissioned for numerous personal purchases and purchases made by family and friends prior to 2012 so something must have been changed.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Jon Tees View Post

      No where does it say that they won't pay if a relative purchases a product for themselves through your link
      No, indeed it doesn't ... but it does specify "relatives", and if they're not going to exclude relatives who share your address, what are they going to exclude under that criterion?

      Originally Posted by Jon Tees View Post

      Even so I recall being commissioned for numerous personal purchases and purchases made by family and friends prior to 2012 so something must have been changed.
      Yes ... sounds like they've become stricter about it, certainly ... :rolleyes:
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      • Profile picture of the author Capitalist_Pig
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        No, indeed it doesn't ... but it does specify "relatives", and if they're not going to exclude relatives who share your address, what are they going to exclude under that criterion?



        Yes ... sounds like they've become stricter about it, certainly ... :rolleyes:
        Actually, it specifies relatives only in the context of items *you* purchase - as in, you can't buy things and give them to relatives.

        As far as I can see, relatives and friends should be just fine. I'd email them and ask politely for clarification of the policy, and ask for the commission to be returned or their agreement to be updated to reflect the policy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt Ward
    Does your guest house use the same internet connection that your main house does? If so, that's the reason.
    Signature
    "Keep moving forward."
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