Amazon associate updates £7.00 cap across all products lines

[mrbishi]

Tweet

but no more 2.5% deeplink bonus, more sales required to reach higher commission levels, reduced commissions for direct ppc (looks like) and what seems like an end to having both a classic and performance account (one affiliate account per category) and still the tiniest cookie length in all the land. All in all not a good day for amazon assocciates!

[Seamaster]

No more 2.5% extra commission for direct link

Man that's wack! I loved that direct link bonus.

Just as I thought I was starting to do ok in the world of AM they do this!

[John]

We've already implemented an "auto switch" function on Easy Content Units to use the best possible link thus avoiding capped commissions in the electrical sector.

As of 1st July, we'll switch this around so that ANY product over £175.00 uses the classic plan and earns an uncapped 4%, whilst anything below £175 will continue to use the tiered program.

[realfun]

I take it Amazon still only have a 24 hour cookie as well?

[Seamaster]

I take it Amazon still only have a 24 hour cookie as well?

Probably going down to 1 hour soon hmy

[Elaine]

I've already started swapping my links - commision dropped from 9.5% to 6-7% and a cap of £7 on all products. Most of my links are deep links - they're the only ones that really work, so the effort involved is not worth the, erm, reward as I promote quite a lot of the high end kids products - not electricals.

[darrenb]

I have mixed feelings about this. I mainly sell consoles in terms of high value items through Amazon and as the £7 cap has been around for a while so that part doesn't matter much, besides £7 for a console is better than some other merchants pay.

The tiers on the other hand will affect me a little more as I currently hit the high 7.5% tier with 1600+ items and some of this includes deep linking with the 1.5% bonus, this will be replaced with a flat 7% and no bonus as I do not tend to go over 3000 items per month which is the new limit for 7.5%.

It's just a way to drop the commissions paid to affiliates by 1-2% (and more depending on the types of products sold). They have worded it in such a way that it looks as if the commissions overall have not dropped.

If you were to be on the top tier on the performance plan then anything over £78 (£78 x 9% = £7.02) and below £175 (classic 4% = £7) will attract the same £7 commission. This means that as an items value increases the commission paid will drop from 9% to 4% the closer it reaches the £175 limit (I hope that makes sense!).

I will however still continue to promote Amazon as they are included in the merchants I compare prices on and above all they do convert better than most.

[GregFin]

There's more reaction and comment to the changes on the Amazon Associates forum - http://forums.prospero.com/n/mb/mess...297.1&ctx=4096

Needless to say the majority is negative!

[macnpaul]

I think hairycornflakes covered this but I'm a little confused, does the £7 cap only apply if you are using the perfomance plan -

From the amazon.co.uk blog -

It also applies only to Associates who are enrolled in the Programme under the Performance Fee Structure.

Amazon.co.uk Associates Blog

If you sold a £400 TV on the classic plan you would still get £16 commison not a capped £7?

[Jason]

I think hairycornflakes covered this but I'm a little confused, does the £7 cap only apply if you are using the perfomance plan -

From the amazon.co.uk blog -


Amazon.co.uk Associates Blog

If you sold a £400 TV on the classic plan you would still get £16 commison not a capped £7?

Yes the new structure only applies to the Performance Plan - at present... Of course if you're categorised as a PPC affiliate, you will soon be seeing a drop in your commissions, at least that's what they said between the lines. I have read 2% commission rates banded about... we'll have to see.

Alistair Campbell must have been in charge of spinning this 'Good News' change for affiliates...

[Stavros]

Yeah, the majority of that email doesn't really bother me as the big money for us is made out of the 4% flat rate system anyway.
What's concerning is the paid search commission cap. Waiting nervously on that email.

[Seamaster]

From my calculations if I'm now just getting 5% commission instread of 9% I got from direct links my income from AA will be down 45%!

[TheBoy_78]

Just logged into my associates account to check and set the category that best represents my sites - guess which one was picked as a default....Paid Search Placements..

Come on Amazon, this seems one big rip off exercise. I'd advise all Amazon associates to log in and check / correct their sites classification before July 1st...

[umopapisdn]

I'd advise all Amazon associates to log in and check / correct their sites classification before July 1st...

Good idea.
For those that are wondering, this can be done at https://affiliate-program.amazon.co....e-profile.html

Also, the same kinds of changes happened to the Amazon Associates program in Germany a couple of months ago (i.e., effective May 1). Those involved in the German market may know how things played out over there.

[TheBoy_78]

Just been emailed the rates for if you are classified as paid search. Surprised actually.

Electronics and Games set at 5% with no cap! most other segments are 7%

interesting! Maybe Amazon not been that tight after all.