To ask what the deal is with affiliate links?

[Powergower]

My friend wad telling me that if you follow someone on Insta who has an affiliate link for Amazon and you click it, it leaves a cookie on your phone so if you then purchase something completely unrelated from Amazon within that month the influencer gets a fee. Even if they haven't recommended the product. These days most influencer have links for every single website which is frequently used - Amazon, top shop, hm, zara etc etc.

I don't mind them getting a fee if I purchase something they recommend but not if I buy something unrelated. Aibu in thinking this?

I might be wrong but I thought it was only if you bought the actual item on their link they get a %, not if you bought something else or use the site again later.

They can get money from your purchases even if it’s a different link once you click the link. It’s a small % and doesn’t cost you anything. I don’t really mind it, as long as I don’t pay extra.

Yes I was under the impression they only get commission if it’s just the product you buy.

At least now people are declaring it unlike before.

I've been told that the link attaches to the website and can stay for up to 30 days. This poses me off because I buy a lot of stuff online especially from Amazon and don't see why others should benefit. I don't click any aff links any more. There's just no transparency.

@powergower if its not costing you anything why do you begrudge them the money? there is no way of you earning that money from amazon (or whoever) at the current moment so surely someone benefitting is good? I am also assuming this person is someone you like and enjoy watching (or why would you be clicking through their links), so surely its like a fee for entertaining you or bringing bargains/helpful items to your attention?

When you click an affiliate link it sends you to unique URL (the original URL for the product with an extension unique to the affiliate marketer).

This extension then transfers to the checkout page and registers that sale against the affiliate. If you were to go out of the site and then back in, locate the product and purchase normally then my understanding is that the affiliate gets nothing.

My experience is with gambling affiliation but would assume it works the same.

This poses me off because I buy a lot of stuff online especially from Amazon and don't see why others should benefit. I really don't get this, you won't pay any more using an affiliate, just a % of the profit goes to them rather than Amazon (who aren't short of a bob or two)

The Amazon affiliate cookie only lasts for 24 hours but the affiliate will get commission on everything you buy in that period. However if you add an item to your basket (or if the affiliate link automatically does that for you) then the cookie lasts for 90 days.

If you would rather the commission money went to a charity then buy it via the charity affiliate link, several charities do this, eg here is the RNLI one for example rnli.org/support-us/give-as-you-shop/shop-at-amazon

Amazon is not on cashback sites, but most other online retailers are, so for anywhere else go via a cashback site and you will get the commission in the form of cashback, saving you money. (Cashback sites are basically affiliate sites who collect the commission and then pass this on to you).

To the person who says they never click on affiliate links, many sites convert non affiliate links to affiliate links using skimlinks and other similar software services (in fact Mumsnet does this as do many other forums). Many sites also disguise affiliate links in various ways (cloaking) as they know some people do not like to click on affiliate links or will type in the URL directly.

Does this help?

docs.affiliatewp.com/article/52-common-questions-on-affiliate-tracking

The cookies last for a month I think.

I have an affiliate link for a sticker company. If you follow my link and purchase through it I get a very very small percentage back which turns into rewards and sits in my account. Once I have rewards I can purchase stickers with them, just like Boots or Clubcard type points.

However if you follow my link, purchase something and then the following week just go to the site directly, not via my link, and purchase I don't get any of the second purchase. It has to be the link I have as it contains my discount code. The normal website link is just an ordinary link with no codes attached so doesn't relate to anyone.

@buttermilkwaffles

That's interesting, I was wrong then. OP, ignore my explanation, I assumed it would work the same.

I have no problem with influencers being paid if I buy something they recommend. I have an issue with aff links staying on my phone for a month! I've unfollowed most influencers who use aff links and stay away from Insta now as i just don't want to be sold to constantly and surreptitiously.

They can get money from your purchases even if it’s a different link once you click the link.

No they don't its only related to the product they are linking to/promoting.

Surely clearing your cookies regularly will solve this issue?

As for the claim that it doesn't cost you any more while technically correct, commission of 5 to 10% plus the costs of administration, paying people, etc need to be factored into their profit margins and hence their prices, so in theory you probably do pay more in the long term. There is also the issue of are people recommending the product because they genuinely like it or only because they can earn a commission on it? Many Amazon affiliates have never even used or laid eyes on the products they recommend and others get the product for free to "review" but you are hardly likely to give bad reviews to free products as your supply of freebies will soon stop if you do!

This will help you out a bit.

amazon.co.uk/help/node/topic/9SMD8TQHFJ7728F]]

It's part of Amazon terms that affiliate links are clearly disclosed. I have no problem with it, as long as recommendations/reviews are honest (you can usually tell the sales-driving bollocks ones by the tone).

Commission is pretty small, usually less than 5% of the purchase price, and I don't begrudge anyone a few entrepreneurial pennies

People stating that it's only the product the influencer is promoting are being naive- the cookie on your computer doesn't care what the product is, only the site from which you are purchasing. Neither does clicking off and re-entering a site make a jot of difference.

Cookie expirations vary, some last as long as six weeks.

Influencers on YouTube who create "Favourites" videos with a list of affiliate links underneath can be very cleaver with this. Just link to a different major retailer for every product! That way, you've created a dozen links to huge websites, which at least SOME of your audience are going to click on, so when they're doing their shopping for the next month or so, you will receive a percentage of the sales. And if your subscribers are into the five or six figures, there's a hell of a lot of cash to be made with that.

It's like catching fish using multiple lines and nets.

Actually, I think people saying it's "only the product they are promoting" are possibly getting confused between affiliations and sponsorships, which work differently.

Clever, not "cleaver". They don't wield knives to sell you stuff, from what I've seen.

@Justanotherlurker No that's not correct, commission is paid on the entire basket of goods wether or not that includes the product that was linked to. (I used to work in this industry).

The Amazon affiliate cookie only lasts for 24 hours but the affiliate will get commission on everything you buy in that period. However if you add an item to your basket (or if the affiliate link automatically does that for you) then the cookie lasts for 90 days

That's just wrong. It's like paying someone for a job they haven't done.

Its fine for you to get the commission for the product you suggest. But everything else I buy for a week/month? No.

Not unless I choose to do so in support of a cause or charity. Not super happy about prices rising overall either. Would shopping in incognito mode prevent it?

I mean prevent cookies from the affiliate link sticking around after a purchase?

@SachaStark is correct, as it's cookie based leaving and rentering the site will make no difference. Cookie duration can be as long as 90 days and occasionally longer - one company used a 365 day cookie, although they no longer do. The most common period is probably around 30 days. Clearing your cookies regularly is good practice anyway as you are tracked for all sorts of things.

No that's not correct, commission is paid on the entire basket of goods wether or not that includes the product that was linked to. (I used to work in this industry).

Not for affiliates though, advertises get a 24 hour grace period and that is for qualifying products only.

Affiliates get a one of hit and not something 1 week afterwards etc.

Not saying you are wrong, set one up a few years ago for a friend.

Three reason I asked is noticed some influencers aff linking to every possible site . Next zara Amazon Tesco asda.... everything you could think of. Therefore placing cookies on websites I use regularly in my day to day life. I shop online all the time and don't want aff links linked to any of my browsing. Unless I buy something they recommend then it's fine.

My personal view is that some of them are placing the links on phones knowing full well they last a while and knowing they can profit surreptitiously.