amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316172324/chrisabraham is the correct Amazon Associates format and not amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316172324/chrisabraham which doesn’t work.
A Correct Way to Format URLs for Amazon Associates
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The link itself works, and takes the user to the real item and not Amazon’s “If you like this item perhaps we can shove these other items down your throat” page.
By “doesn’t work” do you mean that Amazon will not give you credit for sales of the linked item unless you play along with their upsell scheme and send your visitors to the intermediate page?
Well of course I mean what I say, which is to say that the first URL is a correct way to post a URL if you want to be an active and useful Amazon Associate and actually make revenue from “selling” or “recommending” products and services to your visitors and guests, is what I mean.
If I sound a little resentful right out of the chute, it’s because I am.
A – as a customer, I resent that Amazon will not let me access the item itself without first blocking my way with an upsell page.
B – as a professional web site designer for the last 10 years, I’m sorry to see Amazon destroy what I once held up as the paragon of ecommerce systems because some MBA has decided it will add to their bottom line to divert people into these intermediate “impulse buy” pages.
Imagine you go to the hardware store to buy a hammer. Your time is limited. You ask the clerk where hammers are, he says: “I’ll be happy to show you.” and then leads you down the nail aisle, saying: “Many people who bought hammers from us also bought nails.”, and then down the tool belt aisle, saying: “Many people who bought hammers from us also bought tool belts.” before showing you to the actual hammers. You grab your hammer, money in hand, and run for the register, but another clerk blocks your way and says: “I notice you’re buying a hammer, many people who bought a hammer from us also bought tape measures, would you like to see our selection of tape measures?”.
Is this a good shopping experience? Would it encourage you to shop at this hardware store again?
Anyway, excuse me if I’m dense, but I’m not confident you’ve actually answered my question, considerations for being “active” and “useful” aside. Am I correct in understanding that you have established that Amazon WILL pay you an Amazon Assocites fee for items purchased through this link: amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316172324/chrisabraham, but WILL NOT PAY YOU that fee for items bought through this link: amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316172324/chrisabraham?
Do they warn you about this on their site?
Thanks.
Well, they do tell you what the correct schema is — but on the other hand, I was doing it wrong for years — finding the URL as it is in the browser’s address bar and then affix my chrisabraham to the end — and I have not received anything — so the reason I wrote this is because I think I am pretty savvy as I have been using Amazon Associates lightly since “the dawm” and it was not clear to me. I will do some more research and get back to you.