So about a month ago I got an email from Amazon Associates and long story short, North Carolina residents are no longer able to participate. Well, crap. I didn’t make a TON of money, but I got maybe $20-40 every quarter so it was a nice chunk of change (I added it up and since I started in 2009 I’ve made about $750). So I begrudgingly went to change my address (to let them know) and…hmmm…my address was actually still listed as Michigan so I obviously didn’t change it when we moved back here. But I looked at my sales records and noticed that I had very few sales from after they announced that NC was a goner. Hmmm. I wasn’t exactly sure how that could be possible—I mean, I’ve been getting a steady amount of orders every quarter—and suddenly NC is disqualified and my orders drop to zero? Even though I had a Michigan address listed and nothing should have changed? I guess it was possible, but for me it was too close to be coincidental.
So I sent them a detailed email and of course got a standard issue response that didn’t help me at all. I ended up calling them and having to talk to an Amazon Associates Specialist. Technically since we’re military and have a Michigan “home of record” address, I can remain in the program—but he assured me nothing should have changed and they don’t correlate my regular purchasing account/shipping address (North Carolina) with the other address on file (Michigan) so he wasn’t exactly sure why my orders dropped way off when the new NC rules came into effect. BUT! He was able to tell me that seven of the eight recent orders placed through my link were flagged as personal…though of course he couldn’t give me specifics as to how they determine who/what should be flagged…but hinted that friends and family really weren’t supposed to use the links because I’m not supposed to use it as a “discount program” (“we want new customers”). Now, while I can understand that to an extent…I am still bringing them BUSINESS they likely wouldn’t otherwise get. I mean, for one, I do get random people visiting my blog that could be shopping and for two, my parents are NOT internet shoppers like I am—so by repeatedly telling them to SHOP AT AMAZON I have increased Amazon’s business. But they don’t see it that way, apparently. They see it as ME getting a discount, even though I’m in no way buying the stuff myself. And of course you can’t argue with them because they can’t tell you how or why they decide to flag people. Apparently it’s kinda like Fight Club.
So…there are likely ways around it but they may or may not work well (depending on if Amazon correlates the shipping addresses with previous flagged orders)…but if you want to try, don’t use my static link to order. Just come here to the blog and use the Amazon search box on the right side column (it may move around as I redesign, but it will always be there somewhere). Or you can always search my store (Shop on the main menu bar) to shop for things I’ve recommended. Of course, if you don’t want to deal with it at all, I understand and don’t worry about it…