[jjeaff]

I don't think getting affiliate revenues is necessarily a problem, however, there is an inherent conflict of interest considering that different retailers pay different affiliate rates and some manufacturers sell direct and pay higher affiliate commissions.

Also, getting a commission on sales encourages the reviewers to select more expensive options.

I usually like Wirecutter reviews. But I do find that they sometimes seem to favor more expensive options when cheaper alternatives are nearly the same or better. (Even their budget pick tends to be high and sometimes I think the budget pick should be the overall pick).

You will see a lot of products frequently at the top of review lists (not just Wirecutter) that are not sold on Amazon. These are usually sold at a premium direct from the manufacturer and a higher commission can be paid. (15-25%)

The thermapen thermometer is one of these. They will always link directly to thermoworks website, who is the sole distributor in the US. I'm sure they pay a higher commission than Amazon's 8% for comparable but cheaper alternatives like the javelin.