[voidlogic]

"I know I for one always hover over links before I click on them to see if they're affiliate links"

Do you do this because you are curious, or because you don't want to click the link if it is an affiliate link? If the latter is the case, it seems strange you would not want to support the tech blogs you read, at no extra cost to yourself, if you already intend to purchase the item linked.

[clicks]

I think issue here is if you see an affiliate link, you start to question whether the author is heartily suggesting something because he genuinely likes it and wants to recommend it to you or he's just a bored blogger posting a new link on a new day, because that is what he does. On a side note, it seems to me that the author-reader trust is arguably preserved if the author of the articles does not choose what ads appear on his site because it absolves him of the cloud of doubt that he might have ulterior motives.

Maybe a lot of the folks doing this are the ones that used to see ads before they started using Adblock, and they still have a memory of ads leaving a bad taste in their mouth. Of course all of this is questioning the model of an ad-supported Internet. This is something I'm still conflicted about -- I really don't want to see ads on Google et al., I mean I really don't, I really wish I could give Google $50/month and tell them hey just focus on the experience, don't show me ads, and I'll be your customer. I'd do this for a whole array of sites on which I begrudgingly use Adblock and other extensions that prevent affiliate links from appearing.

[swanson]

I agree about the motivation aspect - should I write a glowing review of a book that I didn't like to generate more clicks? Even if I write honestly, will it be perceived as disingenuous because of affiliate links?

I turned on the affiliates links as an experiment and haven't changed my style - though I always try to find at least something positive about a book. I'll probably revisit it in the future and decide if the (thus far) meager income is worth dealing with the reader-trust issues.

[joshstrange]

I agree, I don't have a problem with affiliate ads but if the article in question is a gushingly positive review without any negatives mentioned and they are using an affiliate link then I tend to question the motivation behind writing it. I also will then look for a review that doesn't contain an affiliate id or one that covers the pros and cons giving a full review instead of an advertisement disguised as a review.

[maxerickson]

I tend to have a reflex to avoid affiliate links, if only because I feel like they lead to content generated only to contain affiliate links.

(I can recall a few death-of-blog posts where the author didn't say as much, but the content of the post made it clear enough that they had decided they better make some money if they are going to continue writing the blog and apparently the link loaded final post failed to make money)

[SiVal]

I agree with this. Yes, if a link includes an affiliate code, you might want to be more skeptical of a recommendation.

But if, after due diligence, you decide to purchase the item, you'll pay the same amount either way. The only question is whether you want some of the purchase amount to be shared with the blogger or whether you want to make sure that Amazon won't have to share any of it.

[corresation]

you'll pay the same amount either way

Simple economics come into play, however, and the less Amazon has to pay to bloggers and other feeds, the more they can cut their prices.

[jbigelow76]

That's only true if Amazon chooses not to funnel money that would normally be paid out in affiliate commissions into another advertising channel. Amazon's affiliate program isn't operated out of a sense of altruism.

[corresation]

"Amazon's affiliate program isn't operated out of a sense of altruism."

Oh I know it is. The blog in question is essentially one giant Amazon ad pitch (I have never seen that many affiliate links on one page). However if the argument is "well the person just wanted to review the book anyways, and why not them get the money instead of it padding Bezo's pockets", the position falls apart: If they aren't being incentivized by the affiliate links, then Amazon might as well save that money.

But of course we all know that such blogs are heavily incentivized by such affiliate commissions. When Atwood decides to pitch a particular product that what do you know he can cover with an affiliate link...it isn't accidental.

[tobyjsullivan]

That assumes that Amazon sets their prices in a cost-plus fashion. I doubt that's likely.

They'll charge as much as you'll pay regardless of what they are paying to bloggers.

[smartial_arts]

It's not that there's no extra cost to yourself, it's more that you are missing out - you could get the very same item through your own affiliate scheme, thus contributing to your own bottom line (read - paying less for the item).

[voidlogic]

"you could get the very same item through your own affiliate scheme"

FYI. The Amazon affiliate program does not allow you to purchase items via your own referrals. To do so is a contract violation and they will terminate your affiliate account.

[smartial_arts]

Wow, didn't know that. Thanks!