{"id":980,"date":"2023-07-05T21:48:27","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T21:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/?p=980"},"modified":"2023-09-07T15:10:26","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T15:10:26","slug":"amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-affiliate-commission-rates-historical-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon.com Affiliate Commission Rates: A Historical Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"980\" class=\"elementor elementor-980\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-368caefb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"368caefb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4a72d05f\" data-id=\"4a72d05f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4353818 elementor-widget elementor-widget-global elementor-global-1455 elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image\" data-id=\"4353818\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Amazon-commissions-1024x576.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-1019\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Amazon-commissions-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Amazon-commissions-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Amazon-commissions-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Amazon-commissions.png 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40bbfe1f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40bbfe1f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em>Updated April, 14th 2020 to reflect the recent notice of commission changes coming on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April, 21st 2020<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><p>The Amazon.com affiliate program (a.k.a. the Associates Program) is the\u00a0most popular affiliate marketing program in the world\u00a0with one recent source citing \u201cmillions\u201d of affiliate publishers.\u00a0 The Amazon.com Associates program has also evolved significantly since its inception in July of 1996 (as anything Internet-related should in the ~ 23 years of its existence). One of the most impactful changes is in how the affiliate program rewards the affiliate publishers who direct customers to Amazon and recommend various products.\u00a0\u00a0<span id=\"more-3598\"><\/span><\/p><p>Traditionally, an affiliate program\u2019s commission rates are not something that an affiliate publisher pays much attention to, except for major changes (like the April 1st, 2017 update), as they, especially for larger retailers, tend to alternate somewhat regularly.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>After seeing a post on\u00a0<a class=\"wpil_internal_link\" href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-affiliate-links-on-social-media\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">social media<\/a>\u00a0that said, in reference to a more recent Amazon affiliate commission rates update, \u201cI feel like a frog that\u2019s slowly being boiled so I don\u2019t jump out.\u201d we wanted to investigate this claim and provide a factual and historical record of the evolution of the Amazon\u00a0affiliate commission rates over the past decade.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1e30254 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1e30254\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-470323b\" data-id=\"470323b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4df2518 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4df2518\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before we dive in there are a few important things to note in this analysis.\u00a0<\/p><ul><li>These commission rates are specific to Amazon.com.\u00a0 There are now 16 other\u00a0Amazon affiliate\u00a0programs around the world and each has its own rates.\u00a0 If there is interest in cataloging the evolution of commission rates for some of the other programs please let us know in the comments below and we can apply the same process to these other programs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>We may have missed something.\u00a0 We tried really hard to be as accurate as possible but there may be mistakes and inadvertent omissions.\u00a0 If you see something let us know and we\u2019ll get it updated.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>This analysis spans from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>\u00a0until now (<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">spring 2020<\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0<\/li><li>You can find a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">spreadsheet of our research that was the basis for this article here<\/a>.\u00a0 Note that if you reference this in your own writing, we really appreciate you crediting this blog, using the following link:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates<\/a>.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6645bc1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6645bc1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96ae277\" data-id=\"96ae277\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5309e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d5309e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.19.0 - 29-01-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Affiliate Rates Summary\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bc424fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bc424fd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e076ff1\" data-id=\"e076ff1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f1012f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f1012f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The nitty-gritty details are all laid out below but before you read through the next seven thousand words of the history of the Amazon affiliate commission rates over the last decade let\u2019s give you the \u201cTL;DR\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b4216d3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b4216d3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9c35c80\" data-id=\"9c35c80\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4e7ea0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d4e7ea0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.30.10-AM-1024x732.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-981\" alt=\"Amazon Commissions Over Time\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.30.10-AM-1024x732.png 1024w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.30.10-AM-300x214.png 300w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.30.10-AM-768x549.png 768w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.30.10-AM-1536x1098.png 1536w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.30.10-AM.png 1942w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f22f68a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f22f68a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-900efa0\" data-id=\"900efa0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce8698a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce8698a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While it\u2019s a bit like comparing apples to oranges due to a major shift in the Associates\u2019 commission payout model in early 2017, the gist is that\u00a0<strong>the average commission rate for peaked in mid-2012 at 9.25% and has fallen to nearly a third of that with 3.14% in early 2020.<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-150491e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"150491e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-eff9886\" data-id=\"eff9886\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7193e6c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7193e6c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Perspective<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7016259 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7016259\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46bc85c\" data-id=\"46bc85c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7880f78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7880f78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/amazon-affiliate-guide\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Amazon\u2019s affiliate program<\/a>\u00a0is over twenty years old now and has seen some major changes over that time.\u00a0 It\u2019s evolved, as it should. As the program continues to evolve it shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise that rates change and a sizable chunk of those rates will decrease.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>But what doesn\u2019t change is affiliate publishers feeling hurt and betrayed by the changing Amazon affiliate commission rates.\u00a0<\/p><p>I recently came across a couple quotes that made me laugh:\u00a0<\/p><p>\u201c<i>The incredibly shrinking Amazon affiliate payout continues \u2026<\/i>\u201d<\/p><p><i>\u201cThey lowered the commision rate yet again. If this keeps up we\u2019re going to have to PAY AMZN for putting their links on our sites!\u201d<\/i><\/p><p>Ironically, these were from 2004, nearly sixteen years ago! (<a href=\"http:\/\/engagedforums.com\/discussions\/Amazoncom_Associates\/Discussions\/Q4_2004_Compensation_Plan_Posted\/am-associhelp\/9270.1?redirCnt=1&amp;dbg=6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a>)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>In short, here are my thoughts about declining commission rates from Amazon:\u00a0<\/p><p><i>Taking a quick step back, decreasing commission rates shouldn\u2019t be a surprise to us, affiliate publishers.\u00a0 We all know that Amazon is a business, a publicly-traded business, and its fiduciary responsibility is to its shareholders.\u00a0 Ultimately, those shareholders demand that Amazon needs to make a return on their investment. We\u2019ve seen that Amazon is brilliant in its efficiency and from their perspective if they can cut commission rates with little to no forecasted downside then why wouldn\u2019t they?\u00a0 Sorry affiliate publishers, it\u2019s just business\u2026<\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fde8107 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fde8107\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1789f92\" data-id=\"1789f92\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18776d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"18776d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amazon.com Affiliate Categories<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-67e5c09 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"67e5c09\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-680fce2\" data-id=\"680fce2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cffa448 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cffa448\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before we dive into each category individually, let\u2019s do a quick run-through of the categories that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#increase\">saw their commission rates increase over time (2)<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#nochange\">those that didn\u2019t change (29)<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#unkown\">those where we weren\u2019t able to determine a change (4)<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#nolonger\">the categories that are no longer recognized (8)<\/a>, and finally\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#decrease\">those that saw their rates decrease (23)<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-552800f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"552800f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2f373ab\" data-id=\"2f373ab\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc291e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fc291e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Starting Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>First Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Ending Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Last Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Change<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del>1<\/del><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del><a href=\"#grocery\">Grocery Products (including Prime Pantry)<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del>4.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del><a href=\"#10.15.2012\">October 15, 2012<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del>5.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><del>+25.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#handmade\">Handmade Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">4.0%<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#10.8.2015\">October 8th, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">5.0%<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">+25.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-81ea053 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"81ea053\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d6d0c2\" data-id=\"6d6d0c2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00bbb55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00bbb55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>* The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21st, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update moved the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#grocery\">Grocery category<\/a>\u00a0to 1%.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-eae2689 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"eae2689\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ea300c0\" data-id=\"ea300c0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2833da elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d2833da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Categories with NO CHANGE in commission rates<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f5811ea elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f5811ea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3b1a163\" data-id=\"3b1a163\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-64a21a9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"64a21a9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>First Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Last Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#coins\">Amazon Coins<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.15.2014\">May 15th, 2014<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>2<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#fresh\">Amazon Fresh<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>3.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#6.1.2018\">June 1, 2018<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#automotive\">Automotive<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.5%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>4<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#baby\">Baby Products<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>4.5%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>5<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#beauty\">Beauty<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>6.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#electronics\">Electronics Products (including all Office Products)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#2.1.2017\">February 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>7<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#furniture\">Furniture<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>8.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>8<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#headphones\">Headphones Products<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>6.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#8.1.2013\">August 1st, 2013<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>9<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#health\">Health &amp; Personal Care<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>4.5%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>10<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#home\">Home<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>8.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>11<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#homeimprovement\">Home Improvement<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>8.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>12<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#kindle\">Kindle tablets, Kindle e-readers, and Fire Phone<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.6.2015\">May 6th, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#kitchen\">Kitchen<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.5%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>14<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#lawn\">Lawn &amp; Garden<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>8.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>15<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#luxury\">Luxury Beauty<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>16<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#musical\">Musical Instruments<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>6.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>17<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#outdoors\">Outdoors<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>5.5%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>18<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#pantry\">Pantry<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>8.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>19<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#pc\">PC<\/a><\/td>\n<td>2.5%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>20<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#pccomponent\">PC Component Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>2.5%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#9.1.2015\">September 1st, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>21<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#pets\">Pets Products<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>8.0%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>22<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#books\">Physical Books<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.5%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>23<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#books\">Physical Music<\/a><\/td>\n<td>5.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>24<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#sports\">Sports<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>4.5%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>25<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#tvs\">Television Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>2.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#9.1.2015\">September 1st, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><del>26<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#tools\">Tools<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del>5.5%<\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<td><del><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/del><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>27<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#toys\">Toys<\/a><\/td>\n<td>3.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>28<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#videogames\">Video Games<\/a><\/td>\n<td>1.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>29<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<em>* 15 categories that had their commissions previously remained unchanged saw a cut in their rates with the <a href=\"#4.21.2020\">April 21st, 2020<\/a> update.<\/em>\n<h4><strong id=\"unknown\">Categories where we are not sure if there was a change in commission rates.\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>First Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Last Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#local\">AmazonLocal (local.amazon.com)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>6.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#3.1.2013\">March 1st, 2013<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/10.8.2015\" target=\"_blank\">October 8th, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#endless.com\">Endless.com and smallparts.com Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>15.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.2.2012\">May 2nd, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#giftcards\">Gift Cards NOT Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.2.2012\">May 2nd, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#2.1.2017\">February 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#magazines\">Magazines<\/a><\/td>\n<td>25.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#10.15.2012\">October 15th, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#8.28.2013\">August 28th, 2013<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<strong id=\"nolonger\">Categories that are NO LONGER RECOGNIZED<\/strong>\n<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>First Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Last Seen<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#dash\">Dash Buttons<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#6.1.2017\">June 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2018\">December 1, 2018<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#electronics\">Electronics Products (including all Office Products)<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#2.1.2017\">February 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#wine\">Wine<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#9.1.2018\">September 1, 2018<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#magazines\">Magazine Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#10.15.2012\">October 15th, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#8.28.2013\">August 28th, 2013<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#endless.com\">Endless.com and smallparts.com Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.2.2012\">May 2, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.2.2012\">May 2, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#4.1.2016\">April 1, 2016<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#local\">Products available on AmazonLocal (local.amazon.com)<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#3.1.2013\">March 1, 2013<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#10.8.2015\">October 8, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#giftcards\">Gift Cards NOT Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.2.2012\">May 2, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#2.1.2017\">February 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e6a39e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e6a39e9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e904a0d\" data-id=\"e904a0d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-932cec3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"932cec3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Categories with a DECREASE in commissions\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fe676fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fe676fd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c97bc94\" data-id=\"c97bc94\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ebed58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9ebed58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em><strong>Note<\/strong>: 15 categories that had previously remain unchanged plus one category that saw an increase in commissions saw their commissions dropped with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21st, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update. \u00a0We hope these are temporary changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic so we are not including them in this list below.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-734b982 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"734b982\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1c50e3\" data-id=\"f1c50e3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d0509b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d0509b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><b>Category<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Starting Rate<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>First Seen<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Ending Rate<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Last Seen<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>% Change<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#cloudcam\">Amazon Cloud Cam Devices<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#9.1.2018\">September 1, 2018<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.6.2015\">May 6th, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#elementsmarttv\">Amazon Element Smart TV<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#fashionwomen\">Amazon Fashion Women<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-60.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#firetablet\">Amazon Fire Tablet<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#6.1.2017\">June 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-50.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#firetv\">Amazon Fire TV<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.6.2015\">May 6, 2015<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#amazongiftcards\">Amazon Gift Cards \/ Gift Cards Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a><\/td>\n<td>6.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td>0.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-100.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#apparel\">Apparel<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>9<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#dash\">Dash Buttons<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#6.1.2017\">June 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-50.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalmusic\">Digital Music (Amazon MP3 Products)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td>5.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-50.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>11<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalvideo\">Digital Videos (Amazon Instant Video)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td>5.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-50.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>12<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalvideogames\">Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a><\/td>\n<td>2.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-80.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>13<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#dvd\">DVD (&amp; Blu-Ray) Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.24.2014\">December, 24th 2014<\/a><\/td>\n<td>2.5%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-38.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>14<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#handbags\">Handbags &amp; Accessories<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>15<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#industrial\">Industrial (&amp; Business) Products and AmazonSupply.com<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#10.15.2012\">October 15th, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td>6.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-25.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>16<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#jewelry\">Jewelry Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.24.2014\">December 24th, 2014<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-60.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>17<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#luggage\">Luggage<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>18<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#menkidsprivatelabel\">Men &amp; Kids Private Label<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-60.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>19<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>15.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#5.2.2012\">May 2nd, 2012<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#4.1.2016\">April 1, 2016<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-47.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>20<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#ring\">Ring Devices<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#12.1.2018\">December 1st, 2018<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>21<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#shoes\">Shoes<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>22<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#videogamesconsole\">Video Game Console Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#8.1.2013\">August 1, 2013<\/a><\/td>\n<td>1.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-75.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>23<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#watches\">Watches<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/AmazonCommissionRates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 1st, 2017<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.0%<\/td>\n<td><a href=\"#1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/a><\/td>\n<td>-43.0%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-843053b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"843053b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1218931\" data-id=\"1218931\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de8bbf2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"de8bbf2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Commission Rates Changes Over Time<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c6f5fa0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c6f5fa0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9cf33b0\" data-id=\"9cf33b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d8801a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6d8801a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Amazon.com\u2019s affiliate program has had some fairly major changes in how they pay out commissions over the last (approximately) 18 years that I\u2019ve been using the program.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Initially, the program was on a \u201cClassic Fee Structure\u201d, that then segues into the \u201cPerformance Fee\u201d model that was based on volume.\u00a0 On\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April Fool\u2019s day, 2017<\/a>, the whole program moved to a fixed price per category model. Currently, the program is using that model but we are seeing a very interesting model evolve for the five affiliate programs in Europe.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-16dcfd0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"16dcfd0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-89fe01e\" data-id=\"89fe01e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c6bf0c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1c6bf0c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Classic Fee Structure\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b903770 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b903770\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2116230\" data-id=\"2116230\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eba4321 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eba4321\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The first model I remember was a \u201cfixed-advertising-rate plan\u201d where the affiliate publisher would earn a 4% commission (a.k.a. an \u201cadvertising fee\u201d).\u00a0 This initially included 23 different categories. This model also had an upper limit of $25 for how much one could earn per sale of the \u201cPersonal computers\u201d category.\u00a0 Details can be found on the Amazon Associates Resource Center \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/topic\/t2\/a14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">How are fees calculated in the Classic Fee Structure?<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e21692 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e21692\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4252954\" data-id=\"4252954\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16566e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"16566e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Volume-Based Structure \n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-51db942 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"51db942\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-584b923\" data-id=\"584b923\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a5ce55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a5ce55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While it always excluded certain categories, the Volume-Based model offered commission rates from 4% to 8.5% based on the total number of products that were sold.\u00a0 This was the primary model when we started our research (<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>) and we got our earliest snapshot of the \u201cAssociates Program Advertising Fee Schedule\u201d from the Wayback Machine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b67a5b0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b67a5b0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6ee1a28\" data-id=\"6ee1a28\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b6c22f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9b6c22f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"968\" src=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image1-4-846x1024.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-982\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image1-4-846x1024.png 846w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image1-4-248x300.png 248w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image1-4-768x930.png 768w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image1-4.png 1082w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-370cab7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"370cab7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-540caf6\" data-id=\"540caf6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a2ba27e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a2ba27e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>(<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20101201053354\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees?ie=UTF8&amp;pf_rd_t=501&amp;ref_=amb_link_353005802_10&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_p=&amp;pf_rd_s=assoc-center-1&amp;pf_rd_r=&amp;pf_rd_i=assoc_operating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Image source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>This model was generally applauded by affiliate publishers and was definitely missed when Amazon made its next major change.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-070e1ec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"070e1ec\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6606858\" data-id=\"6606858\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-576815b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"576815b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Fixed fee per Category\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c4a3b1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c4a3b1a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-beccca5\" data-id=\"beccca5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06aa857 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06aa857\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The beloved Volume-Based model disappeared with a major update on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>. With this change, there were 29 new categories introduced with commissions ranging from 0% to 10% and a catch-all category at 4%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7039dd1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7039dd1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-85d22be\" data-id=\"85d22be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0553df elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e0553df\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"713\" src=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image4-2-1024x912.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-983\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image4-2-1024x912.png 1024w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image4-2-300x267.png 300w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image4-2-768x684.png 768w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image4-2.png 1262w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bd89183 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bd89183\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4616b7e\" data-id=\"4616b7e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72e7475 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72e7475\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>(<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170408035141\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Image source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>This model currently holds for the Amazon.com Associates program while the number of categories and the individual rates have changed (see above).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9d00a58 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9d00a58\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba230ca\" data-id=\"ba230ca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9937018 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9937018\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Direct and Indirect Qualifying Purchases\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9adbfc4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9adbfc4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0fcc0c1\" data-id=\"0fcc0c1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4781e03 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4781e03\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the five European Amazon Associates Programs (Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.it, and Amazon.es) a new model is being rolled out that factors in what category the original referral link was for and how it delivered the shopper to Amazon.<\/p>\n<p>While I\u2019ve copied in their language below, I (in my non-legal opinion) decipher it to mean that you\u2019ll be paid a solid rate when you link directly to a product and the shopper buys that product or a product in the same category.\u00a0 Further, if you sell over a certain threshold your commission rate goes up (whoopy!). However, for purchases that are not in the same category as the link your shopper clicked on then you are going to a significantly lower commission rate in the 1.5% range.\u00a0 Finally, if you use a link to search results or a link to a category or brand based landing page, and not a \u201cProduct Details\u201d page (the direct product deep link) then you also won\u2019t qualify for the higher of the commissions.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><i>Standard Program Fees may vary depending on whether a Qualifying Purchase occurs from a customer making a Direct Qualifying Purchase or an Indirect Qualifying Purchase and based on the amount of Qualifying Revenues for a Product Category. A \u201cDirect Qualifying Purchase\u201d means a Qualifying Purchase of a Product in the same Product Category as the Product detail page linked to from the Special Link that resulted in that Qualifying Purchase. An \u201cIndirect Qualifying Purchase\u201d means a Qualifying Purchase of a Product in a different Product Category than the Product detail page linked to from the Special Link that resulted in that Qualifying Purchase. If a Special Link does not link to a Product detail page, then any resulting Qualifying Purchase will be an Indirect Qualifying Purchase. \u201cProduct Category\u201d means the product category of the Product described in the tables below, as determined by us. We will determine the classification of Products in each category described in the Agreement.<\/i><i><br \/><\/i><i>\u2013\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190419150451\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk\/help\/operating\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\"><i>EU Fee Statement Appendix<\/i><\/a><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Initially rolled out in early November of 2018 with an update to the European programs Operating Agreement, there are seven categories that were initially impacted. The model was significantly increased to include 22 categories in a March 1st, 2019 update.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9b5fdaf elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9b5fdaf\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3795f7d\" data-id=\"3795f7d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c7ce88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1c7ce88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"647\" src=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-1024x828.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-984\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-1024x828.png 1024w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-300x243.png 300w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-768x621.png 768w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2-1536x1242.png 1536w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image2.png 1999w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-19fce1a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"19fce1a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7cbe104\" data-id=\"7cbe104\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5074550 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5074550\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>(<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190419150451\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk\/help\/operating\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Image Source<\/a>)<\/p>\n<p>While the initial reaction from our clients and peers has been negative with this new model, time will tell if it has a downward effect on affiliate publishers\u2019 commission rates and by how much.\u00a0 It will also be interesting to see if this model is adopted in the Amazon.com \/ US affiliate program.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8183013 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8183013\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d394b60\" data-id=\"d394b60\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8719866 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8719866\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our Process\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a74c41 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a74c41\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7add53e\" data-id=\"7add53e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0a5534 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0a5534\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There were two main components to digging up this data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>First was my inbox.\u00a0 I tend to save any email that may be useful at a later date.\u00a0 No clue why I thought the notices from Amazon about \u201cChange to the Amazon Associates Program\u201d\u00a0 or \u201cAmazon Associates: Important Program Update\u201d were important to note but for some reason, I saved over 40 of them.\u00a0 These emails often came a week or so before a change in the Operating Agreement, which includes the breakdown of \u201cAdvertising Fees\u201d (aka affiliate commissions) and mentioned the date that the new terms would go into effect.\u00a0 With these emails, I started charting out an approximate timeline of when the Associates Program had a change.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The second part was digging deep in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Internet Archive Wayback Machine<\/a>.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the Wayback Machine can be a bit spotty in its indexing of sites and pages as obscure as the Operating Agreement for Amazon\u2019s affiliate program.\u00a0 But that was okay! I would then find a historic version of the page that included the \u201cAdvertising Fees\u201d table(s) and descriptions, note it, then add the relevant values in a column under the most previous change in the policies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For example, from my inbox, I knew that the effective date for a change was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.28.2013\">August 28, 2013<\/a>, and that there was another one on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2014\">February 1st, 2014<\/a>.\u00a0 So I would find a time that the Wayback Machine had indexed the page I needed between those dates (eg. Sep. 11, 2013), I\u2019d pull up that page and add the commission rates for the various categories mentioned from the table under my heading of the August 28th, 2013 change.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>When there were long gaps between my record of updates I would step through the available snapshots to try and find updates where I may have deleted the email that would have alerted me to it.\u00a0 For these, I don\u2019t have a specific \u201cEffective Date.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f9852c3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f9852c3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8171c93\" data-id=\"8171c93\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-701b50f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"701b50f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Challenges<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-597c241 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"597c241\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9980e96\" data-id=\"9980e96\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ce0b2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7ce0b2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Initially, there were two ways items were commissions \u2014 \u201cFixed Advertising Fee Rates for Specific Product Categories\u201d and \u201cVolume-Based Advertising Fee Rates for General Products\u201d for everything else that didn\u2019t have a specific category.\u00a0 The earliest breakdown of category-specific commission rates, the basis for the rest of this review, only had six categories mentioned. Ultimately we tracked approximately 64 different categories.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to note that of those 64 different product categories,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#nolonger\">not all of them still exist on Amazon<\/a>\u00a0(Eg. \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#endless.com\">Endless.com and smallparts.com Products<\/a>\u201d or \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/a>\u201d), but more importantly, we don\u2019t have a good record of when certain categories were introduced into Amazon.\u00a0 This creates a significant challenge in determining if a product was paid out via \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">Volume-Based<\/a>\u201d rates or not. We do our best to ascertain this and note it below when we do make the assumption it was previously available on the store and would fall into the \u201cVolume-Based\u201d rates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c540fe8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c540fe8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-33f91d1\" data-id=\"33f91d1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a8fddb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5a8fddb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amazon.com Affiliate Commission Rates Timeline\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-53363de elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"53363de\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-96b16f3\" data-id=\"96b16f3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bdf89c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bdf89c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong id=\"12.1.2010\">Approx. December 1, 2010<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t have an email alerting me to a change in policies, as a result, this is as far back as I could find a record on the Wayback Machine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This will be our baseline as its the first instance we were able to find that included the Fixed Advertising rates.\u00a0 There are six product categories:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-256740d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"256740d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ccaa8ca\" data-id=\"ccaa8ca\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4b2494 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4b2494\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Product Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Fixed Advertising Fee Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#endless.com\">Endless.com and smallparts.com Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>15.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalvideo\">Digital Videos (Amazon Instant Video)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalvideogames\">Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalmusic\">Digital Music (Amazon MP3 Products)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#amazongiftcards\">Amazon Gift Cards \/ Gift Cards Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a><\/td>\n<td>6.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#electronics\">Electronics Products (including all Office Products)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ba9633 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ba9633\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f2b2149\" data-id=\"f2b2149\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21b77f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21b77f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An\u00a0<strong>average of these commission rates gives us 9.17%<\/strong>\u00a0and covers\u00a0<strong>six product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Volume-Based rates are displayed as such (and remain consistent until they are phased out in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">spring of 2017<\/a>):\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9e4632b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9e4632b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-92cd427\" data-id=\"92cd427\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f53976e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f53976e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Number of Products Shipped \/ Downloaded in a Month<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Volume-Based Advertising Fee Rates for General Products.\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1-6<\/td>\n<td>4.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7-30<\/td>\n<td>6.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>31-110<\/td>\n<td>6.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>111-320<\/td>\n<td>7.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>321-630<\/td>\n<td>7.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>631-1570<\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1571-3130<\/td>\n<td>8.25%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3131+<\/td>\n<td>8.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-29777d8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"29777d8\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0c73727\" data-id=\"0c73727\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2707b76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2707b76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20101201053816\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees?ie=UTF8&amp;pf_rd_t=501&amp;ref_=amb_link_353005802_5&amp;pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&amp;pf_rd_p=&amp;pf_rd_s=assoc-center-1&amp;pf_rd_r=&amp;pf_rd_i=assoc_operating\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.2.2012\">Approx. May 2, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With this update, two additional categories are introduced:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e6be189 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e6be189\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-80d6948\" data-id=\"80d6948\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-667a1be elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"667a1be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Product Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Fixed Advertising Fee Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>15.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#giftcards\">Gift Cards NOT Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4ca2120 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4ca2120\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c390abd\" data-id=\"c390abd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d106d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1d106d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u00a0The\u00a0<strong>average commission rate increases slightly to 9.25%<\/strong>\u00a0and is for\u00a0<strong>eight product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>No observed changes in commission rates.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120502000940\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"10.15.2012\">Approx. Oct 15, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Three additional categories were introduced:\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea54305 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea54305\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ad83dcb\" data-id=\"ad83dcb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b25550a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b25550a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Product Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Fixed Advertising Fee Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#magazines\">Magazine Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>25.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#industrial\">Industrial (&amp; Business) Products and AmazonSupply.com<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#grocery\">Grocery Products (including Prime Pantry)<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9f0eeec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9f0eeec\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-334ee63\" data-id=\"334ee63\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1565936 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1565936\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#endless.com\">Endless.com and smallparts.com Products<\/a>\u201d category disappeared.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/a>\u201d category saw its commission rate gets cut from 15% to 8%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>average commission rate drops by .35% to 8.9%<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>covers 10 categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20121015132925\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"1.12.2013\">Approx. Jan 12, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Again, I don\u2019t have a record of an email announcing the change so this is the next time we noticed a change.\u00a0 This noticeable change was the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#digitalmusic\">Digital Music (Amazon MP3 Products)<\/a>\u201d category had its commissions cut in half, from 10% to 5%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This drops the\u00a0<strong>average category-based commission rate a full half of a percent to 8.4%<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>covers 10 categories<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130112203854\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"3.1.2013\">March 1, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>For this change, we had an email alerting us to an update to the Operating Agreement.\u00a0 With this update, the category \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#local\">Products available on AmazonLocal (local.amazon.com)<\/a>\u201d was introduced at 6%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<strong>average commission category-based commission rate dropped again to 8.18%<\/strong>\u00a0and is now for\u00a0<strong>11 categories<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130429074308\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"7.1.2013\">July 1, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An email indicated there was an update with the effective date of July 1st, 2013 but I wasn\u2019t able to find a snapshot from the Wayback Machine to compare commission rates.<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"8.1.2013\">August 1, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We have an email that preferenced this update and with it, we saw:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#digitalvideo\">Digital Videos (Amazon Instant Video)<\/a>\u201d drop from 10% to 5%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#headphones\">Headphones Products<\/a>\u201d made its debut at 6%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#videogamesconsole\">Video Game Console Products<\/a>\u201d was introduced at 4%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After these updates,\u00a0<strong>the average for category-based commissions dropped again to 7.31%<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>covers 13 categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130826063706\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"8.28.2013\">August 28, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Less than a month later another update is announced by email to alert Associates to the introduction of a separate break out of fees specifically for Mobile.\u00a0 To keep things simple, we are not tracking the evolution of these mobile applications but for the sake of a quick comparison, and chronicling the evolution of Amazon.com Associates rates, we\u2019ve included a table of the new rates and how they compare to the \u201cStandard\u201d (non-mobile) payouts.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-57e56f6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"57e56f6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ec8bf82\" data-id=\"ec8bf82\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7ad4b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d7ad4b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Product Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Fixed Advertising Fees (for Mobile)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Comparison to General\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#electronics\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electronics Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalmusic\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon MP3 Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalvideo\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon Instant Video Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#digitalvideogames\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Game Downloads Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10% (5% more)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#amazongiftcards\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gift Cards Redeemable on Amazon.com<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#giftcards\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gift Cards NOT Redeemable on Amazon.com<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%\u00a0 (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#magazines\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magazine Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25% (19% more)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#grocery\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grocery Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#videogamesconsole\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Video Game Console Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#headphones\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headphones Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6% (no difference)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#industrial\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industrial Products<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8% (2% more)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Products available on any site other than www.amazon.com<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">0%<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8% for Myhabit.com<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8% for Amazonsupply.com<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6% for local.Amazon.com<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2737901 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2737901\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-213e9f0\" data-id=\"213e9f0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a64f5e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a64f5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There were no changes, additions, or subtractions in the category based commission rates and\u00a0<strong>the average percent stayed at 7.31%<\/strong>\u00a0for\u00a0<strong>13 product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20130911052946\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"2.1.2014\">February 1, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early February update includes two major changes:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#videogames\">Video Games category<\/a>\u00a0drops from 4% to 1%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#magazines\">Magazine Products category<\/a>, previously at 25%, disappears.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these updates, the\u00a0<strong>average for category-based commissions dropped again to 5.58%<\/strong>\u00a0and is now for\u00a0<strong>12 product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20140215173933\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.15.2014\">May 15, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I have an email alerting me to this change but I was not able to find a snapshot on the Wayback Machine to find what changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"7.4.2014\">July 4, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While I don\u2019t have an email record a specific update, the next change in commission rates the Wayback Machine has a record of is for early July.\u00a0 This update simply included the introduction of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#coins\">Amazon Coins<\/a>\u00a0at a 10% commission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At this point, the\u00a0<strong>average for the category-based commissions raises up slightly to 5.92%<\/strong>\u00a0from its record low of 5.58%.\u00a0<strong>The category count also increases to 13<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20140704210927\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"12.24.2014\">Dec 24, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The next noticeable change we found via the Wayback Machine was for the inclusion of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#dvd\">DVD (&amp; Blu-Ray) Products<\/a>\u201d at 4% and of \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry Products<\/a>\u201d at 10%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With these two additions, the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate for category-based commissions climbs slightly to 6.07%<\/strong>\u00a0and now\u00a0<strong>covers 15 product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20141224210120\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.6.2015\">May 6, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Wayback Machine\u2019s next snapshot that included a change in commission rates see a few changes:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#firetv\">Amazon Fire TV<\/a>\u00a0is introduced at 7%.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u00a0is also introduced at 7%.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry products<\/a>, which debuted in the previous update at 10%, is now gone.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>A category for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#kindle\">Kindle tablets, Kindle e-readers, and Fire Phone<\/a>\u00a0arrives with a 4% rate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Including these three new additions and one subtraction, the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate for category-based commissions dropped slightly to 5.82%<\/strong>\u00a0and now\u00a0<strong>covers 17 product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150506231837\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"6.1.2015\">June 1, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An email alerted me to a change in Operating Agreement but no noticeable changes were made with regards to the commission rates.\u00a0 The category-based commission table still includes\u00a0<strong>17 product categories<\/strong>\u00a0and has an\u00a0<strong>average of 5.82%<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"9.1.2015\">September 1, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The September first update was announced via email and included two noticeable, albeit low commission, categories:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#pccomponent\">PC Component Products<\/a>\u00a0were introduced at 2.5%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#tvs\">Television Products<\/a>\u00a0were included at 2%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With a total of\u00a0<strong>19 product categories<\/strong>\u00a0defined now, the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate drops again to a new low of 5.45%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150902183159\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"10.8.2015\">October 8, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early October update included an announcement via email that there would be a 1-month limited boost for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Echo<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry categories<\/a>.\u00a0 We also these changes to the category-based commission table:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>As announced, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u00a0goes from 7% to 10%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Again, as announced,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry Products<\/a>\u00a0are reintroduced at 10%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#handmade\">Handmade products<\/a>\u201d are introduced at 4%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now with\u00a0<strong>21 product categories<\/strong>\u00a0specifically defined and these temporary boosts,<strong>\u00a0the average commission rate for these product categories rises to 5.74%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20151127064822\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"12.1.2015\">December 1, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While I received an email to announce a change in the Operating Agreement the Wayback Machine didn\u2019t have a snapshot for us to review and look for commission rate changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"1.1.2016\">January 1, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the announced new year update we see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u00a0drop back from its temporary boost of 10% back down to 7%.\u00a0 We also see the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry category<\/a>\u00a0disappear after the limited boost.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The surprise with this update was the disappearance of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#local\">Products available on AmazonLocal (local.amazon.com)<\/a>\u201d from the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Dropping back down to\u00a0<strong>19 product categories<\/strong>, the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate for these product categories also drops to its record low of 5.34%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20160116112402\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/gp\/associates\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"2.1.2016\">February 1, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An email announced the early February changes to the Operating Agreement but we didn\u2019t see a difference in the commission rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"4.1.2016\">April 1, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Again, I received an email announcing changes to the Associates Operating Agreement but these changes did not seem to affect the commission rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.15.2016\">May 15, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With this announced change I wasn\u2019t able to find a Wayback Machine snapshot in the correct time frame in order to compare rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"8.1.2016\">August 1, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early August update, announced by email, had two categories, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#handmade\">Handmade Products<\/a>\u201d and\u00a0\u00a0\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/a>\u201d, disappear.\u00a0 We also saw the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#amazongiftcards\">Amazon Gift Cards \/ Gift Cards Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a>\u201d category drop from 6% to 2%.<\/p>\n<p>With\u00a0<strong>two fewer categories, 17 total<\/strong>\u00a0now, the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate for the product category based commission table dropped to a new record low of 5.03%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20161020192633\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/advertisingfees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"1.1.2017\">January 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The new year update for 2017 saw a general overhaul for both page and the general terms surrounding the commission rates.\u00a0 This included listing the product categories alphabetically now.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>However, with these visual changes, there were no changes to the\u00a0<strong>actual number of categories listed (17 still)<\/strong>\u00a0or the commission rates (<strong>an average of 5.03%<\/strong>\u00a0still).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170106214433\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies#Associates%20Program%20Fee%20Statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"2.1.2017\">February 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early February update saw the removal of a single, high commissioning category \u2014\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#digitalvideogames\">Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 which paid out at 10%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Dropping down to\u00a0<strong>16 categories<\/strong>\u00a0also pushed the average commission rate across all of the product category commission tables down to a new\u00a0<strong>low of 4.72%<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170221062640\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"4.1.2017\">April 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The update on April Fool\u2019s day 2017 took Associates by shock, it was a major restructuring of how the Amazon.com Associates program paid out commissions.\u00a0 The change completely eliminated the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based program<\/a>\u00a0and gave a specific commission rate to each category.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As a result, the number of specific categories called out jumped nearly 3X from 16 categories to 45.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The new categories were:\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-466e33b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"466e33b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f6afa17\" data-id=\"f6afa17\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c18bc2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c18bc2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table style=\"letter-spacing: -0.015em;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Category<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Commission Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#apparel\">Apparel<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#automotive\">Automotive<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#baby\">Baby Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#beauty\">Beauty<\/a><\/td>\n<td>6.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#furniture\">Furniture<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#handbags\">Handbags &amp; Accessories<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#health\">Health &amp; Personal Care<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#home\">Home<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#homeimprovement\">Home Improvement<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#kitchen\">Kitchen<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#lawn\">Lawn &amp; Garden<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#luggage\">Luggage<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#luxury\">Luxury Beauty<\/a><\/td>\n<td>10.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#musical\">Musical Instruments<\/a><\/td>\n<td>6.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#outdoors\">Outdoors<\/a><\/td>\n<td>5.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#pantry\">Pantry<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#pc\">PC<\/a><\/td>\n<td>2.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#pets\">Pets Products<\/a><\/td>\n<td>8.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#books\">Physical Books<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#music\">Physical Music<\/a><\/td>\n<td>5.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#shoes\">Shoes<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#sports\">Sports<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#tools\">Tools<\/a><\/td>\n<td>5.50%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#toys\">Toys<\/a><\/td>\n<td>3.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#videogames\">Video Games<\/a><\/td>\n<td>1.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#watches\">Watches<\/a><\/td>\n<td>7.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#wine\">Wine<\/a><\/td>\n<td>0.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a><\/td>\n<td>4.00%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-283912d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"283912d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7dc65e9\" data-id=\"7dc65e9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f98fb6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3f98fb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Other noticeable changes included:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#amazongiftcards\">Amazon Gift Cards \/ Gift Cards Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a>\u201d category dropped from 2% to 0%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#digitalvideogames\">Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products<\/a>\u201d disappeared with the prior update but is back at its previous 10% rate.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#dvd\">DVD (&amp; Blu-Ray) Products<\/a>\u00a0dropped from 4% to 2.5%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#grocery\">Grocery Products (including Prime Pantry)<\/a>\u00a0jumped up from 4% to 5%.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#handmade\">Handmade Products<\/a>\u00a0re-entered at a higher rate of 5% (previously at 4%).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#industrial\">Industrial (&amp; Business) Products and AmazonSupply.com<\/a>\u00a0dropped from 8% to 6%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry Products<\/a>\u00a0entered back at 7%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#electronics\">Electronics Products (including all Office Products)<\/a>\u00a0disappeared.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#giftcards\">Gift Cards NOT Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/a>\u00a0disappeared.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The major change did push the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate up to 5.41%<\/strong>\u00a0(over the\u00a0<strong>45 categories<\/strong>).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170408035141\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.1.2017\">May 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The update to the Operating Agreement in early May was announced via email, but I was unable to find a snapshot of the changes on the Wayback Machine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"6.1.2017\">June 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The update in commissions for June 2017 was solely for Amazon related products.\u00a0 We saw:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Introduction of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#firetablet\">Amazon Fire Tablet<\/a>\u201d category at 8%.<\/li>\n<li>Introduction of a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#dash\">Dash Buttons<\/a>\u201d category at 8%.<\/li>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#kindle\">Kindle tablets, Kindle e-readers, and Fire Phone<\/a>\u201d category rose from 4% to 8%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these additions and upgrades, the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate rose again to 5.61%<\/strong>, which now covers\u00a0<strong>47 categories<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20170611055547\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The July 2017 update had a number of changes to the commission rates.\u00a0 These included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Introduction of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#fashionwomen\">Amazon Fashion Women<\/a>\u201d category at 10%.<\/li>\n<li>Introduction of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#elementsmarttv\">Amazon Element Smart TV (w\/ Fire TV)<\/a>\u201d category at 7%.<\/li>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u201d category goes up from 7% to 8%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#handmade\">Handmade Products<\/a>\u201d also jumps up from 5% to 6%.<\/li>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#menkidsprivatelabel\">Men &amp; Kids Private Label<\/a>\u201d category debuted at 10%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The categories table now covers<strong>\u00a050 different product categories<\/strong>.\u00a0 With these bumps in commission,\u00a0<strong>the average commission rose to 5.85%<\/strong>, the highest it\u2019s been since Dec of 2014.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20171012062735\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies#Associates%20Program%20Fee%20Statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"12.1.2017\">December 1, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Two updates in early December both saw commission rates drop.\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#digitalvideogames\">Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products<\/a>\u201d category sank down to 2% from 10%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#handmade\">Handmade Products<\/a>\u201d category drops from 6% to 5%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Still, at\u00a0<strong>50 categories<\/strong>\u00a0the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate dropped to 5.67%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20171208004342\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies#Associates%20Program%20Fee%20Statement\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"1.1.2018\">January 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The new year 2018 update, with regards to commission rates, looks to have been focused on readjusting holiday incentives for Amazon products.\u00a0 This update saw the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#firetablet\">Amazon Fire Tablet<\/a>\u201d, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#dash\">Dash Buttons<\/a>\u201d, and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#kindle\">Kindle tablets, Kindle e-readers, and Fire Phone<\/a>\u201d categories all drop to 4% from their previous rate of 8%.\u00a0 The update also saw the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u201d category drop from 8% to 7%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Still at\u00a0<strong>50 categories<\/strong>, the drop across these four categories dropped the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate to 5.41%<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180222194712\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"3.2.2018\">March 2, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A Mach 2018 update was announced but I was unable to find a timely snapshot on the Wayback Machine to check for commission rate changes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.2.2018\">May 2, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early May update didn\u2019t have any visible changes to the commission rates.\u00a0 There continue to be\u00a0<strong>50 categories<\/strong>\u00a0and the\u00a0<strong>average across them is still 5.41%<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180524220744\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"6.1.2018\">June 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early June 2018 update included the introduction of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#fresh\">Amazon Fresh<\/a>\u201d category which debuted at a 3% commission rate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This brings the total up to\u00a0<strong>51 categories<\/strong>\u00a0but also brings the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate down to 5.36%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180602053837\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"7.1.2018\">July 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The update in early July 2018 was announced by email but I could not find a Wayback Machine snapshot to compare commission rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"8.1.2018\">August 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Again an update to the Operating Agreement was announced by email but the Wayback Machine didn\u2019t have a snapshot of the appropriate time period.\u00a0 Therefore I was not able to compare historical commission rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"9.1.2018\">September 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>September 2018s update included the introduction of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#cloudcam\">Amazon Cloud Cam Devices<\/a>\u201d debut with a 7% commission rate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With this bump up to\u00a0<strong>52 categories<\/strong>\u00a0the\u00a0<strong>average commission rate also bumps up slightly to 5.39%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20180926165057\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/policies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"10.1.2018\">October 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The early October 2018 update had two major categories of changes for commissions as well as moving to a new page on the Amazon.com Associates site.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Three categories including \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u201d, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#watches\">Watches<\/a>\u201d, and \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#wine\">Wine<\/a>\u201d disappeared.\u00a0 Note, Wine had always been at a 0% commission rate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, six new categories were introduced, all at 0%.\u00a0 These categories included:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Wireless Service Plans<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Alcohol<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Digital Kindle Products purchased as a subscription<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Food prepared and delivered from a restaurant<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Amazon Appstore<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Prime Now, Amazon Pay Places, or Prime Wardrobe\u00a0 Purchases<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these changes, t<strong>he average commission rate dropped substantially from 5.39% to 4.85%<\/strong>.\u00a0 The new total number of categories, after the disappearances and new additions, ended up at\u00a0<strong>55<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181026122748\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"11.1.2018\">November 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The November 2018 update of the Operating Agreement didn\u2019t appear to have any changes to the commission rates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20181118043246\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"12.1.2018\">December 1, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The end of the year update for 2018 had a few additions.\u00a0 These included:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u201d category comes back at 7%.<\/li>\n<li>The \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#ring\">Ring Devices<\/a>\u201d category debuts at 7%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>After a few month hiatus, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#watches\">Watches category<\/a>\u00a0comes back at 7%.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these three categories added, there is\u00a0<strong>58 total<\/strong>\u00a0now with an\u00a0<strong>average commission rate of\u00a0<\/strong><strong>4.96%<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190110000701\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/operating\/schedule\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"3.1.2019\">March 1, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>An update to the Operating Agreement was announced by email, with an effective date for the first of March, but the Wayback Machine didn\u2019t have a snapshot within the appropriate time period.\u00a0 Therefore I was not able to compare historical commission rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"4.1.2019\">April 1, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The update in early April 2019 was announced by email but I again could not find a Wayback Machine snapshot to compare commission rates.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"5.1.2019\">May 1, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Henceforth, I declare the May 1st, 2019 Amazon.com Associates Operating Agreement update as the \u201cFour Percent\u201d update as 13 of the 14 changes were from categories being dropped down to a 4% commission rate.\u00a0 These included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#cloudcam\">Amazon Cloud Cam Devices<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#fashionwomen\">Amazon Fashion Women<\/a>\u201d from 10% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#elementsmarttv\">Amazon Element Smart TV (w\/ Fire TV)<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#firetv\">Amazon Fire TV<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#echo\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#apparel\">Apparel<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#handbags\">Handbags &amp; Accessories<\/a>\u201d dropped from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#jewelry\">Jewelry Products<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#luggage\">Luggage<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#menkidsprivatelabel\">Men &amp; Kids Private Label<\/a>\u201d from 10% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#ring\">Ring Devices<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#shoes\">Shoes<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#watches\">Watches<\/a>\u201d from 7% to 4%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The other change was that of the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#dash\">Dash Buttons<\/a>\u201d category disappearing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With the substantial number of drops in commission,\u00a0<strong>the average rate hits an all-time low of 4.18%<\/strong>\u00a0across the\u00a0<strong>57 categories<\/strong>\u00a0that were mentioned.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190505034540\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/node\/topic\/GRXPHT8U84RAYDXZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"6.1.2019\">June 1, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the early June 2019 update, there appears to not be any changes in commission rates.\u00a0 There are still\u00a0<strong>57 categories<\/strong>\u00a0with an\u00a0<strong>average commission rate of 4.18%<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20190629062223\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/node\/topic\/GRXPHT8U84RAYDXZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"10.1.2019\">October 1, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The October 2019 update appears not to have any changes in commission rates.\u00a0 There continue to be\u00a0<strong>57 categories<\/strong>\u00a0with an\u00a0<strong>average commission rate of 4.18%<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20191022001449\/https:\/\/affiliate-program.amazon.com\/help\/node\/topic\/GRXPHT8U84RAYDXZ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"1.1.2020\">January 1, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The New Year 2020 update again appears not to have any changes in commission rates.\u00a0 Across the\u00a0<strong>57 categories<\/strong>\u00a0included in the table, there continues to be an\u00a0<strong>average commission rate of 4.18%<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon made major cuts to 17 categories. \u00a0These changes included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#furniture\">Furniture<\/a>, from 8% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#home\">Home<\/a>, from 8% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#homeimprovement\">Home Improvement<\/a>,\u00a0from 8% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#lawn\">Lawn &amp; Garden<\/a>,\u00a0from 8% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#pets\">Pets Products<\/a>,\u00a0from 8% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#pantry\">Pantry<\/a>, from 8% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#headphones\">Headphones<\/a>, from 6% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#beauty\">Beauty<\/a>, from 6% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#musical\">Musical Instruments<\/a>, from 6% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#industrial\">Business &amp; Industrial Supplies<\/a>, from 6% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#outdoors\">Outdoors<\/a>, from 5.5% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#tools\">Tools<\/a>,\u00a0from 5.5% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#grocery\">Grocery<\/a>,\u00a0from 5% to 1%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#sports\">Sports<\/a>,\u00a0from 4.5% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#baby\">Baby Products<\/a>,\u00a0from 4.5% to 3%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#health\">Health &amp; Personal Care<\/a>,\u00a0from 4.5% to 1%<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#fresh\">Amazon Fresh<\/a>,\u00a0from 3% to 1%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d1fbf4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d1fbf4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b28ab7a\" data-id=\"b28ab7a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b67c47a elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b67c47a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"377\" src=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.57.24-AM-1024x483.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-985\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.57.24-AM-1024x483.png 1024w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.57.24-AM-300x141.png 300w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.57.24-AM-768x362.png 768w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.57.24-AM-1536x724.png 1536w, https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-14-at-11.57.24-AM.png 1850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d65580 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d65580\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-01ca004\" data-id=\"01ca004\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-edda3cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"edda3cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>15 of the 17 categories\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#nochange\">had not previously seen any changes to their rates<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These changes leave Amazon still at\u00a0<strong>57 categories<\/strong>\u00a0but pushed the\u00a0<strong>average commission to it\u2019s lowest ever rate of 3.14%<\/strong>, nearly 1\/3 of where we started tracking it in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December of 2010<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3289624 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3289624\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9eb9434\" data-id=\"9eb9434\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d219b01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d219b01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Amazon Affiliate Commission Rates By Category<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-44d34e3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"44d34e3\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e3ad8ae\" data-id=\"e3ad8ae\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffd611f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ffd611f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong id=\"cloudcam\">Amazon Cloud Cam Devices<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cAmazon Cloud Cam Devices\u201d product category made its debut with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#9.1.2018\">September 1, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update, at a 7% commission rate. The rate was dropped to 4% on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1, 2019<\/a>, update.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"coins\">Amazon Coins<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>Amazon Coins got its own category sometime between\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.15.2014\">May 15th, 2014<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.4.2014\">July 4, 2014<\/a>.\u00a0 They debuted with a 10% rate and have stayed consistent ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"echo\">Amazon Echo<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Introduced on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.6.2015\">May 6th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update at 7%.\u00a0 The category jumped up to 10% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.8.2015\">October 8th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update (the Jewelry category was the other one that got a bump at this time).\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The commission rate was back down to 7% by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2016\">January 1st, 2016<\/a>\u00a0update and stayed at this rate until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.1.2017\">July 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update where it was bumped to 8%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2017\">December 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update saw 8% as well but the next update,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2018\">January 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0saw the rate reduced again to 7%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.1.2018\">October 1st<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#11.1.2018\">November 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0updates, the Amazon Echo category wasn\u2019t specifically mentioned so it could be assumed the category was bunded into the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d bucket of 4%.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2018\">December 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update had the rate back to 7%, though the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update saw the rate fall to 4% where it has stayed and is currently at.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"elementsmarttv\">Amazon Element Smart TV<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Amazon Amazon Element Smart TV (w\/ Fire TV) category was introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at 7%, and carried that rate until\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update where the rate was dropped to 4%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"fashionwomen\">Amazon Fashion Women<\/strong>\u00a0(60% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Amazon Fashion Women category was introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at 10%, and stayed that way until\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update where the rate was dropped to 4%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"firetablet\">Amazon Fire Tablet<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Fire Tablet was introduced as an independent category with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#6.1.2017\">June 1, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update and had a rate of 8%.\u00a0 This rate only lasted through the end of the year as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2018\">January 1, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update halved the commission to 4% where it has stayed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"firetv\">Amazon Fire TV<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Fire TV got its own category sometime in the winter or spring of 2015 (first seen with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.6.2015\">May 6, 2015<\/a>\u00a0snapshot).\u00a0 We noticed it launch with a 7% commission rate. This rate held steady for a number of years and it wasn\u2019t until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.5.2019\">May 5, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update where the rate was dropped to 4%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"fresh\">Amazon Fresh<\/strong>\u00a0(67% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Amazon Fresh category first appeared with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#6.1.2018\">June 1, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update at a rate of 3%. \u00a0The rate dropped to 1% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"amazongiftcards\">Amazon Gift Cards \/ Gift Cards Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/strong>\u00a0(100% drop)<\/p>\n<p>One of the original categories that were specifically designated, this category was initially at 6% at the earliest update we have \u2013\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>.\u00a0 The 6% rate holds until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.1.2016\">August 1st, 2016<\/a>\u00a0update where it\u2019s dropped to 2%. With the massive overhaul of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>, the category is moved to 0% and been stuck there ever since.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"local\">AmazonLocal (local.amazon.com)<\/strong>\u00a0(unknown)<\/p>\n<p>The AmazonLocal category first showed up with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#3.1.2013\">March 1st, 2013<\/a>\u00a0update at a 6% commission rate.\u00a0 That rate held through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.8.2015\">October 8th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2016\">January 1st, 2016<\/a>\u00a0update no longer included AmazonLocal so we are unsure if it defaulted to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based model<\/a>\u00a0or commissions were no longer paid for the category.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"apparel\">Apparel<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Apparel category debuted with the major commission rate shift on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0at 7%.\u00a0 With the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update the category was dropped to 4% at which it currently stays.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"automotive\">Automotive<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>Automotive was declared its own category with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update and came out at 4.5%.\u00a0 The rate has stayed consistent and is at the same rate today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"baby\">Baby Products<\/strong>\u00a0(33% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Baby Products category was carved off with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at the 4.5% rate and dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"beauty\">Beauty<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Also debuting with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0changeup, the category launched at 6%.\u00a0 The rate dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"dash\">Dash Buttons<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Dash Buttons category was introduced in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#6.1.2017\">June 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at 8% and held this rate until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2018\">January 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 At that point, the new rate was 4% which they held until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update where they were no longer specifically called out. This could imply that they were moved to the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d bucket of the same 4% or Amazon stopped selling them.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"&lt;a href=\" class=\"wpil_internal_link\">Digitalmusic\u201d&gt;Digital Music (Amazon MP3 Products)<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Digital Music, aka Amazon MP3 Products, was one of the original categories introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 They were rolled out at a 10% commission rate that has held until\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.12.2013\">January 12th, 2013<\/a>\u00a0where the rate was cut in half to 5%.\u00a0 That 5% rate has held strong ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"digitalvideo\">Digital Videos (Amazon Instant Video)<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Digital Videos category follows a nearly identical story as Digital Music.\u00a0 It was one of the few categories that was defined in our earliest research (<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>) and was at a 10% rate.\u00a0 That rate dropped by half with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.1.2013\">August 1, 2013<\/a>\u00a0update and still holds today at 5%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"digitalvideogames\">Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products<\/strong>\u00a0(80% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Another of the categories that were specifically broken out in our earliest research (<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>) the category also started at 10%.\u00a0 This rate held longer than Digital Videos and Digital Music and it wasn\u2019t until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2017\">December 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update that the rate got cut to 2%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Note that the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2017\">Feb. 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update doesn\u2019t seem to include a specific mention of this category so it might be assumed that the category was bundled in with the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d category of 4%.\u00a0 Or it was simply a mistaken omission.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Digital Video Games \/ Game Downloads Products category is still at 2% today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"dvd\">DVD (&amp; Blu-Ray) Products<\/strong>\u00a0(38% drop)<\/p>\n<p>First broken out with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.24.2014\">December, 24th 2014<\/a>\u00a0update, the category was initially set at 4%.\u00a0 This rate held until the major update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0where the category was dropped down to 2.5%.\u00a0 The 2.5% rate holds through to today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"electronics\">Electronics Products (including all Office Products)<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The Electronics category goes back to our earliest snapshot of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>\u00a0where it was placed at 4%.\u00a0 This rate held steady through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2017\">February 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update, but then the major update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0it disappeared.\u00a0 This would imply that if a specific subcategory wasn\u2019t called out (eg. PC) then the products previously in this category would fall into the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d bucket of the same 4%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"endless.com\">Endless.com and smallparts.com Products<\/strong>\u00a0(unknown)<\/p>\n<p>This category was one of the originals we discovered with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">December 1st, 2010<\/a>\u00a0snapshot.\u00a0 The category was at a solid 15%. The next snapshot we saw, for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.2.2012\">May 2nd, 2012<\/a>\u00a0was the last one that included this category.\u00a0 We are unsure if the products on Endless.com and smallparts.com then reverted to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based model<\/a>\u00a0or if no commissions were paid going forward.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"furniture\">Furniture<\/strong>\u00a0(63% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Furniture category showed up with the major shift of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>.\u00a0 The commission rate was set at 8% and dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"giftcards\">Gift Cards NOT Redeemable on the Amazon Site<\/strong>\u00a0(unknown)<\/p>\n<p>Unlike the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#amazongiftcards\">Amazon Gift Cards category<\/a>\u00a0that debuted on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2010\">the first snapshot<\/a>\u00a0at 6%, the \u201cGift Cards NOT Redeemable on the Amazon Site\u201d was introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.2.2012\">May 2nd, 2012<\/a>\u00a0update at a 4% commission rate.\u00a0 The rate held through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2017\">February 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update but disappeared with the major update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>. It\u2019s unknown if this category was then included in the 4% \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d bucket or if this type of gift cards no longer yielded a commission on Amazon.com.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"grocery\">Grocery Products (including Prime Pantry)<\/strong>\u00a0(75% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Grocery Products category was first called out with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.15.2012\">October 15, 2012<\/a>\u00a0update at a 4% rate.\u00a0 With the major update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>, the Grocery Products category was one of only two that saw an increase in its commission rate, going from 4% to 5%. Unfortunately, the rate\u00a0dropped to 1% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"handbags\">Handbags &amp; Accessories<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Handbags &amp; Accessories category was first seen with the major\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 The initial commission rate was 7%. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update had the rate reduced to 4% which is where the rate still holds today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"handmade\">Handmade Products<\/strong>\u00a0(25% increase)<\/p>\n<p>Handmade Products got its own category designation with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.8.2015\">October 8th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update and debuted at 4%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly the category disappeared for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.1.2016\">August 1st, 2016<\/a>, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2017\">January 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2017\">February 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0updates.\u00a0 This would imply that it temporarily fell back into the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">Volume Based model<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update, the category was re-introduced at a higher commission rate of 5%.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The category got a short term bump up to 6% for the second half of 2017.\u00a0 The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.1.2017\">July 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update listed it at 6% but then the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2017\">December 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update saw the rate reduced again to 5%.\u00a0 The category still holds at 5% today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"headphones\">Headphones Products<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Initially introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.1.2013\">August 1st, 2013<\/a>\u00a0update, at 6%, the category dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"health\">Health &amp; Personal Care<\/strong>\u00a0(78% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Health &amp; Personal Care category was introduced with the major reshuffle of the Amazon.com Associates program on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>.\u00a0 The initial rate was 4.5% and that has dropped to 1% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"home\">Home<\/strong>\u00a0(63% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Home category got defined with the major update on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0and at an 8% rate. That rate dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"homeimprovement\">Home Improvement<\/strong>\u00a0(63% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Following the same story as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#home\">Home<\/a>\u00a0category, the Home Improvement category debuted on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>, at 8%, and dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"industrial\">Industrial (&amp; Business) Products and AmazonSupply.com\u00a0<\/strong>(63% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Introduced on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.15.2012\">October 15th, 2012<\/a>\u00a0update, the initial rate was 8%.\u00a0 With the major update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>, the commission rate was dropped to 6%, then\u00a0dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"jewelry\">Jewelry Products\u00a0<\/strong>(60% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Jewelry category was initially called out on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.24.2014\">December 24th, 2014<\/a>\u00a0update at a whopping 10%.\u00a0 However, the next update,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.6.2015\">May 6th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0saw the category disappear again implying that the category was moved back to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based program<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The same thing happened with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.8.2015\">October 8th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update where the Jewelry category was reintroduced at 10% but then disappears by the next update we have records for,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2016\">January 1st, 2016<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>With the major update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>, the category is reintroduced at 7% where it stays until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update which saw the commission rates drop to 4% where it is at today.\u00a0<b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"kindle\">Kindle tablets, Kindle e-readers, and Fire Phone<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>Initially introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.6.2015\">May 6th, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update, at 4%, the Kindle tablets, Kindle e-readers, and Fire Phone category then doubled to 8% for three updates (<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#6.1.2017\">June 1st, 2017<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.1.2017\">July 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2017\">December 1st, 2017<\/a>).\u00a0 The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#1.1.2018\">January 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update saw the rate back to 4% where it\u2019s held ever since.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"kitchen\">Kitchen<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The Kitchen category was defined with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update, at 4.5%, and has stayed at that rate ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"lawn\">Lawn &amp; Garden<\/strong>\u00a0(63% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Lawn &amp; Garden was introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at a solid 8% commission rate.\u00a0 That rate dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"luggage\">Luggage<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Luggage category kicked off at 7% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 That rate held until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update where it was cut down to 4% for which it still sits today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"luxury\">Luxury Beauty<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The Luxury Beauty category spun out of the major\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at a solid 10% commission rate which it holds through to today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"magazines\">Magazines<\/strong>\u00a0(unknown)<\/p>\n<p>With the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.15.2012\">October 15th, 2012<\/a>\u00a0snapshot we found \u201cMagazine Products\u201d have a huge commission rate of 25%.\u00a0 Unfortunately, while the rate stayed the same this category only existed through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.28.2013\">August 28th, 2013<\/a>\u00a0update and disappeared with the subsequent\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2014\">February 1st, 2014<\/a>\u00a0change.\u00a0 We are unsure if the rate then dropped to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based model<\/a>\u00a0or went to zero.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"menkidsprivatelabel\">Men &amp; Kids Private Label<\/strong>\u00a0(60% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#7.1.2017\">July 1, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update, the category started at 10% a commission rate.\u00a0 The rate was later reduced to 4% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"musical\">Musical Instruments<\/strong>\u00a0(50% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Musical Instruments came online as an independent category with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at 6% and dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"myhabit\">Myhabit.com Products<\/strong>\u00a0(47% drop)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMyhabit.com Products\u201d was a category that showed up with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.2.2012\">May 2nd, 2012<\/a>\u00a0snapshot and initially was placed with a 15% commission.\u00a0 This high rate dropped by nearly half, to 8%, with the next snapshot, on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.15.2012\">October 15th, 2012<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The rate stayed at 8% until the category disappeared with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.1.2016\">August 1st, 2016<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"outdoors\">Outdoors<\/strong>\u00a0(45% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Outdoors category launched with the major commission rate update of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0with a 5.5% commission rate.\u00a0 That rate dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"pantry\">Pantry<\/strong>\u00a0(63% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Pantry category debuted with the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/4.1.7.225\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update and at an 8% commission dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"pc\">PC<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The PC category, not to be confused with the \u201cPC Component Products\u201d category, was introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at a 2.5% commission rate.\u00a0 It still holds that rate today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"pccomponent\">PC Component Products<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>Initially introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#9.1.2015\">September 1st, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update, the commission rate of 2.5% (the same as the PC category), has held consistent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"pets\">Pets Products<\/strong>\u00a0(63% drop<\/p>\n<p>The Pets Products category premiered with the major\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at an 8% commission rate.\u00a0 That rate\u00a0dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"books\">Physical Books<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The product category that Amazon started with didn\u2019t get carved off for its own until the major\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update, before which it was on the volume-based model.\u00a0 The initial rate of 4.5% was set then and continues through today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"music\">Physical Music<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The old school Physical Music category was specifically defined as a category with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update where it was previously under the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based model<\/a>.\u00a0 The debut rate was 5%, which still holds today.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"ring\">Ring Devices<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Ring Devices got their own category with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2018\">December 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update and debuted at 7%.\u00a0 That rate didn\u2019t last long and with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update the rate was down to 4% where it still holds today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"shoes\">Shoes<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Shoes, as a category, were introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update at 7%.\u00a0 That rate held until the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update where the rate was dropped to 4%, where it still holds today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"sports\">Sports<\/strong>\u00a0(33% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Sports category first appeared at 4.5% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 The rate dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"tvs\">Television Products<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>With the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#9.1.2015\">September 1st, 2015<\/a>\u00a0update, the Television Products category was introduced with a 2% commission rate.\u00a0 The same 2% commission rate is still in effect today.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"tools\">Tools<\/strong>\u00a0(45% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0Tools category was also launched with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update with a 5.5% commission rate. The rate\u00a0dropped to 3% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.21.2020\">April 21, 2020<\/a>\u00a0update.<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"toys\">Toys<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>Launched with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update, the Toys category started with a 3% commission rate that still holds strong today.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"videogames\">Video Games<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The inauguration of the\u00a0Video Games category saw a paltry 1% commission rate with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 That 1% commission rate has held steady ever since.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"videogamesconsole\">Video Game Console Products<\/strong>\u00a0(75% drop)<\/p>\n<p>Not to be confused with the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#videogames\">Video Games<\/a>\u201d category, the Video Game Console Products came online with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#8.1.2013\">August 1, 2013<\/a>\u00a0update at a solid 4%.\u00a0 That commission rate didn\u2019t last long and with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#2.1.2014\">February 1st, 2014<\/a>\u00a0update, the rate was dropped to 1%. Today the 1% rate still holds true.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"watches\">Watches<\/strong>\u00a0(43% drop)<\/p>\n<p>The Watches category was kicked off with the major\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update to a 7% commission rate.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The Watch category seems to have disappeared for both the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.1.2018\">October 1st<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#11.1.2018\">November 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0updates imply the rate fell to 4% as it was bucked in with the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d group.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Watches were reintroduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#12.1.2018\">December 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update at 7% before being cut down to 4% with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#5.1.2019\">May 1st, 2019<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 Watches are currently at that 4% commission rate.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"wine\">Wine<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The Wine category was introduced with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>\u00a0update and debuted at 0% commission.\u00a0 This rate held through the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#9.1.2018\">September 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update and disappeared on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.1.2018\">October 1st, 2018<\/a>\u00a0update.\u00a0 However, instead of defaulting to the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#allother\">All Other Categories<\/a>\u201d it seems to have been picked up with the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#zeropercent\">Alcohol<\/a>\u201d category that was also introduced then at 0% commission and still is.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"allother\">All Other Categories<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>The default, catch-all bucket of \u201cAll Other Categories\u201d was introduced when the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#volumebased\">volume-based model<\/a>\u00a0was deprecated in favor of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#fixedfee\">fixed fee, category-based model<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#4.1.2017\">April 1st, 2017<\/a>.\u00a0 The category debuted at 4% and has held consistent throughout today.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong id=\"zeropercent\">The 0% Categories<\/strong>\u00a0(no change)<\/p>\n<p>On\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/amazon-com-affiliate-commission-rates-a-historical-guide\/#10.1.2018\">October 1st, 2018<\/a>, six new categories were introduced, all with 0% commissions.\u00a0 These categories included \u201c<strong>Wireless Service Plans<\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<strong>Alcohol<\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<strong>Digital Kindle Products purchased as a subscription<\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<strong>Food prepared and delivered from a restaurant<\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<strong>Amazon Appstore<\/strong>,\u201d and \u201c<strong>Prime Now, Amazon Pay Places, or Prime Wardrobe Purchases<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0 The rates of stayed consistently at 0% through today and marks the few categories one can\u2019t earn a commission on Amazon.com\u2019s massive product catalog.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Updated April, 14th 2020 to reflect the recent notice of commission changes coming on\u00a0April, 21st 2020.\u00a0 The Amazon.com affiliate program (a.k.a. the Associates Program) is the\u00a0most popular affiliate marketing program in the world\u00a0with one recent source citing \u201cmillions\u201d of affiliate publishers.\u00a0 The Amazon.com Associates program has also evolved significantly since its inception in July of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1019,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,34],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[46],"class_list":["post-980","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-affiliate-marketing","category-amazon","author-jesse-lakes"],"authors":[{"term_id":46,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"jesse-lakes","display_name":"Jesse Lakes","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/bio-jl-a.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/bio-jl-a.jpeg"},"first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/author\/jesse-lakes\/","facebook":"","twitter":"","instagram":"","linkedin":"","description":"Jesse is a Native Montanan and the co-founder and CEO of Geniuslink - or, as he likes to say, head cheerleader. Before Jesse co-founded Geniuslink, he was a whitewater rafting guide, worked at a sushi restaurant, a skate\/snowboard shop, was a professional student, and then became the first Global Manager at Apple for the iTunes Affiliate Program."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/980\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=980"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/geniuslink.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}