⚡ As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.Read Our Affiliate Disclosure Policy

Affiliate Disclosure

Full Transparency About Our Affiliate Relationships

Last Updated: January 1, 2024

FTC Disclosure Compliance Statement

In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising", we are required to disclose our affiliate relationships.

Buy Smart is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, and other Amazon stores worldwide.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a product link on our website and make a purchase on Amazon, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

What This Means For You

✅ You pay the SAME price whether you use our links or not
✅ Your purchase helps support our free content
✅ We only recommend products we believe will benefit you

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the Amazon Associates Program. The price you pay is not affected by our affiliate relationships – you'll pay the same price whether you go through our link or go directly to the merchant's website.

How Affiliate Marketing Works

Here's a simple explanation of how our affiliate relationship with Amazon works:

1

You click a product link: When you click on a product link on our site, you're redirected to Amazon with a special tracking code.

2

Amazon tracks your visit: Amazon knows you came from Buy Smart and places a cookie in your browser (valid for 24 hours).

3

You make a purchase: If you buy something within 24 hours, Amazon knows to credit us with the referral.

4

We earn a commission: Amazon pays us a small percentage (1-10%) of the purchase price as a commission.

Our Commitment to Editorial Independence

🎯 Our #1 Priority: Providing honest, helpful recommendations that serve YOUR best interests

We want to be absolutely clear: our editorial content is never influenced by affiliate commissions. Here's how we maintain our independence:

  • Objective Research: We base our recommendations on thorough research, expert opinions, user reviews, and hands-on testing when possible.
  • Honest Reviews: We highlight both pros and cons of every product. No product is perfect, and we won't pretend otherwise.
  • Best Choice, Not Best Commission: We often recommend products with lower commissions (or no commission at all) if they're the better choice.
  • Transparent Scoring: Our rating systems are based on objective criteria that we clearly explain.
  • User Feedback: We actively incorporate user feedback and adjust our recommendations when needed.

What Products We Promote

We primarily feature products available on Amazon because:

  • Amazon offers the widest selection of products
  • Competitive pricing and frequent deals
  • Reliable shipping and customer service
  • Comprehensive user reviews and ratings
  • Trusted return and refund policies

However, being available on Amazon is not enough. Products must meet our quality standards, offer good value, and have positive user feedback before we'll recommend them.

Transparency About Our Earnings

In the interest of full transparency, here's what you should know about our earnings:

  • •
    Commission Rates: Amazon's rates vary by category (1-10% typically). Electronics might earn 2-4%, while beauty products might earn 6-10%.
  • •
    Cookie Duration: Amazon's cookies last 24 hours. If you add items to your cart, the cookie extends to 90 days.
  • •
    What We Can See: We see aggregate data (total clicks, purchases, earnings) but NOT personal information about buyers.
  • •
    How It Helps: These commissions fund our research, content creation, website maintenance, and allow us to keep our content free.

Your Rights and Choices

You always have choices when using our website:

  • No Obligation: You're never obligated to click our links or make purchases
  • Direct Shopping: You can always go directly to Amazon if you prefer not to use affiliate links
  • Price Comparison: We encourage you to compare prices across multiple retailers
  • Questions: Contact us anytime if you have concerns about our recommendations
  • Feedback: We value your feedback and use it to improve our content

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does it cost me extra when I buy through your links?

A: No, absolutely not! You pay the same price whether you use our affiliate links or go directly to Amazon. The commission we earn comes from Amazon's marketing budget, not from your pocket.

Q: Do affiliate commissions influence your product recommendations?

A: No. We maintain complete editorial independence. Our recommendations are based solely on product quality, value, and user feedback. We often recommend products that earn us little or no commission if they're the best choice for our users.

Q: How much commission do you earn?

A: Amazon's commission rates vary by product category, typically ranging from 1% to 10% of the purchase price. For example, we might earn $0.50 on a $50 purchase or $20 on a $500 purchase.

Q: What if I return a product?

A: If you return a product, Amazon reverses the commission. We only earn commissions on purchases you keep and are satisfied with.

Q: Do you track my purchases?

A: We can see aggregate data about purchases made through our links (like total sales and commissions), but we cannot see personal information about who made specific purchases. Your privacy is protected.

Q: How long does the affiliate link last?

A: Amazon's affiliate cookies typically last 24 hours. If you click our link and make a purchase within 24 hours, we may earn a commission on that purchase.

Q: Can I trust your reviews?

A: Yes! We are committed to providing honest, unbiased reviews. We clearly disclose our affiliate relationships and never let potential commissions influence our recommendations. Our reputation depends on providing trustworthy advice.

Q: Why do you use affiliate links?

A: Affiliate commissions help us keep Buy Smart free for users while allowing us to invest in research, testing, and creating high-quality content. It's a win-win: you get free, valuable information, and we can sustain our business.

Legal Compliance

Buy Smart complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding affiliate marketing:

  • FTC Guidelines: We follow the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials
  • Amazon Associates Operating Agreement: We comply with all Amazon Associates Program policies
  • State Laws: We comply with state-specific affiliate marketing disclosure requirements
  • International Laws: For international visitors, we comply with applicable disclosure requirements

Questions About Our Affiliate Relationships?

We believe in complete transparency. If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships, how we make money, or our review process, please don't hesitate to contact us:

Buy Smart
Email: affiliates@buysmart.org.uk
General Inquiries: support@buysmart.org.uk
Website: buysmart.org.uk
Address: San Francisco, CA, United States

We typically respond to all inquiries within 24-48 hours during business days.

Thank You for Your Support!

By using our affiliate links, you're supporting our mission to provide free, high-quality product research and recommendations. Your support allows us to continue improving our content and helping more people make informed purchasing decisions. We genuinely appreciate your trust in us!