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Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

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Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#81

Post by tptacek »

ryandrake wrote: post #68
justinjlynn wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And only among Internet nerds are affiliate links seen as sleazy. Given the subject matter of the article, that may be an unwarranted assumption.

I'd argue that the only reason "only Internet nerds" find affiliate links sleazy is that they're the only ones who know what they are. If the average Joe realized that merely clicking on a link and going shopping might monetarily reward the person who published the link, he'd find that sleazy too. Affiliate link defenders: Imagine this scenario. One of your family members or a close friend has been sending you "links…

It's literally an article about the brands. What else were they going to link to instead? I don't think you've thought this through very carefully.

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#82

Post by tedunangst »

ryandrake wrote: post #68
justinjlynn wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And only among Internet nerds are affiliate links seen as sleazy. Given the subject matter of the article, that may be an unwarranted assumption.

I'd argue that the only reason "only Internet nerds" find affiliate links sleazy is that they're the only ones who know what they are. If the average Joe realized that merely clicking on a link and going shopping might monetarily reward the person who published the link, he'd find that sleazy too. Affiliate link defenders: Imagine this scenario. One of your family members or a close friend has been sending you "links…

But I liked the links? Not really. The value I get from watching stupid cats has no connection to what they're getting paid.

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#83

Post by komali2 »

DanBC wrote: post #79
komali2 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this kind of callous judgement of writers trying to make money. We don't see judgement here for the Amazon engineers that wrote the ref system, or Amazon for, well, selling product. I find it frustrating - somehow the writer has no integrity because they want money for their work? What, to you, would have been an acceptable way for this writer to present their research? Raw data handed to the inter…

> I don't understand this kind of callous judgement of writers trying to make money. We don't see judgement here for the Amazon engineers that wrote the ref system, or Amazon for, well, selling product. I find it frustrating - somehow the writer has no integrity because they want money for their work? I don't care that they use affiliate links. Those links need to be clearly marked as affiliate links and the article…

Why?

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#85

Post by SippinLean »

discreditable wrote: post #47

It's almost unfortunate they'd hide that the products are made by Amazon. Amazonbasics products have treated me well enough that I am more inclined to buy Amazon brand where the price is right. I remember looking over some tools recently and I might have given Denali more thought if I knew it was them.

Same here, I'm wondering now if I have passed over buying one of these items because it didn't use the Amazon branding I trust. I suspect their marketers have tested this and found it increased conversions overall, and we are outliers.

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#86

Post by ryandrake »

tptacek wrote: post #81
ryandrake wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd argue that the only reason "only Internet nerds" find affiliate links sleazy is that they're the only ones who know what they are. If the average Joe realized that merely clicking on a link and going shopping might monetarily reward the person who published the link, he'd find that sleazy too. Affiliate link defenders: Imagine this scenario. One of your family members or a close friend has been sending you "links…

It's literally an article about the brands. What else were they going to link to instead? I don't think you've thought this through very carefully.

How does that make the practice any less sleazy? I wonder why a publisher wouldn't want to disclose somewhere in the text (even in 6 point gray on white text in a footer) that the publisher gets paid when users browse to Amazon through the links and buy something?

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#87

Post by justinjlynn »

ryandrake wrote: post #86
tptacek wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's literally an article about the brands. What else were they going to link to instead? I don't think you've thought this through very carefully.

How does that make the practice any less sleazy? I wonder why a publisher wouldn't want to disclose somewhere in the text (even in 6 point gray on white text in a footer) that the publisher gets paid when users browse to Amazon through the links and buy something?

Because, if one were informed of that, one probably wouldn't click on the links. This would earn the publisher less money in the form of kickbacks. As this is undesirable, they simply don't do it.

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#88

Post by tptacek »

justinjlynn wrote: post #87
ryandrake wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does that make the practice any less sleazy? I wonder why a publisher wouldn't want to disclose somewhere in the text (even in 6 point gray on white text in a footer) that the publisher gets paid when users browse to Amazon through the links and buy something?

Because, if one were informed of that, one probably wouldn't click on the links. This would earn the publisher less money in the form of kickbacks. As this is undesirable, they simply don't do it.

What weird planet are we on where people would avoid clicking a link they'd otherwise be inclined to click because someone might make 3 cents from the click? You guys spend way too much time thinking about this stuff.

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#89

Post by joshdance »

DanBC wrote: post #79
komali2 wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand this kind of callous judgement of writers trying to make money. We don't see judgement here for the Amazon engineers that wrote the ref system, or Amazon for, well, selling product. I find it frustrating - somehow the writer has no integrity because they want money for their work? What, to you, would have been an acceptable way for this writer to present their research? Raw data handed to the inter…

> I don't understand this kind of callous judgement of writers trying to make money. We don't see judgement here for the Amazon engineers that wrote the ref system, or Amazon for, well, selling product. I find it frustrating - somehow the writer has no integrity because they want money for their work? I don't care that they use affiliate links. Those links need to be clearly marked as affiliate links and the article…

I disagree. I think all links to Amazon should be affiliate links. So if someone doesn't put them, I am disappointed in them. :)

Re: Amazon owns a whole collection of secret brands

#90

Post by msoad »

tooba wrote: post #17
msoad wrote: post #3

Welcome to the world of brands. Where Adidas and Burberry are owned by the same company: https://www.fossilgroup.com/who-we-are/brands/

Adidas and Burberry are separate companies. Burberry is registered on the London Stock Exchange. Adidas is based in Germany. The page you're looking at refers to watches manufactured by Fossil under those brand names.

Thanks! I didn't know that!
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