as a affiliate if I send a visitor to a item on amazon and they buy something else do I get credit for all things that person buys?
Yes. For example, if you promote Xbox 360 on Amazon, but the visitor clicks on PS3 and buys it, you'll still get paid. This has to happen within 24 hours.
Well thank you for the answers, I am now sure that my amazon account is open, 1 sale with in 24 hours of getting approved. Time to get to work and get the money! Than you
They set it at 24 hours because the amazon site converts so well. They don't need to set it any longer to attract affiliates like you and me.
The only way you won't get the sale is if they go to another affiliate site and click on one of their links. This will override your cookie with the other affiliate's cookie. At least that's what I have been told.
On the opposite side of the coin, the shorter Amazon's cookie is, the less likely they will have to award affiliate credit.
Don't worry about the length of the cookies - you should focus on writing great review and getting traffic, and the commision will take care of itself.. Just my 2 cents.