I've been set up to use data feeds from CJ and I've imported the csv files into mysql. I've written a php script to display the products on a web page Does anyone know if it's OK just to use the information in the BUYURL column to link back to the merchant's website?
That should be fine - your CJ PID should be encoded in the BuyURL (in fact I don't think you CAN get a listing from CJ without supplying your PID) and so this link is exactly what you should be using. However, I am not sure about this csv/sql importing business - you are effectively caching the products in your own database. I don't know how it is with CJ, but Amazon's TOS don't allow you to cache for more than one month, and anyway there is the danger of your data getting out of date - products come in and out of stock all the time and having a static list of products in your own d/base doesn't sound like a very good idea. Maybe I misunderstood? And others may have more experience of CJ than me.
The data URL link is sent to me weekly and I can only access the data as a csv file. I did tell them that I'd never used data feeds before and that I would need help but in spite of asking questions through a support ticket they haven't got back to me. As far as I can see, the only way that I can use the files is to download them to my computer and put them in a database. I notice that you can download the same data files from Affiliate Window as well. I'm assuming it's OK as no-one's told me otherwise.
The BUYURL is provided for a reason: for you to use it if you wish You should feel free to use the datafeeds in any way you wish, so long as you are not doing anything deceptive. It's a good idea to alter text elements whenever it is feasible. This gives a slight advantage over the dozens or hundreds of others who are slapping the info from the same feed up in its raw state. Also helps a *little bit* in preventing duplicate content issues caused by the aforementioned. Using synomyms is the best way to apply a large number of slight changes... for instance, changing "ladies'" to "women's" and vice-versa, "outerwear" to "jackets", etc.
I am doing the same, with asp.net. But I get the csv feed almost daily is your feed large ? I have problems uploading and have to get the support chaps to do database restore for me
The feed is quite large but touch wood I haven't had any problems. I've only just started with this so I've had to learn some php scripting and SQL and I've just published the first few pages today. I'm surprised at the total lack of support from CJ.
I guess they figure they just have too many affiliates to be able to provide detailed support for each. I don't know how detailed the documentation is, but I suppose they pretty much leave you to it. I think if you start selling millions they might sit up and start paying attention. It's the same with all the big players... No time for the small guy...
how did you get this feed? are you earning $10,000+ in commissions a month? Or did you pay to get it?
I know that CJ webservices are free now, dunno about getting CSV data. But I was surprised, I could have sworn you had to pay for CJ API access...
so how exactly do i get web services set up? I am still a little away from $10k a month and just want to see how their datafeeds are like.
Hi, it's all here: http://webservices.cj.com/ As far as I can tell there are no limitations now on using the feed, other than the usual reasonable ones. I am not sure where the minimum $10,000 thing came from, but it doesn't seem to be applicable.
thanks for the link. The reason for the $10,000 minimum is because previously, you needed to be a CJ Performer to have access to their datafeeds, and CJ Performer requires $10000 of commissions each month for at least 3 months straight.
I believe you have to pay $200 for data feeds in the US unless you're a cj performer. It's free in the UK.
not the first perons to complain about their lack of customer service. I have had a few issues myself
Hmm, the datafeed is in csv format. Is it also available in xml? In either case, is the feed compressed in any way (.zip, .gz, etc.)? As for the web service, I've been playing around with it for a little over a month now. At times the service returns irrelevant data - data from other, sometimes foreign merchants that you aren't affiliated with. Many at the CJ Web Services forum complain about this. Also, there's very little support. For now I'm sticking with their web service as I presently can't afford the $200 datafeed. But I'm working on it...
I think there are places that scrape the sites and then provide feeds in CSV formats. I saw one on a black hat site once.
Their web services are just another way to access their datafeed. Instead of downloading a .csv file and parsing (reading) it yourself, their web services parses the file for you; you simply access the data via their web services.