I've read online that it is illegal to purchase a product through your own affiliate link. Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to accidentally buy a product and have clicked on one of my affiliate links previously. Thanks.
It's not illegal (against the law) but it is against their program terms. I don't think that they will do much else besides not pay you the commissions as seen here on their site: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/node/topic/202050040
Hmm.. the way they pose the answer it seems like it is totally okay to buy using your link, you just won't be paid. From stories I've read online people have said they've got warnings for doing it.
Yeah, it seemed like that to me when I first read it. I have never done it myself so I don't know if they warn you or not. I would think that they would at least give some kind of warning so you know that you aren't supposed to do it. It's amazon though, so you never know what's going to happen unless you experience it first hand.
From experience I have found that they just don't pay you and also if someone else buys something and has it shipped to you they don't pay you either.
I believe Azure11 is right. However, if it becomes a pattern then you would be given a warning and subsequently suspension if one persists. Clearly, it is against their terms and conditions.
Go to the affiliate program on amazon, Find the option "Join Now for Free" then you ready to start. Use your amazon's username and password.
Agreed with what is said above. While it is not allowed, in general they will simply not pay you the commision on it (it is clear in the system that the commission is trying to be paid to the same account as the buyer. With that said, if they continue to see it happen they will reach out with a warning or ban your account from the affiliate program.