Amazon: "We keep track of the Associates ID as the customer browses through our Web site, and even if they close their browser and come back later that day." But only "that day"? I tought, maybe when he cames from another site that have another associate id and wins him.
Well, almost right, but not exactly. Amazon cookie life is 24 hours from the first visit. However, if during the 24 hour period the customer goes to another associate's site and clicks over to Amazon, that associate will in fact "steal" the customer, the 24-hour clock will restart, and if the purchase is made during that time, the new associate will receive credit for the sale. For more information about the cookie life at Amazon, take a look at my post: Does Amazon store cookies on people who bought through your affiliate program?
If this referral theft is allowed, why would a person want to use Amazon? A 1 day link is a very short amount of time in the world of cookies-enable/disabled and the amount of associates.
You always have to consider both the cookie lifetime and the conversion rate when comparing various affiliate programs. If a program has a longer cookie life but lower conversion, you may end up having lower overall performance. Another consideration is Amazon's catalog size -- with millions of products in the catalog, I frequently find that my customers end up buying some other product than the one I was referring. As an affiliate, I still get the credit for referring a different product. Amazon's enormous catalog size and its well-known brand adds significantly to conversions, more than offsetting its relatively short cookie life. Lastly, it is quite reasonable that if your site causes someone to click through but not buy, and then someone else's site causes the same customer to click through and buy, it is they and not you who should receive the referral credit for that sale. I do not see this as "theft" and I think this is exactly how an affiliate program should work.
My band Gene for using to strong a term. You're absolutely right on this one. If I can't keep a visitor intrigued with content and convert for purchase then it is my shortcoming. BTW, any good insight as to what a good looking rss feed from the Amazon would include?
Look at it from the flip side. If another associate gets the sale, then groovy. However, there are times when I might pick up another associate's sale. I guess things will balance out in the end.