I’ve seen a quiet couple of days with regard to transaction volumes with amazon UK. I’m guessing that the postal strikes are putting potential purchasers off spending. The last sentence in the graphic informing that Super Saver Delivery orders will be delayed is the problem I think.
I tend to rely on customers bulking their order value up to £15 in order to get the free delivery – I can target lesser value products and expect a certain percentage of buyers to spend that bit extra to bump the order value to £15 (on say the 7% performance tier that’s £1.05 in commission). It’s a simple strategy that seems to work, especially if your target product is around the £11-£12 mark, presumably that’s why amazon have pitched it at this level. Even at higher basket values, supersaver delivery is another big plus with amazon.
So, with some media reports predicting the Post Office equivalent of the miners strike of the 80’s, maybe amazon UK associates will be seeing lower volumes of transactions for a while? Regardless of the issues, I can only see the strikes damaging the Post Office and further increasing the pressures on the business. With post over internet protocol (poip.co.uk is one of my domains by the way) services from the likes of viapost on their way things won’t be getting any easier for The Royal Mail (even though they are current partners) in the years ahead and making their customers look for alternatives now can only harm the business.
I don’t really have much experience in the way of amazon associates – never made a sale, but the postal strikes never put me off ordering a book I need.
Having said that the book isn’t urgent.
In my experience, the free delivery is a big pull.
Stick with the associates programme by the way – it’s a strong performer.
Amazon has always been bit of a mixed bag for me if I am honest. Some peculiar results.
My main worry with them is their cookie, I seem to remember it was very short, not usually a problem but they do tend to saturate the adwords world so you can end up competing with them.
Yes, it’s effectively a session cookie and for that reason I tend to steer clear of products where customers are likely to do a bit of price comparison with other sites.
One important point to remember about amazon is that they have one of the strongest visitors/sales conversion rates around – so you’re working with a merchant that is making it easier for you to bag a sale.
Oh and I agree with JC, I have often added another book/dvd onto my order to get the free delivery. I am a marketeers dream me 😉