July and August Earnings

September 1st, 2013

Thanks to everyone who sent contributions and conducted business via Cryptogon’s affiliate links in July and August.

In July, earnings totaled $882.52.

Amazon $462.32
Amazon GBP9.40
Amazon.ca CA$4.29
Pookie $75
AM $50
MW $25
NM CA$20
DS $30
CM $25
BlueHost $90
Eileen $87.5

In August, earnings totaled, $1141.96.

Amazon $788.91
Pookie $75
DM $15
MS $20
JM $50
CS GBP10
BlueHost $90
Eileen $87.5

We missed the $1000 goal for July, but beat it in August. Add both months together and divide by two and we wind up with $1012.24 per month over the period. As you can see on the U.S. Amazon total for August, there was a wildcard situation. The person responsible for a very large purchase wrote in to let me know about it, and it’s because of that one off deal that I’m not missing the earnings goal two months in a row…

Somehow, we’re barely making it month to month. Barely. Thanks again to all of you helping to keep the lights on here.

There has been a disturbing development with regard to amazon.de.

I have a boilerplate email from amazon.de that says my affiliate account was terminated due to (unspecified) violations of paragraph 14 of the terms and conditions (English):

14. Term and Termination

The term of this Operating Agreement will begin upon our acceptance of your Programme application and will end when terminated by either you or us. Either you or we may terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without cause, by giving the other party at least 7 days’ written notice of termination.

In addition, we may terminate this Operating Agreement immediately at any time upon written notice to you for Cause. “Cause” means any of the following: (a) you are in material breach of this Operating Agreement or you are in minor breach of this Operating Agreement but you do not remedy it within 7 days; (b) we believe that we may face potential claims or liability in connection with your participation in the Programme; (c) we believe that our brand or reputation may be tarnished by you or in connection with your participation in the Programme; (d) we believe that we are or may become subject to tax collection requirements in connection with this Operating Agreement or the activities performed by either party under this Operating Agreement; or (e) we have terminated the Programme as we generally make it available to participants. For the avoidance of doubt and without limitation for purposes of the foregoing subsection (a) any violation of Section 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 or 13 will be deemed a material breach of this Operating Agreement.

In other words, “At our whim, we terminated your affiliate account.”

I appreciate the support that I have received over the years from readers in Germany who have used the amazon.de affiliate links on Cryptogon.

Unfortunately, I am in a position where the existence of Cryptogon is dependent on Amazon.com (U.S.) affiliate commissions. (This has actually been the case for years.) If they also pull my U.S. account, Cryptogon is finished.

3 Responses to “July and August Earnings”

  1. dale says:

    Can a recurring format possibly work – driving toward 500 contributors at $5 each, monthly? ‘Seems’ it should work. I know you have it tracked to a handful but maybe the regular base is an order of magnitude higher, including the Amazon contributors. My two cents…

  2. Eileen says:

    Sheesh, if I leave a comment about this non-sensical event from Germany, do you get cut off from Amazon U.S? That’s what it feels like leaving this comment, but I must protest. What the eff did you do? Are you (obviously are) responsible for what people in Germany purchase off the Amazon site? Did someone buy a LSD baking oven or something that Amazon carries on THEIR site? Something is wrong here.

  3. Kevin says:

    @dale

    It might work. The handful of people mostly responsible for Cryptogon remaining open have consistently told me that they would rather see the site remain open to all, despite the fact that most don’t do anything to support it.

    If I try subscriptions, it will be as a last resort. I had a billionaire tell me that he doesn’t contribute because it’s free… So, go figger…

    @Eileen

    I have no idea what it was. I asked them why they took the action that they did, but they didn’t respond. At this point, I just hope that they actually send me the 18 euros that they owe me. haha

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