Anyone using Amazon's Performance Program?

[webmastertexas]

Amazon keeps changing their affiliate definitions and "programs" that it's driving me nuts. They once had that Tier thing, now it's Performance program. To tell you the truth, I can't make heads or tails of it. I know you get a certain percentage of referrals if you hit a certain mark, but I can't figure out if the Performance Program is better for me if, say, I average 80/90 products a quarter, or if the Classical structure is better. Does anyone use Amazon, and can they shed some light on this? When I read their site, they make it sound sooooooo good to get the Performance Program. When I did "enroll" in it, and did some calculations, it seemed that I would have made MORE if I had stayed with the classical structure! I swear, these guys are really making me mad. I'm thinking about going with someone else if they keep changing and making it so bloody hard to follow...

[wrgvt]

There is no reason to select the Basic option. It's a penalty for those who are too lazy to read amazon's e-mails. They want their associates to be active particpants and if you don't bother to take the time to choose the Performance plan, then you're penalized.

The Performance plan is really the old tiered program with no caps except for computers, no growth target bonuses, and amazon and marketplace items earning the same referral fees and bonuses.

[hunderdown]

There is absolutely NO reason not to select the new "Performance" program. You can only do better under it than you would under Classic.

The new commission structure, overall, is better than the old one for sites that are growing slowly or not at all. The biggest change from the old structure is that growth bonuses are gone, and that affects only those sites that managed to meet them consistently, quarter after quarter. There was some vocal complaining about that on the Amazon Associate discussion boards, but I think the vast majority are better off....

Again, choose Performance. Incidentally, you can now change your mind at ANY time during the quarter, so if you're not sure, choose one, note how you did, then choose the other, wait twenty four hours for the change to take effect, and then compare.