Amazon Slashes Affiliate Payouts up to 80% from 21 April 2020

Amazon.com is reducing the commissions it pays to affiliates by up to 80%. The company sent an email to members of the Amazon Associates program today with the subject line “Upcoming Program Operating Agreement Update.”

The email starts with, “We hope you are staying well during this time” before laying a bomb on website owners that make money by referring customers to Amazon. Actually, the email doesn’t mention that rates are being slashed. Instead, it just informs people that changes are coming to the affiliate agreement and to click a link to see the changes.

Below is a chart comparing the old commission rates to the new ones, which go into effect April 21.

Categories with big surge in sales during this time like groceries, health and personal care took an beating. If you are in that niche you might be able to buy some of those domains for a lot cheaper in the coming months.

Apparently this is a long term change and not just because of COVID-19 according to James Norquay who heard that from an affiliate group he is part of.