I’ve already had a couple of readers ask what I’d like for Christmas. And my answer is: You already gave me fabulous presents.
Last summer’s roof-raiser was all I could ask for — and more. You bestowed such bounty on me that I’m still struggling to feel worthy.
Been a weird year. One thing after another went wrong, but no sooner had it gone than somebody would pop up with a helping hand. It’s been really amazing.
So no. I don’t need anything for Christmas. I had Christmas already.
If you’re in a giving mood may I suggest again this year that you send a little something to Joel over at TUAK. His eyeballs are working again now, thanks to last year’s generosity. But he’s got that broken-down Jeep and … well, he just works his tail off and never has much. So think of Joel, not me.
Or drop a few coins into the tip jar over at Rational Review. Or at Carl-Bear’s blog. Or another favorite freedom site. Oh. The Zelman Partisans has a donation button, too (and may soon be offering a few special gun-related deals to contributors). Right now, no TZP people are paid, but someday we’d like to see all the writers — and what a fine bunch they are — getting a little something.
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That said, however, you can help rescue my Amazon links if you’re shopping online.
Suddenly, my Amazon commissions have cratered. Seriously. Cratered. Collapsed. Imploded. Fallen into a black hole. I’m in shock.
I assume my hermitting (even though it’s turned out to be only quasi-pseudo hermitting) triggered the downfall. OTOH, maybe the economy’s collapsed and the rest of the world doesn’t know it yet. Or you’re all on the outs with your relatives and not buying them anything for Christmas this year. Or you’ve all taken a no-spending pledge. (I can sympathize with that.)
In any case, we’re not just talking “a little bit off.” We’re talking bottomless pit.
November is usually very strong. This time it scraped bottom, coming in well below a typical month. December is always a barn-burner — generally bringing in three to four times the commissions of an average month. I’ve never seen it fail. Now? Sales are below average, and I don’t mean “below average for December.” I mean … 75 to 80 percent off a normal December.
So no, I don’t want gifts (though thank you very much). But IF you’re buying at Amazon anyhow, please use those links.
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P.S. Before I could protest, one Santa already dropped a very welcome present down the chimney. While I was grousing in the cold, a big, beautiful kerosene heater arrived. That thing is capable of warming the whole house! Like my smaller, less powerful, Buddy-type propane heaters, it’ll be used only for emergencies. But it sure did warm my heart.
Thank you (once again), Family A. I know you just went through a long, stormy power outage and are very aware of how useful a powerful heater like that one can be.
Is there some way to check and see if the things being purchased through your link are actually being credited to you? I bought a little more than usual last month from Amazon, and just wonder…
I remember the problem we had with them saying that those of us who sent you things were now “family” and our purchases didn’t count, or something…
I don’t buy much from Amazon, but I make sure to always use your Amazon link when I do. And will continue to do so. (Also, if I send anyone a link to anything on Amazon, I send them that link, too- although I’m not positive that gets through that way, or if your link gets lost along the way.)
Another question about the workings of your link. I always enter Amazon thru your link. Lately I’m trying out that Kindle unlimited where you pay a monthly $10 and can get Kindle books free. How does that work for you(if it does). If you’re not getting your cut of a whole bunch of $3 books, I won’t join when the trial is up.
Call or email Amazon customer service and just ask them if sales are off generally. If not, there’s something wrong with your link and they should look into it.
Cut/paste other comments as November was Christmas shopping month.
As MamaLiberty asked, is there some way for us to verify you are being credited?
Oh, and just to be clear, the “Call the Midwife” DVDs are for the wife, not me.
I assume my hermitting (even though it’s turned out to be only quasi-pseudo hermitting) triggered the downfall.
Oh, come now Claire! Don’t go blaming yourself. Of possible causes, that doesn’t even make the list, IMHO. Unfortunately, news reports indicate a high volume of “Cyber Monday” sales, so I think that line of inquiry is a dead end.
If there’s a problem with your affiliate status, that should at least be discoverable.
My last Amazon purchase was 3 items of Carhartt clothing, mid Nov. But I’m pretty sure that’ll be it for the year — just how things have turned out this year, and hasn’t anything to do with how often you’re updating. There have been a few times when I’ve been shopping on Amazon when I gave up in disgust at how bad their page loads have gotten, but those weren’t specific buying visits anyway. The cynic in me wonders how many other people might be driven away by how their intensely scripted site is behaving, i.e. badly. That notion is at odds with reported Cyber Monday sales activity, but then the news I’m reading isn’t hard sales figures either. So, I dunno.
I do use your link from a browser bookmark. Complete speculation on my part, but if they’ve changed how they recognize the tag, maybe requiring a non-empty ‘Referer’ header in the request, that’d toss mine out, as requests originating from a bookmark don’t have a referer header (at least last I was looking at such things). Just thinking out loud here.
Sounds as if the main thing Joel needs right now is sunshine. Too bad I can’t redirect some of it from here. I guess I missed something about the Jeep. Tires?
75 cool tips and tricks that make life easier:http://guff.com/75-of-the-greatest-life-hacks/
Guys — Thank you for the thoughts.
jed and Paul — I’ll definitely check with Amazon. Odd thing is that I’m still seeing a normal number of small everyday purchases (so links seem to be working). I’m just not seeing anything discernible as a bump in gift buying. (And jed, thanks, I did see purchases of Carhartt clothing in November.)
Karen — It’s beyond nice for you to think of me, but go on buying your Kindle books in the way that’s best for you. FWIW, I was unaware of the $10/month program until you mentioned it. After I looked it up, I discovered that I could get $1 when someone signs up for the program, but only if I used a special link, and there would then be no commissions for anything on that program. Not worth it, either to me or to you, to worry about it, I think.
lwoots and MamaLiberty — There’s no way for either buyers or me to see whether all purchases are being credited (I do think I recall those midwife DVDs 🙂 ). Just a side-effect of Amazon’s privacy protections. When the occasional purchase does fall into that nasty “friends & family” trap Mama recalls, I see that the item’s been ordered, but never see it in the shipped/credited list. Fortunately, that has happened far, far less than I feared.
Kent — Wow, that’s some nice Amazon “proselytizing.” While there’s no way to know, I do believe that emailed links do result in purchases getting credited to my account.
Technically it’s a violation of Amazon rules for an individual Associate link to be used anywhere but on the associate’s registered home page (e.g. this blog). However, it seems that Amazon never enforces that unless somebody gets really abusive with spreading their links around. They seem to understand that sometimes people will share the links to be helpful — and it IS helpful, so thank you very much for doing it.
“Technically it’s a violation of Amazon rules for an individual Associate link to be used anywhere but on the associate’s registered home page…”
As with so many other things, this seems pretty silly. If their reason for setting up the program is to increase their own sales…. one would think they’d be delighted if the link to their dumb stuff was propagated everywhere.
I appreciate Amazon and the ease of obtaining things I need at a good price… but sometimes I just want to smack somebody there. 🙁
And yes, their buggy web pages with hot and cold running scripts gets to be annoying too. But hey, beats the heck out of standing in line at a department store (of which there are NONE here, of course). 🙂
Here’s a quick test (presumably Amazon gives you an accounting of what has just been purchased — at least they used to!) …
I just purchased the Kindle edition of _Robert A. Heinlein, Vol 1: In Dialogue with His Century: Volume 1 (1907-1948): Learning Curve_ via the link in your post above. If it’s reported as a sale, then stuff is working, at least on that sale. If it isn’t reported, then there’s some kind of problem.
Readers may need a few suggestions for that special someone on their Christmas list.
A new big-screen TV is sure to be popular when entertaining. And who wants popcorn? Have some champagne & caviar with the movie — either sevruga or osetra will do. Or perhaps just a nice dessert wine.
Decor is always important. Be sure to hang this beautiful painting next to the new TV.
This lovely instrument should add some extra kick to the live music at the party! Also be sure you’ve got proper attire. Perhaps some new earrings for her? Or a new watch for him?
Don’t forget to take pictures of the event!
If you’re not into entertaining, perhaps just a little something with barter value for the bugout bag. This seems light and easy to carry, as does this.
(ok, so I needed a laugh this afternoon — some of the above reviews are pretty hilarious. On a more serious note, is there a way to retroactively fix subscribe and save stuff for future shipments?)
Perhaps like me, more people are buying for less. I’ve had several deaths in the family and neighborhood I used to buy for, so my shopping is way down. I do always use your link and hope things pick up for you. Love your blog and am envious of your hermitting. Would I could do the same. Merry Christmas
Should see a small bump soon, as soon as I finish getting my list together 🙂
Amazon has the widest selection, but their prices are getting higher than a lot of places. I ordered 4 pounds of curing salts from a butcher supply shop, for less than a 1 pound bag from Amazon.
On the other hand, where else can you get herbal supplements, distilling equipment, electronic components, art supplies, powdered eggs, and every conceivable type of book, all in the same order?
(PS: Go ahead and throw that Kindle Unlimited link out here. I’ve been thinking about signing up for it, and you might as well get the dollar!)
I know you answered this a while back, but I can’t remember… Do you get credit for the things we buy on that “subscription” deal? I get several things every three months, and just wondered. Again. 🙂
LOL, Dana! Where did you find such useful, budget-minded gifts??? (I see you put my Amazon code into all of them. I’ll just be waiting with bated breath for somebody to buy one of them. But seriously, if people enter Amazon via your links and buy a box of paperclips, I’ll get a commission — as I’m sure you know.
It’s not on Amazon, but Borepatch has also found a lovely Christmas gift for that person who has everything: A TSA Rape-o-Scan machine (two available!) for just $8k.
http://borepatch.blogspot.com/2014/12/now-you-can-play-tsa-in-comfort-and.html
As to “subscribe and save,” I believe only the first item purchased gets credited to the associate. Not sure, but I think so.
Thank you, but I really wouldn’t worry about it.
And per request, I’ll go ahead and put up some of those special links (probably tomorrow) that pay bounties on things like Kindle monthly subscriptions.