Support PF: Buy your textbooks here

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Physics Forums' affiliate program with Amazon.com, encouraging members to purchase textbooks and other materials through a specific link to support the forum financially. Participants explore the implications of this program, including questions about tracking purchases, the necessity of using the link for each transaction, and comparisons with other online book retailers.

Discussion Character

  • Meta-discussion
  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express frustration about missing the opportunity to use the affiliate link for recent purchases.
  • Questions arise regarding whether the affiliate link works for non-US Amazon sites, with some suggesting it should as long as the link is clicked first.
  • Concerns are raised about Amazon's pricing practices and whether they raise prices for purchases made through affiliate links.
  • Some participants share their positive experiences with Amazon, while others recount negative experiences with packaging and delivery.
  • There is a discussion about whether the affiliate program applies to all products on Amazon or just textbooks, with some clarifying that it includes everything.
  • Participants inquire about the technical aspects of how the tracking works, including the role of cookies and JavaScript.
  • Some express a desire for alternative online bookshops that could also support Physics Forums financially.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the potential benefits of using the affiliate link to support Physics Forums, but there are multiple competing views regarding the reliability of Amazon's service and the necessity of the link for each purchase. The discussion remains unresolved on some technical aspects and personal experiences with Amazon.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the need to use the affiliate link for every purchase, while others question if it could be a permanent save. There are also varying opinions on the quality of service provided by Amazon, which may influence purchasing decisions.

Who May Find This Useful

Students and members of Physics Forums who are looking to purchase textbooks or other materials online, particularly those interested in supporting the forum through their purchases.

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Physics Forums has opened an affiliate account with Amazon.com.

5-7% of any purchase you make is sent to Physics Forums. Think about buying your school textbooks and other materials this way.

Just click this link and the tracking system will register that PF sent you. Easy! Thanks!

https://www.amazon.com?tag=pfamazon01-20
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
DAMMIT. I just bought like $600 worth of textbooks and stuff right before I saw this post. :( OMG, so unfortunate.
 
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Does it work if you then click through to the UK (or other non-US) site?
 
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Caramon said:
DAMMIT. I just bought like $600 worth of textbooks and stuff right before I saw this post. :( OMFG, so unfortunate.

ah well, next time, thanks anyway :)

cristo said:
Does it work if you then click through to the UK (or other non-US) site?

Yes it should as long as you click here first.
 
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I don't understand, why would amazon share the cost of a book with others?
Unless ofcourse they're raising the price of the books when you purchase through the link. :-D
 
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MathematicalPhysicist said:
I don't understand, why would amazon share the cost of a book with others?
Unless ofcourse they're raising the price of the books when you purchase through the link. :-D

You are welcome to check :) Amazon figures I'm advertising for them.
 
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Amazon needs advertisement?!

I believe that everyone that uses the web, knows:
Amazon,Google, Facebook.
 
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MathematicalPhysicist said:
Amazon needs advertisement?!

I believe that everyone that uses the web, knows:
Amazon,Google, Facebook.

When you are a publicly traded company, every little bit helps make those earnings look better :)
 
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Next semester fall 2011 I'll buy my books through this (about 400 dollars).
 
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  • #10
How nice. I just bought a book a few days ago by amazon though for the second time in 4 years. However I'm planning to buy a few more books if I get no problem with the customers of the country I live in.
Just curious about your link Greg. It redirects to Amazon.com. How could they track I've accessed amazon from PF?!
 
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  • #11
Greg Bernhardt said:
Physics Forums has opened an affiliate account with Amazon.com

6% of any purchase you make is sent to Physics Forums. Think about buying your school textbooks and materials this way.

Just click this link and the tracking system will register that PF sent you. Thanks!

https://www.amazon.com/?tag=pfamazon01-20

Very cool. It applies to other stuff that we buy through Amazon too, right? I buy my jeans through Amazon!
 
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  • #12
berkeman said:
Very cool. It applies to other stuff that we buy through Amazon too, right? I buy my jeans through Amazon!

Yup, everything :) I think you need a new 60in 3D HDTV too right? :D

Just curious about your link Greg. It redirects to Amazon.com. How could they track I've accessed amazon from PF?!

Click the link and you'll see an ID is attached.
 
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  • #13
The link itself doesn't contain an ID, so there must be a cookie involved. I also noticed that if I right-click and choose to open the link in a new tab (Firefox), the ID isn't included in the URL that appears in the address bar. The obvious "workaround" is of course to just click it. It still opens in a different tab.
 
  • #14
Fredrik said:
The link itself doesn't contain an ID, so there must be a cookie involved. I also noticed that if I right-click and choose to open the link in a new tab (Firefox), the ID isn't included in the URL that appears in the address bar. The obvious "workaround" is of course to just click it. It still opens in a different tab.

oh you scientists, always got to tinker around, ruining the fun for everyone. Just assume it's magic :) No cookies though, but javascript.
 
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  • #15
Is it just textbooks, or anything on Amazon?

Edit: Just saw the thread in Feedback - it applies to anything. Fantastic :approve:!
 
  • #17
As a full-time lurker of physicsforums, I replaced my amazon bookmark with a bookmark of this thread. Before I leave to uni, I was going to buy EVERYTHING I needed off amazon, so prepare to receive 6% of my wage packet for the next 11 weeks (I wouldn't be too excited).
 
  • #18
217 MeV said:
As a full-time lurker of physicsforums, I replaced my amazon bookmark with a bookmark of this thread. Before I leave to uni, I was going to buy EVERYTHING I needed off amazon, so prepare to receive 6% of my wage packet for the next 11 weeks (I wouldn't be too excited).

Fantastic! :)

Bumping thread as reminder to those students about to buy textbooks!
 
  • #19
I would be glad to provide physics forums 6% of every purchase, but amazon.com is so perfectly lousy in packaging their books, that I rely on other book providers. Even more than that ...if packaging is OK, and delivery services did not severely damage the package, when I open a package, I receive a scratched book - like it was already used, although it was advertised as NEW. And this happened quite often... One in every two books are returned by default. Well, at least I have bad experiences with amazon. I don't know for others.. I stopped ordering from them, as I really don't have time to be another Post office, sending books back over and over again... Is there some other online book shop, that can offer physics forums 6%. I'd buy from them, right away (NEW books of course).
 
  • #20
discoversci said:
Is there some other online book shop, that can offer physics forums 6%. I'd buy from them, right away (NEW books of course).

Sorry to hear that! Amazon has always been good to me. You can also use http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
 
  • #22
MIT open course ware does the same thing. They get 10% from amazon but they are MIT.
 
  • #23
rppearso said:
MIT open course ware does the same thing. They get 10% from amazon but they are MIT.

MIT kills kittens, buy from PF :D
 
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  • #26
Do you have to enter Amazon from the provided link every time you purchase or is it a permanent save?
 
  • #27
Curtis15 said:
Do you have to enter Amazon from the provided link every time you purchase or is it a permanent save?

You must use the link every time you would normally visit amazon (and make a purchase).
 
  • #29
I wish I would have noticed this sooner! I just spent about $400 on books a couple weeks ago! Oh well, I'll remember this in the future. I'll have thousands of dollars worth of textbooks left to buy before I finish college.
 
  • #30
Oh cool I didn't even see this here before. I'll make sure to keep it in mind when I get a list of recommends books.
 

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