Why do my Amazon book links get changed automatically?

[Demystifier]

In this forum, I often post amazon links to specific scientific books. But recently, as in this post
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-method-of-characteristics.828118/#post-5225113
I have noticed that a link gets automatically changed to another (non-amazon) link, which is rather useless.

Why does it happen? Is it beacuse it is forbidden to advertize amazon? What can I do about that?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

It has to do with a link affiliation script. If it finds a book at another store with a better commission it will link to that. I've actually never seen it done before. Are you saying both those links should be amazon? I'm pretty sure I can turn that off.

 

[Demystifier]

I'm pretty sure I can turn that off.

That would be great!

The changed link turns out not to be better at all, quite the opposite.

 

[jtbell]

In this forum, I often post amazon links to specific scientific books. But recently, as in this post
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/what-is-method-of-characteristics.828118/#post-5225113
I have noticed that a link gets automatically changed to another (non-amazon) link

The link in that post goes to Amazon for me. Did you change that already, Greg? Or maybe the reader's / clicker's geographical location makes a difference?

 

[Demystifier]

The link in that post goes to Amazon for me. Did you change that already, Greg? Or maybe the reader's / clicker's geographical location makes a difference?

It still does not go to amazon for me. It goes to
http://www.textbooks.com/Numerical-...and-Scientist/9780824704438/Joe-D-Hoffman.php

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Yeah they show textbooks.com for me

 

[jtbell]

Aha, now I see what happened... I use the Firefox plugin Ghostery which blocks trackers, etc. I paused it for a minute just now, and I saw the textbooks.com link, too.

 

[A. Neumaier]

I think people should be encouraged to post a link to the publisher rather than to a distribution agency (for which different users may have different preferences). This suggestion could go to 'Terms and Rules'.

 

[DrClaude]

It still does not go to amazon for me. It goes to
http://www.textbooks.com/Numerical-...and-Scientist/9780824704438/Joe-D-Hoffman.php

There is a further problem that the link becomes generic. It goes to the main page of textbooks.com, not to the specific page for the book, which makes it worthless to post links to books. Please, please remove that "feature."

 

[Demystifier]

I think people should be encouraged to post a link to the publisher rather than to a distribution agency (for which different users may have different preferences). This suggestion could go to 'Terms and Rules'.

In principle I would agree, but in practice I find Amazon so much more user friendly ...

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Please, please remove that "feature."

Turned off now.

Remember to use the amazon etc links here when xmas shopping