so I posted about Amazon Associates a while back, and I gotta say I was kinda curious if it's still a legit gig or just a ghost town now. Recently I got into some deeper digging after a buddy of mine reported kinda sketchy payout issues, and honestly I've been hearing more whispers about how their commissions are getting slashed or how they're cracking down on certain niches. Thought I'd share what I found out sooo far. First, yeah, they still bring in a lot of traffic because well, Amazon is everywhere, but the payout structure seems to be tightening. I mean, some of the higher-tier stuff like electronics or luxury items are dropping from what I saw, and the cookie duration? Seems like it's shrinking too. Plus, their payment terms are still a pain in the ass net 60 at best. So if you're trying to keep a steady flow of cash, it's not exactly as sweet as it used to be. But here's the kicker, there's still a decent amount of opportunity if you know how to play it. I've been testing some niche-specific review sites, and honestly, conversions are still decent if your traffic is targeted. But I keep hearing stories of folks getting banned for slight violations or if they push too hard on certain keywords. It's like walking on thin ice now. So, I'm curious if anyone else has recent experience with Amazon Associates? Is it just a matter of riding the wave and being extra careful, or is it really on its way out? some real stories, not just the official updates. lol