Jim Alfredson Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 (edited) Back in March 2006 we set up the search bar up on top (or in the middle, depending on what skin set you chose) that allowed members to search CDUniverse.com, Amazon.com and various European subsidiaries thereof. The idea was to generate income to help offset the costs of the dedicated server that is hosting the organissimo forums. We also rely on donations through Paypal. We appreciate the donations and the use of the search bar above, but so far those two things are not paying the bills solely by themselves. For the record, from March 2006 until February 2007, here are the total affiliate fees received by CDUniverse and Amazon.com (I've gotten nothing from any of the overseas Amazons): CDUniverse: $502.75 Amazon: $274.00 TOTAL: $776.75 The cost of the server is $99 a month plus $50 a month for weekly backups (to avoid database problems like we had a few months ago). So that comes to $1800 per year. I'm not sure what our donation totals were (I could find that out by spending some time on Paypal) but I do know that they slowed considerably as soon as the search bar was set up. I'm guessing maybe $200 - $300 worth last year. EDIT: We received $301.15 in donations. The weird figure is due to Paypal taking a cut. As you can see, we're nowhere near paying for the server. Things have been especially tough these past few months since organissimo (the band) has not been gigging much and therefor our reserves of money from CD sales (which is how we pay for the rest of the board costs) is very low. So, I'm asking... or rather pleading at this point, for members to either donate a little bit (even $5 helps!) and/or remember to use the search bar above for making purchases from CDUniverse or Amazon.com. Remember, you only have to GET to CDUniverse or Amazon.com from here ONCE in the course of 12 hours in order for organissimo.org to get credit for the sales. The cookie that is planted on your computer is valid for 12 hours, so as long as you initially get to CDUniverse.com or Amazon.com from here, all sales will be credited to us within a 12 hour time-frame, even if you only do one search here and continue searching from within CDUniverse or Amazon. And yes, all items count, even third-party items, DVDs, etc. Thank you! PS. Interesting fact: September of 2006 was the highest paying month so far, with $90 worth of sales for that month from CDUniverse. I wonder why that was? Edited February 18, 2007 by Jim Alfredson Quote
Quincy Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 PS. Interesting fact: September of 2006 was the highest paying month so far, with $90 worth of sales for that month from CDUniverse. I wonder why that was? RVGs both Concord & RVG. Also the Jazz Icons DVDs. Maybe you also promoted the use of the box that month too. So, I'm asking... or rather pleading at this point, for members to either donate a little bit (even $5 helps!) and/or remember to use the search bar above for making purchases from CDUniverse or Amazon.com. Remember, you only have to GET to CDUniverse or Amazon.com from here ONCE in the course of 12 hours in order for organissimo.org to get credit for the sales. The cookie that is planted on your computer is valid for 12 hours, so as long as you initially get to CDUniverse.com or Amazon.com from here, all sales will be credited to us within a 12 hour time-frame, even if you only do one search here and continue searching from within CDUniverse or Amazon. And yes, all items count, even third-party items, DVDs, etc. Thank you! Good point that it doesn't haven't to be CDs that you're ordering. I almost never order music from Amazon but recently have been ordering books. Sorry to say I spaced going thru here for them last time. About to order from both Amazon & CDU, so I'll use the above box! Quote
alocispepraluger102 Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 remind me in about a month after the real estate taxes and car insurance are paid and if i ever get a social security check. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Posted February 18, 2007 Hey, if you can't afford it, I totally understand. I'm not asking people to break the bank, here. I know times are tough. But if anyone can spare a dime, we'd appreciate it. Quote
RDK Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 Say no more, Jim. If there's any forum I'm willing to throw a few bucks toward it's this one. Quote
Harold_Z Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 Jim, I remember sending a taste to you guys a while back -I don't remember how! Can we send thru paypal or directly via credit card? Quote
marcello Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 I sent mine in last month via a credit card. Thanks for all of your hard work Jim! Quote
Claude Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 (edited) Jim, is there a referrer link for Amazon sites that can be clicked before doing a search on the Amazon site itself? Like with CD Universe. I´m currently buying lots of DVDs on Amazon.de and .co.uk , but I don't know how to search for them with the forum search mask, which seems to work with music items only. Or is it possible to do a random search to get the referrer credit and then switch to the movie search on the Amazon site? I would like to make Org benefit from these purchases, even if it takes a few more mouse clicks Edited February 18, 2007 by Claude Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Posted February 18, 2007 Claude, as long as you start here, you can search for anything you want via Amazon's search engine and we'll get credit. You don't even have to type anything into that search bar above. Just click the orange button and it will take you to the Amazon homepage. Then search away! Quote
tonym Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 Claude, as long as you start here, you can search for anything you want via Amazon's search engine and we'll get credit. You don't even have to type anything into that search bar above. Just click the orange button and it will take you to the Amazon homepage. Then search away! Damn, I didn't know that. Anyhow I've just made my pitiful contribution; bad month, my sax is up for sale Quote
tonym Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 BTW, Jim. Is there any way of getting money to you without PayPal getting their mitts on a chunk? And, if you don't mind me asking, do album sales help in the case of the forum software $$$$? Quote
Clunky Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 (I've gotten nothing from any of the overseas Amazons): this I do not understand as I've made plenty of amazon.uk purchases through the search here over the past 6 months.Perhaps it's not working correctly or do the payments appear to come from amazon.com. Either way this really surprises mes Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 Jim, can you remind us of your snail-mail address where we might send contributions (by check), and to whom the check should be made out to? Thanks!! (I intend to write a check to you guys for somewhere in the $50 to $100 range within the next week or two.) Quote
Bright Moments Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 donation sent!!!! come on people! Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Posted February 18, 2007 I don't think there have been enough orders from overseas Amazon subsidiaries for them to send a check. It has to be over a certain amount every quarter or they just keep tallying it up until it reaches the threshold. I think the minimum limit is $50. Snail mail can be sent to: Jim Alfredson PO Box 16129 Lansing, MI 48901 Paypal takes a chunk, that's just the way it is. I don't mind. Quote
7/4 Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 (edited) I ordered some cds after clicking through here today. I hope my recent orders from Amazon got counted too! Edited February 18, 2007 by 7/4 Quote
Claude Posted February 18, 2007 Report Posted February 18, 2007 I don't think there have been enough orders from overseas Amazon subsidiaries for them to send a check. It has to be over a certain amount every quarter or they just keep tallying it up until it reaches the threshold. I think the minimum limit is $50. I'll do my best I now use this link to do my shopping: http://www.organissimo.org/forum/aff_search.php Quote
GregK Posted February 19, 2007 Report Posted February 19, 2007 do you get credit for purchases made at Target.com? It is powered by amazon (whatever "powered by" means), and it looks like amazon, except it's red. Same cart, checkout process, etc. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Posted February 19, 2007 That I do not know. Quote
JSngry Posted February 19, 2007 Report Posted February 19, 2007 Do you get a % of total order or a flat rate per transaction? I've been ordering J-Stuff through the Amazon-O/CDU-O link, sometimes at a slightly higher price than I could get it elsewhere, and if all y'all get is a flat rate then I'd just as soon save a few bucks, skip the link, and make a straight-up contribution. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted February 19, 2007 Author Report Posted February 19, 2007 It is a flat rate up until a certain dollar break (I think 4% under $1000 worth of sales per month, 6% over). Quote
JSngry Posted February 19, 2007 Report Posted February 19, 2007 (edited) So it is a % of dollar amount & not $X.XX per transaction, regardless of amount? I could've asked the question better... Sorry. In other words, if I place a $40.00 order, you get $0.16 of it, and if I place a $4.00 order, you get $0.016. (this based on the cumulative 4% figure. I the cumulative is over $1000.00, those cuts would change to $0.24 & $0.024, respectively). This as opposed to you getting, say, $0.04 per order, period. Edited February 19, 2007 by JSngry Quote
PHILLYQ Posted February 21, 2007 Report Posted February 21, 2007 I just sent something- if a bunch of us forego one cd, that's a nice piece of change! GIVE!!!! Quote
gslade Posted February 23, 2007 Report Posted February 23, 2007 I'll send you a money order as most of my purchases have been elsewhere in the mail this weekend Quote
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