eBay EPN Affiliate Link Generator

This theme component replaces eBay links with affiliate links and discloses when this has happened

Requirement: you will need an EPN account https://partnernetwork.ebay.com/

Example

URL posted:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/[item id]
:arrow_down:
URL as appears:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/[item id]?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=[affiliate id]&toolid=1001

Feature has been removed

The theme component will replace /itm/ /usr/ and /str/ URLs.

Example2
Additionally, links appearing in the “Popular Links” section will also be replaced and disclosed when applicable.

Disclosure is an important legal requirement. An attempt was made to make disclosures as obvious as possible but there are no legal guarantees. For more information and specifics visit here: Affiliate disclosure FAQ | eBay Partner Network

4 Likes

This is quite cool. I was wondering if this could be tooled to remove a url link?

Per case use:

  • Using email subscription to create topics
  • Strip “Unsubscribe” link.

Very nice work

@anon36555649

It definitely can but keep in mind this only operates at the front end/ browser level and the post in the database will be unaltered.

Of course you could have a plugin that does that too but the logic would be different

1 Like

Makes sense as theme-components are very similar to Tamper Monkey Scripts.


On the really cool side your work here could be used as a non plugin work around for a Hosted plan that does not include the (Amazon)Affiliates Plugin.

I imagine you could also add a user or group check to not modify link. Ie you support YouTubers and do not want their affiliates links modified. Maybe added as an optional setting?

I am wondering though as the Affiliates Plugin does not provide the disclaimer that the link was modified. Would the plugin then be violating laws depending on the region the site is in?

You could extend it not to modify certain links, correct. Just one extra if statement.

I am following the eBay guidelines above and they are strict with it (they actually check to make sure you’re following their rules).

It’s all being handed down from the FTC so Amazon has a similar set of rules: https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/help/node/topic/GHQNZAU6669EZS98

2 Likes

Interesting so your component here has greater compliance than the Affiliates Plugin. Your work though could be modified(forked) to be a complimentary component that corrects the compliance miss. As the plugin does modify those short share links.

I’ve written this code to meet my own needs and I’m glad to share it, following the open-source ethos of Discourse. This applies for most plugins and theme components I’ve written. Anyone can feel free to build on or change it.

But I don’t use the Amazon affiliate plugin. I’m all for sharing what I create for myself, but taking on extra work to extend and maintain a separate plugin would need some incentive, be it financial or otherwise.

1 Like

Imho the native plugin has the problem that it gets fished out by every average script oder ad blocker plugin or even Pi-hole. So this plugin/component should work a lot better!

I did not install it, yet. Waiting for a “real” theme component through Github. I know, this needs some extra work for the settings which get inserted into the code, which now is done by the user. But by creating a component does not cover updates…

I’ve made it a repo now, see OP.

3 Likes

Great! Does this also cover the local eBay websites (links) like ebay.de for Germany?

1 Like

I haven’t tested it that thoroughly but it should

https://partnerhelp.ebay.com/helpcenter/s/article/Rotation-ID?language=en_US

3 Likes

Cool thank you! :slight_smile:

I will test the German version in the next hours/days and write here, what I found out. :slight_smile:

2 Likes

Works für ebay.de - thanks again! :slight_smile: :+1:

2 Likes