Jeff Bezos Picks Up On Bill Gates' Pay-To-Search Idea
from the must-be-something-in-the-Seattle-water dept
Earlier this month, we mentioned Bill Gates’ random musings on how it might make sense to bribe pay users to search at MSN instead of the competition. However, it did seem like random speculation, rather than part of Microsoft’s grand plan. However, Geekzone is reporting that Amazon’s A9 search subsidiary is already experimenting with something similar — giving discounts at Amazon for people who search on A9. It sounds like they’ve put up a lot of conditions to try to limit the “click fraud” (search fraud?) aspect from taking over. Also, to try to copy some geeky charm from Google, the percentage you save is 1.57%… ~pi divided by two… as in “sharing the pi(e).” Yes, feel free to gag now.
Comments on “Jeff Bezos Picks Up On Bill Gates' Pay-To-Search Idea”
American Pi!
I wonder how much pi you are going to have to have stored up before they will allow you to use any of it.
I do business with one vendor who, BTW, partners with Amazon when it comes to buying and selling. They have a discount system as well, but you have to have a minimum amount of points, have a minimum ticket value. Even if you have a $100 in credit, and you want to use it against something that is $10, you’ll have to wait until you have $500 in credits to use.
Of course, they are a wholesale agency, Amazon will hopefully do things a bit differently.
Old news
The pi/2 discount has been around since A9 was first introduced.
Yehuda
Privacy Policy
“By visiting A9.com, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Notice. PLEASE NOTE THAT A9.COM IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF AMAZON.COM, INC. IF YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT ON AMAZON.COM AND AN AMAZON.COM COOKIE, INFORMATION GATHERED BY A9.COM, AS DESCRIBED IN THIS PRIVACY NOTICE, MAY BE CORRELATED WITH ANY PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION THAT AMAZON.COM HAS”. – A9.COM
Re: Privacy Policy
You said it. Thank you.
Re: Re: Privacy Policy
I.E. spyware…
Re: Re: Re: Privacy Policy
Theres huge difference between spyware and tracking cookie.
Cookies you can *easily* disable in your browser. Spyware is software installed on your computer that is silently transmitting information about your browsing habits to EVERY site you go to. One cookie can just report back about one website.
Re: Re: Re:2 Privacy Policy
I don’t get why people don’t do what I did – sign up for an amazon associates account, and use that for purchases – I get 4 to 7 percent kicked back.
Re: Re: Re:3 Privacy Policy
Because that’s against Amazon Associate’s TOS, and if you’re the only one buying stuff from the associate account links, it’s kind of obvious to them. Besides, the whole point of this is to get paid for searching, not get paid for money that was yours in the first place.
Re: Re: Re:3 Privacy Policy
Yeah… I’m in a bunch of affilliate programs, and you could actually do some jail time for buying the way you just described…
I don’t know why people are so concerned that Amazon knows that you happen to buy Weird Al CDs and like S&M… They don’t really give a shit other than they know better how to serve you.
All of these people bitching about Amazon and Google collecting usage history really need to shut up. Google and Amazon are providing a service. Part of that service is the fact that they are able to learn your preferences and suggest things that you like. If it’s really that troublesome, don’t use the services.
BTW… What are you affraid of anyway? You only need to fear big brother if you’re doing somthing he doesn’t like.
Re: Privacy Policy
I totally agree with you on the “shopping locally” comment, but unfortunately in some cases that argument just doesn’t fly.
I buy a lot of DVDs. There are very few stores (local or national) that carry a wide selection of DVDs. Media Play used to have the largest selection (along with the highest prices, but great sales), and they are closing down. Circuit City and Best Buy are all I have left, and they don’t hold a candle.
If it wasn’t for Amazon (or the Internet, for that matter), I’d never have access to at least half of my collection now. My next best bet is to hit used DVD stores and garage sales and hope I luck out.
Re: Privacy Policy
local stores also generally have a 15% markup over amazon anyway, so a 10% savings (plus tax) doesn’t help local stores gain any advantage. the only advantage a local store has would be the ability to get the item RIGHT NOW, rather than waiting for delivery. almost 100% of my tech purchases in the past few years have been online.
This isn't new...
The idea to offer prizes, discounts, or just cash for using a search engine has already been picked up by Blingo. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s pretty much google but you have an opportunity to win a prize every time you search. It’s no scam, as the money by the search advertisements pretty much pays for everything.
If you get friends to sign up under you, every time a friend wins, you win too. It’s pretty cool, and prizes range from free movie tickets to $100+ visa gift cards. My referral link is here if you want to give it a shot. (Am I alowed to do that?) lol, without the referral, you can get there at Blingo.com =P
comment a9
I’ve signed up for the a9 discount and always click to use it when buy somthing on amazon, however I dont think I get the discount. You must have to fiddle arround with it and score some hits on their website advertisers before it becomes effictive.