Affiliate Disclosure
Transparency is our commitment. Here’s how we fund our operations while maintaining editorial independence.
At TechGearAdviser, transparency and honesty are the foundations of everything we do.
This Affiliate Disclosure explains how we fund our website operations, how affiliate relationships work, and most importantly—how we maintain our editorial independence and ensure that our recommendations always serve your interests first.
We believe you have the right to know exactly how we make money and how that does (and doesn’t) influence what we publish.
1
What Are Affiliate Links?
Affiliate links are special tracking links that allow us to earn a commission when you click on them and make a purchase. Here’s how it works:
The Simple Explanation:
- You read our review or guide and decide you want to purchase a product
- You click on a product link in our article
- You’re taken to the retailer’s website (like Amazon, Best Buy, etc.)
- You make a purchase at the normal price—no extra cost to you
- The retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale as a commission
💡 Important: Using affiliate links costs you nothing extra. The price is exactly the same whether you use our link or go directly to the retailer’s website.
2
Affiliate Programs We Participate In
TechGearAdviser participates in several affiliate marketing programs. These include, but are not limited to:
🛒 Amazon Associates
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
🏪 Retailer Programs
Best Buy, Walmart, Target, B&H Photo, Newegg, and other major electronics retailers’ affiliate programs.
🏢 Manufacturer Programs
Direct affiliate programs from tech brands and manufacturers who sell products on their own websites.
🔗 Affiliate Networks
Commission Junction, ShareASale, Rakuten Advertising, Impact, and other affiliate marketing networks.
We may add or remove affiliate partnerships as we grow, but this disclosure applies to all current and future affiliate relationships.
3
Our Editorial Independence Guarantee
This is the most important part: Affiliate relationships DO NOT influence our reviews, ratings, or recommendations.
Our Ironclad Principles:
- Editorial Team Isolation: Our reviewers and writers do not know which products have affiliate partnerships when they test and write about them
- Merit-Based Recommendations: We recommend products based solely on quality, performance, value, and user benefit—never commission rates
- No Pay-for-Placement: We do not accept payment for positive reviews, guaranteed rankings, or featured placements
- Honest Criticism: We highlight product flaws and weaknesses even when those products have affiliate programs
- Better Alternatives: If a non-affiliate product is superior, we’ll recommend it over affiliate products
- Clear Labeling: We clearly mark sponsored content when it exists (though we maintain it separate from reviews)
🎯 Our Promise to You:
If we wouldn’t recommend a product to our own family and friends, we won’t recommend it to you—regardless of commission potential. Your trust is worth infinitely more than any affiliate payment.
4
How We Use Affiliate Revenue
Affiliate commissions help us sustain TechGearAdviser and keep all our content free for readers. Here’s where the money goes:
Product Purchases
Buying products to test and review so we can provide hands-on, accurate evaluations
Team Compensation
Paying our expert reviewers, writers, editors, and support staff fairly for their work
Website Operations
Maintaining servers, security, domain hosting, and technical infrastructure
Testing Equipment
Investing in professional testing tools and lab equipment for accurate measurements
Content Creation
Producing new reviews, guides, tutorials, and educational content
Platform Growth
Expanding coverage, improving features, and enhancing user experience
Every affiliate commission helps us continue providing free, high-quality content without charging subscription fees or erecting paywalls.
5
What This Means for You
✓ The Benefits:
- Free Content: All our reviews, guides, and resources remain completely free
- No Extra Cost: Using our affiliate links doesn’t increase the price you pay
- Support Our Work: Your purchases through our links help us continue creating quality content
- Honest Reviews: You get unbiased recommendations you can trust
- Better Service: More revenue means better testing equipment and more comprehensive coverage
ℹ️ What You Should Know:
- Not all product links are affiliate links—some products simply don’t have affiliate programs
- Affiliate cookies typically expire after 24 hours to a few days (varies by retailer)
- You can always shop directly on retailer websites if you prefer—we won’t be offended
- Commission rates vary by product and retailer, but this never affects our recommendations
6
Price & Availability Disclaimer
While we strive to keep pricing information accurate and up-to-date:
- Prices change frequently and may differ from what we show in our articles
- Product availability varies by retailer and location
- Sale prices, discounts, and promotions are temporary and may expire
- The final price is always determined by the retailer at checkout
💰 Always verify current prices and availability on the retailer’s website before making a purchase.
7
Other Forms of Compensation
Review Units
Occasionally, manufacturers or retailers may provide us with review units (products sent for testing purposes) at no cost. When this happens:
- We clearly disclose when a product was provided for review
- Review units do not influence our opinions or ratings
- We maintain the same testing standards as products we purchase ourselves
- Companies cannot review or approve content before publication
Sponsored Content
We may occasionally publish sponsored content or advertising. When we do:
- Sponsored content is clearly labeled as “Sponsored,” “Advertisement,” or “Paid Partnership”
- Sponsored content is separate and distinct from our editorial reviews
- We maintain editorial control and refuse content that misleads readers
- Sponsors cannot dictate our editorial opinions or review conclusions
Display Advertising
We may display banner ads, native ads, or other advertising formats on our website. These advertisements:
- Are managed through third-party advertising networks
- May be personalized based on your browsing history
- Do not influence our editorial content or recommendations
- Are subject to our advertising policies and quality standards
8
FTC Compliance
TechGearAdviser complies with the Federal Trade Commission’s guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising.
According to FTC guidelines:
- We must disclose material connections between us and the products we review
- Affiliate relationships constitute a material connection that must be disclosed
- Disclosures must be clear, conspicuous, and in proximity to relevant content
- Our reviews must reflect our honest opinions, findings, and experiences
We take FTC compliance seriously and strive to exceed disclosure requirements to ensure complete transparency with our readers.
9
How You Can Support Us
If you find our content helpful and want to support our work, here’s how:
Use Our Links
When you’re ready to buy, use our affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra and helps keep our content free.
Share Our Content
Share our reviews and guides with friends, family, or on social media. Growing our audience helps sustain our work.
Provide Feedback
Tell us what content you’d like to see. Your input helps us create more valuable resources.
Questions About Our Affiliate Disclosure?
We believe in complete transparency. If you have any questions about our affiliate relationships or how we maintain editorial independence, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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