Our Commitment to Transparency
Bottom line: When we review products or services, we sometimes earn a commission when you purchase through our affiliate links. Here’s exactly how that works and how we stay objective.
We’re committed to transparency. Every affiliate relationship is fully disclosed. Our commissions do NOT affect review quality, objectivity, or editorial decisions.
Why Affiliate Relationships Don’t Change Our Reviews
- ✅ Product selection based on merit, not commission potential
- ✅ Negative reviews are still published even if we’re affiliated
- ✅ Commission amounts don’t affect rankings or ratings
- ✅ Editorial independence maintained through firewall between content and business
Real Example of Our Independence
We’ve published negative reviews of products we’re affiliated with—giving low ratings despite earning potential commissions. Reader trust matters more than any affiliate payment.
How TechPlayForge Makes Money
Primary Revenue Stream: Affiliate Commissions
How Affiliate Links Work
- You read our review of a product
- You click an affiliate link to purchase
- You complete the purchase at the normal price (no extra cost to you)
- We earn a small commission from the merchant
- Your purchase supports independent reviews
Typical Commission Rates
- Amazon Associates: 2-5% (varies by product category)
- Direct Brand Programs: 5-15% (varies by partner)
- Affiliate Networks: 5-10% (varies by merchant)
Commission Examples
- We recommend a $1,000 laptop → You click our Amazon affiliate link → You purchase → We earn ~$30-50 commission
- We recommend a $50 gaming peripheral → You click manufacturer affiliate link → You purchase → We earn ~$2.50-7.50 commission
Secondary Revenue (If Applicable)
- Display Advertising: Google Ads or similar networks (ads shown on site)
- Sponsored Content: Clearly labeled paid partnerships (rare, disclosed prominently)
- Email Sponsorships: Brand mentions in newsletter (clearly disclosed)
What We DON’T Do
- ❌ We don’t charge readers for reviews
- ❌ We don’t sell your email list
- ❌ We don’t let affiliate relationships determine coverage
- ❌ We don’t publish ads disguised as reviews
- ❌ We don’t accept payment for positive ratings
What Affiliate Commissions Fund
Your purchases through affiliate links support:
- 🖥️ Server hosting and website infrastructure
- 📧 Email newsletter costs and tools
- 🔍 Research tools (review databases, comparison software)
- ⏱️ Time investment in writing thorough, honest reviews
- 📊 Data analytics and testing equipment
Honest About Commissions
Yes, we earn more from some products than others. This is transparent in our disclosure. But we still recommend products based on merit, not commission potential. High-commission products aren’t automatically featured or rated higher.
Our Affiliate Partners
Amazon Associates
- What We Promote: Electronics, gaming products, books, tech accessories
- Commission Rate: Typically 2-5% (varies by category)
- Products Reviewed: Laptops, monitors, gaming chairs, peripherals, software, books
- Why Amazon: Broad tech inventory, trusted platform, wide availability
Direct Brand Affiliate Programs
- What We Promote: Tech products directly from manufacturers
- Commission Rate: Typically 5-15%
- Categories: Gaming laptops, peripherals, software, services
- Why Direct: Better product support, direct relationships, sometimes exclusive deals for readers
Affiliate Networks
- Networks: ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, Impact, Rakuten
- Typical Rate: 5-15%
- Categories: Various tech categories and retailers
Affiliate Relationship Impact
What affiliate relationships DO NOT affect:
- ❌ Product selection for review
- ❌ Review ratings or scores
- ❌ Article tone (positive/negative)
- ❌ Publication of negative reviews
- ❌ Speed of product coverage
- ❌ Comparison rankings
Examples of Our Integrity
- We reviewed [Product X] and gave it a 6/10 rating, even though we’re affiliated—the product didn’t meet our standards
- We’ve recommended non-affiliated products from competitors because they were the best option.on
- We’ve rejected affiliate program offers for products that don’t meet quality standards.rds
Commission Doesn’t Drive Coverage
High-commission products aren’t automatically featured. We review products independently of commission potential. Reader value and market importance determine coverage priorities—not affiliate earnings.
How to Identify Affiliate Links
Visual Indicators
Affiliate links on TechPlayForge are clearly marked with:
- Asterisk Symbol (*): Links marked with * are affiliate links
- Special Button Styling: “Buy Now” or “Check Price” buttons are affiliate links
- Tooltip on Hover: Hover over links to see “This is an affiliate link”
- Disclosure Statement: Every review article includedisclosure the top/bottom
Standard Disclosure on Every Review Article
“This article contains affiliate links. We earn a small commission when you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. This helps support our independent reviews. Read our full Affiliate Disclosure.”
Non-Affiliate Links
Not all links are affiliate links:
- ✅ External reference links (research, sources)
- ✅ Internal site links (other articles)
- ✅ Policy pages (Privacy, Terms, Contact)
- ✅ Social media links
- ✅ Non-commercial resource links
Reader Control
If you prefer to buy elsewhere:
- Search for the product name directly in Google
- Visit the brand’s website directly
- Use your preferred retailer
We don’t benefit financially, but we still appreciate you reading our honest reviews.
Our Goal: Zero Confusion
If you’re ever unsure whether a link is affiliated, email us at contact@techplayforge.com. Transparency is our priority.
How We Maintain Editorial Independence
Product Selection Process
Based On:
- ✅ Reader value and interest
- ✅ Market importance
- ✅ Gap in coverage
- ✅ User requests
- ✅ Technical innovation
NOT Based On:
- ❌ Commission potential
- ❌ Affiliate availability
- ❌ Manufacturer pressure
- ❌ Payment amounts
Review Methodology
- Same Standards: Testing/standards identical regardless of affiliate status
- Blind Testing: When possible, test without knowing the commission potential
- Data-Driven: Specs, benchmarks, real-world testing—not marketing claims
- Multiple Perspectives: Conflict of interest management through team review
Negative Reviews Published
We publish honest negative reviews even when affiliated. Recent examples:
- [Product reviewed negatively despite affiliation—gave 5/10 rating]
- [Product with high commission potential but poor quality—not recommended]
- [Honest assessment of flaws, even though we earn commission]
No Payola / Paid Reviews
- ✅ We do NOT accept payment for positive coverage
- ✅ We do NOT suppress negative coverage for commissions
- ✅ We do NOT let advertisers influence editorial decisions
- ✅ We do NOT delete negative reader comments
Editorial Firewall
Editorial Team: Decides reviews, coverage priorities, ratings
Business Team: Manages monetization, affiliate relationships
Firewall: Editorial decisions made independently of business considerations
Reader Trust is Priority
Maintaining reader trust is more valuable than any affiliate commission. If we recommend products just for commission, we lose credibility. Bad reviews catch up to you. Honest reviews compound over time.
Examples of Independence
- We’ve recommended products from competitors even when we’re not affiliated with them—because they’re the best option
- We’ve turned down lucrative affiliate partnerships when products didn’t meet quality standards
- We’ve published comprehensive comparison reviews that recommend non-affiliated products
Reader Accountability
If you feel an affiliate relationship compromises our review:
- 📧 Email concerns to: ethics@techplayforge.com
- 💬 We’ll publish reader feedback and counterpoints
- 🔍 We take criticism seriously and investigate
- 📝 We’ll issue corrections if we erred
Your Data & Affiliate Links
What Data Flows
- When you click the affiliate link, you visit the merchant’s website
- Merchant (not TechPlayForge) collects your data
- Merchant’s privacy policy applies (not ours)
- We do NOT receive your personal data
- Affiliate networks may track clicks for commission attribution
What We Know
- ✅ Click happened (that’s how we confirm commission)
- ✅ General: Whether the purchase was completed
- ❌ We do NOT see: Your personal data, payment info, purchase details
- ❌ We do NOT receive: Specific product details (only commission amount)
Affiliate Tracking
- Cookies: Some affiliate programs use cookies/pixel tracking
- Purpose: Track clicks and attribute commissions to the correct referrer
- Retention: Depends on affiliate program (typically 24-90 days)
- Opt-out: Use browser tracking prevention or ad blockers
Your Privacy
- ✅ TechPlayForge does NOT share your data with merchants
- ✅ We do NOT sell your email to affiliate partners
- ✅ Affiliated merchants operate under their own privacy policies
- ✅ You can unsubscribe from our newsletter anytime
Cookie Information
- Affiliate cookies: Set by the merchant, not us
- Duration: Depends on program (typically 24-30 days)
- Cookie control: Browser settings or opt-out links
Link to Full Privacy Policy: See our Privacy Policy for comprehensive privacy details.
Our Affiliate Ethics Code
Our Commitments
If We Violate These Principles
- Report to: ethics@techplayforge.com
- Investigation: We investigate all complaints
- Corrections: We’ll publish corrections/clarifications if we violated standards
- Accountability: Public accountability maintained
FTC Compliance
- ✅ We comply with FTC Endorsement Guides
- ✅ Clear disclosure on all affiliate content
- ✅ Affiliate relationships properly labeled
- ✅ Consumer protection prioritized
Industry Standards
We follow ethical affiliate marketing standards:
- Honest advertising disclosure
- Consumer protection principles
- Transparent business practices
Why These Commitments Exist
These commitments exist because we value your trust. You choose to read TechPlayForge. We earn that choice daily through honest content and transparent business practices.