BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: YWO's Amazon Store!

[Shaun]

This is the big thing I was talking about, everybody.

We have officially opened up an Amazon Store. There's some explanation on the actual link (which you can see above as "aStore" in the top navbar), but I'll give you guys the big explanation here.

Our Amazon stores are directly linked to Amazon's entire arsenal of products. We have a store for the USA, Canada, and the UK, and each includes all items that are present on the Amazon store itself. This means you can do Amazon shopping right from YWO.

What exactly does this mean for YWO? Well, every single sale made through the store (or through another method I'm going to mention) brings YWO a commission. We get a percentage of Amazon's earnings! That means if you buy a book, you pay Amazon, and they give us a portion of the sales.

What are we going to do with this money? That depends! Right now, we're going to use it to pay hosting costs. However (and this is a big thing guys), if it brings in any considerable amount of money, it will allow us to actually offer real prizes for contests! So, by buying things you were already going to buy, you could potentially bring us revenue to take YWO to a whole different level! Imagine contests with Amazon gift certificates as prizes, or money, or free books! Well, now we might have the opportunity to do so!

So, there are two ways to buy items. Click aStore above, click the flag for the country you want to go to, and start searching for the items you want! Or, if you can't seem to find something, click the "powered by Amazon" icon just underneath the search box and it will take you to Amazon. Amazon will know that you came from YWO's site and if you buy something directly through that process, we still get a commission. Just make sure to use the "powered by Amazon" button.

That's the news guys! This is a big step for us. A step in the right direction!

[jordanisonfire]

Great! I think that's an awesome idea! :)

[Shaun]

Yes, of course it is :D.

[jordanisonfire]

I'm guessing you did this, Shaun? So, you've finally had chance to announce something major on the site. :D

[Imelda]

You guys are going to make so much money off me ...

[Shaun]

Umm, well, just because I don't announce stuff doesn't mean I don't do anything. Andy doesn't do anything without talking to me first, and a lot of things that are on the site were suggested by me even though Andy had to build them. Such as the inline crit idea. That was my idea, but Andy put it together since he understands coding better than I. This store was my idea, but I talked to Andy first about it before starting. So, :P. Andy and I work together silly!

[Andy]

I'm guessing you did this, Shaun? So, you've finally had chance to announce something major on the site. :D
XD EDIT: Ditto what Shaun says. Most new features to the site have to be coded, regardless of who thinks them up. And the social button idea came off Shaun's blog first, so....

You guys are going to make some much money off me ...
Thank you, Imelda! Although technically WE won't be making any money at all, since it all goes back to the site. :)

[jordanisonfire]

Umm, well, just because I don't announce stuff doesn't mean I don't do anything. Andy doesn't do anything without talking to me first, and a lot of things that are on the site were suggested by me even though Andy had to build them. Such as the inline crit idea. That was my idea, but Andy put it together since he understands coding better than I. This store was my idea, but I talked to Andy first about it before starting. So, :P. Andy and I work together silly!

I wasn't at all implying that you didn't do anything, Shaun. I'm just saying that Andrew seems to do a lot of the announcing, but not necessarily more of the site improvement an such.. Sorry if I made it seem like I was insulting you.

[Shaun]

I just want to be recognized too. *cries*
Andrew does do a LOT of stuff though.

[Imelda]

Shaun's a lazy person who does nothing but talk on MSN!

True story.

[jordanisonfire]

I talk a little on MSN, but not a lot. *shrugs*

[Shaun]

:'(. That's not very nice Imelda :(

[Imelda]

After being cried at, I retract that statement.

Shaun is a useful, useful human being who tirelessly works for the good of mankind and NEVER takes time out to talk to his girlfriend. Ever.

[jordanisonfire]

Me and Shaun have a lot in common, then. :P As if... ? :rolleyes:

[Andy]

Shaun does everything related to money and the two stores here, which require frequent updating and adding. I do visuals and new pages, all of which are one-time things. The page is made, and it's done. So it could be argued that Shaun will do more work in the long run, so I need to keep thinking of things to do. :D

[Nyx]

Wow this is cool. Now I know where to do my christmas shopping:D

[GeorgeMichael]

At first I saw it and thought we could buy things using our Critique Points. I was like :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D*gleam inside eyes* and then I figured out we had to use money. :(

But it's for a good cause :)

Hurray for the aStore

[Carraka]

Sweeeet! I'm going to attempt to buy all my books from the aStore now.

-dashes off to shop-

[Shaun]

Thanks guys, we appreciate the support! I figure, if you guys are going to buy from Amazon anyway, might as well do so to help us :)

[Shaun]

Shaun does everything related to money and the two stores here, which require frequent updating and adding. I do visuals and new pages, all of which are one-time things. The page is made, and it's done. So it could be argued that Shaun will do more work in the long run, so I need to keep thinking of things to do. :D

I'd argue that right now you're doing a lot more than I am because you're doing lots of things that I can't do. I don't know how to fiddle with code, I know very little HTML, CSS, and I know absolutely nothing about PHP. All the little gizmos that make our site great are either ideas you came up with and utilized or ideas I had that you did. So, you are doing more work right now, but perhaps once we get the site in a perfect state with all the features we could imagine on it, then, yeah, perhaps I'll be doing more. I have a lot of plans for the site that I hope we'll be able to do. A lot depend on whether or not we get a lot of members and how much activity we have. But, there are a lot of things I'm hoping to be able to do, hopefully by summer of next year, or sooner if possible.
I'm rambling. But, Andy, you're doing a lot of work, be happy about it. Anything you guys see visually is what he put up, even if it was my idea, or a combination of our ideas, or just his. He's doing so much work to keep this site afloat, and I'm glad to have him working with me. This site wouldn't exist without him...mostly cause I'm too stupid to do forum stuff :S

[Zuzy]

:D

Well if my father does the same as he did last year and gets me a borders gift card, I've decided to do it through the internet so... expect some money after Christmas!!!

[Shaun]

Just a side note.

Anyone who actually buys from the store, will you please let me know via a PM or here so that I can make sure that Amazon recognizes the sale? I'd really appreciate it. You don't have to give me financial info or anything like that. Just say "I bought this book on such and such day".

[Zuzy]

Oh, also, Shaun do you think you could explain to me how you would set up an amazon store and all of this...? It might be something I run by Nate on YWS to see what he thinks of it. (Yes! I'm stealing your amazing money making idea.)

[Shaun]

Go to Amazon.com and scroll down until you find the Associates section. It's all in there.

[Andy]

Here, Zuzy:

http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/join

[Shaun]

Or...just go to amazon.com and scroll down to Associates...that's easy too :P

[Shaun]

Just thought I would tell everyone:

We've earned exactly 4.7 GDP from the UK version of our store. That is about 9.72 USD. Doesn't sound like much, but when we earn the 50 GDP we need to have Amazon UK disperse to us we will have almost enough money to pay for another year of basic hosting. So, buy stuff from the other stores guys :P. It's Christmas! If we can pay for our hosting next year and have extra money lying around Andy and I will host a contest that will have a big prize to it! Meaning money! That can go to you guys! So, buy all your relatives books this year :P.
Okay okay, don't if you don't want to, but, if you're going to buy stuff from Amazon anyway, do it through our store because we get a benefit out of it and that benefit rolls back to our members :).

[jordanisonfire]

Well, I'll look into getting a PayPal account. I'm not contributing, so I might as well pay for the site a bit.

[Shaun]

Haha, well you're posting, which is contributing :).

[jordanisonfire]

How is posting contributing? I thought spam made the site more expensive more for the owners.

[Shaun]

Only if you post like 10 billion spam messages. We have a LOT of space to work with. Bandwidth is more a concern than space. I can't log in to the site management thing when I'm on campus for some reason, otherwise I'd give you the stats. Really it's not a big concern unless all you're doing is spamming. Just keep spam to a minimum and try to get involved in debates and discussions :).

[Andy]

How is posting contributing? I thought spam made the site more expensive more for the owners.
Let's put it this way, Shadow. We have used 1/2631 of our total space. No joke, I just calculated it. So we've got plenty of room. The cost for the site will not go up until we full up all that.

Just don't spam in the literature forums, and it'll probably be all right. Unless you've gone completely out of your mind... :D

[jordanisonfire]

The cost for the site will not go up until we full up all that.

Fill up. Terrible, Andrew, just terrible. :P

Just don't spam in the literature forums, and it'll probably be all right. Unless you've gone completely out of your mind... :D

Well, I just post in the literature forums to give my opinion. Mostly, I just post once on a thread, then leave it. Sometimes, I'll discuss, but not often.

[Shaun]

If you have something to add to a discussion you should get involved in it...

[Imelda]

Man, it's going to take me ages to spend enough to yeah you guys £50 ...

But I'll do my best. I mean, really I have to buy more books to uh ... save the site ... Yeah. It's that important.

[Shaun]

Well, the more English-folk we get over here buying stuff from our store the better :P.
It's a long process but we have a year to earn that and it shouldn't be too hard I don't think.

I'm surprised nobody has bought anything from the US store yet...I'm thinking of doing some Xmas shopping through there.

[jordanisonfire]

Well, the more English-folk we get over here buying stuff from our store the better :P.

...Never call me that - again.

[Imelda]

You? I thought it was only my Christmas presents on there so far ...

What did you buy? :D

[Shaun]

What's wrong with being called an English-folk?

[jordanisonfire]

I just hate the name... it sounds like the posh, snobby Yorkshire people who I hate because they don't care about anyone but themselves. I can't wait to get out of here...

[Shaun]

*hides for when Imelda shows up and eats Shadow for that comment*

[Imelda]

Wise move, Shaun. Wise move.

*Slaughters Shadow*

I'm posh and slightly snobby. :(

I'm also kinda rare. The kind of folk I normally see around and in Doncaster are chavs, tarts, and yobs. Frankly I'd rather be snobby. :p

[Shaun]

She's not snobby by the way. She's cute and lovable. But that's my opinion and it might be heavily biased...

[jordanisonfire]

Hey, I am not a chav! And FYI, Imelda, I don't live in Doncaster, I live in a little village called Fishlake and come from a snobby family who can't stand that I'm not snobby like them. :D

[Imelda]

You said Doncaster before. :p And you live round THERE? I totally got lost there a few weeks ago. The roads are like ... evil turned into tarmac.

And I didn't say you were a chav. And those small village snobs are so much worse than the ordinary kind of snob.

[jordanisonfire]

Well, i am not a small village snob. I grow my hair long, I wear brown, khaki green or black clothes, I don't talk in a posh voice, I listen to loud, adrenaline-pumping rock music, I'm a vegetarian and I don't participate in hunts or ride horses. That non-snobby enough for you? :D

[Shaun]

Just a note to anyone who happens to see this.

I just got an email from Amazon Associates that basically says this:

For each sale of an Amazon Kindle made through our store or referred by us (YWO I mean), we earn $39.99. Just a note, that's a LOT of money for one sale. We also earn money for e-book sales. I don't know if anyone is wanting a Kindle, but consider getting it through us because if we sold 3 Kindles we could pay for hosting for another year, which would be crazy.

So, thought I'd mention it.

[Nyx]

What's a kindle?

[Andy]

The Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Amazons-Wireless-Reading-Device/dp/B000FI73MA

Shaun, the bonus amount is still the same for things as expensive as that? Wow. I'd expect them to lower it a little... $40 is a lot of money.

[Nyx]

Wow. That looks insanely cool and now I want one! But there's not a much of a chance that I will ever get one;)

[Andy]

Wow. That looks insanely cool and now I want one! But there's not a much of a chance that I will ever get one;)
You mean you don't have $400 in your pocket right now?! :O

Kidding, kidding. I can't afford one, either.

[Nyx]

You mean you don't have $400 in your pocket right now?! :O

Kidding, kidding. I can't afford one, either.

-looks inside pocket- I have 5 bucks and a starbucks coupon in my pockets right now:P

[Shaun]

Well, you know, point your parents and stuff to it :P. It's a lot of money and I wish we could sell a couple to make it :P.

[Nyx]

:PI wish I could help the site but 400$ items aren't exactly on my parent's "To buy for Niyousha" list right now.

[Shaun]

Yeah, I figured it wasn't going to happen, but I thought I'd bring it up anyway.

Is everyone okay with my announcing deals and the like from Amazon?

[jordanisonfire]

I - want - it. :O Going on birthday list, along with Wii (yes, Wiis are sold out EVERYWHERE in England, so I'm gonna have to have one for my birthday). :)

[Rafael Domination]

Yeah, I figured it wasn't going to happen, but I thought I'd bring it up anyway.

Is everyone okay with my announcing deals and the like from Amazon?


I don't see why not. Now, if I could only get some online monery account...

[Nyx]

I - want - it. :O Going on birthday list, along with Wii (yes, Wiis are sold out EVERYWHERE in England, so I'm gonna have to have one for my birthday). :)

Wiis are all sold out in England?:O Most my friends have Wiis so I just basically live at their houses and play 24/7 so I don't really need to buy my own:D

[Shaun]

Well if we sell some Kindle's awesome. If not, please do your Christmas shopping with our store. Please please please. I beg you :). I just would like to see it work to pay for hosting so we can have real prizes for YWO hosted contests and stuff!