Affiliate Links Disclosure

1. OVERVIEW

Dry Market Asia may use affiliate links in the Dispatch (our newsletter), blog posts, and website content. This page explains our affiliate practices, how we disclose them, and how they work.

An affiliate link is a special tracking link that credits Dry Market Asia with a commission if you make a purchase after clicking it. This allows us to earn revenue while recommending products and services we genuinely use and believe in.

How They Work

When we include an affiliate link in our content:

  • The link contains a unique tracking code
  • If you click the link and make a purchase, Dry Market Asia receives a commission
  • You pay the same price whether you use our link or go directly to the retailer
  • The commission does not increase the cost to you

Commission Structure

We partner with affiliate programs that offer reasonable commissions, typically ranging from 3-10% depending on the merchant. Commission structures vary by retailer and product category.

We do not receive commission for:

  • Direct sales of our own products (those are revenues, not commissions)
  • Newsletter subscriptions or free content access
  • Referrals that don't result in a purchase

DISCLOSURE & TRANSPARENCY

We typically use a single disclosure statement at the bottom of any email containing affiliate links. This keeps the reading experience clean while being transparent about our practices.

This single disclosure covers all affiliate links in that email. 

On the Website & Blog:

  • If a page contains affiliate links, it includes a disclosure statement near the top or in a footer
  • The page makes clear which recommendations are affiliate links through context (e.g., "We use and recommend X, which you can buy here")

We do not:

  • Hide affiliate relationships
  • Use shortened URLs that obscure the destination
  • Pretend to be a neutral recommender when we earn commission
  • Fail to disclose when we have a financial relationship with a brand

WHAT WE RECOMMEND (AFFILIATE & NON-AFFILIATE)

Our Recommendation Philosophy

We recommend products for two reasons:

1. We genuinely use and endorse them — We've tested the product, used it extensively, and believe it aligns with our values around quality, durability, and ethical sourcing.

2. We earn commission through an affiliate program — The product meets our standards AND a retail partner offers us an affiliate relationship.

Both categories are recommendations we stand behind. The presence or absence of a commission does not determine whether we recommend something.

Products We Recommend Without Affiliate Commission

We regularly recommend products and resources we do not earn commission on:

  • Specific artisans or makers (particularly those we source from)
  • Tools and techniques
  • Other media and content
  • Local businesses and restaurants

We provide these recommendations because they serve our audience, not because we profit from them.

Products We Decline to Recommend

We will not use affiliate links for:

  • Products we have not personally used or thoroughly tested
  • Items that conflict with our editorial stance on quality, ethics, or sustainability
  • Products from companies whose practices we disagree with
  • Anything that would compromise our credibility with our audience

Commission is never the reason we recommend something. If a product doesn't meet our standards, we won't promote it regardless of commission size.

AFFILIATE PARTNERS & PROGRAMS

Our Current Affiliate Programs

We maintain affiliate relationships with select retailers and platforms. These may include:

  • Amazon Associates: For books, kitchen equipment, and general merchandise
  • Specialty food retailers: For sourcing ingredients and specialty items
  • Travel booking platforms: For travel-related content and recommendations
  • Equipment and tool retailers: For photography, kitchen, and sourcing equipment
  • Artisan marketplaces: For supporting direct artisan sales

This list is not exhaustive and may be updated as we expand partnerships.

Affiliate Program Policies

Our affiliate relationships are governed by:

  • The retailer's affiliate program terms and conditions
  • FTC guidelines on endorsements and testimonials
  • Our own editorial standards
  • Applicable state and federal disclosure laws

We do not:

  • Accept exclusive affiliate arrangements that restrict our editorial freedom
  • Agree to promote products we don't believe in
  • Allow affiliate relationships to influence editorial decisions
  • Hide the nature of affiliate relationships

FTC Endorsement Guides

Dry Market Asia complies with the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides, which require clear and conspicuous disclosure of affiliate relationships. We follow these standards:

  • Affiliate disclosures are placed near the recommendation
  • Language is clear and understandable to the average consumer
  • Disclosures are not buried in fine print or footnotes
  • We do not assume readers understand affiliate terms

State & International Laws

We also comply with state and international regulations regarding affiliate disclosures, including:

  • California: Disclosures comply with California law on endorsements
  • New York: Compliance with New York's specific disclosure requirements
  • GDPR (EU): If collecting data through affiliate links, we comply with GDPR
  • ASA (UK/Australia): Compliance with advertising standards in these jurisdictions

When you click an affiliate link, the retailer may set a tracking cookie on your device. This cookie allows them to credit our affiliate account with your purchase, even if you don't complete the purchase immediately.

What this means:

  • The retailer can see you came from Dry Market Asia
  • They track your purchase for a set period (typically 24 hours to 30 days, depending on the retailer)
  • This data is used to calculate our commission, not for any other purpose by us

Review the retailer's privacy policy to understand how they use this data.

HOW WE USE AFFILIATE REVENUE

Purpose of Affiliate Income

Affiliate commissions help fund Dry Market Asia's operations:

  • Website hosting and infrastructure
  • Email and content management platforms
  • Product sourcing and travel for content creation
  • Team payroll and contractors
  • Tools and software for editorial work

Affiliate income supplements direct product sales and allows us to invest more in editorial quality and content creation.

Transparency About Affiliate Revenue

We do not disclose the exact amount of affiliate income we earn (that's private business information), but we're transparent that:

  • Affiliate revenue is a part of our business model
  • It does not influence whether we recommend something
  • Lack of affiliate income does not mean we don't recommend something
  • All recommendations are genuine endorsements

No Conflict of Interest

The presence of affiliate relationships does not create a conflict of interest because:

  • We only affiliate with products we genuinely recommend
  • We regularly recommend products we don't earn commission on
  • Commission amounts are not material enough to influence our editorial judgment
  • We're transparent about affiliate relationships, giving readers full information

YOUR RIGHTS & CHOICES

You have the choice to:

  • Use our affiliate link: Click our link and shop—we earn a commission, and you pay the same price
  • Go directly to the retailer: Skip our link and purchase directly—we earn nothing, but you still get the product
  • Unsubscribe: If you disagree with our affiliate practices, you can unsubscribe from the Dispatch at any time

Either way, you're supporting our work—we just prefer you use our link so we earn a small commission.

Disabling Cookies

If you prefer to prevent tracking cookies from affiliate links:

  • Disable cookies in your browser settings
  • Use private/incognito browsing mode
  • Use a privacy-focused browser extension

Note: If you disable cookies entirely, many websites (including ours) may not function properly.

If you're unsure whether a link is an affiliate link, or you have questions about our practices, email us at [support@drymarketasia.com]. We're happy to clarify.

PRODUCT REVIEWS & SPONSORED CONTENT

Our Approach to Reviews

When we review or recommend a product, we disclose:

  • Whether we received it for free or paid for it
  • Whether we have an affiliate relationship with the retailer
  • How long we've used the product
  • Any limitations or caveats to our recommendation

Free Products & Review Samples

Occasionally, we receive free products from makers or retailers for review purposes. When we do:

  • We clearly disclose that we received the product for free
  • We still apply the same quality and editorial standards
  • A free product does not guarantee a positive review
  • We may recommend a product we paid for over one we received free if it's superior

Free products do not influence our editorial judgment.

Dry Market Asia does not publish sponsored content. The Dispatch is editorially independent. We do not:

  • Accept paid advertorials
  • Publish content written by brands or paid by third parties
  • Prioritize products in exchange for payment
  • Allow sponsorships to influence editorial decisions

The only commercial relationship we maintain is through affiliate links on products we genuinely recommend.

ACCOUNTABILITY & CORRECTIONS

Mistakes & Corrections

If we fail to disclose an affiliate link or make an error in our disclosure, please report it to [support@drymarketasia.com]. We take these mistakes seriously and will:

  • Correct the issue immediately
  • Update the content with proper disclosure
  • Explain what went wrong
  • Take steps to prevent future errors

Reader Feedback

We welcome feedback about our affiliate practices. If you believe we're not being transparent or if a recommendation seems compromised by affiliate incentives, contact us. We'll respond within 10 business days.

Continuous Improvement

We regularly review our disclosure practices to ensure they meet:

  • FTC guidelines
  • Industry best practices
  • Ethical standards for transparency
  • Reader expectations and feedback

11. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Affiliate Links Disclosure policy at any time. Changes will be posted here with an updated "Last Updated" date.

Material changes (changes to our affiliate practices or disclosure methods) will be announced in the Dispatch. Your continued use of our content following changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

CONTACT & QUESTIONS

If you have questions about our affiliate practices, product recommendations, or this disclosure policy, contact us:

Email: support@fozzard.asia

Response Time: We will respond to inquiries within 10 business days.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By reading the Dispatch or using Dry Market Asia's website, you acknowledge that you understand our affiliate practices and how we disclose affiliate relationships.