Affiliate Disclosure
Last Updated: September 19, 2025
Summary
Affiliate Transparency
The Smarter Collector participates in affiliate programs. When you click on certain links to marketplaces like eBay and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support our free platform.
Full Disclosure
Our Affiliate Relationships
The Smarter Collector LLC is a participant in the eBay Partner Network, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to eBay.com. We may join additional affiliate programs in the future.
How It Works
- Affiliate Links: Throughout our platform, you'll find links to purchase sports cards on eBay and potentially other marketplaces
- Commission: When you click these links and make a purchase, we typically earn a small commission (around 5% of the purchase price)
- No Extra Cost: You pay the same price whether you use our links or go directly to the marketplace
- Clear Marking: Affiliate links are marked with marketplace buttons (like "Shop on eBay") or icons
Where You'll See Affiliate Links
Affiliate links appear in various places on our platform:
- The "Wanted" tab showing cards you're looking to purchase
- Search results for cards in your collection
- Player profile guides featuring iconic and notable cards
- Marketplace availability sections throughout the platform
Our Editorial Independence
Our Promise
What We Promise:
- The presence of affiliate programs does NOT influence which cards or features we show
- We display marketplace listings based on relevance to your collection, not commission rates
- Our platform remains a neutral tool for collectors
- We may expand to include non-affiliate marketplaces in the future
What We DON'T Do:
- We don't make specific product recommendations based on commissions
- We don't favor one marketplace over another due to affiliate relationships
- We don't manipulate search results or listings to increase affiliate revenue
Transparency About Pricing
- Some sections show prices before you click to the marketplace
- Other sections require clicking through to see current pricing
- All prices are set by the marketplace sellers, not by us
- Price accuracy depends on the marketplace's real-time data
Why We Use Affiliate Links
Affiliate commissions help us:
- Keep The Smarter Collector free for all users
- Maintain and improve the platform
- Add new features and integrations
- Cover hosting and operational costs
Your Privacy and Affiliate Links
- We do NOT share your personal information with affiliate partners
- Marketplaces may use their own cookies when you visit their sites
- Your collection data remains private and is never shared for marketing
Future Monetization
While affiliate links are currently our primary revenue source, we may explore additional monetization methods in the future, such as:
- Premium subscription features
- Sponsored content (clearly marked)
- Additional marketplace partnerships
We will always disclose any new financial relationships that could affect our content.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions about our affiliate relationships or how they work:
Contact Information
Subject: "Affiliate Disclosure Question"
FTC Compliance
This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Quick Summary for Users
Key Points
✅ We earn small commissions when you buy through our links
✅ You pay nothing extra - same prices as going direct
✅ Helps keep platform free for everyone
✅ Doesn't influence what we show you
✅ Clearly marked affiliate links
We believe in full transparency about how we make money. Thank you for supporting The Smarter Collector!