Effective Date: May 29, 2026 · Last Updated: May 29, 2026
The Short Version
PokeTracker earns commissions when visitors click links to eBay and TCGPlayer and make purchases on those marketplaces. We are independent and not owned, controlled, or sponsored by either company. This income is what funds the site. There is no additional cost to you when using our affiliate links.
What Is an Affiliate Link
An affiliate link is a special URL that includes a tracking identifier unique to our site. When you click one and complete a purchase within the marketplace's attribution window, the marketplace pays PokeTracker a small commission, typically a percentage of the transaction value or a flat referral fee. The price you pay does not change based on whether you arrive through our link or directly.
Our Affiliate Partnerships
PokeTracker currently participates in the following affiliate programs:
- eBay Partner Network (EPN): When you click an eBay link from our site and make a purchase on eBay within the cookie window (typically 24 hours), we earn a percentage commission. EPN attributes purchases of any item, not just Pokemon cards.
- TCGPlayer via Impact: When you click a TCGPlayer link and purchase any item on TCGPlayer within their cookie window (typically 7 days), we earn a commission tracked through Impact Radius, TCGPlayer's affiliate network partner.
We may add additional affiliate programs in the future. Any new partnerships will be disclosed on this page.
How Affiliate Links Are Identified
Affiliate links on PokeTracker are identified in the following ways:
- The URL typically routes through a tracking domain (rover.ebay.com, partner.tcgplayer.com) before reaching the final destination
- HTML link attributes include
rel="sponsored"as required by search engine and FTC guidelines - "Buy on eBay" or "Shop on TCGPlayer" button text makes the destination clear
- The site footer carries an "AFFILIATE" badge prominently
You can verify any link is an affiliate link by hovering over it (on desktop) or long-pressing it (on mobile) to see the URL before clicking.
Editorial Independence
The presence of affiliate links does not influence the content we publish. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored card recommendations, or "featured listings" that bias our coverage. When a blog post recommends a specific card, it is because we believe the pick is sound, not because someone paid for placement.
Some specific commitments we make to maintain editorial independence:
- We do not accept payment to include or exclude specific cards in our investment lists
- We do not accept payment from individual eBay or TCGPlayer sellers for promotion
- We may receive volume-based bonuses from affiliate networks, but these are not tied to recommending specific products
- If we ever do accept paid sponsored content in the future, it will be clearly labeled as "Sponsored Content" at the top of the post
FTC Compliance
PokeTracker complies with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising" (16 CFR Part 255). This means we clearly disclose our affiliate relationships on every page that contains affiliate links, and we do not make endorsement claims we cannot substantiate.
The "AFFILIATE" badge in our site footer is part of this compliance. Every blog post containing affiliate links also discloses this within the post itself.
EU Disclosure Requirements
Under European Union consumer protection law and the Belgian Code of Economic Law, commercial communications must be clearly identifiable. PokeTracker is registered as an independent content site, not a regulated investment service. The affiliate links we display are commercial communications, and we identify them as such through this disclosure, the rel="sponsored" attribute, and prominent visual identification in our footer and post content.
What This Means for Your Purchases
When you make a purchase through one of our affiliate links:
- The price you pay is set by the marketplace seller, not by PokeTracker
- The marketplace's buyer protection programs (eBay Money Back Guarantee, TCGPlayer's protection policies) apply normally
- Returns, shipping, customer service, and dispute resolution are handled by the marketplace, not by PokeTracker
- Your transaction details are between you and the marketplace, not shared with us beyond aggregated commission reports
How to Support PokeTracker Without Purchasing
If you find PokeTracker valuable and want to support the site without making a purchase, you can:
- Share blog posts on social media or with fellow collectors
- Link to specific card pages from forums or communities (links are good for search rankings)
- Provide feedback through our contact page on what features would be most useful
- Spot data errors and report them so we can keep the site accurate
Questions
For questions about our affiliate relationships or specific disclosure, reach out via growwithpassive@gmail.com.