Add-On Releases - Amazon Store Integration

Finally, I've gotten around to putting together a version of the Amazon Store integration mod for vBulletin 3.6.

This mod allows you to add an Amazon store to your vBulletin. You can set it to search for a particular keyword, for different types of items - CDs, DVDs, Clothing, etc. A sample of the store in action is available here: http://www.lidragracing.com/amazon_store.php.

You will need to sign up for Amazon Web Services to get an AWS key in order for this to work. In addition, you need to have PHP 5 installed on your server.

Installation is very simple, upload 3 files, import the xml file and then add a link to the store in your navigation bar. See the attached file "ECS Amazon Store.txt" for the exact installation instructions.

Give it a try, let me know what you think. Make sure you click "Mark as Installed" if you've installed it.

Also, if you intall it and use it, please post the URL you have it installed at so I can see how it's being used.

{edit}

To upgrade to a newer version, re-upload the php files and then import the xml product file. Afterwards go to the admin control panel to check to make sure all of the fields are filled in properly.

[mikelbeck]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

Could your 3.0 version be made to work in 3.6.8?

Probably not without a bunch of work. If you'd like to take it on, go for it!

[BadgerDog]

Installed.... :up:

Set up store account and got an Amazon AWS key .....

Set up the mod in AdminCP with it....

Now, pardon my ignorance as I've never used this kind of thing before, but how do I start populating my own store with actual products such as books? I can't seem to figure out how to add a book so that it displays in the PHP page of our site?

Thanks for any help...

Regards,
Badger

BTW, we use Commission Junction for eBay referrals. Can this be used in any similar way, or is something that remains just direct with Amazon in order to earn commissions?

[mikelbeck]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Installed.... :up:

Set up store account and got an Amazon AWS key .....

Set up the mod in AdminCP with it....

Now, pardon my ignorance as I've never used this kind of thing before, but how do I start populating my own store with actual products such as books? I can't seem to figure out how to add a book so that it displays in the PHP page of our site?

If you set all the options in the AdminCP properly, when you go to the amazon_store.php page it will pull the data from Amazon and will display the data for you. There's no need to "populate" the store, it pulls data real-time.

For example, if you want to display books about dogs, set the "keywords" field to "dogs", and the "Search Index" field to "Books". Note that the "Search Index" field is case sensitive, the field has to match the data from this page: http://docs.amazonwebservices.com/AW...dexValues.html.

I think in the next version I'll make that a drop-down box so you can only select valid options...

If you get a page with no data when you go to the amazon_store.php page, then one of the fields you've entered in the AdminCP is invalid.

BTW, we use Commission Junction for eBay referrals. Can this be used in any similar way, or is something that remains just direct with Amazon in order to earn commissions?

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking...?

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by mikelbeck

I'm not sure I understand what you're asking...?

I was wondering if Commission Junction supported Amazon, like they do for eBay, whereby one can earn commissions for people who click through and buy. I checked Commission Junction site and I don't think they support Amazon, so the question is probably academic. I think the Amazon AWS system is a similar thing, but an in-house system?

Anyway, I managed to get products displaying by using the keyword thing you mentioned. I can't figure out how to get multiple keywords. If I use commas or spaces between different words, it displays zero results. If I use just one keyword I do get results?

How do you string multiple search terms as well as multiple categories ie: Books and Videos together to narrow the search?

Thanks

Regards,
Badger

[yoyoyoyo]

I got this working!

I simply added AddHandler application/x-httpd-php5 .php to my .htaccess file.

Now I have another issue

I deleted the old product and installed the updated one, and entered my amazon associates ID, but I don't see it listed in the URL when I click on an item.

for instance - let's say my associates ID is: myamazonuser-20

If I get a link from amazon associates it looks like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00095V56E?tag=myamazonuser-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00095V56E&adid=1PJB2AHQETSAMWEM7RM4&

but if I click on the link through the amazon store on my site it looks like this:

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00095V56E/105-5046536-9646804?SubscriptionId=0X5J0DYKEA7V6Y1BH1G3

I don't see my associate's ID myamazonuser-20 listed in the link from my site...

[mikelbeck]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

I was wondering if Commission Junction supported Amazon, like they do for eBay, whereby one can earn commissions for people who click through and buy. I checked Commission Junction site and I don't think they support Amazon, so the question is probably academic. I think the Amazon AWS system is a similar thing, but an in-house system?

Oh, I see. Yes, the Amazon Associates program is similar to Commission Junction.
[/quote]
Anyway, I managed to get products displaying by using the keyword thing you mentioned. I can't figure out how to get multiple keywords. If I use commas or spaces between different words, it displays zero results. If I use just one keyword I do get results?

How do you string multiple search terms as well as multiple categories ie: Books and Videos together to narrow the search?
[/QUOTE]

That I'm not sure about... for the moment I don't know how to do it, but I'm working on it. If you put multiple keywords in, it will use those keywords to narrow your search. For example, "dog" may return 100 results, but "guard dog" may return only 10. Make sense?

When I get multiple keywords and/or multiple categorie figured out I'll post about it here. Give me a day or so to work that out.

[mikelbeck]

Originally Posted by yoyoyoyo

I got this working!

I simply added AddHandler application/x-httpd-php5 .php to my .htaccess file.

So then you've got php 5 running somewhere on your server.

Now I have another issue

I deleted the old product and installed the updated one, and entered my amazon associates ID, but I don't see it listed in the URL when I click on an item.

for instance - let's say my associates ID is: myamazonuser-20

If I get a link from amazon associates it looks like this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00095V56E?tag=myamazonuser-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=B00095V56E&adid=1PJB2AHQETSAMWEM7RM4&

but if I click on the link through the amazon store on my site it looks like this:

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B00095V56E/105-5046536-9646804?SubscriptionId=0X5J0DYKEA7V6Y1BH1G3

I don't see my associate's ID myamazonuser-20 listed in the link from my site...

Oops!

I'll have this fixed in the next version (later today or tomorrow). But for now if you'd like to fix it yourself, open both amazon_store.php and amazon_store_detail.php and search for "AssociateID". Replace it with "AssociateTag".

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by mikelbeck

When I get multiple keywords and/or multiple categorie figured out I'll post about it here. Give me a day or so to work that out.

Thanks.... :up:

I think it's use will be too narrow unless one can string multiple terms together.....

Also, I don't understand this AWS key thing?

Is that ALL we need to do to get commision payments from Amazon if someone orders a book as a result of being redirected from our site on-line store using your mod?

Getting this AWS key alone seems to be different from the Amazon Associates Program page, which doesn't recognize the email address (account) that I used to get the AWS key? I wonder if they're two different programs and one has to register for both?

Regards,
Badger

[Kihon Kata]

can you tell us where to locate the AWS key on Amazon?

[mikelbeck]

Originally Posted by BadgerDog

Thanks.... :up:

I think it's use will be too narrow unless one can string multiple terms together.....

Also, I don't understand this AWS key thing?

Is that ALL we need to do to get commision payments from Amazon if someone orders a book as a result of being redirected from our site on-line store using your mod?

Getting this AWS key alone seems to be different from the Amazon Associates Program page, which doesn't recognize the email address (account) that I used to get the AWS key? I wonder if they're two different programs and one has to register for both?

Regards,
Badger

There are two items you need from Amazon. An AWS Key and an Associates ID.

The AWS key is what allows you to talk to AWS (Amazon Web Services) to get the data. The Associates ID is what tags your links, so you will get credit for them when somebody clicks them from your site and makes a purchase from Amazon.

To sign up for the AWS Key, go to https://aws-portal.amazon.com/gp/aws...ion/index.html.

To sign up for the Associates ID, go to http://associates.amazon.com.