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What is the Apple Store Associates Program?
The Apple Store Associates Program is designed to develop relationships with online associates, growing business for both Apple and Program members by leveraging the power of the Internet. Through the Program, Apple offers exclusive access to award-winning Apple products so our Associates can build and grow their business while leveraging one of the most powerful brands in the world.

How does the Apple Store Associates Program work?
The Apple Store Associates Program provides members with an easy way to leverage the Apple brand. By incorporating Apple banners and other link types on their sites, program members earn commissions, also called referral fees, when visitors to their site click through to the Apple Store and purchase Apple products. Apple handles all the ordering, fulfillment, shipping, and tracking of sales generated from your site.

What are the benefits of joining the Program?
The Apple Store Associates Program offers you several powerful ways to leverage the power of the Apple brand on the Internet:
  • Create opportunities to gain new visitors to your site when you include links to the Apple Store.
  • Earn referral fees of up to 2% on qualifying hardware sales and up to 4% on qualifying software sales, based on a commissions schedule, when your customers click through to the Apple Store and purchase Apple products. Apple has the right to change the commission structure at any time.
  • Participate at no cost and with no minimum sales requirement.
  • Give your customers the opportunity to choose from a variety of existing, ready-to-order Apple products, or create their own computing solutions, when you help them connect to the easy-to-follow ordering process at the Apple Store.
  • Develop new programs for your existing customers using Apple products, and earn referral fees when they click through and buy.
  • Choose from a variety of banners, icons, and text that allow you to complete your customers' e-commerce shopping experiences; you control the placement on your site.

Who can join the Apple Store Associates Program?
Membership is limited and is by invitation. Since the program will be kept small, Associates will have more opportunity to leverage the strength of the Apple brand in their business development efforts.

Apple will review applications and notify you whether or not you have been accepted into the Associates Program.

How do I get started?
It is really simple. First, read and accept the appropriate Apple Store Associates Agreement, either the Consumer or Education Agreement (see next question for more details). The Agreements detail the terms and conditions of the Apple Store Associates Program.

Then complete the online registration form. Apple will review your application and let you know within five business days whether your application has been approved. If you are approved, you will receive an email confirming your user name and password, and you will get access to a members-only area, where you can access banners, create links, download graphics, and view your reports at any time. You will have access to everything you need to proudly display your Program membership.

If you have further questions, you can email:

How can I determine whether my customers fall into the Consumer or Education category?
Apple offers discounts to individual customers who are members of specified education-affiliated groups:

Higher Education Faculty, Staff, and Students:
  • Faculty or staff member of a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
  • Student currently attending a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States
  • New student accepted into a public or private Higher Education Institution in the United States

K-12 Faculty and Staff:

  • Employees of public or private K-12 institutions in the United States
  • School Board members who are currently serving as elected or appointed members
  • PTA or PTO executives currently serving as elected or appointed officers
  • Qualified homeschools and preschools
Please note that K-12 students are considered Consumers.

If your customers fall in the above education individual categories, you need to read and accept the Apple Store Associates Education Agreement, which differs somewhat from the Apple Store Associates Consumer Agreement.

If your customers are general consumers, you need to read and accept the Apple Store Associates Consumer Agreement.

The major aspects of the Consumer Program and the Education Program are identical, including the commission schedule.

How do my customers benefit from Apple Store links and banners on my site?
When you place the Apple Store links on your site, you can create new programs for your existing customers and also create opportunities to gain new visitors to your site. Apple products are in high demand and as one of a select group of Program members, you will have opportunities to leverage the Apple brand to help drive business to your site.

What does it cost to join this program?
Absolutely nothing! There is no cost to become an Apple Store Associates Program member, and there are no minimum sales your site must generate to participate.

How will my sales be tracked?
Apple is working with LinkShare, a leading associates marketing service provider, to track your customers who click through to the Apple Store and purchase Apple products. Daily reports of all Program activity will be available.

How often will I get paid?
You will receive a check each calendar quarter that your site earns referral fees of $50 or more. If your referral amount is less than $50, your credit will be carried forward and a check issued when your site achieves $50 or more.

What are my responsibilities as a program member?
As a member of the Apple Store Associates Program, you represent an extension of the Apple brand. As such, your responsibilities are to:
  • Give the Apple Store prominent presence on your web site.
  • Ensure that your web site contains material that is appropriate for an association with Apple as outlined in the Apple Store Associates Agreement.
  • Create accurate links to the Apple Store so we can track your sales and pay you referral fees.
  • Ensure that your web site is well maintained and always available, allowing visitors to have access to links connecting to the Apple Store.
Will I control the placement of links on my site?
Absolutely! You have complete control of the content, navigation, and the entire look and feel of your site. However, the Apple Store expects prominent placement on your site.

Which links and banners will be made available?
Several graphics and text options are available that link directly to the Apple Store home page. Check the Associates web page member area frequently for updated and expanded options.

Is the Apple Store Associates Program available internationally or only in the U.S.?
Membership in the Apple Store Associates Program is offered only in the U.S. at this time. Only orders processed through the Apple Store U.S. for delivery to U.S. addresses will be processed as part of this program. The Apple Store Associates Program may be expanded internationally in the near future.

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