The short version
Not every retailer link is an affiliate link. A link is treated as paid only when it contains an approved affiliate destination, and the compensation disclosure is placed beside the retailer action.
Commercial relationships do not set the comparison order
Affiliate commission, commission rate, retailer name, and the presence or absence of an affiliate relationship are not ranking inputs. They do not change product-label facts, normalized metrics, filter matches, comparison calculations, or editorial corrections.
A product may appear without an affiliate link, and a retailer may be linked with an ordinary non-affiliate URL. LabelLens aims to select the eligible offer using documented market, availability, freshness, and value rules—not the commercial return to LabelLens.
What a retailer link does and does not mean
- A retailer link is a convenient path to an independent third-party website.
- It is not a guarantee of stock, price, shipping, authenticity, safety, or suitability.
- It does not mean the manufacturer or retailer sponsors or endorses LabelLens.
- Any purchase, return, warranty, or dispute is between you and the retailer.
Retailer links open in a new tab and paid links use the standard sponsored link attribute.
Free products, sponsorships, and other relationships
LabelLens does not treat a free product, sponsorship, brand payment, or personal relationship as independent product evidence. If any such relationship is relevant to published content, it will be disclosed clearly with that content. LabelLens will not present paid copy as an independent comparison.
Disclosure standard
The launch disclosure uses the plain-language “Paid link” label because readers should not need to understand affiliate-industry terminology to know that a purchase may compensate LabelLens. This approach follows the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's guidance that a material connection should be clear, conspicuous, and close to the relevant endorsement or link.
More information is available in the FTC's Endorsement Guides Q&A.
Questions about a relationship
If you want to ask whether a specific link or product relationship is commercial, email info@paolotozzo.dev. You can also read How we compare.