FTC 16 CFR § 255 Compliant · Amazon Associates Compliant

Affiliate Disclosure

Transparency is the foundation of everything we publish. This page explains every financial relationship that may exist between SSDbuddy.com and the products or services we recommend — in plain English, with the exact legal disclosures required by Amazon and the FTC.

📅 Last reviewed and updated: April 6, 2026  ·  Amazon Associates ID: ssdb-20
⚠ Required Statement — Amazon Associates Operating Agreement § 5

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”

The statement above is the exact wording mandated by Section 5 of the Amazon Associates Program Operating Agreement (last revised November 27, 2025). It is required to appear clearly and prominently on any page of this site that displays or links to Amazon products. View the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement →

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What “affiliate link” means

When you click a product link on SSDbuddy.com that goes to Amazon, that link contains a tracking code (our Associates ID: ssdb-20). If you then purchase any eligible product on Amazon within 24 hours of clicking, we receive a small commission — typically 3% for electronics and storage products.

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What it costs you

Nothing. The price you pay on Amazon is identical whether you arrive via our link or directly. Our commission is paid by Amazon from their own margin — it does not increase the purchase price and does not affect what Amazon charges you at checkout.

FTC 16 CFR Part 255 — Final Rule (June 29, 2023)

FTC Endorsement Guides Compliance

The Federal Trade Commission’s Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255, finalized June 2023) require that any “material connection” between a publisher and a promoted product be disclosed clearly and conspicuously. SSDbuddy.com complies with these requirements as follows:

Material Connection Disclosed — 16 CFR § 255.5

SSDbuddy.com has a material connection with Amazon.com through the Amazon Associates Program. We may earn a commission when visitors purchase products through links on our site. This connection is disclosed on this page, in our sitewide disclosure bar (displayed at the top of every page), and in every post that contains affiliate links.

Clear and Conspicuous Placement — 16 CFR § 255.0(e)

The FTC defines “clear and conspicuous” as disclosures that are “difficult to miss (i.e., easily noticeable) and easily understandable by ordinary consumers.” Our disclosures appear: (1) in a fixed bar at the top of every page before any content is read; (2) at the beginning of every post containing affiliate links, before the first link appears; (3) adjacent to every “Check Price on Amazon” call-to-action button.

Honest Opinions — 16 CFR § 255.1(a)

The FTC Guides require that endorsements reflect the honest opinions of the endorser. SSDbuddy.com’s editorial ratings, recommendations, and written assessments are determined solely by our editorial team based on testing, benchmarks, and expert judgment. No manufacturer, advertiser, or affiliate partner has the ability to purchase a specific rating, alter review content, or remove negative findings from any article on this site.

Review Sample Disclosure — 16 CFR § 255.5

When a product is provided to SSDbuddy.com as a complimentary review sample by a manufacturer, distributor, or PR agency, this is disclosed at the top of the relevant article with language such as: “This product was provided as a review sample by [Manufacturer]. This does not affect our rating or editorial conclusions.” Products received as samples are evaluated using identical criteria to retail-purchased drives.

Sponsored Content Labelling — 16 CFR § 255.5, Example 11

Any article, post, or social media content that was paid for — in whole or in part — by a third-party brand or advertiser is labelled “Sponsored” at the very beginning of the content, before any links, images, or promotional statements appear. The label appears in a visually distinct callout box that cannot be confused with editorial content.

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Official Reference: Federal Trade Commission, 16 CFR Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, Final Rule effective August 22, 2023. FTC fine for violation: up to $53,088 per violation (2025 adjusted figure). View 16 CFR Part 255 at FTC.gov →

Google AdSense Program Policies

Display Advertising Disclosure

SSDbuddy.com uses display advertising provided by Ezoic (a Google AdSense Certified Publishing Partner). This section discloses how those ads work and how they are kept separate from our editorial content.

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Ad Platform

Display ads on SSDbuddy.com are served by Ezoic, a Google AdSense Certified Publishing Partner. Ezoic and Google use cookies, JavaScript, and web beacons to serve interest-based advertisements. Ad partner details are listed in our Privacy Policy.

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Editorial Firewall

Display advertisers on SSDbuddy.com have no influence over editorial content. No advertiser can purchase placement in our editorial ratings, rankings, or written reviews. The ad units displayed on this site are programmatic and do not represent endorsements of the advertised products or services.

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Interest-Based Ads & Opt-Out

Google uses DART cookies to serve ads based on prior visits to this and other sites. You may opt out of interest-based advertising by visiting aboutads.info or youronlinechoices.com. Google Ad Policy →

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Ad Labelling

All display advertisements served on SSDbuddy.com are labelled “Advertisement,” “Ad,” or “Sponsored” by Ezoic’s ad serving system in compliance with Google’s Publisher Policies. Any content not carrying such a label is editorial content written by our team.

In-Post Disclosure Policy

How Disclosures Appear in Our Content

The FTC requires disclosures to be placed where they cannot be missed — not buried in footnotes or on a separate page alone. Here is exactly how we implement that requirement across every type of content on SSDbuddy.com.

Content Type
Disclosure Method
Placement
Product Review
Amber callout box: “This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” Links marked with (paid link) label.
Before first link · Top of post
Buying Guide
Same amber callout box as reviews. Each recommended product’s “Check Price” button includes a (paid link) label.
Before first link · Top of post
Informational / How-To
If an informational article contains any affiliate links, the same amber callout box applies. Articles with no affiliate links display no affiliate disclosure box.
Before first link
Sponsored Post
Labelled “Sponsored” in a visually distinct banner at the very top of the article — above the headline, before any content, images, or links. Cannot be confused with organic editorial content.
Above headline · First element
Review Sample Received
Green callout box at top of review: “Review unit provided by [Manufacturer]. This does not affect our rating, score, or editorial conclusions.”
Top of review
Sitewide (every page)
A persistent disclosure bar displayed at the top of every page on the site: “Affiliate Disclosure: SSDbuddy.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.”
Top of every page
Live Example — How the in-post disclosure box appears:

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Our editorial ratings and opinions are not influenced by affiliate relationships.

Amazon Product Advertising API Terms

Pricing Accuracy & Amazon API Notice

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Price Accuracy Notice

Prices displayed on SSDbuddy.com — whether stated within article text or shown via live price widgets — are provided for informational purposes only. SSD prices change frequently due to market conditions, promotions, and inventory changes. Always verify the current price on Amazon before purchasing.

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Amazon API Timestamp Requirement

When prices are retrieved via the Amazon Product Advertising API, they are displayed with a “Prices last updated: [date/time]” timestamp as required by Amazon’s API Terms of Service. These prices are pulled in real time but may lag by up to one hour and may not reflect Lightning Deals, Subscribe & Save discounts, or Prime-exclusive pricing.

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Geographic Pricing Variance

Prices on Amazon vary by geography, currency, seller, fulfillment method, and Prime membership status. Prices shown on SSDbuddy.com reflect the US Amazon marketplace (amazon.com) at the time of review or last update. Readers outside the United States should consult their local Amazon storefront for accurate local pricing.

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Review Date vs. Current Price

All SSD reviews on SSDbuddy.com include the original review date and, where applicable, a “Last Updated” date. Prices stated in the body text of a review reflect the price at the time of writing and may no longer be current. The “Check Price on Amazon” button links to the live Amazon listing for the most accurate current price.

⚠ Important: SSDbuddy.com is not responsible for pricing errors, product availability changes, or any transactions conducted on Amazon.com or any third-party retailer. All purchases are made directly with the retailer and are subject to the retailer’s own terms, policies, and consumer protections. SSDbuddy.com acts solely as a referral source and has no role in the sale, fulfillment, or customer service of any product.

Our Commitment to You

Plain-English summary of what our affiliate relationships mean — and, more importantly, what they don’t mean.

What we DO

Disclose all affiliate relationships clearly and before any affiliate links appear

Use real benchmark data from disclosed test hardware to support all performance claims

Disclose when products are received as review samples from manufacturers

Label all sponsored content visibly at the top of the article, above the headline

Publish corrections when errors are found, with a correction notice and date

Recommend products we genuinely believe are the best choice for a given use case

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What we DON’T do

Sell editorial ratings, review scores, or article positions to manufacturers or advertisers

Allow affiliate commission rates to influence which products we recommend or rank

Suppress negative findings or omit significant product drawbacks from reviews

Publish fake or unverified customer reviews to boost product credibility

Share or sell reader data with manufacturers, advertisers, or affiliate partners

Use “undisclosed affiliate links” — every paid link is labelled and disclosed

Questions About This Disclosure?

If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, believe we have failed to disclose a material connection, or would like to report a potential FTC compliance issue, please contact us directly. We review all disclosure-related messages personally and respond within 48 business hours.

General Inquiries
hello@ssdbuddy.com
Legal / DMCA / FTC Concerns
hello@ssdbuddy.com
Editorial Corrections
hello@ssdbuddy.com
Revision History
April 6, 2026 Initial publication. Compliant with FTC 16 CFR Part 255 (June 2023 Final Rule) and Amazon Associates Operating Agreement (November 27, 2025 revision).

Legal Notice: This Affiliate Disclosure is provided for informational purposes and to comply with applicable law. It does not constitute legal advice. SSDbuddy.com recommends consulting a qualified attorney for advice specific to your jurisdiction and circumstances. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. SSDbuddy.com is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon.com, Inc.

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