Two products in the same niche paid 3% and 8% because of category classification, not price

Two products in the same niche paid 3% and 8% because of category classification, not price

Amazon pays by category bracket, and ASINs in adjacent categories can sit in different brackets. A 'kitchen gadget' may file under Home (3%) while a near-identical item files under Kitchen Appliances or Health (higher).

— Item X: classified Home Improvement -> 3%
— Item Y (functionally similar): classified Health & Household -> 5%

Same search intent, 67% commission difference on identical AOV.

So what: Before committing content to a product, check its browse-node category against the rate card, not just its price. Swapping to a same-function ASIN in a better bracket is a free rate bump with zero content change.