Affiliate Disclosure

Last Updated: 31/12/25

Our Commitment to Transparency

At GuardianSteward, transparency and trust are foundational to everything we do. This Affiliate Disclosure explains our relationship with affiliate programs, how we earn income, and our commitment to providing honest, unbiased recommendations.

We believe you deserve to know when and how we may earn compensation from the products and services we recommend.

1. What Are Affiliate Links?

Affiliate links are special tracking links that allow us to earn a commission when you purchase products or services through them. When you click an affiliate link on GuardianSteward and make a purchase, the merchant pays us a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you.

Important: Using our affiliate links does NOT increase your price. You pay the same amount you would pay by going directly to the merchant’s website.

2. Affiliate Programs We Participate In

GuardianSteward participates in various affiliate marketing programs, including but not limited to:

2.1 Amazon Associates Program

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

When you click on Amazon links on our Site and make a qualifying purchase, we may earn a commission. This applies to Amazon.com as well as international Amazon sites (Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, etc.).

2.2 Other Affiliate Networks

We also participate in affiliate programs with:

  • ShareASale
  • Commission Junction (CJ Affiliate)
  • Impact
  • Awin
  • ClickBank
  • Individual merchant affiliate programs
  • Other affiliate networks and programs

2.3 Direct Affiliate Relationships

We maintain direct affiliate relationships with specific brands and companies in the preparedness, survival, outdoor, homesteading, and related industries.

3. How We Use Affiliate Links

Affiliate links may appear in:

  • Product reviews and recommendations
  • “Best of” and comparison articles
  • Resource lists and buying guides
  • Tutorial and how-to articles
  • Email newsletters
  • Social media posts
  • Anywhere we recommend products or services

We strive to make affiliate relationships transparent. Affiliate links may be identified by:

  • Disclosure statements within articles
  • Visual indicators (icons or labels)
  • This Affiliate Disclosure page
  • Context clues in content

However, not every link will be explicitly marked in the text. By using our Site, you acknowledge that any product or service link may be an affiliate link.

4. Our Selection and Review Process

4.1 Editorial Independence

Our editorial content is not influenced by affiliate relationships. We maintain strict editorial independence in our content creation process.

When we recommend products or services:

  • We base recommendations on research, testing, and genuine belief in value
  • We prioritize your interests over earning potential
  • We will not recommend products solely because they offer high commissions
  • We will recommend products even if they don’t offer affiliate programs

4.2 Personal Testing and Research

Whenever possible, we:

  • Personally test products before recommending them
  • Conduct thorough research on products we haven’t personally tested
  • Consider user reviews, expert opinions, and industry reputation
  • Evaluate products based on quality, value, and suitability for our audience

4.3 Honest Opinions

Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by affiliate relationships. We will:

  • Provide honest assessments, including both pros and cons
  • Disclose limitations or situations where products may not be suitable
  • Update reviews if our opinions change or new information emerges
  • Never misrepresent products to increase affiliate earnings

4.4 Non-Affiliate Recommendations

We regularly recommend products and resources that do NOT provide affiliate commissions because we believe they offer the best value or solution for our readers.

5. Types of Compensation

5.1 Commission Structure

Compensation from affiliate programs typically includes:

  • Percentage commissions: A percentage of the sale price (e.g., 4-10% for Amazon, higher for other programs)
  • Fixed commissions: A set dollar amount per sale or action
  • Tiered commissions: Commission rates that increase based on sales volume
  • Recurring commissions: Ongoing commissions for subscription-based products

5.2 Other Compensation

In addition to standard affiliate commissions, we may receive:

  • Free products: Companies may provide products for review at no cost
  • Sponsored content fees: Compensation for creating sponsored content (always clearly disclosed)
  • Advertising revenue: Income from display ads (e.g., Google AdSense)
  • Speaking fees or consulting: Separate from affiliate relationships

When we receive free products for review, we will disclose this in the review. Receiving free products does not guarantee positive reviews.

6. Your Costs and Prices

6.1 No Additional Cost

Using our affiliate links does NOT result in:

  • Higher prices for you
  • Additional fees or charges
  • Different product quality or warranty terms
  • Any negative impact on your purchase

You will pay the same price whether you use our affiliate link or go directly to the merchant.

6.2 Potential Benefits

In some cases, using our affiliate links may provide you with:

  • Special discount codes or promotions
  • Exclusive offers for GuardianSteward readers
  • Extended trial periods or bonuses
  • Enhanced customer support (when negotiated with merchants)

We will clearly communicate any such benefits when available.

7. Our Ethical Standards

7.1 Your Interests First

We are committed to putting your interests first. Our primary goal is to provide valuable, accurate, and helpful information—not to maximize affiliate revenue.

7.2 Truthfulness and Accuracy

We will:

  • Provide accurate information about products and services
  • Correct errors promptly when discovered
  • Update reviews and recommendations as needed
  • Never knowingly misrepresent products or services

7.3 Disclosure and Transparency

We will:

  • Clearly disclose affiliate relationships
  • Comply with FTC guidelines and regulations
  • Be transparent about how we earn income
  • Answer questions about our affiliate relationships

7.4 Respect for Your Decisions

We respect your right to:

  • Choose where and how you make purchases
  • Bypass our affiliate links if you prefer
  • Use discount codes or promotions you find elsewhere
  • Make informed purchasing decisions

8. FTC Compliance

GuardianSteward complies with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) guidelines regarding endorsements, testimonials, and affiliate marketing disclosures.

According to FTC guidelines:

  • We must disclose material connections with merchants
  • Disclosures must be clear and conspicuous
  • Endorsements must reflect honest opinions and experiences
  • Claims about products must be substantiated

This Affiliate Disclosure page, along with disclosures within individual articles, fulfills our legal obligation to inform you of our affiliate relationships.

9. Third-Party Cookies and Tracking

9.1 How Affiliate Tracking Works

When you click an affiliate link:

  • A cookie is placed on your device by the merchant or affiliate network
  • This cookie tracks your activity and attributes purchases to GuardianSteward
  • The cookie has an expiration period (e.g., 24 hours to 90 days, depending on the program)
  • If you make a purchase within that period, we may earn a commission

9.2 Your Privacy

Affiliate tracking cookies:

  • Do not collect personally identifiable information from GuardianSteward
  • Are managed by the merchant or affiliate network, not by us
  • Are subject to the merchant’s privacy policy
  • Can be blocked or deleted through your browser settings

For more information about how we handle your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

10. Product Availability and Pricing

10.1 Merchant Responsibility

Product availability, specifications, pricing, and terms are determined by the merchant, not by GuardianSteward. We are not responsible for:

  • Changes to product specifications or availability
  • Pricing changes or errors
  • Shipping costs, times, or issues
  • Warranty terms or customer service
  • Product quality or performance issues

10.2 Information Accuracy

We strive to keep product information accurate and up-to-date, but:

  • Merchants may change products, prices, or terms without notice
  • Information on our Site may not reflect the most current details
  • You should verify current information on the merchant’s website before purchasing

10.3 Direct Merchant Relationship

When you make a purchase through an affiliate link, you are purchasing directly from the merchant, not from GuardianSteward. All transactions, customer service, returns, and warranties are handled by the merchant according to their policies.

11. Returns, Refunds, and Customer Service

11.1 Merchant Policies Apply

All returns, refunds, exchanges, and customer service matters are governed by the merchant’s policies, not by GuardianSteward’s policies.

We cannot:

  • Process returns or refunds on your behalf
  • Modify merchant policies
  • Guarantee merchant customer service quality
  • Resolve disputes between you and merchants

11.2 Feedback and Assistance

While we cannot handle transaction issues directly, we:

  • Want to hear about your experience with products we recommend
  • May be able to facilitate communication with merchants
  • Will consider your feedback when updating reviews and recommendations
  • Appreciate knowing if you encounter problems with recommended products

Please contact us at feedback@guardiansteward.com if you have concerns about products we’ve recommended.

12. Changes to This Disclosure

We reserve the right to update this Affiliate Disclosure at any time to reflect:

  • Changes in our affiliate relationships
  • New affiliate programs we join
  • Changes in FTC guidelines or regulations
  • Updates to our policies and practices

Changes will be effective immediately upon posting. The “Last Updated” date at the top indicates when this disclosure was last revised.

13. Questions and Contact

If you have questions about our affiliate relationships, this disclosure, or specific products, please contact us.

We are committed to transparency and will respond to your questions promptly.

14. Your Support Matters

14.1 How You Help

When you use our affiliate links to make purchases:

  • You help support GuardianSteward at no additional cost to you
  • You enable us to continue creating free, high-quality content
  • You allow us to test more products and provide more comprehensive reviews
  • You support our mission to equip families with preparedness knowledge

14.2 Alternative Support

If you prefer not to use affiliate links, you can support GuardianSteward by:

  • Sharing our content with friends and family
  • Subscribing to our newsletter
  • Following us on social media
  • Leaving comments and engaging with our content
  • Providing feedback and suggestions

We appreciate your support in whatever form it takes!

Final Statement

Thank you for your trust and for being part of the GuardianSteward community. We are committed to serving you with integrity, honesty, and transparency in all our recommendations and affiliate relationships.

Your trust is more valuable to us than any affiliate commission. We will never compromise our values or your interests for financial gain.

By using GuardianSteward.com, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Affiliate Disclosure.

This disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”