StickVault participates in affiliate marketing programs. This means some links on this site are affiliate links — when you click them and make a purchase, StickVault may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. The commission is paid by the merchant, not by you.
We are required by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to disclose this relationship clearly and conspicuously. This page is that disclosure.
Affiliate links appear in blog posts, product recommendations, and resource lists across the site. When a link is an affiliate link, the URL typically routes through our branded redirect system (URLs in the format /r/slug). This allows us to track clicks for analytics and commission attribution without embedding long affiliate tracking codes directly in content.
Not every external link on StickVault is an affiliate link. Many links go to sources we recommend simply because they're useful — with no commercial relationship. We do not distinguish these inline because we recommend things we actually use and believe in regardless of whether a commission is involved.
StickVault's content is written first for utility — if something is useful to drummers, collectors, or side hustlers, it gets covered. Affiliate relationships do not determine what we write about or what we recommend. We have not and will not write positive content about a product or service in exchange for commission eligibility.
If we link to something, it's because we think it's worth your attention. The affiliate relationship, where it exists, is incidental to that judgment — not the driver of it.
| Program | Category | Commission Type |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Associates | Books, gear, tools | Percentage of sale (varies by category, typically 3–10%) |
| Redbubble | Merchandise, design products | Percentage of sale (typically 10–15%) |
| eBay Partner Network | Marketplace listings, seller tools | Negotiated rate |
| Recommended resources (no program) | Apps, sites, services | None — recommended because they're good |
Affiliate links do not increase the price you pay. In some cases, merchant tracking may qualify your purchase for a discount or loyalty program — this varies by merchant and is outside our control.
This disclosure is made in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials (16 CFR Part 255) and its guidance on affiliate marketing disclosures. We take these obligations seriously. If you have questions about any specific link on the site, contact hello@stickvault.com.
If a specific link on the site is unclear and you want to know whether it's an affiliate link, email hello@stickvault.com with the page and link in question. We'll tell you straight.