Don’t ask me why I am so obsessed lately with W3C validation of my webpages. Maybe I just think that validation is a way to keep the code clean and avoid future problems. Besides, it is kind of a badge of honor.

I have been speculating on how to get the Amazon and other code to validate. It bugged me so much that I finally decided to fire off a note to Amazon to find out how other people handle the problem.

Before I let you read the Amazon.com response, I should let you know that I like Amazon and include them as much as possible on my website. However, I found the note a bit cavalier. Then again, they probably are not the only ones. I seldom find a big name website that will actually validate.

Hello and thanks for writing to the Associates Program.

Please know that the coding in the Build Links tool is the only coding
we provide.

I would not be too concerned that the coding we provide does not pass
through the W3 validator. The W3 validator is very strict and
constructing an HTML page which passes through it without any errors
is quite a difficult task.

As long as you use the coding we provide, we will be able to track any
activity via your Associates links.

If you would like for us to test the functionality of your Amazon.com
links once they are built, please use the link below to contact us,
and send us the URL for the page on which these links are stored. We
will be happy to assist you.

http://affiliate-program.amazon.com/gp/associates/contact/

Thank you for choosing the Associates Program.

I might toy around a bit with Amazon code to try to get it to validate, but eventually, I can see myself slowly erradicating it from my websites.