Is Amazon Anti Gun?

[usmcveteran]

I will let you all decide..........

We recently went ahead and tried to become Amazon Associates. After reading the Associates Program Operating Agreement and Associates Program Participation Requirements we saw that we met the requirements necessary to apply. We were subsequently denied our first attemp at becoming a direct affiliate because we "Lack of content which is original to your site and beneficial to your visitors" and "Pages that are mainly empty when advertisement content is removed".

We created more "Content" and reapplied a few days later and again were denied, this time for "The Amazon.com Associates program cannot be used in conjunction with any online auction, classified, or forum sites. Because of this, I am not able to approve your application".

So now we are being denied for being a forum which is NOT why were denied the first time. So I know what you might be thinking. They could not have gotten that far in their checklist they look through when approving sites the first time. Also that they sell firearm related items themselves so how could they against Firearms? Well a interesting little fact is that we are already Amazon affiliates through a third party. This 3rd party also had to get our Forum approved originally before we could get any type of commission for amazon links on here. So how is it that when we had less content we were approved and after more content was built up we were denied becoming a direct affiliate for not enough content and then later for just being a forum?

Personally I find it very strange that the reasons for denial changed and yet we were already approved in the past and still are through a 3rd party?

Below are the emails denying our application and below those I will post some other links of different people alleging to have been targeted because they are Pro Firearms.

Subject: Your Amazon.com Associate Application
From: Amazon Associates <associates@amazon.com>
Date: Sat, January 17, 2015 12:39 pm
To: xxxxxxxxxxx

Hello,

Thank you for applying for the Associate program. Upon review, we are unable to accept your application. A part of our criteria is that your site has to be established with enough unique content. We rejected your application due to one or more of the following reasons.

- Lack of content which is original to your site and beneficial to your visitors
- Pages that are mainly empty when advertisement content is removed

Unfortunately, we arent able to review an application once its been rejected. If your website has been further developed and now contains appropriate content, youre welcome to submit another application by using the following URL:

Subject: Your Amazon.com Associate Application
From: Amazon Associates <associates@amazon.com>
Date: Tue, January 20, 2015 7:45 am
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hello,

The Amazon.com Associates program cannot be used in conjunction with any online auction, classified, or forum sites. Because of this, I am not able to approve your application.

If you have another website, you are welcome to submit another application by using the following URL:



http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/691...s_.html&page=1

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...rse-than-ebay/

http://bearingarms.com/amazon-com-go...ball-supplies/

http://forum.opencarry.org/forums/sh...gun-propaganda

So can I say for sure Amazon is anti-gun? No I can not. Could the people reviewing the applications have been anti-gun? Sure could be. But at the end of the day we probably won't know for sure why we were denied affiliate status because the reasons are always changing........

[Cgrutt]

URL they were referring to was deleted from text above. IDK sounds like sour grapes. Life is short, lets move on and figure something better out. Still waiting to hear back from Cabelas, so I'll give them my business instead of Amazon. No worries...

[Guest]

So have you replied to the last denial with the info you just shared? Like how you were denied 1st then with more content they found a different excuse?? That deserves a real answer from someone above those fools just clicking denied or approved no?

[usmcveteran]

You can only reapply, at this point it's just not worth it, I am just very disappointed in Amazon and its like a relationship. If your partner screws you or cheats on your or whatever even if you get them to apologize do you really still want to be with them?

I would just expect to get some double talk reply if a reply at all anyways. I am just a believer in trying to share my experiences as unbiased as possible for people to make their own decisions on things.

Oh well would have been nice.

[dwa12479]

It's like any other company these days. You can talk to three different people and come away with four different stories. I have a hard time believing that Amazon is anti-gun as I have acquired a LOT of gear from them over the years. About the only thing in a firearms category they don't sell are actual guns, ammo, powder, and primers. Just about anything else is available.

[EvilD]

Could just be the individual you are dealing with. Can you possible call them?

[usmcveteran]

I just did chat support. I was told Forums are allowed. He says they are looking for original content. He also said we might have better luck using the articles URL and trying to apply that way.

Another tid bit was that the review process can be VERY subjective and some things he would approve others would deny. He also recommended that we "fire 100 bullets, one of them would have to hit the target" LMAO.

So pretty much we could have been denied by anti gunners but keep on applying until we get someone friendly.

[Chicken Shoot]

FINE!!! Be that way!! See if I ever ravage one of your villages and please the women in the Amazon again!!!! Your loss!! ( That would have been my reply so probably better you handing this)

[usmcveteran]

I am just surprised and appreciative of the persons honesty about the situation. I straight up asked if it was because we were a firearms forum lol. The guy really seemed nice. I plan on applying again Feb 1st when our next article comes out!

Speaking of which if you guys haven't checked out the two we have up already do it now http://www.nyshenaniguns.com/articles .

[RayKnobs]

What is an Amazon associate? Are we selling something

[usmcveteran]

Essentially an associate drives business towards amazon in exchange for advertising fees. We had a store up with everything on amazon in it and if you bought through that then it would earn forum a commission. It costs you nothing more and prime eligible stuff still gets to you in same time since you actually pay for the stuff on amazon site.

So yes we would be selling something but not really.