Internet shopping censored?
Has anyone else noticed that it would appear internet shopping results for firearms have simply vanished? Yesterday I could find a list of businesses selling a particular firearm by putting the search terms in google and clicking on shopping. Today it seems any such search on google, yahoo, bing will yield no results. Use less search terms as recommended...still no results.
You don't happen to be in china by any chance are you? I had no problem finding .50 caliber sniper rifles for sale, 1911 pistols, glocks. I'm not sure what was going on, but my internet is fine. This should be in general discussion.Originally Posted by mceranowski
"As long as a hundred of us remain alive we will never be subject to tyrannical dominion because it is not for glory or riches or honors that we fight, but for freedom alone which no worthy man loses except with his life." Declaration of Arbroath 1320
GOA Member
Nope, not in China...just checked again and still says no results. Yes, should be in general, happened to have this open and didn't think about it
This happened for Google shopping starting about a week ago. I have begrudgingly started using shopping.Bing.com. I haven't found any news coverage -- it seems that Google made this change quietly?
Google shopping was my reliable price check one stop shop. Drives me nuts.
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Still working for me, but I may not be searching the same words. Also some internet providers, employers, etc. limit certain search terms.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! ~ Patrick Henry (1775)
https://www.facebook.com/GunOwnersAg...ogleCensorship
Interesting. I get 0 hits for Armalite or Ruger (very common and broad terms), and 4 hits for Magpul. On the cartridge side, both 6.8 SPC and 5.56 give nothing either.
6.8 SPC info sheet: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx5t...it?usp=sharing
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. - TJ
Here is the email we got from Google last week.
Dear Merchant,
We're writing to let you know about some upcoming changes to the product listings you submit to Google. As we recently announced, we are starting to transition our shopping experience to a commercial model that builds on Product Listing Ads. This new shopping experience is called Google Shopping. As part of this transition, we'll begin to enforce a set of new policies for Google Shopping in the coming weeks. A new list of the allowed, restricted, and prohibited products on Google Shopping is available on our new policy page - http://www.google.com/appserve/mkt/ApI7UWRj6OCZpd.
Based on a review of the products you're currently submitting, it appears that some of the content in your Merchant Center account, HamLund Tactical, will be affected by these policy changes. In particular we found that your products may violate the following policies:
Weapons
When we make this change, Google will disapprove all of the products identified as being in violation of policies. We ask that you make any necessary changes to your feeds and/or site to comply, so that your products can continue to appear on Google Shopping.
To help you through this new set of policies and how to comply with them, we would like to give you some specific suggestions regarding the changes needed to keep your offers running on Google Shopping.
Weapons
As highlighted on our new policy page http://www.google.com/appserve/mkt/ApI7UWRj6OCZpd, in order to comply with the Google Shopping policies you need to comply first with the AdWords policies http://www.google.com/appserve/mkt/StQ08jAzM4fVtG. We do not allow the promotion or sale of weapons and any related products such as ammunitions or accessory kits on Google Shopping. In order to comply with our new policies, please remove any weapon-related products from your data feed and then re-submit your feed in the Merchant Center. For more information on this policy please visit http://www.google.com/appserve/mkt/GbBNIGHOribLzf.
We're constantly reviewing our policies, and updating them when necessary, to ensure we're offering the best experience possible to our users. We've identified a set of policy principles to govern our policy efforts on Google Shopping in the U.S. These principles are:
1) Google Shopping should provide a positive experience to users.
Showing users the right products at the right time can truly enhance a user's experience. When people trust us to deliver them to a destination that's relevant, original, and easy to navigate this creates a positive online experience to the benefit of both users and merchants.
2) Google Shopping should be safe for all users.
User safety is everyone's business, and we can't do business with those who don't agree. Scams, phishing, viruses, and other malicious activities on the Internet damage the value of the Internet for everyone. Trying to get around policies or "game the system" is unfair to our users, and we can't allow that.
3) Google Shopping should comply with local laws and regulations.
Many products and services are regulated by law, which can vary from country to country. All advertising, as well as the products and services being advertised, must clearly comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
For the most part, our policies aren't designed to describe every law in every country. All advertisers bear their own responsibility for understanding the laws applicable to their business. Our policies are often more restrictive than the law, because we need to be sure we can offer services that are legal and safe for all users.
4) Google Shopping should be compatible with Google's brand decisions.
Google Shopping must be compatible with company brand decisions. Our company has a strong culture and values, and we've chosen not to allow ads that promote products and services that are incompatible with these values. In addition, like all companies, Google sometimes makes decisions based on technical limitations, resource constraints, or requirements from our business partners. Our policies reflect these realities.
We've given much thought to our stance on this content, as well as the potential effect our policy decision could have on our Merchants, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.
Sincerely,
The Google Shopping Team
© 2012 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043
You have received this mandatory email service announcement to update you about important changes to your Google Merchant Center account.
Visit our store at www.HamLundTactical.com
Does anyone know where we can find this list of culture and values? I have a strong suspicion that I may be dumping my gmail account.Google Shopping must be compatible with company brand decisions. Our company has a strong culture and values, and we've chosen not to allow ads that promote products and services that are incompatible with these values.
I believe in the the capitalist approach that they can make this decision as they wish, but I can also share my displeasure with them, move my resources away from them, and inform others of their decision so that they too can make the choice.
Interestingly, Google still allows me to shop explicit music and "Occutard" merchandise. That seems to be telling.
6.8 SPC info sheet: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bx5t...it?usp=sharing
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. - TJ
To be fair, I checked today, and after a week or two of using shopping.Bing.com, I now get hits for "Remington 700 tactical" on froogle.com. this did not work for at least 10 days, so perhaps someone has complained and Google fixed it.
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