Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#21

Post by SmellyGeekBoy » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 8:54 AM UTC

beggingforbread wrote: post #17

nikkwong wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also to further your point into existential territory. I remember hearing Elizabeth Warren saying her plan was to break up BigTechCo's and thinking to myself about how ridiculous it is and how she's totally pointing her guns in the wrong direction. But after these events and some reflection; it's true. These companies are clearly only accountable to themselves leaving everyone else to go f* themselves. Consumers may…

"I held a reasonable opinion until my bias got involved"

How can someone hold an opinion that goes against their own bias in the first place?

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#22

Post by Insanity » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 8:59 AM UTC

At least this is on the homepage of HN now. That might get it some attention from someone who works for Amazon.

But that really sucks, hope you can resolve this!

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#23

Post by fdsa_fdsa_98767 » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:08 AM UTC

Though it may not help your position, I wouldn't dismiss the idea that petty / bureaucratic staff are giving you the runaround.

I had exactly that happen with the Apple App Review squad. I managed to somehow offend a mid-level manager type and she purposefully kept moving the bar to get our app through review.

"Did I say you need one of those? I meant one or two. You need two."

I had an old contact there that was way up the food chain and he contacted her boss on my behalf -- who called and apologized and took the idiot woman off the case.

If I didn't have that contact, we would have been at the mercy of some worthless drone who wanted to flex her muscles.

Big tech absolutely should be broken up. There is no such thing as Amazon -- well, there's Amazon the monopoly, but the Amazon you deal with is one of a 100 rent-seeking fiefdoms staffed with people who got picked last in school.

Collectively they do much more harm than good. (And that's ignoring the more pressing problem of political bias and censorship.)

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#24

Post by dingaling » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:15 AM UTC

The only way to protect against commercial deplatforming is to promote and sell through your own website, with a choice of payment processors.

It's hard work but there's really nothing else to say.

Every other presence should be considered as a disposable inbound funnel. Instagram or Twitter deleted you? Start a new account and link back to your website again.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#25

Post by stef25 » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:17 AM UTC

kharak wrote: post #16

A family member had the same problem recently. Amazon "deleted" all seller accounts in Europe, because they allegedly didn't sell anything. There was only an US seller account left to contact support. We send support requests over the request platform (forgot the name), to one of the email addresses we got from another support request and to a local post address of Amazon. We got answers from all sources, from differ…

> Amazon "deleted" all seller accounts in Europe, because they allegedly didn't sell anything.

Very weird. I know a guy who wants to close his seller account and the number of hoops he has to jump through is ridiculous, despite not having sold anything in years.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#26

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:18 AM UTC

nikkwong wrote: post #6

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #3

Unfortunately, your best bet is to hope this gets enough attention here that an Amazon employee on some higher level happens to see it. This is more or less the case with a lot of these tech companies right now. You have my upvotes, hope it helps.

Also to further your point into existential territory. I remember hearing Elizabeth Warren saying her plan was to break up BigTechCo's and thinking to myself about how ridiculous it is and how she's totally pointing her guns in the wrong direction. But after these events and some reflection; it's true. These companies are clearly only accountable to themselves leaving everyone else to go f* themselves. Consumers may…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#27

Post by folbec » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:19 AM UTC

As a customer, not a seller, I'm now activelly avoiding Amazon as much as I can. Even if it is inconvenient.

Especially since I read this article about commingling (you need to register (free) to read): https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2019/03/20/1553085361000/Amazon-...

They are now dangerously close to be a monopoly AND a monopsony in way too many markets.

They just don't need to care anymore and it shows.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#28

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:29 AM UTC

setquk wrote: post #13

There's going to be a massive rise in this sort of stuff over the next few years. Firstly consolidation, then organisations too large to care about their clients, then semi-automated punishment. Always remember that Amazon is in the same business as everyone and they can burn you down in a second if they decide they don't care. It's a pond full of bureaucratic crocodiles and the biggest one is boss. On numerous occas…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#29

Post by retromario » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:48 AM UTC

jjeaff wrote: post #15

It looks like your listing is removed but your account is still active. Is that right? You need to do a little bit of research on the type of response they are looking for as far as your "plan". You are talking to them and sending them screenshots as if you are talking to a human that cares. They do not. Your messages are going into a queue of thousands where low paid, unskilled workers are skimming through then as f…

Yes, make it as easy as possible for the random worker who is reviewing your case to approve a positive resolution. It's unclear if you sent several mails but the last one where you simply attach screenshots of your discussion with the manufacturer requires too much "effort" from the worker to understand the context.

You should include the screenshots as documentation but you should clearly summarize the steps you are taking to address whatever concerns they have. It's tedious and stressful but should make it easier for your case to be resolved.

Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Amazon delisted me – what do I do?

#30

Post by tzfld » Tue, Apr 02, 2019, 9:48 AM UTC

dingaling wrote: post #24

The only way to protect against commercial deplatforming is to promote and sell through your own website, with a choice of payment processors. It's hard work but there's really nothing else to say. Every other presence should be considered as a disposable inbound funnel. Instagram or Twitter deleted you? Start a new account and link back to your website again.

There are so many stories lately with deplatformings and how troll attack prone are these platforms that it's inexplicable to me how many business owners still relying heavily on these platforms and not having a b plan.