I wasn’t expecting the email below when I came back from lunch today. Somehow I seemed to have pissed someone off at Amazon. I have no idea what violation they are talking about and, of course, there is no appeal process. The only thing I can think is they thought my donation appeal below the Amazon button was somehow related to clicking on the Amazon button. We’ll never know.
All I know is that my largest stream of modest revenue is now gone. The ad revenue had been sufficient so that I haven’t felt the need to solicit for donations, but it is no longer sufficient for the amount of work I put into this website day in and day out, 365 days per year.
So, here is my solicitation for donations. I think it’s a pretty good site. I try to keep it interesting. I try to keep it a sanctuary of free speech. I’ve now been banned by the two biggest ad revenue generators – Google & Amazon. If you want to keep it alive, please consider donating something through my donation button, or sending something to my PO Box. I thought it was a nice touch by Amazon concluding their termination email with Warmest Regards. 🙂
I didn’t make me feel warm.
Hello from the Associates Program,
We are writing to tell you that effective as of today’s date, Amazon is terminating your Associates account. Under the terms of the Operating Agreement, we may terminate your account at any time, with or without cause. This decision is final and not subject to appeal.
It is important that you immediately remove all Amazon Content from your Site(s). Please be aware that any other accounts you have, or may open in the future, may be closed without payment of any fees. Amazon reserves all other rights and claims.
Because you are not in compliance with the Operating Agreement, Amazon will not pay you any outstanding advertising fees related to your account. Amazon exercises its right under the Operating Agreement to withhold fees based on violations, which include the following:
-You are incentivizing others to visit the Amazon Site via your Special Links by offering rebates, discounts, points, donations to charity, or other incentive.
Thank you for your participation in the Amazon Associates Program.
Warmest Regards,
Amazon.com
Not to interrupt the detour and all, but back to regularly scheduled programming.
TBP has become the most important site that I regularly visit. The scope of articles, threads and posts are amazing and the honesty is refreshing (not to mention rarer and rarer today- say that ten times fast). The dark side forces that seek to silence Admin must be defeated. The 1A must be protected at all costs.
I don’t do any social media. Never ordered anything from Amazon. I always try to source directly from sellers whenever possible. Not using it isn’t a sacrifice to me in the least.
I recently sent a donation to help out and will do so again as soon as I’m able. This place is important.
That’s the most comments ive ever seen on an article here. Wow, must be a record. I had a couple of well thought out comments but a dozen people beat me to them. I will narrow it down to this. Fuck Amazon, Google, and all the rest of these digital robber barons. Karma is a bitch and shes on her way.
Will send what I sent the last time and will shoot for every six months. Glad you are here.
One question, do you need to update the thermometer to reflect your needs, based on the changing sponsors?
Thanks!