Firemission - Google

[Spats McGee]

aeriedad, that's why I posted it. Everyone that wants to copy it for their own response is welcome to do so!

ETA: And yes, I have already changed over my default search engine. It appears that you can still shop firearms on "Bing." I guess now I'll be telling people to "bing this," rather than "google that."

 

[B!ngo]

What's the policy?

"Google AdWords doesn't allow the promotion of weapons or devices designed to cause serious harm or injury. The promotion of weapons includes guns, gun parts or hardware, ammunition, bombs, knives, throwing stars, and brass knuckles.

We've created this policy to comply with legal regulations."



http://support.google.com/adwordspo...opic=1310883&path=1308252-2585946&ctx=leftnav[/QUOTE]

What are the legal regulations that they cite?
B

 

[Hunter125]

It doesn't make any sense that knives in general would be prohibited in Google's Shopping function so it raises questions.

Since when have the antis made any sense?

 

[Gtscotty]

Wow, I'm glad this topic is already being discussed, I actually just came over to THR to post on this if no one had already done so.

A few minutes ago I was trying to Search for "Ruger Gunsite Scout", when that turned up nothing I was kind of confused, and a little suspicious.... so I googled "Glock". When that turned up nothing I started searching around an found out about their new policies.

I for one am very disappointed, Google has done a lot for the furtherance of the freedom of speech and information.... I really didn't see this coming.

In light of the recent headlines proclaiming "Google sees alarming level of government censorship requests", one might begin to wonder if some kind of backdoor government censorship drive is at the root of this corporate move.

Either way, I used to use Google shopping all of the time to find deals on firearms and accessories online.... I guess I'll be trying Bing.

What do all of you use for firearms related internet shopping searches? Are there some diamonds in the rough out there?

 

[Lincoln4]

I just Googled "Glock for sale" and got over 6 million hits... What are you guys talking about?

 

[Gtscotty]

Go to the "Google Shopping" tab and try to search any type of gun. This search used to return lots of sellers for each specific model with associated pricing, now you will get something like:

Your search - glock 19 - did not match any shopping results.

Suggestions:

Make sure all words are spelled correctly.
Try different keywords.
Try more general keywords.
Try fewer keywords.

 

[conw]

Faganfinder.com is a great alternative to Google.

 

[dprice3844444]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/06/foghorn/google-censor-firearms-related-shopping-results/

 

[Big Boy]

This is insanity

 

[powell&hyde]

On google shopping bullets don't even show up, I typed in "Nosler Partition" and got an error like GTscotty did. But when I type in "Imr 3031" it shows a bunch of results like normal.

 

[230RN]

I switched to dogpile dot com about 18 months ago just cuz I had the feeling that Google was getting too big for its britches in terms of intrusiveness.

I guess now it's just plain too big for its britches on all accounts.

 

[jdmb03]

I just Googled "Glock for sale" and got over 6 million hits... What are you guys talking about?

You have to go under the shopping tag. See below.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...4.0.1.1.0.262.693.1j1j2.4.0...0.0.nY286Mzq34A

 

[hso]

So far Google Shopping has displayed handguns, rifles, magazines and knives to me this morning that are not allowed to be sold in all 50 states.

I don't know that we understand all the facts here, but sending requests for clarification are vitally important.

 

[jdmb03]

Are you sure you're under the shopping tab?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....,cf.osb&fp=ccc79e8558b9b888&biw=1093&bih=538

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&....,cf.osb&fp=ccc79e8558b9b888&biw=1093&bih=538

 

[MrDig]

This policy affects their shopping and advertising. You can still find articles written and occasionally links to sales sites by doing a web search. If you click on the "shopping" tab on the left of the screen you will no longer get results.
What this has done is effectively stopped smaller online retailers from getting hits on Google. The bigger players like Buds Guns and Cheaper than Dirt still get hits on the web search. Smaller competitors like Kentucky Gun and Tombstone Tactical no longer get hits.
Oddly the respectable places like Cabelas, Gander Mountain and Bass Pro Shops don't get hits from a web search.
Ironic isn't it? I can't shop for a gun on line with Goggle but if I web search for a Gun I can get hits to online retailers.

 

[Big Boy]

For anyone wondering it is indeed real. It becomes "effective" on July 1st so it's possible that they have not gotten everything blocked in your particular area yet. It's definitely blocked here.

 

[RCArms.com]

There is an informaton tab that explains that Google Shopping is becomming a Commercial site.

This means that they can permit or restrict anything they want on it similar to eBay's rather restrictive stance that they held until they realized the amount of revenue that they were missing and then they relaxed their policy slightly.

While the main Google site returns all the hits you can imagine on just about anything, Google shopping does not. I would imagine that Google Shopping generates revenue from merchants that sell their products via this portal. If Google chooses to exclude firearms related merchants and products, that's their choice.

I would choose to avoid sellers that use the Google Shopping as an outlet and inform them that I will not be purchasing their goods or serivces because of their use of Google, explainign why the Google Shopping restrictions are unacceptable to me. You also have to be willing to NOT spend your money with that merchant, otherwise it's not effective.

You have to remember that Google and the merchants using Google are after the dollar bills in YOUR wallet and that YOU hold all the cards in the game. If you advise them that you will be spending your dollars elsewhere and WHY, you may make a difference. Multiply that by a few hundred thousand or million people, you have the beginning of a force that can bring about change.

So rather than punish Google for being foolish, advise the people that PAY Google to use their service that you will not be making your purchase from them because they use Google. If you're that business and you get enough messages from people that are not buying from you because of Google, your going to pay attention and maybe make changes.

Don

 

[TNBilly]

If you want a search engine that respects your privacy try Startpage..... been using them well over a year now and for the most part well pleased with them.

 

[RCArms.com]

If you want a search engine that respects your privacy try Startpage..... been using them well over a year now and for the most part well pleased with them.

It's not the Google Search Engine that is the problem, it's their Google Shopping platform that is becomming a commercial site and introducing the anti-2A restrictions.

 

[k-frame]

If you communicate with Google to voice your displeasure you should advise that you will also no longer buy any Android device, including your smart phone, and that you will no longer watch YouTube.

 

[ErikO]

I never visited Google Shooping before yesterday. I wasn't impressed and won't be going back. They can make any changes they want.

Having a business rely on a single Internet technology for any part of the core of their business is short sighted. I agree that Google is being dumb, but so are retailers that rely on Google for their customers to find their gun-related items. This will have zero impact on teh Google search engine, why would they want to limit the data they can reach?

 

[henschman]

The beautiful thing about markets is that they require no activism to punish companies that make bad decisions... the market quickly provides alternatives and business just moves elsewhere. Google is not the only company capable of running a search engine that compiles prices from online retailers. Thankfully, bing already has a similar service that is just about as good, so we don't even have to wait for someone in the market to fill the void!

The best form of "activism" we can engage in is simply to direct previous users of google shopping who are impacted by this to bing shopping.

 

[hso]

Yep, I specifically went through Google Shopping.

No, you have to tell them what the specific problem is and what the specific behavior you want them to have if you want any "punishment" to result in a positive response.

 

[Eb1]

Also remember that Google is responsible for your Android phone software. So if you're going to boycott, be sure to boycott all that is Google. Phone, E-Mail, Search, etc, etc...

 

[hso]

I ran the same Google Shopping search today as I had a few days ago and I see nothing that indicates that this change has any negative impact on my ability to find firearms.

We probably should cool the rhetoric down a bit and try to avoid getting egg on our faces until we actually see some Anti behavior out of Google since we're not seeing any now that the policy changes are supposed to have gone into effect.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=167321&d=1341155322