Amazon.com follows Paypal --Strikes Sale of E-cigs

[The Widow]

Amazon.com is removing all ecig related items from their site. My store got closed without any warning. Received an EMail stating

Per notification from just this morning, Seller Performance has been removing all ASINs associated with electronic cigarettes as they are a prohibited item on Amazon.com. For more information, please see the Restricted Products section of our Help pages.

and that was it.

Oh, by the way, they're also holding my funds until "they are sure that there won't be any chargebacks". Just how long that might be, they don't specify.

 

[Nokosa]

It's unfortunate.

To be honest online sales of e-cigs is a shady area in the sense that a 10 year old can buy one under his parents name and no one would be the wiser. That is, of course, just an observation, and in no way suggests that it would happen. But you can never be too cautious and, in that regard, it's the same reason why you can't buy regular cigarettes online.

The internet is an unsafe place.

 

[solonguniverse]

It's unfortunate.

To be honest online sales of e-cigs is a shady area in the sense that a 10 year old can buy one under his parents name and no one would be the wiser. That is, of course, just an observation, and in no way suggests that it would happen. But you can never be too cautious and, in that regard, it's the same reason why you can't buy regular cigarettes online.

The internet is an unsafe place.

Not trying to be confrontational, but by that logic there should be no tobacco, alcohol, firearms or pornography on the internet whatsoever. I don't see that happening, either. Big name companies just can't stand the water if it becomes anything more than tepid. A degree above is too hot for them to handle.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Again---another blow. Counsel for these Companies simply do not want any legal exposure with the sale of a product that may very well be deemed totally illicit to sell.

Sun

 

[jj2]

Not trying to be confrontational, but by that logic there should be no tobacco, alcohol, firearms or pornography on the internet whatsoever. I don't see that happening, either. Big name companies just can't stand the water if it becomes anything more than tepid. A degree above is too hot for them to handle.

You are sooo right.

 

[Straykat]

Taking bets as to who will put out a news release taking credit for this.

 

[MrKai]

Again---another blow. Counsel for these Companies simply do not want any legal exposure with the sale of a product that may very well be deemed totally illicit to sell.

Sun

"Competent"

-K

 

[MrKai]

Oh, by the way, they're also holding my funds until "they are sure that there won't be any chargebacks". Just how long that might be, they don't specify.

It is in the seller agreement. You won't see a penny until around or after Xmas/first of year. I believe it is 90 *business* days.

-K

 

[Denise]

Same happened to me yesterday with Amazon and a couple ecig listings ended. I closed my store a while back and only listed items. Also sell other things aside from ecigs. We knew this would happen...

But, if you do a search on Amazon still for "electronic cigarette", 4 pages of listings come up where you can still add the item to your cart and purchase.

 

[Tuesdays Gone]

Wow! I only discovered e-cigs over the weekend after seeing a banner ad. Further research led me to the wonderful forums here. After spending the weekend reading the boards, I decided on a Joye 510 and ordered a kit from Amazon Marketplace Sunday night and some Johnson Creek juice yesterday. Told my mom about e-cigs as well and she placed orders from Amazon yesterday too. Doing a quick search on Amazon, I see that the particular items we ordered are already gone.Hearing and seeing this, I guess it's lucky we ordered when we did. Although I know I can order from other places, I chose Amazon cause of convenience, just two clicks and the orders were place. Fortunately, they have shipped and are on the way, so I will be joining the ranks sometime later this week. I can't hardly wait! Glad I have bookmarked some of the recommended vendor sites from this board and will be making more purchases soon to stock up.

Thanks,

Tony.

 

[a2dcovert]

Same happened to me yesterday with Amazon and a couple ecig listings ended. I closed my store a while back and only listed items. Also sell other things aside from ecigs. We knew this would happen...

But, if you do a search on Amazon still for "electronic cigarette", 4 pages of listings come up where you can still add the item to your cart and purchase.

It's just like Paypal, there are still some merchants doing business with Paypal. I don't understand this, if you have a policy it should be the same for all.

Kevin

 

[Nokosa]

Not trying to be confrontational, but by that logic there should be no tobacco, alcohol, firearms or pornography on the internet whatsoever. I don't see that happening, either. Big name companies just can't stand the water if it becomes anything more than tepid. A degree above is too hot for them to handle.

I guess my comment was a little... I don't know... less straight forward than I thought.

What I meant was that something should be done to regulate the sale of e-cigs on the internet in such a way that it can be safe practice.

It's a damn shame that those of us well over the legal age can't order products that require proof of age over the internet.

 

[Denise]

It's a damn shame that those of us well over the legal age can't order products that require proof of age over the internet.

An adult signature upon delivery, as is required for alcohol deliveries purchased online. But, also too, alcohol can not be shipped to certain states...

 

[Denise]

(What was emailed to sellers):

Hello from Amazon.com.

We are writing because it has come to our attention that you have listed a product that we have determined is inappropriate for Amazon.com. We have prohibited the sale of electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes, nicotine nebulizers, refill material for any of these, and similar products on our site.

A list of ASINs removed from our catalog may be found at the end of this message.

Amazon.com reserves the right to remove any listing we determine to be illegal or inappropriate for our site.

For more information, please see the Restricted Products section of our Help pages.

To avoid the blocking of your selling account, please do not relist this product or any other prohibited content on our site.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important matter.

Regards,
Seller Performance
Amazon.com

 

[kylewinther]

yeah we got hit too.

 

[Denise]

What's next -- ISP's that host ecig sites being told to shut them down? I sure hope not! Where would everyone go then, Craigs List?

 

[emberl]

I just checked amazon, there are still 4 pages of selling the e-cig + juice + carts.

Amazon.com: electronic cigarette

 

[solonguniverse]

I guess my comment was a little... I don't know... less straight forward than I thought.

What I meant was that something should be done to regulate the sale of e-cigs on the internet in such a way that it can be safe practice.

It's a damn shame that those of us well over the legal age can't order products that require proof of age over the internet.

My fault...I misunderstood. Adult signature upon delivery sounds like a perfect and easy solution to this problem, though.

 

[Denise]

Adult signature upon delivery sounds like a perfect and easy solution to this problem, though.

Fax, Email, or Attach and Upload a copy of your DL or ID while or after placing an order would work too. Similar to placing an online order for prescription medication.

 

[oldtechno]

Well, I see you guys have got the word about Amazon.com.

I guess there isn't much else for me to say.