{"id":32,"date":"2006-01-25T13:23:00","date_gmt":"2006-01-25T20:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/?p=32"},"modified":"2014-12-08T16:24:46","modified_gmt":"2014-12-08T23:24:46","slug":"zazzle-censored-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/?p=32","title":{"rendered":"Zazzle Censored Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’re shutting down our T-shirt sales temporarily while we change from Zazzle to our old stomping ground at Cafepress<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 This is bound to limit the selection we can offer, but there it is.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re sorry for the inconvenience.<\/p>\n

Ironically we’re experiencing the very problem I kvetched about in my last posting.\u00c2\u00a0 Zazzle didn’t like one of our designs.\u00c2\u00a0 And frankly that’s their fault.<\/p>\n

Zazzle uses content ratings for their products, much like the MPAA<\/a> or the TV content rating system<\/a> we see everyday.\u00c2\u00a0 However they use an awkward interface which requires the shop owner to rate every item in the shop.\u00c2\u00a0 A shop can’t be labeled PG-13 or TV14 wholesale.<\/p>\n

We missed one item.\u00c2\u00a0 Just one.<\/p>\n

Zazzle caught our mistake.\u00c2\u00a0 And they promptly punished us for it.\u00c2\u00a0 They closed our shop down.\u00c2\u00a0 Then they flooded Jamie’s e-mail with automated alerts.\u00c2\u00a0 No warning.\u00c2\u00a0 By the time we discovered what was happening, Zazzle had already deleted our files.\u00c2\u00a0 Erased our artwork.<\/p>\n

And they didn’t even want to discuss it.\u00c2\u00a0 They responded to our concerns and complaints with, “Thank you for your comments, if you have any other comments or questions…”\u00c2\u00a0 Another form letter.<\/p>\n

Needless to say, we’re mad as…all get-out.\u00c2\u00a0 Granted, the daunting task of parenting is even harder now than ever before.\u00c2\u00a0 But we tell everyone that Afterhell isn’t for younger listeners.\u00c2\u00a0 We put disclaimers on the website, in our scripts, in the show.\u00c2\u00a0 And we tried to comply with Zazzle’s policies.\u00c2\u00a0 But instead of complaining or consulting us, Zazzle censored us.<\/p>\n

Speaking for myself, I don’t know what ticks me off more, their draconian response or their hypocrisy<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 They don’t mind nasty<\/a> imagery<\/a> — good<\/a> stuff<\/a>, but easily<\/a> in<\/a> our<\/a> range<\/a> — as long as you press all the right buttons.\u00c2\u00a0 But if you miss one, just one, they can’t wait to jump your bones.<\/p>\n

Warn people about Zazzle.\u00c2\u00a0 Tell them how they run their business.\u00c2\u00a0 Discourage people from using their services as nicely as you can.\u00c2\u00a0 No arm-twisting now.\u00c2\u00a0 You never know when it might fall off.<\/p>\n

And if Zazzle’s tactics offend you, let them know<\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 Politely.\u00c2\u00a0 Firmly.<\/p>\n

We’re genuinely sorry to the folks out there who wanted more Afterhell merchandise.\u00c2\u00a0 And we know somebody’s out there, buying our stuff, wearing it, and reportedly enjoying it.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re doing our best to deliver the goods for ya.<\/p>\n

Including a podcast in February.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We’re shutting down our T-shirt sales temporarily while we change from Zazzle to our old stomping ground at Cafepress.\u00c2\u00a0 This is bound to limit the selection we can offer, but there it is.\u00c2\u00a0 We’re sorry for the inconvenience. Ironically we’re experiencing the very problem I kvetched about in my last posting.\u00c2\u00a0 Zazzle didn’t like one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":164,"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions\/164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.afterhell.com\/news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}