Following the recent Charleston shootings in the US, a furore has erupted over the Confederate flag, which has been hijacked as a symbol of racism and hate.
Now major US retailers and marketplaces including eBay and Amazon are banning sales of the flag, in a similar step to their ban on Nazi memorabilia, although we’ve yet to see the official announcement. Johnna Hoff, an eBay spokesperson explains: “We have decided to prohibit Confederate flags, and many items containing this image, because we believe it has become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism”.
The question then comes up what’s banned and considered offensive and what’s acceptable? eBay have for instance in the past held high profile auctions for General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. The General has a confederate flag painted on the roof. Bubba Watson of golfing fame owns one such car, should he get his General resprayed to remove the flag or is it acceptable for a symbol which is an integral part of US history to remain?
Whatever the case, if you’re selling flags or memorabilia which includes a depiction of the Confederate flag it’s probably time to remove them from marketplaces to be on the safe side.
7 Responses
Oh my god.
well just had my sterling silver confederate flag charm removed from EBAY and Amazon.
I also got a phone call from Rakuten who informed me that they would have to remove the same flag BUT also my confederate soldier charm.
The stupid thing is that I relisted with a different name and the 2 I had were purchased about an hour later by a customer in the USA.
I have had a conversation with Amazon before when they removed Golli charms.
I asked if they would also be removing Irish Leprechaun charms, Irish Dancers, Essex “Shut UP” charms and numerous others. The customer service people hadn’t a clue that I was being sarcastic but maybe that’s my ESSEX way. Thousands of accused witches were burned and drowned a few hundred years back and we still dress up in costumes.
Do we ban it all!!!!
It’s a pity ebay aren’t quite so quick to sort out issues such as blocking UK buyers etc.
Ebay=============
Hello maldon-jewellery,
After reviewing your account, we’ve had to take the following action:
– Some or all of your listings may have been removed. A list of any removed items will be listed further down in this email.
– We have credited all associated fees except for the final value fee for your listing(s).
CSKB Article: (INTERNAL INFO) –
Guide1063 – PI – Discrimination in a listing policy .
Reason For Removal: (INTERNAL INFO) –
The seller listed a Confederate battle flag, or an item themed with the same pattern, which is no longer permitted.
What To Tell The Member: (EXCEPTION ALERT! CAN BE SHARED EXTERNALLY) –
Ebay has made a decision to no longer permit Confederate battle flag listings. Likewise, items designed with the pattern of the battle flag as the central theme are also prohibited. We believe the image of the flag itself has become a contemporary symbol of divisiveness and racism. This is not a reflection or judgment on anyone selling the item and we respect that there are a wide variety of opinions on this issue.
Can The Member Relist: (EXCEPTION ALERT! CAN BE SHARED EXTERNALLY) –
No the member should not relist.
Here are the listings we removed:
36XXXXXXXXX10 – Confederate Flag sterling silver charm .925 x 1 America Flags charms SXXXXX4
We appreciate your understanding.
Thanks,
eBay
=============
Amazon Response.
Hello from Amazon.
We are writing to let you know that the following detail pages have been removed from our catalogue:
ASIN: B0XXXXXU, SKU: SSXXXX4, Title: “confederate flag sterling silver charm .925 x 1 america flags charms sXXXXXX4”
This item has been identified as confederate flag merchandise. Amazon policy prohibits the listing or sale of confederate flag merchandise.
For more information on our policies, search on “Restricted Products” and “Listing Restrictions” in Seller Help.
**Action Required: Within 48 hours of this notice, please review your remaining listings and make any changes necessary to ensure compliance with our policies.
Failure to comply with this request may result in the removal of your selling privileges.
We appreciate your cooperation and thank you for selling on Amazon.co.uk.
Amazon Services
I had 35 different listing removed my eBay yesterday. They were all confederate lapel pin badges bought by line dancers and not by pro slavery buyers. When I spoke to eBay I enquired if my Christian items were safe from removal as these item offend quiet a lot of people also – no reply was forthcoming. I also asked her to justify the removal of my items and again no reply was forthcoming. Yesterday when I typed ‘confederate’ into the search box 15,169 items were showing and this morning 14,698 items are showing.
well done ebay
why should anyone be abused and persecuted just because they have a skin colour
and if something is used to encourage or focus that abuse ban it
we can all quote circumstances comparisons etc and claim the ban on this flag as unfair ,
maybe it is unfair but so what!
its sends a clear message that good and decent people are sickened and outraged about what happened and it needs to stop
The Confederate flag is not a symbol of hatred or racism unless someone decides to make it one. It is a part of history.
Why did it take a tragedy – that had nothing to do with the flag – to create such a furor? I maintain it is an act of the media (create more sales) and opportunistic politicians.
Dylan Roof was inspired by Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler, whom he called warriors. The last movie he saw was Jurrassic Park. Should that movie be banned?
For the record I have never owned or flown a Confederate flag. But I am outraged that many find its display unacceptable and yet support the burning of the American flag. Don’t bother quoting me the Supreme Court’s mindless ruling that this is protected by Amendment 1. The judges that voted this act to be acceptable should have been removed from the bench.