Why Our Site Was Removed From The ODP

Our website, Best Of The Home, has been listed in the Open Directory Project for over a year. Recently, I conducted a search of the ODP for my site, to update it, and found that it was no longer listed in any category.

I went to the ODP forums, http://www.resource-zone.com, to try to obtain information as to why this had happened. The editors and moderators of the forum informed me that websites that sell products via the drop-ship method do not get listed in the ODP, "because the content of these websites are not unique and the sites are just "order takers" for the wholesalers." ODP will gladly list the wholesalers if they meet the ODP guidelines.

The guidelines for a site to be listed in the ODP Shopping/Home and Garden/Furniture Category are listed below:

"Submission guidelines include that the web site itself actually be a means of selling the Furniture products. Thus, appropriate product images and descriptions, specific product pricing and a means of ordering from the web site itself are required to qualify as a "Shopping" site."

As you can see, the guidelines say nothing about the fact that if the website uses the dropship method that they will not be listed. Even the category descriptions, Sites which sell Furniture used in the home are listed in this category. Please note that web sites listed in this or any Furniture Shopping category must be the "means of selling" the furniture, and therefore must properly display and describe the products for sale, give specific prices and provide a means of ordering the product from the site itself." does not mention anything about dropship websites not being listed.

In our own case, our website meets all of the requirements above, we list the products for sale, we have pictures and descriptions of all the products we sell, give specific prices and provide a means of ordering the product on site, but since we do not design and manufacture the products we are considered a drop-shipper for the wholesaler.

The OPD, by their own admission, looks at dropship websites in this fashion, and these are direct quotes from some of the moderators on the forum,

"Let's call the real businesses "mom-and-pop businesses" and the other ... oh, I think "pseudonymous fright wigs for anonymous faceless giant corporations" pretty well covers the relevant facts."

"drop shippers are a variety of affiliate operation, they don't offer anything unique, and they act merely as an extension of the marketing department of the corporation they are affiliated with. Therefore we don't list 'em. Renting storage space in someone else's warehouse to store your own goods, using an independent courier to deliver, etc. don't make someone a drop shipper. But then again the independent distributor of mass market stuff is unlikely to make it in if we already have sites selling the same mass market stuff listed. Unique content is king. In addition, a site's placement in the directory is subject to change or deletion at any time at our sole discretion. "

"A drop-ship order taker isn't information, it is disinformation. "I claim to be doing this for money, but I won't tell you who actually does it." It's a lie, pure and simple???.That is just flat not honest. If it is not outright criminal fraud, still, the mere fact that society tolerates that kind of deception -- that shoppers aren't taught from birth to avoid it like an Ebola outbreak -- gives unlimited unquenchable opportunities for outright criminal fraud. No, there are surely thousands of genuine little shops out there, providing their own unique goods and services, and depending on the net to find customers. The Vstore spammers try to bury the real little guys in doorway spam. Who wouldn't sympathize with the little guys? Who WOULD sympathize with the bully with a thousand fright masks (each claiming to be a "little guy")?"

As you can see, the folks at the ODP do not think much of websites that use the dropship method of selling products, regardless if it a cost effective method for the website. It comes down to this, "if a company designs and manufactures something, then obviously they are offering both unique services and unique goods. Such a company has ample scope for creating a website containing an authoritative description of those goods and services, and that would indeed be listable." By their very nature sites which promote someone else's wares neat don't provide unique content, simply another way of purchasing the same thing."

If the ODP thinks otherwise then you are considered a drop shipper and will not get listed in the ODP.

My advice to all the websites out there that use the dropship method to sell products on your websites, even if your site is one of a kind, do not bother trying to get listed with the ODP, because you will not. If you're already listed, check periodically to see if your listing is still there and be thankful if it is, because if an ODP editor happens across it, chances are it will be deleted.

About the Author:

K.D. Wiseman is the owner of DMJ Enterprises and creator of Best Of The Home and DMJ Enterprises. Best Of The Home and DMJ Enterprises are popular home and garden websites featuring products for every corner of your home and garden including quality indoor and outdoor furniture, children's toys, gardening supplies, Plush Pelts and more. Please visit both sites for your entire home and garden needs.

http://www.bestofthehome.com
http://www.dmjenterprises.com

---

The Art of Being Human

This isn't the first time I have written about the... Read More

What is SSL (the little padlock)?

SSL ("Secured Socket Layer") is a protocol used to... Read More

Implications Of E-Commerce For Tax Legislation

As e-commerce develops ambiguities in the current tax code in... Read More

E-Currency Exchange: The First Bonanza of the 21st Century?

The 21st century has introduced the world to a new... Read More

Dont Get Ripped Off Getting A Merchant Account

Far too many people get ripped off when setting up... Read More

Choosing An Internet Merchant Account

Surf to Google and perform a search on "Internet Merchant... Read More

Set Yourself Apart From The Ordinary

I have written at length about the need to anticipate... Read More

Get Out of The Way

Get out of the way and make it easy for... Read More

Is Your Business Afraid of the Internet?

My Business is Afraid of the InternetBill Gates, CEO of... Read More

Distinguishing Features of E-Commerce

E-commerce offers customers the chance to eliminate many stages in... Read More

Projecting Your Image

Whether you sell a product or merely sell time to... Read More

Old Habits Die Hard in the Third Age Years

I spent a lifetime in retailing and I'm still at... Read More

The Lowdown On ECommerce: Making All The Pieces Fit Together

The Lowdown on EcommerceEcommerce is truly the most confusing aspect... Read More

Your Site is all Direct Marketing

This may not be a popular view, but I think... Read More

Online Customer Service - The Cornerstone of a Successful Online Business

Online customer service is still one of the most frequently... Read More

Drop-Shipping ? A Great Way of Making Money Online

Using the Internet to sell products and services to ever... Read More

E-marketplaces from Sellers Perspective

What is an E-marketplace anyway?E-marketplace is a business to business... Read More

Conducting Business through B2B E-marketplaces

Businesses, which are still sitting on sidelines and not doing... Read More

Shop: Is Shopping Online Secure?

Is shopping online becoming popular and safe enough for you... Read More

How to Start a Business on the Internet

So you want to start a business? Good for you.... Read More

7 Key Steps To Reduce Refunds and Chargebacks

One sure-fire way to loosing out big time on your... Read More

Accepting Credit Card Payments Online

Being able to accept credit cards and other online payments... Read More

7 Must Have Scripts to Look for When Shopping for E-commerce Hosting

When shopping for e-commerce hosting there are a lot of... Read More

Expand Your Local Business Through the Internet

To obtain more local customers for your business, consider expanding... Read More

Online Shoppers Say They?ll Buy from Small and Large E-Businesses Alike

As the holiday shopping season begins in earnest, consumers say... Read More

Cyber Banking

The use of electronic cash as a means of transacting... Read More

Chinas Online Shopping May Be Booming In The Next Few Years

Data from China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) shows that... Read More

Grow Your Business Using B2B Emarketplace ? Part II

Selecting the right emarketplaceAlthough, IT spending has been staying flat... Read More

How to Write a Landing Page

Is there a difference between writing a landing page and... Read More

Electronic Commerce Tax Jurisdiction and Principles of Permanent Establishment

The principle of "permanent establishment" is very important for avoidance... Read More

Merchant Accounts: What They Can Do For You

Congratulations! You created an impulse in a customer to buy... Read More

Overcoming Frustration with Technology

For whatever reason, when we get a new boost in... Read More

Increasing E-Commerce Website Sales: A Guide for the Online Newbie

Because of this encouraging surge in activity, many individuals are... Read More