Tag: Amazon.com

Amazon is kindov Awesome

Commenting on Netflix’s new price increases, I noted:

I use amazon prime. it includes free 2 day shipping on anything you buy from amazon – which was why i had it in the first place. one day they just added free streaming movies as a perk to my membership. HINT: that is how you do it, Netflix… surprise users with free new features, not with old features that now cost double what you were paying…

I was later alerted to this occurance below. I didn’t make this image, but the exact same thing happened to me a little over a year ago with the exact same result and it made me very pleased with Amazon. I have since become an intentional paying member of Amazon Prime.

compare this to Netflix’s shenanigans:

Amazon terminates California based Affiliates in response to proposed California tax

I’ve been an Amazon.com Affiliate (making money from Amazon ads) since 1997. This morning I received an email that I would no longer be part of the program because I live in California and Californians are assholes. More specifically: Californians are hippie Socialist assholes who elect hippie Socialists to every level of government and look to fix their failed economic system by taxing the people who work so they can give more to those that don’t. In response to what has been called the “Amazon tax”, taxing purchases made online, Amazon.com has decided to terminate all California Affiliate advertising.

Instead cutting the ridiculous entitlements that I have witnessed at least a dozen people take complete illegitimate advantage of or encouraging economic growth, the state is sticking to it’s guns on punishing workers.

It may not completely affect me because I registered my LLC in Texas precisely because of California’s anti-business tax policies so I will just switch my Amazon account to the Texas address – HOWEVER… Texas is currently negotiating the same law. Whaaaat? chyea… It’s been delayed and an alternate deal proposed and there looks like there is hope..maybe…but not definite. Still though: what the f#ck about everyone else who DOESN’T have an option to reassign the state in their accounts? California doesn’t have the same hope that Texas has of this getting reformatted. Californians are screwed. California screwed. Cali-fornicated. Thanks a lot California Liberals. You guys suck.

Here’s the message:

Hello,

For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of California residents. Unfortunately, a potential new law that may be signed by Governor Brown compels us to terminate this program for California-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers – including but not limited to those referred by California-based marketing affiliates like you – even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state.

We oppose this bill because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It is supported by big-box retailers, most of which are based outside California, that seek to harm the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors. Similar legislation in other states has led to job and income losses, and little, if any, new tax revenue. We deeply regret that we must take this action.

As a result, we will terminate contracts with all California residents that are participants in the Amazon Associates Program as of the date (if any) that the California law becomes effective. We will send a follow-up notice to you confirming the termination date if the California law is enacted. In the event that the California law does not become effective before September 30, 2011, we withdraw this notice. As of the termination date, California residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned on or before the termination date will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of California. If you are not currently a resident of California, or if you are relocating to another state in the near future, you can manage the details of your Associates account here. And if you relocate to another state in the near future please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program.

To avoid confusion, we would like to clarify that this development will only impact our ability to offer the Associates Program to California residents and will not affect their ability to purchase from Amazon.com, Endless.com, MYHABIT.COM or SmallParts.com.

We have enjoyed working with you and other California-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program and, if this situation is rectified, would very much welcome the opportunity to re-open our Associates Program to California residents. We are also working on alternative ways to help California residents monetize their websites and we will be sure to contact you when these become available.

Regards,

The Amazon Associates Team