Amazon dropping 10,000 affiliates in California

[masterxfob]

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/29/technology/california_amazon_associates/

so the idiot (jerry brown) and his peanut gang (california politicians) are at it again. the idiot that said "We need more welfare and fewer jobs." in his last term as governor is really making it happen.

 

[Bateluer]

http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/29/technology/california_amazon_associates/

so the idiot (jerry brown) and his peanut gang (california politicians) are at it again. the idiot that said "We need more welfare and fewer jobs." in his last term as governor is really making it happen.

So . . . for how many years is it going to add 200M to the CA budget? Not even one?

 

[schneiderguy]

Awesome, the less money the CA state government has the better.

 

[Powermoloch]

Califorkneea fhale

 

[zinfamous]

Jerry Brown's a really cool guy. eh shuts down businesses and doesn't afraid of anything.

 

[zinfamous]

....but seriously, if you think Meg Whitman would have been better, then you have rocks for your brain.

it's a medical fact

 

[masterxfob]

it's amazing that these idiots get paid 6 figures to come up with such genius.

....but seriously, if you think Meg Whitman would have been better, then you have rocks for your brain.

it's a medical fact

we're fucked if we do, and we're fucked if we don't.

 

[BoomerD]

Fucking whaaa...Amazon is going to have to realize that they can't continue to be exempt from collecting state sales taxes forever.

If they keep dumping their "affiliates" in states that want to collect sales taxes from internet sales, pretty soon, they're only going to have "affiliates" in 3 or 4 states...

 

[zinfamous]

we're fucked if we do, and we're fucked if we don't.

that's the spirit!

 

[zinfamous]

Fucking whaaa...Amazon is going to have to realize that they can't continue to be exempt from collecting state sales taxes forever.

If they keep dumping their "affiliates" in states that want to collect sales taxes from internet sales, pretty soon, they're only going to have "affiliates" in 3 or 4 states...

yeah, that's kind of how I feel. I mean....I love Amazon and not paying sales tax and everything, but it is a loophole. That is a nice chunk of revenue that is essentially owed to the states.

 

[Mr. Lennon]

Meanwhile Jerry Brown panders to the prison guard union allowing unlimited sick days.

 

[masterxfob]

Fucking whaaa...Amazon is going to have to realize that they can't continue to be exempt from collecting state sales taxes forever.

If they keep dumping their "affiliates" in states that want to collect sales taxes from internet sales, pretty soon, they're only going to have "affiliates" in 3 or 4 states...

i'm sure they know that they're only delaying the inevitable. however, the tax money the state didn't collect from online sales isn't what's leading to the huge deficit.

 

[MotionMan]

Awesome, the less money the CA state government has the better.

It is very easy to know how I will vote on any proposition: If it involves any new money to the government (be it a "tax", "fee" or by any other name), I will vote against it. I will continue to do so until the government can show me that they will spend it wisely.

I firmly believe that the government (local, state, regional, national) brings in plenty of money, they just piss it away. The California state government in particular.

Why would you vote otherwise?

MotionMan

 

[masterxfob]

It is very easy to know how I will vote on any proposition: If it involves any new money to the government (be it a "tax", "fee" or by any other name), I will vote against it. I will continue to do so until the government can show me that they will spend it wisely.

so never? seems like the right idea :thumbsup:

 

[arkcom]

Fucking whaaa...Amazon is going to have to realize that they can't continue to be exempt from collecting state sales taxes forever.

If they keep dumping their "affiliates" in states that want to collect sales taxes from internet sales, pretty soon, they're only going to have "affiliates" in 3 or 4 states...

The "affiliates" do basically nothing, so it's no big loss for Amazon.

 

[zinfamous]

It is very easy to know how I will vote on any proposition: If it involves any new money to the government (be it a "tax", "fee" or by any other name), I will vote against it. I will continue to do so until the government can show me that they will spend it wisely.

I firmly believe that the government (local, state, regional, national) brings in plenty of money, they just piss it away. The California state government in particular.

Why would you vote otherwise?

MotionMan

the next proposition I will vote on will be the proposition that disallows proposition voting.

government pissing money away aside, the real problem in California is the electoral system.

 

[zinfamous]

The "affiliates" do basically nothing, so it's no big loss for Amazon.

well, sounds like ti saves Amazon some commission payments.

No idea how much revenue Amazon actually sees from those referrals, but I suppose it is possible that it means job losses from Amazon more than the affiliates. :\

 

[Bateluer]

It is very easy to know how I will vote on any proposition: If it involves any new money to the government (be it a "tax", "fee" or by any other name), I will vote against it. I will continue to do so until the government can show me that they will spend it wisely.

I firmly believe that the government (local, state, regional, national) brings in plenty of money, they just piss it away. The California state government in particular.

Why would you vote otherwise?

MotionMan

Wise man. Sums up my position pretty well.

 

[BoomerD]

the next proposition I will vote on will be the proposition that disallows proposition voting.

government pissing money away aside, the real problem in California is the electoral system.

Yeah, the whole "government by proposition" doesn't work as well in real life as it does on paper.
Too often, measures that sound good, get passed with no clear revenue stream to pay for them...so the funds come out of the general budget. IMO, that's a real problem.

'The concept of "We the People" being able to push a law through, solely by the vote of the people sounds great...but all too often, there is a big business behind that proposition...and those rarely benefit the people...just the business group backing it.

 

[ViRGE]

yeah, that's kind of how I feel. I mean....I love Amazon and not paying sales tax and everything, but it is a loophole. That is a nice chunk of revenue that is essentially owed to the states.

Indeed. It won't close any major budget gaps, but it will definitely close the "window shopping" loophole.

If voters don't like sales taxes, then they need to either vote them out or move. Paying lip service to the system and then purposely going elsewhere to avoid paying them (and not paying the use tax!) is pretty low.

 

[davmat787]

yeah, that's kind of how I feel. I mean....I love Amazon and not paying sales tax and everything, but it is a loophole. That is a nice chunk of revenue that is essentially owed to the states.

Amazon has collected plenty of sales taxes from me if it makes you feel better.

<---- WA state rez

 

[0roo0roo]

how dare california apply sales tax for business done in california who are they kidding right? some businesses shouldn't have to pay, while others do, that is how you ensure a "even" playing field

 

[GoodRevrnd]

how dare california apply sales tax for business done in california who are they kidding right? some businesses shouldn't have to pay, while others do, that is how you ensure a "even" playing field

The method they're using to collect the taxes really makes no sense though. If states really want taxes on online purchases they all just need to buck up together and force businesses to collect sales taxes on a per state basis where they make the sales. That will of course be a nightmare for all smaller online businesses, though. Either way, calling referral affiliates a presence in the state is retarded.

 

[0roo0roo]

The method they're using to collect the taxes really makes no sense though. If states really want taxes on online purchases they all just need to buck up together and force businesses to collect sales taxes on a per state basis where they make the sales. That will of course be a nightmare for all smaller online businesses, though. Either way, calling referral affiliates a presence in the state is retarded.

I might have bought this before the advent of computing and the internet but now...its a joke. This isn't rocket science, amazon is such a behomoth company they could have cobbled together a solution for their affiliats themselves. When you sell something on ebay, do you write your own credit card processing database? No you go to paypal, this stuff is easily solvable.

 

[hans007]

The method they're using to collect the taxes really makes no sense though. If states really want taxes on online purchases they all just need to buck up together and force businesses to collect sales taxes on a per state basis where they make the sales. That will of course be a nightmare for all smaller online businesses, though. Either way, calling referral affiliates a presence in the state is retarded.

as much as i don't like paying tax for things, I don't really have a huge problem with this move given it is really unfair to brick and mortar shops.

Who knows maybe this will keep people shopping at real stores and that will have an economic impact as well.

That said as amazon has said, the federal govt should just mandate everyone pay tax in every state insated of of you having to volunteer it when you do your taxes and be done with it.