Got the California termination letter from Amazon

[littleman]

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

Sad news...

[grnidone]

I told you you should move to Kansas...but Nooooo!

[ukgimp]

Are the peole that run your country thick as fuck?

It Bewilders me some if the crazy shit that occurs in that side if the pond.

[littleman]

>...run your country thick as....

The problem is that we have 50 states which all make their own rules.  California is about 10% of the US population, so Amazon and the like are probably cuting off 10% of their affiliates with this move on top of the states that have already been axed.  I've read that Texas is next.

>Kansas
Too far, too cold,  if we're going to move than it would be Oregon.  I think they'll stay safe because they don't have a sales tax.

[eurotrash]

This is probably a stupid question but couldn't you just buy a mailbox or biz address in a 'good' state and get the mail forwarded?

[Woz]

Danny's Thoughts
http://daggle.com/open-letter-jeff-bezos-terminating-amazon-affiliate-program-california-2584

[I, Brian]

Is anyone earning anything significant from Amazon these days?

About the only time I earned anything with them worth shouting about was through some cookie dropping using an iframe on a high traffic site. Heh heh. Never got paid for that, but was fun to see how it worked.

[Drastic]

I've never made much with amazon, but never put much effort in either.

Did they not pay you b/c of the iframe?

[4Eyes]

I really tried with amazon - built 20 or 30 sites using WP and a plugin similar to my ebay stuff - earned bugger all.

[I, Brian]

I've never made much with amazon, but never put much effort in either.

Did they not pay you b/c of the iframe?

Exactly - gross breach of terms.

Think I learned about that at a Threadwatch meet or other, so thought I'd try it just for kicks.

As with Col above, never really made much - but the 24 hours cookie is far too short IMO to really work effectively. Or maybe I'm just a cynic. That would be a revelation.

[buckworks]

I just got a termination letter from a small merchant ....

I wrote back and pointed out that in my case, CA = CANADA, not California! 

[rcjordan]

>CA = Canada

"His pattern indicates two-dimensional thinking."
— Spock, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

I've been mulling over the likely end result of all the states with sales tax trying to nail down Amazon via affiliate nexus.  The interim result will be that only affiliates left selling to their citizens will be located in the few states without sales tax or non-US.  The next step might be to say that ISPs are the merchants' agent but I doubt that would go very far in the courts since the merchant never really establishes a business relationship with them.  The next-to-final step will be a national sales tax but we'll have a VAT in the end [pun].

[rcjordan]

update:

Amazon.com to begin collecting sales tax in Pa.

"The Seattle-based company currently collects sales taxes on orders shipped to six other states; Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, New York, Texas and Washington. It plans to add California to the list on Sept. 15"

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-amazoncom-to-begin-collecting-sales-tax-in-pa-20120830,0,1581429.story


So will they re-open the affiliate program in these states?

[littleman]

With 10% of the US population you'd think they'd be eager to open it back up.

[dogboy]

For $300/yr you can get a po box whereever you want, a registered agent, and a DBA as a foreign entity, and off you go...