You might, or might not, notice that all Amazon ads are gone. Why? Because North Carolina was going to tax the heck out of them, so, Amazon called their bluff. I knew it was coming, but, the email I recieved this morning is below the more tag
We are writing from the Amazon Associates Program to notify you that your Associates account has been closed as of June 26, 2009. This is a direct result of the unconstitutional tax collection scheme expected to be passed any day now by the North Carolina state legislature (the General Assembly) and signed by the governor. As a result, we will no longer pay any referral fees for customers referred to Amazon.com or Endless.com after June 26. We were forced to take this unfortunate action in anticipation of actual enactment because of uncertainties surrounding the legislation’s effective date.
Please be assured that all qualifying referral fees earned prior to June 26, 2009 will be processed and paid in full in accordance with our regular referral fee schedule. Based on your account closure date of June 26, 2009, any final payments will be paid by September 1, 2009.
In the event that North Carolina repeals this tax collection scheme, we would certainly be happy to re-open our Associates program to North Carolina residents.
The North Carolina General Assembly’s website is http://www.ncleg.net/, and additional information may be obtained from the Performance Marketing Alliance at http://www.performancemarketingalliance.com/.
We have enjoyed working with you and other North Carolina-based participants in the Amazon Associates Program, and wish you all the best in your future.
Best Regards,
The Amazon Associates Team
So, because of more Democrat taxation, a small revenue stream is lost. I did not make much off of it, but, a few people bought Kindles every month, and some other products, but, that is not the point. Democrats seem to excel at finding ways to screw people’s money streams.
But, always look at the bright side of life. I am looking at other ad streams, good place to start is this post. I’m checking out Legal Zoom, Google Adsense, and Linkshare (applied for Apple and Orbitz so far.) Any ideas? Other then getting rid of Democrats in legislative positions, of course.
Confederate Yankee chimes in.
BTW, Amazon wasn’t kidding around. My account is closed, except for historical viewing.
More: From the Greensboro News-Record
Local affiliates say they were “blind-sided” by the company’s action.
“I got this e-mail at 4:30 this morning,” said James Barrett, a technology consultant from Winston-Salem. “It wasn’t saying your account will be shut down. It said it is shut down. That just blew me up right there.”
Barrett said that he is frustrated at lawmakers for considering the tax, but equally aggravated with Amazon.
“They’re trying to tick off all their associates and get them to call down to Raleigh,” Barrett said. “I think that is pretty tacky. That’s not the way to use people who are referring business to your business.”
Interesting that they go with a quote that says “well, I’m frustrated with the lawmakers, but, Amazon sucks!!!!!!” Looks like more blame towards Amazon, not the ones who created the situation.
I’m like you, I got the same ridiculous email about the same ridiculous legislation here in N. Carolina.
Great job democrats, like you I didn’t make a lot off of the amazon links, but still, because of liberal taxation, that option is now gone.
“The power to tax is the power to destroy.” – Daniel Webster
And the Dems seem to really know how to destroy, don’t they?
They are nuts, Shannon (as you well know as an NC resident.) I love their little law where we are supposed to pay sales tax to NC on products we purchased out of state that we already paid tax on. I’m hoping to get more cash out of Linkshare. Just some walking around money is nice.
Oh, they most certainly do, Duncan. And the federal ones are working to hose us with cap and tax, and limiting debate.
[…] Bye Bye To Amazon Affiliates In North Carolina » Pirate’s Cove […]
So if I understand this right, because I live in North Taxolina, whenever someone in another state clicks on an affiliate link on my website that is hosted on a server in another state, and buys something shipped to them from yet another state, with none of the transaction, data or merchandise actually passing through North Carolina, they expect to collect a tax above and beyond the income tax I pay simply because I, the website owner, live in North Carolina?
Yep, that sounds unconstitutional to me.
(Oh, both Republicans and Democrats are pushing this tax, so it is not a ‘Democrat’ thing, it’s a ‘stupid government official that knows nothing about how the Internet works getting greedy’ thing.)
Yeah, pretty much correct, Wayne. The reason I blame it on the Dems is because they control the legislature. But, yup, as usual, there are some wishy washy Republicans pushing it, too. Damned shame.