OT: Amazon fires back at California, terminates contracts with affiliates

17,783 Views | 189 Replies | Last: 14 yr ago by ohsooso
sycasey
How long do you want to ignore this user?
calbear93;524615 said:

However, more businesses are leaving California than coming to California.


Is there a study that actually confirms this? It's a popular claim for conservative pundits to make, but I don't know that it's ever really been proven.
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Willgonnabaight;524186 said:

wrong


Then maybe I being cheated but I am regularly charged taxes on my phone purchases.
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
BeggarEd;524220 said:

Don't let the sheer mass of California's size and population fool you into this perpetuated myth of prosperity. Furthermore, just because there is a lot of ingenuity (i.e. patents) coming from CA, that doesn't mean it's a "business-friendly" state.

There is a reason why so many LLCs are organized in states like Delaware, and the disproportionately high state tax rates in California have a lot to do with that.




When I hear this phrase, I take it to mean, a "Give business everything it wants" state.
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
ColoradoBear1;524269 said:

But if you are saying that CA trying to tax out of state purchases is anti business, that is dead wrong. By the way, Texas sent Amazon a bill for $269 million in uncollected sales tax revenue last year. All states are after Amazon, but I think it will really take federal law to make it stick.


dam* those anti-business Texans.:headbang
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
drunkoski;524641 said:

yes because surely there are no shades of gray here.


Apparently not on this board (much).
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
NVBear78;524285 said:

The inmates in Sacramento are running the Asylum and have no clue about just how unfriendly this State is to business, particularly small business. And it is small business that producers the greatest numbers of jobs. No wonder our unemployment rate is even greater than the national average.

Now that Brown is back as Governor they are doubling down and seeking even more taxes, more overly restrictive and unhelpful environmental and other reglations while ignoring things like unfunded public employee pensions. Even Willie Brown wrote about the excessive wages and benefits for public employees in the SF Chronicle.

The politicians in Sacramento are foolish not to recognize that they are in competition with other states for jobs and business. As noted above California unemployment is already several points higher than the already incredibly high national average (thank you BO/Reid/Pelosi) and this is much more likely to get worse as harmfull bills like AB 32 phase in... legislation that does no measurable good for our state or the environment but further sabatoges our economy. There is a lot of bad science behind AB 32 and other job killing policies of CARB (http://sppiblog.org/news/faulty-science-behind-states-landmark-diesel-law).

I worry about the future of the golden (bear) state.


I just love these non-football threads.

1. your comments on the politicians is a common one but remember that they were elected by us (those that voted and those that refrained from voting).
So bitch all you want about politicians. We get the government we DESERVE.

2. As for doubling down on taxes. Jerry Brown has done a lot to cut government spending - if you don't believe this witness the poor students who are paying ever increasing fees and tuition. The Republican members of the Assemby and Senate could not muster even the 2 votes it would have taken to put on the ballot the continuation of certain taxes which would have avoided the current spate of taxes. So go ahead and bash Jerry Brown. No need for any Republicans to take any responsibility.

3. Finally as for the big greedy public unions. How dare they insist on keeping what they contracted for. They should follow the examples of the Big Banks and Wall Street fat cats and suffer for getting us into this mess (oh wait a minute...never mind).

FWIW - I would rather be talking Cal FB.
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
drunkoski;524476 said:

we've had net losses and if you don't count illegal immigration net losses of our populace as well. i have quite a few clients who have moved themselves and their businesses to nevada because of taxes. it's still a nice place to live and that by itself is going to retain a large percentage of businesses.


Yes but it is a long drive to see a Cal FB Home game.
Isn't that worth something.
Where is your school spirit.
68great
How long do you want to ignore this user?
GB54;524502 said:

If you're in a business like biotech or high tech which relies a lot on intellectual and financial capital, then California is the place. If you are manufacturing a commodity, you're better off in other states. One of my clients told me what he saved on just his waste disposal and environmental costs on a move to Nevada and it was enough to make him profitable .


So your friend does not care if his business makes anyone sick or degrades the wonderful environment of Nevada --- as long as he saves a few pennies on his "cost of goods sold" entry.
GB54
How long do you want to ignore this user?
68great;524657 said:

So your friend does not care if his business makes anyone sick or degrades the wonderful environment of Nevada --- as long as he saves a few pennies on his "cost of goods sold" entry.


He is doing the same thing though not being charged for it.
tequila4kapp
How long do you want to ignore this user?
FingeroftheBear;524171 said:

Amazon should really shut up. I don't like paying taxes any more than anyone else but geez...a 10 year tax advantage over local stores? There is no free lunch and that's actually anti-competitive. Leveling the playing field would benefit local communities and merchants. Besides the fact people hate taxes why should Amazon and onliners out of state get a break?


Think it through. The B & Ms collect/pay CA taxes because they are physcially present in CA, sell their CA delivered services (or products) to consumers who are physically present in CA. The only part of that equation that applies to Amazon is that the consumer is located in CA.

It is a joke that states (not just CA) are making the argument that a business agreement between two independent entities (i.e., net retailer and affiliate marketer) equates to the other company having a physical presence in the state, thereby requiring them to collect/pay that sales tax.
GB54
How long do you want to ignore this user?
SitkaBear;524658 said:

Then perhaps that is their major malfunction.

What type of idiot picks up and moves to another state simply because he feels that CA taxes are too high?

Really? You would have to be either morally bankrupt or an extreme idiot.

And I doubt not that these people characterize themself as True Christians.


Or have the rather quaint, old fashioned view that the first requirement of a business is to make money.
GB54
How long do you want to ignore this user?
SitkaBear;524667 said:

Says someone already retired and collecting Medicare and Social Security.


I don't live in Greece
jyamada
How long do you want to ignore this user?
SitkaBear;524666 said:

I don't like either, but you can't rail against one without railing against the other. Especially when CEO's usually take home 50 to 100 times the pay of their average worker.

To think otherwise opens you up to being labelled as a hypocrite.


Depending upon what you read, I think it might closer to 500 times today. 50 to 100 times was probably what it was 20 years ago.
dajo9
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Golden One;524625 said:

I live in California because I choose to live here. California has a lot going for it, especially an incomparable climate, scenic beauty, and abundant natural resources. That doesn't change the fact that high taxes and excessive regulation have made the state less business friendly than most. Texas, on the other hand, has almost nothing going for it--it's hot and humid, flat and ugly, and offers little in the way of leisurely pursuits. On the other hand, it has no state income tax, far less regulation, and a much more friendly environment for business. As a result, it has a much lower unemployment rate than California, has a rapidly growing business presence, and is on a sound fiscal footing. None of that changes the fact that I'd rather live in California. But don't try to tell me that high taxes and stringent environmental regulations have made California great, when exactly the opposite is true.


Texas has lower unemployment because (1) it didn't have a housing bubble because the mortgage industry is more tightly regulated (for example they virtually don't allow cash out refis in Texas) and (2) oil.

Also, Texas used billions of stimulus dollars to balance its last budget and is facing a huge shortfall in its next budget. Texas is a fiscal disaster right now.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
sycasey;524635 said:

Is there a study that actually confirms this? It's a popular claim for conservative pundits to make, but I don't know that it's ever really been proven.


Here is a WSJ article. I also remember seeing a chart in NYT or LAT showing the job and business departures versus arrivals, with CA being on a negative trend.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570704576275051374356340.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
socaltownie
How long do you want to ignore this user?
taxbear;524365 said:

But this is not an effort to impose a tax on Amazon. It's an effort to require Amazon to collect a tax from its California customers that the customers owe. Internet retailers with sufficient presence (under Constitutional standards) in California are required to collect this tax; the "affiliate law" is one that several states (NY being the most notable) have passed to establish that the use of affiliates provides a sufficient presence in the state to require the retailer to collect the tax. Amazon lost court challenges in NY, and now collects the NY tax.


For the win. Lets also add that Amazon VIGOROUSLY litigated against a state law that would have required them to turn over to the tax collection authorities information about purchasers so that the state could AUDIT individuals who owed the tax and claimed, on their state tax forms, that they did not.

Anyone who is posting that this tax is not "owed" is incorrect. If you buy from Amazon and do not declare the value of that and submit taxes on it you are technically violating the law.
dajo9
How long do you want to ignore this user?
calbear93;524691 said:

Here is a WSJ article. I also remember seeing a chart in NYT or LAT showing the job and business departures versus arrivals, with CA being on a negative trend.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570704576275051374356340.html?mod=googlenews_wsj


John Fund and the Wall Street Journal editorial page are notoriously inaccurate and biased.
Golden One
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Yeah, right. As a Californian I can only wish that California's financial situation was more like that of Texas.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
dajo9;524696 said:

John Fund and the Wall Street Journal editorial page are notoriously inaccurate and biased.


OK...how about Chief Executive.net. Or any other publications that rate California as one of the worst places for businesses. Also, from personal experience, when a company acquires another company with operations in CA, I never see my clients look to move or consolidate operations into the CA location. Now, if the boards and CEOs who make the decisions on where to expand or relocate certain plants or operations view CA in such a negative light, do you think they would choose to go to California? I can see certain tech companies doing that, but most other industries will not.

http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/04/20/california-among-worst-biz-friendly-tax.html
BearyWhite
How long do you want to ignore this user?
calbear93;524691 said:

sycasey;524635 said:

Is there a study that actually confirms this? It's a popular claim for conservative pundits to make, but I don't know that it's ever really been proven.

Here is a WSJ article. I also remember seeing a chart in NYT or LAT showing the job and business departures versus arrivals, with CA being on a negative trend.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704570704576275051374356340.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
lol.. the claim that conservative pundits like to make is backed up by hard evidence; as proof, I submit this conservative pundit making the claim.
Golden One
How long do you want to ignore this user?
SitkaBear;524638 said:

California are supposed to be in huge financial trouble thanks to bloated governments, business-unfriendly regulations, and strong public sector unions.


You have very nicely summarized the 3 primary reasons that California is near bankrupt! I couldn't have said it better myself.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
BearyWhite;524702 said:

lol.. the claim that conservative pundits like to make is backed up by hard evidence; as proof, I submit this conservative pundit making the claim.


So...your view is that CEOs and directors view CA in a positive light...just waiting for the right time to jump into adding more divisions or production in California? Granted it is only my experience, but my clients absolutely abhor the crazy labor laws and taxes in California. Maybe your experience is different, but I can only speak from my experience.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
SitkaBear;524713 said:

Why don't you explain it to me yourself.

Ijust might get bored and read your industry fed propoganda and chew it to pieces.

Others have already beaten me to the punch.


Geez, I guess you can't please everyone. The reason I linked to these in the first place was that, when I explained it myself, someone asked for studies or surveys that suggested California is not a business-friendly state or that jobs are leaving. Then when I do link to surveys and articles, you ask why I just don't explain it myself. Wow. Whatever. We can't change the inertia in California anyway. Its liberal government will remain what it is. And whatever you or I believe about how business friendly the state is, the corporations will make decisions based on what is in the best interest for the shareholders.

And quite honestly, I don't care what conservative or liberal pundits have to say about this issue. I am more convinced by my own experience with executives and directors. At least from my experience, these decision-makers do not view the business conditions in California in a positive light. Again, you may have had difference experience. And if so, I can understand why you believe what you believe.
Golden One
How long do you want to ignore this user?
You very nicely summarized the uninformed liberal characterization of Texas. Unfortunately, there is not much truth to it.
BearyWhite
How long do you want to ignore this user?
calbear93;524707 said:

So...your view is that CEOs and directors view CA in a positive light...just waiting for the right time to jump into adding more divisions or production in California? Granted it is only my experience, but my clients absolutely abhor the crazy labor laws and taxes in California. Maybe your experience is different, but I can only speak from my experience.
Maybe you mean to reply to someone else. My view was simply that you were making sycasey's case by quoting yet another conservative pundit instead of the graphs you remember seeing somewhere.
tommie317
How long do you want to ignore this user?
calbear93, what are you waiting for? move your business out. California is sucking the life out of your business and moving your clients out of state.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
tommie317;524729 said:

calbear93, what are you waiting for? move your business out. California is sucking the life out of your business and moving your clients out of state.


What makes you think I'm in California? And it isn't law firms that California should be worried about. Partners at AM Law 50 firms, even in California, will do just fine. And I'm sure CA's wage and hour laws and regulatory hurdles are lining the pockets of many lawyers. I was writing about my clients who acquire other companies. When they integrate and see the wages, taxes, and other expenses in the models for different alternatives for integration, consolidating in CA is rarely the preferred choice. As far as where key employees are located (and the key employees are not going to be those in the third or fourth tier in management chain)...it is going to be the second tier stars who would be promoted and paid handsomely to relocate. You can make those snide comments and think that CA is going to be fine because of all the great things that make California great (and they do make California great). But the decisions are made on business proposals and financial models and risk assessment. But, like I wrote, it all doesn't matter. Business and legislative climate will not change in California. This is all mental masturbation, with those less fortunate than the people on this board ultimately paying the price.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
socaltownie;524695 said:

For the win. Lets also add that Amazon VIGOROUSLY litigated against a state law that would have required them to turn over to the tax collection authorities information about purchasers so that the state could AUDIT individuals who owed the tax and claimed, on their state tax forms, that they did not.

Anyone who is posting that this tax is not "owed" is incorrect. If you buy from Amazon and do not declare the value of that and submit taxes on it you are technically violating the law.


This is exactly right. California isn't trying to argue that Amazon has to pay the tax. They just want Amazon to collect the tax for sales made to California residents. Of course, if Amazon had to collect from the customers, one of the main competitive advantages that they have (i.e., attracting customers who don't pay the use tax and also avoid paying the sales tax) is lost. California is losing revenue because tax payments that they are entitled to receive (either sales tax or use tax) are not being collected. It would be extremely difficult for California to determine which tax payer is not paying the full use tax. As a result, they can try to get paid by making Amazon collect the sales tax (and if a customer pays the sales tax, they don't have to pay the use tax).
Unit2Sucks
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I would agree with you generally but there are plenty of exceptions to the rule, and it turns out that the exceptions have been quite good for California generally, and the bay area in particular. For example, Groupon recently setup shop here and has been expanding like crazy. Despite the regulatory climate, they want access to the talent that is only available here.

Also for what it's worth, I've seen more companies relocate operations based on labor and and other costs (including real estate expenses in particular) than everything else combined. Naturally it depends on the type of business and their operations but even if the government completely got out of the way of business, there would be plenty of economic impediments to expanding operations in California.

calbear93;524716 said:

Geez, I guess you can't please everyone. The reason I linked to these in the first place was that, when I explained it myself, someone asked for studies or surveys that suggested California is not a business-friendly state or that jobs are leaving. Then when I do link to surveys and articles, you ask why I just don't explain it myself. Wow. Whatever. We can't change the inertia in California anyway. Its liberal government will remain what it is. And whatever you or I believe about how business friendly the state is, the corporations will make decisions based on what is in the best interest for the shareholders.

And quite honestly, I don't care what conservative or liberal pundits have to say about this issue. I am more convinced by my own experience with executives and directors. At least from my experience, these decision-makers do not view the business conditions in California in a positive light. Again, you may have had difference experience. And if so, I can understand why you believe what you believe.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Unit2Sucks;524753 said:

I would agree with you generally but there are plenty of exceptions to the rule, and it turns out that the exceptions have been quite good for California generally, and the bay area in particular. For example, Groupon recently setup shop here and has been expanding like crazy. Despite the regulatory climate, they want access to the talent that is only available here.

Also for what it's worth, I've seen more companies relocate operations based on labor and and other costs (including real estate expenses in particular) than everything else combined. Naturally it depends on the type of business and their operations but even if the government completely got out of the way of business, there would be plenty of economic impediments to expanding operations in California.


I absolutely agree. I wrote earlier that for tech companies, brain capital is too valuable in the Bay Area for them to relocate to another state. Also, because of the high cost of living, wages paid to California employees are higher than in other states. That is not really based on regulation but based on the fact that California, all things being equal, is such a pleasant place to live. Furthermore, most of the engineers, lawyers, etc. are exempt employees. And tech companies and law firms are not restricted by environmental laws. Engineers, bankers, lawyers, and doctors can and do prosper in California. And small business owners with ties to their area will most likely stay. However, it is the blue collar workers who are paid by the hour who will suffer from over-regulation. If I were a CEO/COO and had to decide where to locate a manufacturing plant, and I see all of the additional costs and regulations associated with locating or expanding in California, I would probably choose another state. That doesn't mean I think any less of California as a place to live. It just comes down to business justification.
Unit2Sucks
How long do you want to ignore this user?
calbear93;524756 said:

However, it is the blue collar workers who are paid by the hour who will suffer from over-regulation. If I were a CEO/COO and had to decide where to locate a manufacturing plant, and I see all of the additional costs and regulations associated with locating or expanding in California, I would probably choose another state. That doesn't mean I think any less of California as a place to live. It just comes down to business justification.


Yup - I see it the same way. The wage and hour laws are extremely difficult to comply with for many businesses, and even if you comply in good faith you subject yourself to nuisance suits. Bringing it back to this thread, people who operate retail chains hate operating in California - it's hard to make money given how much crap you have to deal with. Amazon is not the problem for California retail stores, it's everything else they have to put up with to operate here.
calbear93
How long do you want to ignore this user?
BearyWhite;524725 said:

Maybe you mean to reply to someone else. My view was simply that you were making sycasey's case by quoting yet another conservative pundit instead of the graphs you remember seeing somewhere.


Fair enough. I couldn't find the graph that I remember seeing. But here is another study.

http://thebusinessrelocationcoach.blogspot.com/2010/10/california-companies-moving-away-or.html
dajo9
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Unit2Sucks;524760 said:

people who operate retail chains hate operating in California - it's hard to make money given how much crap you have to deal with.


People who operate retail chains may hate some of the extra crap they have to deal with in California but, trust me, people who operate retail chains LOVE operating in California. It's where the customers with money are.
93BearInOregon
How long do you want to ignore this user?
chitownbear;524656 said:

Every time I hear the terms "business-unfriendly" or "anti-business," I know they're uttered by yet another greedy capitalist hoping to evade any social responsibility whatsoever.


I love the sober, measured responses which are the hallmark of Cal grads.


Ah, the internet...
Out Of The Past
How long do you want to ignore this user?
FingeroftheBear;524287 said:

That's the bottom line, there's no free lunch.

Any of you lads that went to UC should know better. Tax moneys build and established the great UC system...which in turn help build the great California economy via research and development.

You want the world's largest wine exporter and the nation's produce leader...you create the UCD ag and viticulture programs. You want engineers and Silicon Valley, you pay for engineering school like Cal, UCSD, Irvine. You want top rate biotech, you build and fund UCSF. You want world class infrastructure that moves the whole freakin' mess along faster, you create the world's best civil engineering program.

You want the world's 8th largest economy...you create it and that costs money. NONE OF THIS IS FREE. There is no free lunch.

Corporations aren't going to leave this...they need this.

On that note I'm sick and tired of big corps like Amazon trying to skirt paying taxes that supports economic growth, that they benefit from...jobs create consumers, like duh.

Screw Amazon.


Here, here! The part about the UC's and all they bestow on our state mirrors what I keep reminding my state legislative representatives regarding the importance of funding the UC system. There is a reason the business enterprises you have cited are not happening in Kansas, Kentucky or Tennessee that goes way beyond meteorology. Through multiple public institutions of high caliber we subsidize an atmosphere of free thought which both brings more ideas to the table.
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.