They're dropping Like Flies
Last Update: June 25, 2011

There's nothing worse than a bellyacher, except for me.

I'm rip roarin' mad! We don't need tacks in our path! (Did you get the pun?)

CT is one of those states that wants to collect sales tax. That would be fine with me if it didn't have such costly repercussions. Some merchants, not all,  just drop you on your head or backside when this happens. They just don't want to be bothered. It's happened to me twice already. CT tried collecting Internet sales tax,  but it wasn't popular, we fought it, and didn't last long. I was dropped last year by a great company, and I just picked them up again at Christmas. Hope no one tells them about the tax. I don't want to be dropped again.

Today, I found out that one of my favorite merchants dropped me because they don't want to collect sales tax. CT needs money, so I think it's going to stick this time.

Amazon refuses to work with a state that wants them to collect tax. I guess their software is not ready for all the individual county taxes all over the country. It really is a nightmare for anyone.

You can live without Amazon, but many other merchants don't want to be bothered collecting tax either.

I worked very hard on a campaign, writing sales copy and writing articles to sell a product, and one of the major merchants I was representing dropped me because of the tax. I know it's not the end of the world, but it represents such HUGE work and income.

Nobody wants to back track, especially not after building a brand. I'll replace the company. But I sure hope nobody else  drops me.

I read that Illinois' governor does not approve of online marketing. What? Did I read right?

I think the states are feeling very threatened. They're afraid the Internet is unfair competition to off line business. After all, they want to be able to collect property tax from brick and mortar stores. There's a trend to do more and more business online. I wonder if it's even legal to tax Internet space. Pretty soon every state will be collecting. Then the merchants will tool up and rally.

If states want to help, then get out of the way of people trying to earn a living, and maybe even offer some incentives to new business.

What do you guys think?



 



 



 

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burntout Premium
Angry pie, that's sure. It boggles the mind that the states and government have their fingers into every potential source of revenue that free enterprise creates. I see it as damaging to those who have a small online business and extradinarily expensive for them to implement and oversee. Between negating revenue in the state from people like you and then spending roughly twice what they collect creating a system to oversee it, they'll need to rustle up some more taxes to keep it running. I spent two dollars for every dollar I earned for while and wound up in serious debt and consequent trouble. The government does it and it's business as usual. Go figure. Sorry to hear how it's affected your efforts.
Jenmuso Premium
I don't think we have that sort of problem here in Australia- we have a goods and services tax, but it only applies to goods and services supplied here in Australia, which makes our opportunities endless. I do hope things change for you and others, after all, you would have worked hard to get profit from your various campaigns.
Louise M. Premium
sorry to hear that. It really shows how little the states and the off line world knows and understands the online marketing industry. In France, it's pretty difficult to start an online business, all the legal questions aren't answered easily, they don't "get" it. they should be way more educated about all this to take some fair and logical measures to help online entrepreuneurs.
chunkynonkey Premium
i live in mass. do they do the same? tax-tax-tax,raise-raise-raise!
magistudio Premium Plus
Come'on over to Canada Joan..

Amazon treats us Canucks pretty good eh? :)
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