Amazon Associates

  I just got the following e mail in my inbox.

Hello, For well over a decade, the Amazon Associates Program has worked with thousands of Illinois residents. Unfortunately, a new state tax law signed by Governor Quinn compels us to terminate this program for Illinois-based participants. It specifically imposes the collection of taxes from consumers on sales by online retailers - including but not limited to those referred by Illinois-based affiliates like you - even if those retailers have no physical presence in the state. We had opposed this new tax law because it is unconstitutional and counterproductive. It was supported by national retailing chains, most of which are based outside Illinois, 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 its enactment forces this action. As a result of the new law, contracts with all Illinois affiliates of the Amazon Associates Program will be terminated and those Illinois residents will no longer receive advertising fees for sales referred to Amazon.com, Endless.com, or SmallParts.com. Please be assured that all qualifying advertising fees earned prior to April 15, 2011 will be processed and paid in full in accordance with the regular payment schedule. Based on your account closure date of April 15, 2011, any final payments will be paid by July 1, 2011. You are receiving this email because our records indicate that you are a resident of Illinois. If you are not currently a permanent resident of Illinois, 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 after April 15, please contact us for reinstatement into the Amazon Associates Program. To be clear, this development will only impact our ability to continue the Associates Program in Illinois, and will not affect the ability of Illinois residents to purchase online at www.amazon.com from Amazon’s retail business. We have enjoyed working with you and other Illinois-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 Illinois residents. Regards, The Amazon Associates Team

This e-mail was sent to gundamgirl2003@hotmail.com.

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Message Category: Notice of Contract Termination Due to New Illinois Law

© 2011 Amazon.com. All rights reserved. Amazon.com is a registered trademark of Amazon.com, Inc. Amazon.com, 410 Terry Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-5210, USA.

  First and foremost, wow. I have just started using this service. Like, literally a month and a half ago. I've introduced it to my page in the hopes of someone coming by and going to Amazon.com through one of the available items on my page. Now all of a sudden a law passes here in IL, and my potential is shot before I even attempt to get a profit? I can't blame Amazon because they're trying to abide by the rules and not have the authorities get involved. However, coming from someone who's trying to make some kind of profit from her blog and other widgets in general, this really hurts my strive for success. I know a lot of people use Amazon and I thought a partnership with them would make sense. It's frustrating, because my Mechanical Turking could be next.

  I am between jobs, school, and otherwise. This is a bit of a low blow at the hands of the state I live in. Some people--Governor Quinn--fail to realize what all they're really doing to us little people when they're going off and signing laws about taxes and such. I guess it doesn't matter when you've got a prestigious job to completely back you up. Well, I literally have a month to have someone try to buy something through my links. Around the 15th of next month, I can forget it. I will be removing the widget from my page. As much as I love my city, I'm really not in love with IL right now. I was ready to jump on someone the other day for calling Chicago "dirty and broke", but to be quite honest, there really isn't much left for some of us here. If you live in IL, please take note of this termination and look for the e mail in your own accounts. Here's hoping we find something else to use.