Internet retailer ends long stalemate with California
by Brian Leubitz
You may have noticed that in the article below, I have an Amazon.com link to a book about a horse. Which, mostly I just found kind of cute, but tangentially related to the story. But, why Amazon, you ask? Well, remember that deal I mentioned a few weeks back, well, it’s official and Amazon has reopened their affiliate program to Californians.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday that postpones new sales taxes rules that would have affected online purchases in California, granting more time for traditional and online retailers to lobby Congress for a national standard on the high-stakes issue.
The bill, crafted as a compromise among Amazon.com, traditional retailers and California lawmakers searching for ways to raise revenue, delays until at least September 2012 online tax rules that were implemented as part of this year’s state budget package.
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Under the deal, the retailing giant will rekindle its relationship with its California affiliates and has promised to create at least 10,000 full-time jobs and hire 25,000 seasonal employees in the state by the end of 2015.(AP)
So, you can now go back to wondering whether the Amazon tablet will be the iPad killer and getting free shipping. That being said, buying in local, independent stores is still your best choice for economic development in your own community.
“That being said, buying in local, independent stores is still your best choice for economic development in your own community.” – Brian
Considering that many of the items sold on Amazon can only be bought locally at big box retailers how does that really benefit local “economic development”???
If you save $20 buying on Amazon you can then spend that $20 at a Pizza parlor and help a small business stay profitable.
Conversely buying it at Best Buy really helps the Main Street of your community how???
The fact remains that Big Box retailers were the natural market evolution of buying consumer goods just as Amazon/Overstock are the next stage in that evolution. Railing against them is an utter waste of time. The dollar savings provided by these consumables providers will be spent elsewhere and businesses agile enough to market their products an services in this new dynamic will prosper.
The anecdotal evidence is that your side of the political spectrum has a constant urge to tell people how and where to spend their money in concurrence with what you think their (and their communities) best interests are. That type of top down thinking is receding from public support/policy.
A lot of local businesses have gone under around here. Not all have been replaced. And not all have been replaced by something similar. So, while we have a lot of used clothing stores, we have no book or music stores within 20 miles of where I live. Nobody opened a new health food cafe when the one we had went under.
It can be expensive to have to drive 20 miles or more for the services you need. It can be hard for some people to go that far for jobs. Especially after the county had to cut back bus service around here.
So I do try to patronize local stores whenever I can because I want those services to stay around. I don’t want to have to drive for hours for the things I need. I do want tax revenues to stay local so the county can afford to add back bus routes and library hours–and maybe fix a few roads. And I want local people to have jobs. Spending my money in my town is the best way I know to do all that.
Wasn’t that what Jerry used to say at the end of all his campaign ads?
Sorry, I just couldn’t resist a little heckle on that point.
Where I live, the Inland empire, stores are shuttered, and I have to drive 20 miles to buy a serious magazine or book or some music. I have five Walmarts that are closer than that, and basically, if I want something they don’t sell, I’m out of luck. We seem to have gotten things backwards: I have to go on line to buy things I want and use frequently, and I don’t see that amazon or other on-line retailers are offering any bargains, after shipping. I’d much rather support my local retailers, and only shop on line for truly unusual items. Let’s support our communities!