[Kevin]

Hmmm. Just did a test, and Bass Pro isn;t charging tax on NYS purchases... Who wants to call the governor?

[mellie]

I am sure Bass Pro Shops follows the same guidebook that other companies such as Ritz Camera and KBToys. They set up a "separate" company to deal with online business. Yet all have store locator links on websites.

[Kevin]

Bah, you're probably right, Mel.

Originally Posted by mellie

I am sure Bass Pro Shops follows the same guidebook that other companies such as Ritz Camera and KBToys. They set up a "separate" company to deal with online business. Yet all have store locator links on websites.

[Packy]

Cabelas.com at Performics/Google can be added to the list

Dear Me,

Thank you for your interest in working with Cabelas.com. The decision to decline is not intended as disapproval of the quality or value of your Web site. Each Google Affiliate Network advertiser controls the number and type of publishers in its marketing program. Cabelas.com considered many factors in this decision.

Just a reminder, Cabelas.com is currently not working with publishers that reside in New York State. If your publisher site is listed as a New York State publisher this may be the reason for being declined.

[mellie]

Originally Posted by Packy

Cabelas.com at Performics/Google can be added to the list

Dear Me,

Thank you for your interest in working with Cabelas.com. The decision to decline is not intended as disapproval of the quality or value of your Web site. Each Google Affiliate Network advertiser controls the number and type of publishers in its marketing program. Cabelas.com considered many factors in this decision.

Just a reminder, Cabelas.com is currently not working with publishers that reside in New York State. If your publisher site is listed as a New York State publisher this may be the reason for being declined.

Packy, did you send them an email explaining a possible solution? I think there's a sample in one of the threads.

[mellie]

FYI, Steve, your post was split off to separate thread and several responses to your query are posted. http://forum.abestweb.com/showthread.php?t=112523

[Herb Ô¿Ô¬]

just received email this afternoon:

There is currently legislation pending in New York State that may impact online sales tax requirements associated with sales agents based in New York. As a precaution, Blair is temporarily deactivating New York-based publishers from the Blair Affiliate Program.

You will be notified if the situation in New York is resolved and Blair makes a final decision regarding relationships with New York based publishers. If you are willing to sign the addendum that Blair sent to you on July 2, 2008 you will be allowed to rejoin the Blair Affiliate Program. Please contact me at cjpark@blair.com if you would like me to resend it to you.

Regards,

Chris Park
Affiliate/Partnerships Manager
Blair.com


==============================
I don't remember receiving any addendum but there may be something affiliate-friendly on it.

[Kevin]

Happy to see this thread has been static since the case(s) were tossed out of court. I was afraid we'd see a rash of new emails.

[loxly]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Happy to see this thread has been static since the case(s) were tossed out of court. I was afraid we'd see a rash of new emails.

I wouldn't get too excited, the decision was announced while many merchants and managers were away and they may just be getting word. I expect to see more deactivations in a few weeks.

[LadySara]

I just received this e-mail form Second Act. This is in reply to my e-mail asking them for the reason for 'affiliate termination' from CJ.

The PID was sufficient for me to look you up in CJ. I just needed to determine your history with the program. The reason we had to expire you from the program was because Second Act does not work with New York State-based affiliates due to recent tax law changes. I apologize for this, and the lack of explanation. I will have to go in and expire you from the program again, as directed by Second Act. I’m sorry that we cannot work with you in the Second Act program!


Is there something I can do about it?

Thanks

[LadySara]

Hi, everyone,

I just realized the other thread about what I can do about this. I e-mailed (Step 1) to the advertiser, SecondAct.

Waiting for her reply. Will keep you posted.

Take Care,
Sara

[mellie]

I do not expect a new wave, most terminated last year (although some did not or will not publicly admit the reason.) Nothing has changed since May/June of 2008 - the law is the same, the threshold is the same, the interpretation of the law is the same.

Hopefully education and knowledge has improved.

[mellie]

Sara, welcome to the forum
You can also suggest that Second Act stop by here to learn more, we're all happy to help. If they prefer to keep questions private they can contact me through my blog, NYAffiliateVoice.com

[LadySara]

Thnx Mellie,

I just rec'd this e-mail from Second Act:
---------------------------------------------
Thanks for following up – I did receive your email and am looking into this matter. We would like to work with NY State Affiliates, but we have to be careful with the legalities. This may take some time, but as soon as I learn anything I will let you know.
--------------------------------------------

I'll keep you posted....

Thnks,
Sara

[Herb Ô¿Ô¬]

BBQGuys.com are a recent addition to the GAN but are not NY-affiliate friendly.

I was hoping they would take us when I saw them on the list but I've corresponded with the AM and then got the deactivation email from GAN just now.

[mellie]

Thanks Herb.

[AffiliateHound]

In light of the California tax situation, I've been reviewing some of these NY threads, and in looking at what I assume is a master list of NY-UNfriendly merchants at the beginning of this thread, I see a group of garden-related merchants (all of which are important for me) listed, but listed only with Performics. These are Brecks, Gardens Alive and Spring Hill. I am in their programs through CJ, and I would have to assume that they have terminated NY affiliates from their CJ programs as well.

Perhaps the list should be updated to show each network through which all NY-UNfriendly merchants have programs.

[Vinny O'Hare]

AffiliateHound

My words of wisdom with this is to make sure that the merchant you are replacing links. Make sure the new merchant is going to be friendly before you waste time putting up links. This cost me days of work for no reason.

[AffiliateHound]

Originally Posted by nyfalcon

AffiliateHound

My words of wisdom with this is to make sure that the merchant you are replacing links. Make sure the new merchant is going to be friendly before you waste time putting up links. This cost me days of work for no reason.

Thanks, nyfalcon, I know and I'm getting ready on all fronts.

[mellie]

Affiliate Hound, unfortunately there is really no way to compile a complete list of all the merchants who terminated NY Affiliates. The teminations are still coming in. Every week I hear from another NY Affiliate about another program that refuses them because they are from NY. In addition back in May, June and July when the terminations were filling our emails we could not keep up with the list. There are many who will not admit to terminating due to the sales tax and instead use a generic excuse for termination. Others will remove the performing affiliates and only accept non performing NY affiliates in order to claim to be NY friendly.

As you work on this issue you will be surprised by the things that are said and done; after a while nothing will surprise you.

Best bet is to examine each merchant, check to see if they collect Ca tax online. If they don't collect the sales tax you are vulnerable. Remember many companies set up a separate company to deal with online sales. Just because you may see a store in your neighborhood does not mean they will be collecting tax online.

[ETRdahir]

New York and now it seems like California. What state will be next to tax affiliates, Illinois, Texas, or Florida?

[mellie]

Actually, Hawaii and Minnesota are having hearings this week, there will likely be decisions there before California.

Many other states already have a nexus definition in place that would include affiliates; just not being enforced at this time.

[ETRdahir]

Sound like this taxation will be nation wide in the next year or two. I really sorry to hear this... Lucky for the Affiliate Program I manage we have more international affiliates that anything.

Regards,

[affiliatemanager]

Dear Affiliates,

Buy.com currently charges sales tax in the following states:

California
Massachusetts
Tennessee
New York

We want to work with all NY affiliates!

Please reach me directly - melissa@buy.com (melissa at buy dot com) if you have any questions!

Melissa
Director of Marketing, Buy.com
BuyTV Co-Host
949-436-6776