Well it would seem that Geoff Atkinson the VP for Overstock.com is a big scardy cat, he is so scared of NY and the new internet tax law, he has ordered that all New York Based Affiliates be terminated.
Instead of waiting to see how far the Amazon.com suit against the state of NY goes or even filing one of their own and requesting a delay in collecting tax, this coward puts his tail between his legs and tells NY’ers to F*#@ off, well you know what Mr. Atkinson F*#@ you!
While I am all for no tax on web sales, and while I am against what the state of NY is doing, what Overstock.com has done is an even bigger injustice. Hundreds maybe even thousands of New Yorkers run affiliate marketing businesses and Overstock.com just basically fired them all. Some of these people make their living this way and to punish them is as unfair as NY wanting to charge tax on these sales.
There are pleanty of other etailers that have not felt the need to punish their New York Affiliates, Buy.com for example is often times cheaper than Overstock.com hell even Amazon.com has better deals on ocassion.
So boycott Overstock.com since they are boycotting New York.
Comments: (12)
chris on Wed, May 14th, 2008 at 12:36 PM
My wife shops there often, but I just forwarded her this and I am sure she will stop.
Sad when a company is too greedy to fight so instead they terminate people, I my self have never done affiliate marketing but I do have a close friend that does and she works hard at it. Not easy work, a lot of people think these guys sit at home in their underware and she is probably one of the most hard working people I know.
So I will ask my wife no I will insist that my wife never shop at overstock.
on Wed, May 14th, 2008 at 12:40 PM
I never use em don’t think anyone I know uses them but I will make sure not to use em.
Joslyn on Wed, May 14th, 2008 at 12:45 PM
I love overstock.com I got some jewelry there for cheap. :( I don’t want to boycott so I won’t even though I don’t like what they did. Maybe I won’t shop there as much as I have in the past.
on Wed, May 14th, 2008 at 12:56 PM
This is bogus I live in NY never heard of overstock.com until now, and plan not to get acquainted.
on Wed, May 14th, 2008 at 01:43 PM
I doesnt shop there
Claudia on Wed, May 14th, 2008 at 03:13 PM
I live in Utah and They tax me.
on Fri, May 16th, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Are you serious? “Buy.com for example is often times more cheaper than Overstock.com” There are millions of shoppers that prefer not being taxed while shopping on their site, so instead of saving the poor 10’s of affiliates their gaining favor in the eyes of the millions of shoppers. Get your logic straight before blogging B.S. that only hoodrats like yourself care about. Peace B!*ch
on Fri, May 16th, 2008 at 04:01 PM
3 random items from overstock and their buy.com counterparts
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Fellowes-Body-Glove-Scuba-for-Motorola-RAZR/2638251/product.html?
http://www.overstock.com/Jewelry-Watches/Movado-Esperanza-Mens-Steel-Watch/3121954/product.html?
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Apple-4-GB-iPod-Nano-Video-Silver/2899468/product.html?
http://www.buy.com/prod/apple-3rd-gen-ipod-nano-silver-4gb-model-ma978ll-a-recertified/q/loc/111/207471094.html
Wow buy.com is cheaper two out of 3 times.
Sure people don’t want to pay tax, but overstock.com CEO talks about injustice this injustice that and how corporate america screws the little guy, well in my opinion terminating NY affiliates is an injustice and a big company screwing the little guy. He should practice what he preaches.
on Thu, May 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 PM
You need to understand the law that NY passed. Overstock had to fire the affiliates, as did other sites, because IF they didn’t they would have to collect sales tax from ALL New York customers. That’s right, ALL of them.
Let’s assume Overstock does $500M in sales, and that 5% is in NY. Let’s assume that 5% of their business is affiliates. So $25 million comes from NY residents, but only $1.25m comes from the affiliates. Overstock would have to collect taxes on $23.75m in sales that didn’t come from affiliates.
All New York residents are supposed to pay New York sales tax on their online purchases (do you pay them on your tax return?) If the law is followed, as of 6/1 would have to pay them to Overstock unless they get rid of New York affiliates.
Also, New York has state sales tax, county-specific sales tax, and city-specific tax. It’s a quagmire. Right now, Overstock collects for Utah only. It’s a big programming change to add, and maintain, New York taxes.
Amazon will be collecting sales tax on 6/1, putting them at a pricing disadvantage with their online competition. But they have the largest presence too in their space.
Some companies have less than 5% of their business with their affiliates, some more. Some aren’t paying attention to these proposed changes.
on Fri, May 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 PM
So let them tax every NY buyer, just like they tax every buyer in Utah.
Overstock could of fought the decision like Amazon is, but instead they acted like pussies.
on Thu, May 29th, 2008 at 10:55 AM
What’s a sales affiliate anyway?
Regardless, as a NY resident, I will opt to purchase from whomever gives me the best total price. Overstock always seemed more expensive to me than Amazon but I will give it a try if it saves me a few bucks.
on Sat, Jun 07th, 2008 at 02:20 PM
It all comes down to comparing who’s price is lower, Sometimes even with NY tax added buy.com can have much lower price then overstock in that case it would be better to purchase from buy.com but if the prices are identical then you’ll be saving when buying from overstock.
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