Dear Valued Customer,

California recently passed laws attempting to collect sales tax on Internet purchases. We believe these laws are unconstitutional. As a result of the passage of these laws, we have decided to stop working with marketing affiliates in your state, and instead, we’re giving you money we would have paid those businesses.

Because you’re a valued customer, we are giving you a Club O Rewards membership for free (normal price = $19.95), and depositing $10 into your Club O Rewards account. No further action is required; this has already been applied to your account.

As a Club O Member, you’ll receive:

5% rewards on every purchase¹

Free shipping¹ every day of the year

Access to exclusive shopping events

As always, I remain,

Your humble servant,
Patrick (ceo)

PS If you’d like to learn more about this issue, please visit our Investor Relations page.

You usually have some excellent points.

On this one, you’re appeal to emotion is understandable – but the points made just don’t jive with the facts.

1) Amazon killed the affiliations – not the Legislature/ Gov.

2) Amazon could easily collect the state sales tax due & pass it on – they chose not to. Why? Because they want to retain their no state sales tax collected “pricing advantage” over local businesses. Local businesses rent local real estate & employ locals who spend their income locally – & that’s a good thing.

3) Affiliates can find other affiliations. Many who were diversified & didn’t rely completely on Amazon (one supplier is always a risky stragety) are doing business as usual, sans Amazon.

4) If an affiliates business is based on the “saving” their customers get by avoiding the state sales tax due – the affiliate DESERVES to FAIL.

Come on John, you’re a bright, usually very straight thinking guy – what’s your real agenda here – setting up a personal book deal?

I’m not against someone making an “honest” buck ….

And if it’s not an honest buck – it fits into the dishonest category?