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Amazon's banned states- question

by ameliabedilia
8 replies
This may be a really dumb question, but I have looked around a bit and haven't found an answer yet.

I live in one of the states that amazon does not work with. Is there any LEGAL way around this? My mom will be helping me with content and reviews, and she lives in one of the states that amazon works with. Could we make that work?

We are moving in about four months, but I want to start working with them sooner than that.

Thank you and I appreciate everyone's helpfulness around here!
#amazon #banned #question #states
  • Profile picture of the author Chris Thompson
    There is actually a totally simple solution. And it is a very good solution. Sign up to use Skimlinks. They manually approve your site first. If you have a real site with content it isn't a problem to get approved.

    Then your amazon links automatically become affiliate links. You get paid by skimlinks. I just started testing it this week. Elegant!
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Franklin
    You can also use Squidoo and split the amazon commission.
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  • Profile picture of the author smartiewriter
    I did not even know that Amazon was banned in certain states. You learn something everyday. I was going to suggest using hidemyass.com to access amazon which could change your mother's IP address, but maybe the kind people above have already solved your problem.
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  • Profile picture of the author TDogger
    Amazon has not been banned in any states. Amazon has dumped all affiliates in states that force them to collect sales tax. The issue of sales tax was once settled in the Supreme Court in a case called Quill vs. North Dakota. That ruling said that a state cannot force a merchant to collect sales tax unless the merchant has a nexus in the state. That is why most online purchases are tax-free. If a company has a physical presence in the state, they have to charge sales tax. With no presence, they do not have to charge tax.

    What some states are doing is declaring affiliates to be sales agents, and then claim a company has a nexus when it has sales agents in the state--even though affiliates are independent agents and are not employed by the company.

    Amazon isn't the only merchant that dumped affiliates in certain states. Over 40 other merchants are following Amazon's lead.

    This is an issue of the address that you use for your Amazon Associates account. If you set the account up under your mother's address and claim that is where your business is located, you should be okay.
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  • Profile picture of the author ameliabedilia
    Thanks everyone. I had a feeling there was a way around it, but I want to do it legally.

    As far as amazon being banned, that was poor word choice by me. I live in one of the states in which the affiliate program has been dropped by amazon due to tax issues.

    I am looking up skimlinks now- thanks!
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  • Profile picture of the author lisakleinweber
    You could also have your mother sign up and you guys could split the commission however you like - she just sends you some of it. I guess it depends on how serious your business is.

    Squidoo is also a great way to get around this as someone else has mentioned.

    If skimlinks works like Chris is saying though, that would be ideal!
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  • Profile picture of the author Marsguy
    I advise you to use a IP poxy software or website to access the Amazon .
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  • Profile picture of the author enterpriseunlimited
    Originally Posted by ameliabedilia View Post

    This may be a really dumb question, but I have looked around a bit and haven't found an answer yet.

    I live in one of the states that amazon does not work with. Is there any LEGAL way around this? My mom will be helping me with content and reviews, and she lives in one of the states that amazon works with. Could we make that work?

    We are moving in about four months, but I want to start working with them sooner than that.

    Thank you and I appreciate everyone's helpfulness around here!
    1st- It's not a dumb question.
    2nd- I am not a lawyer (and am only offering my own educated opinion), so you need to CYA and make sure there aren't any loopholes or unknown issues.
    3rd- Incorporate your business as a corporation in a state that is Amazon Associates "approved". This corporate entity is legally independent of you and can operate based upon the laws of the state where it is incorporated. The corporation (not you) would be the registered affiliate.

    Hope that helps...
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    Every day of our lives we are on the verge of making those slight changes that would make all the difference. ~Mignon McLaughlin
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