Internet Commerce

All stores with IndieCommerce websites – whether or not they wish to sell Google eBooks™ – must have a new contract and ACH Authorization Form on file with ABA by January 31, 2011.

While just a few years ago media reports usually emphasized the uniqueness of online – and very often sales-tax-free – shopping, this year’s articles have a decidedly different tenor: A much greater percentage are pointing out the incongruities and inequities inherent in the failure to collect mandated sales tax.

With online sales increasing each year, and especially at holiday time, when the push is on to fill orders as quickly as possible, booksellers with e-commerce websites need to be diligent in watching for scams.

Since the launch of Google eBooks™ earlier this week, the most common questions asked by participating IndieCommerce stores are about pricing, especially as it relates to titles from publishers that have not adopted an agency model. To help answer booksellers’ questions, the FAQ “Tough Questions and Answers About Google eBooks Pricing” has been added to the resources available on IndieCommerce.com.

ABA announced today, Monday, December 6, 2010, that member stores with IndieCommerce websites are now selling Google eBooks™ online.

Last week, ABA members with IndieCommerce websites received an e-mail communication from ABA COO Len Vlahos that included a new IndieCommerce contract, which must be signed in order for stores to be able to sell Google Editions when they launch.

The New York State appellate court has dismissed Amazon.com and Overstock’s claims substantively challenging the constitutionality of New York State’s sales tax fairness law. The decision represents a significant victory for proponents of sales tax equity.

Following a recent federal court decision and steps taken by the Texas Department of Revenue to collect sales tax that it contends is due from Amazon.com, a number of editorials have been published decrying Amazon’s refusal to collect sales tax.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled this week that Amazon.com would not have to comply with the North Carolina Department of Revenue’s request for data revealing the identities of North Carolina customers and “detailed records of their purchases, including the expressive content.”

The State of Texas has issued an assessment charging that Amazon.com owes the state some $269 million in uncollected sales tax, including interest and penalties, for the period from December 2005 to December 2009. Amazon.com reported the assessment in its September 30 quarterly filing with the SEC.