Archives for November 2010

The law firm of Davis & Gilbert LLP has issued a Tax Alert that reviews a recent New York State appellate court decision which upheld the general constitutionality of New York’s “Amazon Law” (advertising tax), but required further factual development to determine whether the statute, as applied specifically to Amazon, could withstand constitutional challenge.

This decision provides clarity as to whether such laws are likely to be upheld and enforced.

Historically, under New York State Tax Law, every vendor of tangible personal property is required to collect sales and use taxes on sales of tangible personal property.

Gary Kibel, a partner with Davis & Gilbert LLP, will be speaking at Affiliate Summit West 2011, taking place January 9-11, 2011 in Las Vegas.

Read the tax alert at http://www.dglaw.com/images_user/newsalerts/Tax_NY_State_Amazon_Law_Upheld.pdf.

Back in August 2008 at Affiliate Summit East 2008 in Boston, there was a session, New York Advertising Tax Laws – Issues and Solutions. You can see a video of this session at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m04UTszhXIQ.

I visited Dell headquarters back in June for the Dell Customer Advisory Panel (Dell CAP Days), where a group of us were able to provide candid feedback on Dell products, as well as the brand and customer experience.

Artist Sunni Brown was on hand to create a graphic summary of the discussions that day.

The Dell team shared a progress report a couple of months ago>, based on feedback in the areas of support, brand & corporate responsibility, and Dell.com.

And they’ve sent another update on what they’re doing, after receiving our feedback that day.

Product Purchase/Dell.com

We Heard: There are too many options and configurations. It’s overwhelming!
Dell: To make things simpler, we have reduced the number of configurations to 10% of what it was a year ago. As older systems continue to be phased out, it will become even simpler. By this spring, our focus on tailored needs-based products will bring a new era of simplicity to ordering from Dell. Keys to simplifying already in process include:

• Reduction of redundant configurations
• Specialized order paths to let the customer choose what is important to them and quickly narrow down to product which meets their needs
• Fast Track ordering to quickly choose a preconfigured favorite set of specs and get the system delivered more quickly as well

Brand / Corporate Responsibility

We heard: Why don’t we hear more about the good work Dell is doing around the world?
Dell: Dell was recently named Newsweek’s Greenest Company in America and amongst ComputerWorld’s Top 12 Green IT Companies. In addition, this month Dell introduced our employees to a new brand tagline: The power to do more. We truly believe that technology helps people around the world do more, and you will start to see and hear more about this in upcoming months. Consider this an exclusive #DellCAP sneak peek at a global effort to transform every aspect of our business to focus on helping our customers.

We heard: Dell’s Twitter presence is overwhelming! I don’t know which account to follow.
Dell: In the upcoming weeks, we will activate the @Dell twitter account to offer customers ONE channel to get news, updates, and perspectives on what is happening at Dell. On this account, you can also follow specific Lists related to topic areas that are of interest to you. Make sure and follow us to get all the news from across Dell: @Dell. Also, if you have any feedback on what you’d like to hear from us, please send us your thoughts!

Latest Product News

Many of you have shown a particular interest in the XPS product line. We just wanted to make sure you knew that on October 21st, we announced the updated XPS laptop series, designed around entertainment and creativity and boasting JBL audio, HD NVIDIA graphics, and 3D TV capability. Engadget noted that Dell is refocusing its efforts by bringing back the “tried and true” XPS brand. CNET described the XPS models as “aimed squarely at the HP Envy and MacBook Pro crowds” and commented that the line feels like an “upscale fusion of the studio and Adamo lines.”

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The fourth and final day of my trip – I am in Austin. I am home.

I was excited to get on the road and make my way to the Lone Star State, and to put an end to the many hours of driving with two smelly dogs.

Yesterday, I drove about 325 miles from Bossier City, LA to Austin, TX.

I was out of Louisiana pretty quick, and cut into a truck stop in Texas to gas up. It was a bit nicer looking than the spots I am used to in New Jersey.

There was an impressive food selection in this place. Granted, I’m used to having a choice of Roy Rogers, Nathan’s, and TCBY.

The core of the stop is Texas Best Smokehouse (read reviews of this truck stop on Yelp), plus they have all of the other things you see at a truck stop – souvenirs, convenience store, etc.

In the event you couldn’t find something to eat inside or didn’t want to leave the car, they had the option to order from Sonic while pumping your gas.

I spent most of the remainder of the drive trying to find the Jets/Browns pre-game and game on the radio, but never did get it.

So, I had to settle for the Texans/Jaguars game, which wasn’t so bad, since I have Maurice Jones-Drew in fantasy football, and he had a big day.

And I had to continually refresh my Blackberry to stay on top of the Jets big OT win.

I arrived in Austin in the mid-afternoon, and checked in with my dogs to a hotel for a couple nights, as I wait for my family and the movers to get here.

Time to head out and start getting things for the new house. Good thing I have my GPS, because I have no idea where I am, but I know it’s home.

States visited on day 4: Louisiana and Texas

See day 1, day 2, and day 3 of my road trip.

You can see my FourSquare stops along the way at http://foursquare.com/affiliatetip/history.

The third day of my trip from New Jersey to Austin, TX was light on traffic and heavy on FM radio for country music.

I am in the home stretch and will have the shortest drive of my four days. Plus, I get to listen to pre-game and hopefully the Jets/Browns game on the radio.

I love NFL games, but don’t care for college football, so yesterday was a little much with all the games in SEC country.

Yesterday, I drove about 450 miles from Birmingham, AL to Bossier City, LA.

We took a break at a truck stop in the late morning. I’m really gaining a love for these ridiculous spots with the stores that sell all sorts of crazy stuff.

After getting the dogs fed and everything, I headed into an Arby’s at the truckstop for some lunch. I guess I never thought about it, so I was surprised to hear them calling numbers for turns to take showers.

And there was a counter on the wall, so you could keep your place in line.

As I drove into Mississippi and started seeing signs for Jackson, you’d better believe my dogs got to hear me channel Johnny and June Carter Cash singing Jackson. Matti didn’t like when I sang the June parts.

I’d say the highlight of the day was driving over the Mississippi River and looking out at the view. It’s a neat thing to drive through all of these cities and points of interest.

We made a dog stop as we entered Louisiana, and Matti was on the lookout for Ron Guidry (aka “Louisiana Lightning”).

The day wrapped up at a LaQuinta near Shreveport, LA. I was concerned when I checked in, because the put me on the backside of the building and it looked really sketchy. I’m talking like a place where they’d film the opening scene in Criminal Minds.

I was relieved this morning when I went out with the dogs at 6:30 and it turned out there were a bunch of military folks staying here.

I also felt really lazy, since they were going off to work, and I was heading back to my room to watch TV and write blog posts.

Next stop (after some pit stops): Austin, TX.

States visited on day 3: Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana

Check out day 4.

Another day, another stretch of highways and byways on my journey from New Jersey to Austin, TX.

I am making good time, and I think I’ll be in Austin by Sunday, so I’ll have time to get settled (stocking the fridge and doing all sorts of local stuff) before the movers get there on Tuesday morning.

Yesterday, I drove the second leg, which ended up being a little more than 500 miles. I went from Salem, VA to Birmingham, AL.

After driving for a bit, the dogs were excited to stop for some air at Smokies Park in Kodak, TN. They enjoyed a brunch of roast beef and some nice mountain views.

I saw a remarkable spot at the border of Tennessee and Alabama, and I had to stop at snap a picture. It was a gigantic fireworks place that also sold beer. I wonder how many employees there have all of their fingers?

I tend to think of different cities in terms of sports stuff I remember, and Birmingham had two things that popped in my head when I saw signs from the city on my drive: Michael Jordan played for the minor league Birmingham Barons, and there was the USFL team, the Birmingham Stallions.

Thanks to Carleen Coutler for suggesting Drury Hotels in the comments from my day 1 post yesterday.

Big upgrade in my place to sleep from the day before at the lowly Super 8.

States visited on day 2: Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama

Check out day 3.