Boycotting Amazon

Bags Yes! Prima facie Amazon sells books and various other items but it also sells services. It has developed the expertise over many years and many completely unrelated companies use that expertise to sell online. They also provide a platform for small sellers to grow a business. So, just not using Amazon will do very little. It's also unfair. There are many big UK companies doing this too.

Jendurham I don't have money in tax havens, as far as I am aware. I do have money in various funds which invest in large global and profitable companies so who knows.

I understand your comment 'there should be no tax havens' but I fear without global agreement, nad there isn't much history of that, it won't happen. The rush of US companies to more favourable tax countries eg Ireland and Switzerland was precipitated by fear of Obama introducing global taxation on those companies. By headquartering in a country that has a tax treaty with the US they can avoid that.

Don't forget who actually pays for everything, who creates the wealth and the jobs we all need. Taxing them on revenue rather than profit? Well I'm not sure how long a business could survive that and there would we be?

Petallus - do you have evidence for that. Why should Costa not be able to use the same loopholes? If you have evidence, I would be very interested to hear, thanks.

I know, not a fair comparison perhaps, and yet.

How long would it have taken for women to have the vote without the suffragettes. Most women derided them, and told them they were mad.

Would women have go the right to property and their own finances? If left to the Government. What about contraception, etc, etc, etc. Some of our mothers and grand-mothers were certainly made of sterner stuff. As said, I am so disappointed - perhaps more in those who have not contributed to this debate, than those who have and have disagreed.

Writing to one's MP, thinking carefully about which way to vote, investing ine's money (if one has any to invest) carefully, and many other things do not count as "leaving it to government". Democratic action is not just a case of boycotting. Boycotting isn't all the suffragettes did, for heaven's sake!

I do wish people wouldn't blether on as if something so incredibly complex as international tax law could be changed so simply!

Here's a question: if boycotting is so bloody powerful, why can baby milk manufacturers still promote their products in countries where many mothers don't have access to clean water?

No tax haven investments here either. Be nice to have the mortgage paid off...
I just enjoy debate!

I enjoy debate too but I get sick of the holier than thou attitude That comeas across from some quarters.

Indeed - and should we do something about it, or leave it to the Government to solve? Is best to get involved with charities like Oxfam to fight this - or leave it to Government?

I am fully aware suffragettes did more than boycott- and i did say it was not really a fair comparison. But they certainly didn't 'just leave it to the Government'. And neither should we - we now live in such a divided Britain, where children die of mould and damp- where the NHS is being squeezed,, education cut, service to the elderly and the handicapped. So big multinational should NOT be able to go by without paying fair taxes. Punkt Schluss.

Now I am no Tory and never have been - but even your leader is disgusted and condemns them. Why should we here condone- because inaction is a form of condoning, is it not?

Yes. It's disappointing.

Nobody is condoning it, jura. Nobody is saying leave it to government. WE have to persuade the government to do something. Some gransnetters think boycotting is a good way of persuading the government to do something. Fine. But all the haranguing at those of us who aren't so convinced of the power of boycotting just reminds me of when I was at primary school and we were told that if enough people said enough Hail Marys, there'd be peace in the world. Aye, right!

Choosing not to boycott (those of us who don't shop with amazon can't anyway) does not mean we aren,t using our democratic rights to do something else in the same cause.

And the side swipes about tax havens are damn rude.

Blethering holier than though - I'd say that is rude, and very unfair. Touché perhaps. As said, so disappointed.

My post was in reply to Bags's btw.

Another thing people who live in countries that give people tax havens might do, is to lobby their governments to make changes.

jura the holier than thou comment was not aimed at you.

I see mention of this and that programme on TV about topical subjects, do the expats get British TV ? they seem to know a lot of what is going on.

I do live abroad but I am NOT and expat We mostly watch UK TV though.

granjura I don't have any evidence for anything. I was wondering if there was a practical reason for Costa paying more tax that didn't involve the goodness of their hearts.

Actually might be worth googling.

It's quite an interesting question.

Sorry I appear to be haranguing some of you.
You are four clicks away from the Austerity films on JRF. Search for it.
That's what happens when people do not pay the taxes they should.
Families of 4 living in a one bedroom flat with mould on the walls and ceiling.
Except now it's a family of 3, and if the father has any more epileptic fits, it could be a family of 2. So that will be okay then, and Starbucks and Amazon needn't pay their taxes.

Loved the comment "holier than thou ""

I have thought that for some time about different posts .

Too simplistic Jendurham. Sorry!

I don't bloody do holy so please don't accuse me of being holier than anyone.

NOT U ABsent .

No, not you, absent.

WOW! I never thought the issue could be so controversial, so divisive! I think a lot of good arguments, both pro and con, have been put forward on this issue and I respect whatever decisions anyone makes with regard to the matter. When I brought this up in my bookclub today (all Brits but me), the responses were reflective of the conversations going on here. None of us can support every "worthwhile" cause that's out there. Some feel more passionately aobut this than others. Some will boycott, some won't. BUT. After emailing Amazon with my comments (there's a "Contact" link if you go to the "Help" page), I received a reply email (not the standard one) stating that my comments wuld be passed on to the appropriate people. Could mean they go nowhere, but I like to think that if enough customers comment, the company might feel compelled to do something. Even if it doesn't pay all legally liable UK taxes, any contribution from a multi-million pound business would be welcome. If you feel so inclined, please, PLEASE add to the pressure. I know I am not alone!

Oops. See, I told you; I take everything literally.