Published by: jl scott, Director
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EXCELLENCE can be attained if you - CARE more than others think
is wise - RISK more than others think is safe - DREAM more than
others think is practical - and EXPECT more than others think is
possible.
~ Claude T. Bissell ~
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Message From jl
So … we'll take another run at it next week.
I'm SO pleased with the cooperation and participation I'm
getting from our accredited iCop members. This includes all
those who responded to my email check last month.
I REALLY feel like you are all working with me on iCop's
changes. Your response to my email as we make changes has been
super. It SO refuels my enthusiasm!
Unfortunately, I tend to get into my control freak mode and,
sometimes, forget how much more fun it is when we all work
together! So, THANK YOU!
I honestly don't know what's happened to this country (USA). I
saw a news report that of the homes in foreclosure - 50% are
completely destroyed at the time of repossession.
I saw pictures. Everything removed from kitchens. Not only
appliances, but cabinets, sinks, everything. There were gaping
holes in the walls from wiring being torn out. Carpeting and
flooring ripped up - in fact, these places looked like they had
been bombed!
This wasn't just one home - 50% of them are like this!
What kind of people would DO this? And, what kind of
entitlement mentality do they have? And, where did they get it?
I suppose (sigh), this is exactly what the scam artists who made
all those housing loans preyed on in the first place. This type
of person is the one who was least likely to tell the truth on a
loan application, or even to qualify for a loan. In fact, I'd
bet the very people who are destroying these houses never even
read their contracts in the first place.
Now, they're pissed because they are losing a home they probably
could only have gotten from this type of scam. NOT that this is
any excuse for this type of behavior. This very sense of
entitlement is (IMHO) exactly why this country is in such a
mess.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) demands that every web site
from the USA - and any that do business with folks in the USA -
have a Privacy Policy posted. We talked about this last week.
What many “top” internet marketers have discovered is this: the
FTC does NOT say they cannot sell, trade or give away visitor
information. It ONLY states you must clearly post what you plan
to do with the information.
THIS is the reason many of them are sharing your information.
And, the fact that they are doing it is posted right there in
their Privacy Statements. It may be unethical - but, it IS
legal.
I know it's a PITA, but if you're going to give your email
address - or any other information - to a web site, you NEED to
take the time to read their Privacy Policy.
Last week, the question came up about online documents being
used that credit Mining Gold. Trina Sonnenberg wrote this to me
(edited for length):
One of the ways Mining Gold makes their money is by selling
usage rights to their legal documentation, like privacy
policies, and terms of service documents.
This piece has got me thinking that I might go around the web,
reading those privacy policies and expose those gurus who don't
back up their I Hate Spam Too statements. To me it is an issue
of public trust, and it is being abused by many of those people
who are telling the world, "Follow me and I'll make you rich."
Trina L.C. Sonnenberg
As far as what many of the gurus do … Trina is right, it IS an
issue of public trust, but they don't care. Again - this just
another reason I plan to disassociate iCop from that field of
internet marketing. I am sick and tired of them giving us a bad name!
Last week, President Bush signed the Housing and Economic
Recovery Act of 2008 into law. Sure, another law will fix it.
Hidden in the 700-page bill are a couple of totally unrelated
provisions.
One relates to hurricane recovery and gives tax breaks to a
Canadian rail car manufacturer in Alabama. Of course, in true
government style, this has nothing to do with housing relief but
after all, someone had their hand out and got their hand-out.
There are also some provisions in the bill for home buyer
credit; provided that you're a first-time home buyer between
April 8, 2008, and July 1, 2009, and make under $150,000
($75,000 if you're single.)
And there's an additional $1,000 standard deduction against
property taxes ($500 if you're single.)
You wouldn't think any of this has anything to do with
E-commerce merchants that accept credit cards, but you'd be
wrong. You'd be wrong because there's also something in the law
for us lucky merchants.
Starting in 2011, banks or other companies that process credit
cards must report the amount of the payments a merchant receives
on card transactions to the IRS. The law will not apply to
merchants doing less than 200 transactions totaling less than
$20,000.
We can all thank PayPal (thank you PayPal) that the exemption
amount isn't $600. Yep - they tried to make it $600, a whopping
$50 per month, but PayPal successfully lobbied to raise it to
the current level.
So, starting in 2011, even some smaller e-Bay sellers will have
their income reported to the IRS.
Just thought you should know.
------------
I thought you should know, too. I've been watching this for a
long time. But, as little as about two months ago, I read that
Congress was rejecting it. Wouldn't you know, they'd slide it
through by hiding it in the “Housing Bill!”
And, you should know this will include third party processors
such as 2CheckOut and PayPal (who Tom already mentioned).
Some self-righteous people will say, “So, what's the problem?
We all have to pay our taxes, anyway.”
Not the least of which is that government will now have access
to information not just of the sellers but of the BUYERS.
Unless it is stipulated differently - which I would seriously
doubt - everything you buy online will now be accessible by the
U.S. Government - and it will not matter what country you live
in.
It may not be on the original report, but it WILL have to be
available to back up the data. And, if it's available, they'll
take it any time they please.
Talk about lack of privacy!
Second, will be the additional paperwork for your tax preparer -
which YOU will pay for. These reports to the IRS will ONLY
state how much money you received. It will NOT show refunds or
any charge-backs, etc. All that will have to be calculated.
Third - the merchant account companies are sure to increase
fees. You can bet THEY aren't going to pay for the extra help
and hours to prepare these reports - YOU will.
Fourth - in the past, if the IRS wanted to get information from
banks and merchant accounts, it required going to a judge and
getting a subpoena. Now, the IRS can step in and audit at
any time - with a little or no notice.
Don't panic - but, don't ignore this, either. Pay attention to
whatever is coming next!
Don't forget to invite your friends to subscribe to The Internet
Marketing Trade Journal!
Just forward them an issue with a note telling them why you like
it and give them the following link:
http://www.i-Cop.org/trade-journal.htm
P.S. Do YOU have the iCop seal on your web site? It's the Seal of Integrity in Online Business; it gives you prestige and turns your 'almost buyers' into satisfied customers.
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Those who know how to laugh at themselves will never cease to be amused.
~ Shirley MacLaine
As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding. The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions. Then, later, they passed some people who remarked, 'What a shame, he makes that little boy walk.' So they then decided they'd both walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey. Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey. The boy and man figured they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey. As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal and he fell into the river and drowned. The moral of the story?
I you try to please everyone, You might as well kiss your ass
goodbye! Click to Submit Your Joke to Us (Please leave off the graphics). Click to Send Comments, Questions & Suggestions
For Back Issues: Ezine Archive Thank You For Reading! Have a Terrific Week!
Material in the "Leaving You With a Smile" column may be copyrighted by unknown persons. We accept no responsibility for your use of any contributed information contained herein. All of the information presented in the Online Business Trade Journal(TM) is published in good faith. Any comments stated in this newsletter are strictly the opinion of the writer or publisher. We publish all advertising in good faith but offer no guarantees. Please do your own due diligence in ANY transaction. We reserve the right to edit and make suitable for publication, if necessary, any articles published in this newsletter. We reserve the right to publish all reader comments, including the name of the writer. Reported survey results will NOT use the names of the contributors.
Copyright © 2008 jl scott, ph.d., Director ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cancellation directions can be found at the bottom of your announcement email. |
Volume VI - Issue 25: August 11, 2008
jl
