Trump Vilifies Amazon, Claims It Uses Postal Service As Its 'Delivery Boy'

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo




By Nicole Lafond | March 29, 2018 9:39 am

As predicted in reports this week, President Donald Trump pounced on Amazon Thursday, baselessly claiming that the tech giant takes advantage of the U.S. Postal Service.

Link to tweet

Axios reported Wednesday that Trump is “obsessed” with Amazon and is planning to crack down on the company over issues he has with its property and sales tax policies. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has hinted in the past that the White House may eventually take a stance on the company’s tax system. Amazon pays taxes in 23 states and the District of Columbia, according to Forbes. Sources close to Trump told Axios Wednesday that Trump thinks Amazon is killing small businesses and hurting his real estate friends who own brick and mortar shopping centers.

Despite reportedly being briefed on the matter in multiple meetings, Trump has the “perception,” according to an Axios source, that the online retailer is costing the U.S. Postal Service money. The Postal Service actually makes a profit from Amazon. In 2013, the Postal Service added Sunday deliveries in several large cities because the demand for Amazon packages made it worthwhile to do so.

Trump’s tweet stands in contrast with statements from the White House about the company. On Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters that Trump had “no announcements” or “actions that we’re currently pushing forward” regarding Amazon.

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Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-vilifies-amazon

[notdarkyet]

1. Trump wants to destroy everything he can put his mind on. He will be the ruination

Of our country if we don’t stop him. We must lean on rs and ruin their reputations and election chances.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Stock manipulation

This creep should be in chains.

[Hestia]

21. I was fixin' to say the same thing. He gets economic data 12 hours before the rest of the world

except maybe Putin. Having that info, "they" know where to short, buy, etc. SEC needs to look into stock manipulation.

[Angry Dragon]

3. Facts....Trump does not retain nor need any

[ret5hd]

4. Yeaaaaaahhhhh...kinda their entire job, ain't it?

[Botany]

5. OMG The Post Office is delivering packages for customers?

I really think Trump has some sort of organic brain problem.

Syphilis? Some people are saying. (Trademark Fox News)

[Hestia]

25. Interesting...maybe that is why he wears makeup - to hide lesions?

People at Mar-a-Logo (customers, donors, etc) say that he is heavily made up.

Syphilis certainly would explain a lot, especially the paranoia...wow, what a thought

[Botany]

31. Well according to Stormy Daniels he was into "the raw dog." aka unprotected sex

But to me at least something is clearly wrong w/the man. He is upset that the USPS delivers packages
for businesses?

[riversedge]

59. When trump gets on a hate thing against someone, he is relentless and digs in

more and more. Like TheWall thingy--and crooked Hillary thingy.

[Zorro]

6. This will endear him to the Washington Post editorial page

[Dave Starsky]

8. And that's what this is really all about.

Trump is all about revenge at all costs, even if it ends up ruining him. He would cut off his nose to spite his face.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Yes, tRump is being vindictive & petty, again. He hates Bezos for owning the WaPo. . . . . nt

[Bengus81]

41. Years and years ago when Trump had lunch with Richard Branson........

Branson said that's all Trump could talk about during the entire lunch. Revenge,getting even,getting someone. This fucker is sick as hell.

[meadowlark5]

7. In rural areas or places away from a major city, Amazon is the only way

some people can get the things they need without traveling miles and miles to find it. Now their supreme leader is going to taint that source for them? Because you know many will think twice about ordering from Amazon because Trump is telling them how bad they are.

This idiot is such a menace to this country and its people, all for the sake of self preservation and revenge.

[apnu]

12. Of course!

The Republican game plan is to get all the rural suckers and squeeze them to death. They're pretty good at it.

[SonofDonald]

39. "Hurting his real estate friends"

"Who own brick and mortar shopping centers"

Notice it's the owners of the buildings he's talking about, not the individual small business owners, not a word about them.

Considering they are the ones Amazon is in competition with it becomes obvious he could care less about them, just the big money folks are on his mind.

If I was Bezos I would make sure everybody understands the distinction, I'm not a huge fan of Amazon but this is blatant misuse of position by dumpf.

The fun part is when dumpf goes down not one of the folks he's so concerned about will say a word in his defense, they will put him out with the trash with zero hesitation when his usefulness ends.

Karma baby, karma.

[riversedge]

58. Yes, the aritlce points out the real reason, the one Trump is crying about.

[apnu]

10. Fake billionaire is picking a fight with a real billionaire

Our speed pill popping ADHD POTUS continues to amaze.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Impeachable offense: misuse of official power to advance personal vendetta.

Trump's tweets have been ruled "official communications".

[apnu]

15. The orange shitgibbon isn't satisfied unless he commits an impeachable offense daily

Its the way his shit brain thinks he can display his alpha status over the GOP.

He's right tho, he could kill someone in Times Square, in full view of thousands of people, and beat the murder rap. The GOP will do anything to keep his illegal activity going.

[Fred Sanders]

23. How many friends and relatives made money on knowing of this?

The man has no morals so of course a stock tanking on a tweet has to be profitable to someone he knows...why is he still in the WH???

[Rebl2]

13. Dont

understand. Does he think the PO delivers the packages for free? I absolutely pay taxes when I buy something from Amazon, so quit your whining you idiot. It should be left up to the state if they want to make Amazon charge state taxes.

[LudwigPastorius]

44. Trump is lying by implication.

Either that, or he is ignorant of the fact that the US Postal service receives no taxpayer money for its operating budget.

Amazon is paying the USPS the same amount as any other company that ships packages with them.

[Paladin]

14. Wow. trump trashing a huge big-money business, in favor of a government agency.

I'm not even trying to keep up anymore. There's no point to it.

[Dopers_Greed]

16. I hate both Trump and Amazon

I'm fully in favor of this new "beef"

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

26. Where's the beef?

A company is paying the post office to deliver packages. ok, ...

[efhmc]

33. Scary to think I agree with many of these issues. I really do not believe he wrote it.

Much of it makes too much sense. Not to help out another big company but I have recently ordered books and cds from Walmart at a much cheaper price than Amazon and had them delivered for free to my local store for pick up with no delivery charge. I did the same thing with packages for Christmas to out of state locations and saved delivery costs. Still need Amazon for certain items I cannot find in my small town and for free library loans for my Kindle.

[apnu]

17. Its funny Trump makes a tax dig at Amazon

This from the guy that brags about cheating on his taxes, and won't release them. But he's mad at Amazon for tax breaks?

WTF is wrong with Trump?

[MontanaMama]

27. Hypocrite in Chief.

What isn't wrong with Dump?

[apnu]

50. Well... um... he makes carbon for trees to breathe?

That's all I got, sorry.

[MontanaMama]

52. Nicely done.

You got more than I do.

[Maxheader]

18. Cheetox's

buddies in competition with amazon must have
its ear now...

[relogic]

19. Projection

“they pay little or no taxes to state & local governments”- projected from a criminal who refuses (and is allowed) to hide his past criminal enterprise (tax return filings, anyone).

This lying hypocrite projects so well that light beams can’t contain their jealousy.

[Zorro]

20. Uhhh, delivering stuff the the Post Office's job

That being said, I spoke with my local postlady a couple of weeks back and she did say that she delivers dozens of heavy Amazon packages daily and it was wearing her out.

[demigoddess]

54. hire more workers. figure out a better way to do it.

[bucolic_frolic]

22. Tremendous loss??????

The USPS raised rates for the umpteenth straight year in January, and these were hefty increases compared to the last few. The public doesn't see it because they keep the first class letter rate at 49 cents, but Priority Mail jumped about 11%. All along they told us rate increases were because of the unfunded health liability that CONGRESS made them pay for, then they announced that was now up to full. Then they continued to raise rates.

So, Mr. President Fool, how high should rates be for the USPS to turn a profit, which it doesn't by law, though it does near break even, as required?

He makes it sound like companies and citizens get a free ride here. Yes, there are volume discounts, yes there is business class. Shall we jack those up so they're all the same, and watch business volume dry up? There is a limit to how much the public will pay and put up with, and you've reached it long time ago, you old windbag!

Let me put it this way .... W.C. Fields was a King Kong Intellectual compared to Donald J. Trump!

[Hestia]

28. Hmm, any overage from USPS funds goes directly into the General Fund. It was why 10-15 years ago

the USPS were building brand new business, spiffing them up, etc. They had to drain the overage to the GF, so the spiteful mofo's in congress then turn around and do this funded pension or whatever it is called. He isn't the only vindictive one in DC.

[bucolic_frolic]

30. Oh great

so they have the general public, which doesn't understand let alone know about commercial class online postage, paying the highest retail rates .... I'm in shock when I hear the rates for Priority at the retail counter. It is just such a joke. Grannies on fixed incomes shipping presents to grandchildren paying out the wazoo .... this country is so F@(#*$&(#@ed!

[duforsure]

24. Jeff should start the lawsuits

Against trump , along with anyone else that he attacks hurting there businesses, and profits.

[Chalco]

29. Don't forget. Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post. nt

[Docreed2003]

32. I can decide if trump is an idiot or just malevolent or both!!

This is some bullshit that he's cooked up in his head because Amazon owns the Washington Post...Trump gets facts, nope not changing his mind because he "knows". Our country is being run by a man who know nothing, cares to learn nothing, and is under total influence by Fox Propaganda network!

[Thekaspervote]

34. Hes jealous because amazon founder Jeff bezos actually is who he says he is..a bizillionare

Dodart is too stupid to know that most amazon shipping is ups or fed ex

[Vinca]

35. Does he know that postage must be paid to send things through the post office?

Reminds me of George H. W. Bush puzzled by a grocery store scanner.

[Botany]

38. 2 minutes w/the google ... right wing talking point the post office loses $1.46 per Amazon package

No true but from somebody who gets his news from Fox and Friends in the AM
and has syphilis on the brain (some people say) it all makes sense.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/for-every-amazon-package-it-delivers-the-postal-service-loses-146

BTW postal rates are are set by a postal oversight board and members of that board are appointed by
the POTUS.

[mjvpi]

51. That analysis came from an organization (CitiGroup maybe?)who is heavily invested in Fed Ex.

My intuition tells me that an analysis of Fed Ex and UPS would show a similar treatment of big volume customers. The idea of a loss per package is an analysis of just one side of the USPS. Package vs Mail. The two sides share overhead.

By law the post office has to cover everyone in the US. Fed Ex and UPS only exist in profitable markets. I’d bet that in those markets both of those companies undercut the USPS.

All that being said, when I ship anything from my small business, I’m getting killed. Shipping costs have sky rocketed as these companies work a small profit margin on the high volume customers.

From what I’ve seen of Amazon,s business model, doing the distribution in large cities is imminent. They will undercut the big two shippers just like they have all of the brick and mortar retailers.

I admit that I use Amazon. I have Amazon Prime. The ability to solve problems from my bed at 2:00 am is priceless. The ability to have parts waiting at my shop when I return from a show out of town. Stress relief.

Amazon has out Walmarted Walmart. I beleave in supporting local businesses whenever possible. I routinely will spend more to support them. Those amounts are noise in the grand scenario. I do admit to not being true to those convictions some of the time.

[bucolic_frolic]

43. Has Trump ever been in a Post Office in his life?

I seriously doubt it

[BumRushDaShow]

36. 2018 Forbes world billionaires - Bezos #1, Drumpf #766

https://www.forbes.com/billionaires/#9829ab6251c7
http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/06/news/forbes-billionaire-list-trump-falls/index.html

[Bengus81]

37. State sales tax on EVERYTHING I buy through Amazon.......

Not sure if that's every State or just the ones with distribution centers. So uhhh.... hey Trump,STFU!!

[flibbitygiblets]

40. What's this about somone not paying taxes? SHOW US YOUR TAX RETURNS, A-HOLE!

Fucking douche

[DownriverDem]

42. I try not to use Amazon

I prefer to buy directly from the stores/companies web sites if at all possible.

[demigoddess]

55. I buy stuff from Amazon that I cannot find in the local stores, even grocery stores.

stores now have only 5 flavors of Jello, but you can get the ones you want from Amazon. some people may not know that Jello makes Island Pineapple, Mango, Cranberry, Apricot and I can never find them in the stores. for years. Family recipe of pineapple and carrot calls for Island Pineapple Jello. Husband and I have had this as a childhood recipe our mothers made. Now stores think I should not be able to make it!!!!

[True_Blue]

45. I thought Amazon did their own deliveries.

I don't know about other areas of the country, but Amazon delivers their own packages in here in Mesa AZ. They'll even delivery pantry items to your door within a couple of hours.

[videohead5]

46. Amazon has their own delivery trucks now

I use to get stuff that was shipped using the USPS but now Amazon delivers everything.I guess in rural areas they still use the postal service.I pay sales taxes on everything I buy on Amazon.

[Mountain Mule]

47. Petty and vindictive as usual nt

[malthaussen]

48. Jim Wright finds this suitably amusing:

https://www.facebook.com/Stonekettle

As he asks, uh, doesn't Amazon pay for using the USPS? Isn't the USPS everybody's delivery boy? Isn't that, sort of, their job?

-- Mal

[Stonepounder]

49. Some truths about Amazon

Amazon uses a myriad of delivery methods. I have had Amazon packages delivered to me via USPS, UPS, FedEx, and the equivalent of Uber.

Of course Amazon takes advantage of Sales Tax laws. So does every other mail-order company in the world. Some states have been slow to catch up on the collection of Sales Tax on out-of-state purchases.

Yes, Amazon is hurting brick and mortar stores. So are all the other mail-order places and the big box stores. Even stores that used to be grocery stores are adopting the 'one stop shopping' model. Been in a Kroger lately? Groceries, clothing, full pharmacy, hardware, automotive, toys, sporting goods, furniture, etc. The retail model is changing.

Can you find cheaper than Amazon. Sometimes. I can find things on Amazon that are 1/2 the price of what I would pay at Wal-Mart. There are other things that are more expensive on Amazon. I always double check prices before buying.

Wonder if Jeff is considering suing Trump for defamation?

[DBoon]

53. Amazon pays the post office to deliver packages

Which is more than Trump does to his vendors

[chowder66]

56. Thanks for the funny headline. Made me laugh and I needed that. nt

[riversedge]

57. "The Postal Service actually makes a profit from Amazon." and says Trump has been briefed

on this. So, what does Trump do?--He tweets a LIE--and the sheepie no doubt believe. damn.

[MountCleaners]

60. I'm not the biggest fan of Amazon, but...

...let's face it, they sell lots of books, and Trump is pretty much against literacy. I'm sure his supporters, to whom he panders with every statement, are offended that there is any left-wing content on Amazon. Just like the news is all "fake" because it isn't right-wing 24/7 like Fox. Any platform that offers other viewpoints is "liberal" and therefore a threat according to Trumpies. Look what they've done to AM radio - you can't get anything that isn't right wing, aside from sports broadcasts.

[orangecrush]

61. one Amazon order, coming up!

K&R

[duforsure]

62. Just like what Putin did,

He's using the same tactic as Putin did against companies, and then he used the government to take them over for his personal profits, so trump going after Amazon is no surprise. All businesses need to realize he's promoting what has happened to Russia from Putin, and they should realize he'll do the same here now. Only the most corrupt are allowed to run businesses in Putin's Russia, and trump is going to try to do the same here. Just like they are wanting to privatize things with their corrupt cronies in charge to use against us, like Social Security , Post office, Medicare, Schools, the military, and more. They'll next try to create charges against them for something they'll use, and hurt their businesses with. It just makes me want to use them more, and more progressive businesses only when possible.