Well if it means we have to give them some massive tax breaks and lick their butt for them to come here, then i'd rather not have them. We've given away enough to big business and haven't gotten our dollar back on them.

I think you are severely underestimating the value to a city by having an HQ of a global corporation like Amazon would have.

If you're interested, here is Toronto's bid: https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.com/torontoglobal/TorontoRegionResponsetoAmazonHQ2RFP_PD.pdf

No way we could ever possibly compete with that.

Edit: Should have mentioned, this is a huge pdf, so be wary of that on your phone.

I think you are severely underestimating the value to a city by having an HQ of a global corporation like Amazon would have.

50,000 jobs and a global company would change a city. Give them all the tax breaks they want.

50,000 jobs and a global company would change a city. Give them all the tax breaks they want.

And the idea we don't get our dollar back is nuts. Yeah, there have been bad deals, and sometimes we've given deals where not needed to bring someone who would have come anyways. But most of the time, these deals that bring someone here who wouldn't have come otherwise have conditions where the incentives are based on criteria where we come out ahead. Look at Edmond's deal with Showbiz Cinema. Incentives for them are based on tax revenues they generate. And it beats them locating just outside of Edmond like the Warren is doing, getting Edmond revenue without contributing to the tax base. In a perfect world cities and states wouldn't need to compete like this for business but it is what it is.

Let's wait and see where they choose. If they go someplace like Louisville, Kansas City, or Raleigh, then there will be a legitimate question as to what they are doing that OKC isn't that made them qualified. Honestly, I believe I already know.

If they choose a place like Toronto, Boston, Chicago, or even Dallas, then you know that there is simply no way OKC could have met the criteria they were looking for.

http://www.koco.com/article/new-amazon-headquarters-might-come-to-oklahoma-city/13048333



$5 billion project??? SHEESH!!!

My goodness, its imperative to consider all the things that will happen and come with a mega-global company like this being headquartered in OUr city. I mean all hands on deck, I wonder if Clay Bennett has purposely waited to sell the new advertising rights for OUr OKC thunder uniforms for a potential bid with Amazon. GE and paycom were two companies I personally thought would be awesome to advertise on the uniforms but Amazon? I was a bit surprised Abigail Ogle didn't press Mayor Cornet for insight into what is included in OUr bid.....but lets remember few things:

OKIES just passed a vote for bonds/taxes on September 12th; funding for transportation is involved in that. I rode the bus yesterday and to my surprise embark is actually conducting a month long survey with surveyors on several of the bus routes . The results from these surveys will provide the insight necessary to properly use the funds that my fellow OKIES voted to use on transportation. Not to mention the new streetcar which will service the urban core. (I made sure to mention to 2 of the surveyors on my travels yesterday that the Kansas city streetcar has had monumental success because the streetcar is free and it runs 7 days a week so I challenged them to remind Jason Ferbache or whoever their section supervisor is to remember that OKIES have already paid for this streetcar-if you abuse the funds we just voted on with Maps 3 and the Sept 12th vote by not including 7 day service and more midnight routes you could expect the voters to regret voting for this and this will all be for not. People who work at hospitals, bars, restaurants, eat and work and play 24/7....we have to be considerate of this)

There are several locations where the space is currently available to Amazon for a headquarters.

Also, legislators (if I'm not mistaken) are in a special session concerning the state budget and education and mental health. Apparently Amazon isn't making this decision until next year; so if OUr state could get its act together and fix things we could have a solution for several deficiencies by the end of the year!

I understand a lot of you guys are well traveled and can point out some areas where OKC is still not sufficient as a metro. And I can honestly say I value that amidst the converse that takes place in all of these threads. But I, for one, am excited that we have submitted a bid and actually have a shot. Looking ahead instead of where we are now on October 25th, I personally feel my city, the city I LOVE, is on the fast track. We are the Renaissance city.....the strides we are making could actually land us an Amazon Headquarters. If that happens....look out!

actually have a shot

We don't. You didn't read the Toronto bid I posted, did you?

If Amazon picked a smaller town, its because they want to build their own city from scratch.

Not to turn this into a political thread, but the special session is a joke, a complete and blatant mockery of democracy. The latest word from it is one side has told the other side give us what we want, and then we PROMISE to hold a vote to see if we'll give you what you want. Left unspoken is "...but you know damn well that vote is going to be no".

They're not discussing Amazon, and the deadline to submit a proposal has passed. Being optimistic is one thing, but please respect yourself enough to not delude yourself.

We don't. You didn't read the Toronto bid I posted, did you?

It is quite impressive. Hard to think we can compete though I like that we've put together some sort of an attempt, even if it was prepared just to say we submitted a proposal. The more I think about it, depending on how Amazon wants to structure itself going forward a Toronto/non-US second headquarters makes a lot of sense.

We don't. You didn't read the Toronto bid I posted, did you?

I didn't but dang dude why you gotta squash my optimism Lol?

If Amazon picked a smaller town, its because they want to build their own city from scratch.

Ouch Lol. So your saying we have no shot? What happens if Amazon does pick us?

We don't. You didn't read the Toronto bid I posted, did you?

I should say, just so you don't get the impression I am lazy about this correspondence, I don't have the space on my phone to view that file.....per your disclaimer.

But if you posted some of the details I would gladly read them ��

Not to turn this into a political thread, but the special session is a joke, a complete and blatant mockery of democracy. The latest word from it is one side has told the other side give us what we want, and then we PROMISE to hold a vote to see if we'll give you what you want. Left unspoken is "...but you know damn well that vote is going to be no".

They're not discussing Amazon, and the deadline to submit a proposal has passed. Being optimistic is one thing, but please respect yourself enough to not delude yourself.

You must not know my brand of optimism. ....in the kind of SOONER fan that thinks if we are down by 40 points in the 4th quarter with 2 minutes left , "come on SOONER we can still do this....we just need another on-side kick."

All kidding aside, though in optimistic I also know its a tall order. But if Austin has a shot then dammit we do too!

It would be really cool if we could see our bid, though. Just to see what we pitched them.

^^^^ Agreed. Wonder why Abigail Ogle didn't ask him.

How do we know Oklahoma City submitted a bid? All I saw was a list of states who didn’t submit a bit. For all we know Pawnee, OK tried to lure amazon.

How do we know Oklahoma City submitted a bid? All I saw was a list of states who didn’t submit a bit. For all we know Pawnee, OK tried to lure amazon.

Newsok reported both OKC and Tulsa submitted bids.

You must not know my brand of optimism. ....in the kind of SOONER fan that thinks if we are down by 40 points in the 4th quarter with 2 minutes left , "come on SOONER we can still do this....we just need another on-side kick."

All kidding aside, though in optimistic I also know its a tall order. But if Austin has a shot then dammit we do too!

Disney went to Orlando when there was almost nothing there.

Disney went to Orlando when there was almost nothing there.

To be fair, Disney went to Orlando exactly because there was nothing there. And they didn't go to Orlando, they went to a place where there was absolutely nothing and created the Reedy Creek Improvement District by using shell companies to buy the land on the cheap and to avoid having to be in the jurisdiction of anyone other than that of Disney himself and the State of Florida rather than any city.

Walt Disney World is not inside of any city, it is an actual legitimate district that provides fire protection services, emergency medical services, roads, and utilities. It really is an interesting case of avoiding any sort of NIMBYs by creating their very own backyard.

To be fair, Disney went to Orlando exactly because there was nothing there. And they didn't go to Orlando, they went to a place where there was absolutely nothing and created the Reedy Creek Improvement District by using shell companies to buy the land on the cheap and to avoid having to be in the jurisdiction of anyone other than that of Disney himself and the State of Florida rather than any city.

Walt Disney World is not inside of any city, it is an actual legitimate district that provides fire protection services, emergency medical services, roads, and utilities. It really is an interesting case of avoiding any sort of NIMBYs by creating their very own backyard.

Florida or the city of Orlando(I don't remember) has created a special governing board for the district that oversees infrastructure and services(health, transport, fire, police etc.) that treats the area as its own city. Disney World was originally supposed to get its own airport.

I get what you are saying, but my point was depending on how Amazon is looking at cities, OKC could be a logical choice if they get a commitment from the city to develop the things they require spread out over time. They will choose a city, but then how long will it take to develop their plan? If they say the 5 billion dollar development and the 50,000 employees they want to hire happens within years, then OKC is probably f@cked. But if perhaps it is part of longer plan to build over time say a decade or so, that is perfectly reasonable to think OKC has just as much as a chance as any other city unless Amazon is going by incentives. New Jersey has offered 5 billion dollars. A town in Georgia has offered a plot of land that will function as its own municipality like Disney World and it will be called Amazon. Bezos would be made mayor for life.

I don't think they said how long it will take them to hire 50,000 employees? Because between the airport and the amount of people they want to hire seems to be the biggest issue. I think OKC is simply not capable of supporting the needs of a company looking for 50k people right now. But if they have plans they haven't released yet, then it could be that they want to see what cities will bend over backwards for them to do what they want and already have a preferred choice. From the wording used by Cornett, it sounds like they have just submitted a bid and the $15k donation to schools isn't a sign of anything.

OKC already has an amazing infrastructure network, it just needs to be modernized. It lacks transit and an airport. The labor pool can be brought in over time and the airport will adjust to the market. OKC just needs the right pitch(if money and incentives are the only things they are really looking for) and to beef up its transit system. 5 billion dollars would be a somewhat decent amount to jumpstart light-rail across the city. Over 5 years or so, that isn't unreasonable if Amazon commits to coming here. I'm willing to bet people would support it.

I wanted to mention something I've noticed only recently in regards to Amazon now taxing us in Oklahoma. Now granted you still don't get taxed on everything, but if it is sold and fulfilled by Amazon you do, so that is the only thing I'm referencing here.

I use my Prime account sometimes for work. The other day when ordering I switched the shipping from my house (OKC) to my work (Mustang). When I did I noticed the price changed drastically. This surprised me so I switched it back to see what had changed and sure enough it was the tax. I was purchasing around $300 worth of equipment so it was a fairly large amount compared to most of my transactions so when tax doubled it made a bit of difference. I went back and looked at all my purchases where I was charged tax and compared what I found. The numbers were fairly consistent. Items sent to Mustang were charged around 8.85% tax and items sent to OKC were charged 4.44%, basically half.

Now I'm sure most of you aren't affected by this because you ship to one address so you pay what you pay. But occasionally I ship something to work for convenience and essentially pay more tax because it was shipped to Mustang rather than OKC. Granted the payment methods on these always stayed consistent. The address for the payment method was unchanged, and an OKC address.

Just thought this was interesting.

NM, withdrew ?

Those are the rates that are charged by Amazon as they maintain a presence in the state but internet purchases are subject to the same tax that purchases made from in store are. Mustang 8.85 and OKC 8.375 would result in a slight discount if shipped to OKC.

I wanted to mention something I've noticed only recently in regards to Amazon now taxing us in Oklahoma. Now granted you still don't get taxed on everything, but if it is sold and fulfilled by Amazon you do, so that is the only thing I'm referencing here.

I use my Prime account sometimes for work. The other day when ordering I switched the shipping from my house (OKC) to my work (Mustang). When I did I noticed the price changed drastically. This surprised me so I switched it back to see what had changed and sure enough it was the tax. I was purchasing around $300 worth of equipment so it was a fairly large amount compared to most of my transactions so when tax doubled it made a bit of difference. I went back and looked at all my purchases where I was charged tax and compared what I found. The numbers were fairly consistent. Items sent to Mustang were charged around 8.85% tax and items sent to OKC were charged 4.44%, basically half.

Now I'm sure most of you aren't affected by this because you ship to one address so you pay what you pay. But occasionally I ship something to work for convenience and essentially pay more tax because it was shipped to Mustang rather than OKC. Granted the payment methods on these always stayed consistent. The address for the payment method was unchanged, and an OKC address.

Just thought this was interesting.

Sales taxes in Oklahoma get charged by the rate at the point of delivery of the goods. I know this because there are a couple of construction material supply houses located in Stockyards City, which has a fairly low rate compared to the rest of the metro. (CED and A and D Supply, to name a couple.) If you pick up goods at those locations, taxes are charged at the Stockyards City rate. If you have them deliver the same goods somewhere other than Stockyards City, taxes get charged at the rate where they deliver the goods, regardless of where your office is located and where they send the bill. If Joe Blow Contracting from Little Axe calls and has a truck of metal studs delivered from Stockyards City to Nichols Hills, the rate is Nichols Hills rate and Nichols Hills gets their cut. If he picks them up, he pays the Stockyards City rate. Same as Amazon, but that was in place long before web sales or Amazon existed.

Those are the rates that are charged by Amazon as they maintain a presence in the state but internet purchases are subject to the same tax that purchases made from in store are. Mustang 8.85 and OKC 8.375 would result in a slight discount if shipped to OKC.

Lol, I know how tax rates work when I buy locally.

Doesn't change the fact that the tax rate I'm charged for things sent to Mustang is 8.85% and things sent to OKC are 4.44%. I have about 20 invoices I compared and those numbers all came out the same. Amazon does not in my case charge a slightly lower rate that you stated, they literally charge about half.

Sounds like the family that owns Fireworks City on the East side of Mustang could clean up by installing Amazon lockers in that building, rather than keep it boarded up 40+ weeks of the year. Since last I knew that plot of land was still its own city, they can set the tax rate. Personally I'd still rather have house delivery even though they are literally right down the road from me, but I can imagine people from all over the metro having stuff shipped there just to save a buck.

Lol, I know how tax rates work when I buy locally.

Doesn't change the fact that the tax rate I'm charged for things sent to Mustang is 8.85% and things sent to OKC are 4.44%. I have about 20 invoices I compared and those numbers all came out the same. Amazon does not in my case charge a slightly lower rate that you stated, they literally charge about half.

Corrected previous post... the last two orders I checked were both charged at 8.375% for items shipped by Amazon to my house in OKC. One of those was a combined order of stuff shipped by Amazon and stuff shipped by others, so the overall tax rate was less, but correct for what Amazon shipped.

Corrected previous post... the last two orders I checked were both charged at 8.375% for items shipped by Amazon to my house in OKC. One of those was a combined order of stuff shipped by Amazon and stuff shipped by others, so the overall tax rate was less, but correct for what Amazon shipped.

You are only charged tax on items shipped (and fulfilled?) by Amazon, not by others. 8.375% of $55.97 is $4.69

You are only charged tax on items shipped (and fulfilled?) by Amazon, not by others. 8.375% of $55.97 is $4.69

That's my understanding. Tax is only charged by law if the company shipping the goods has a physical presence in the state. (Some collect it anyway.) So if you have a mixed invoice, Amazon does not spell out which items were taxed, they just give the total charge and the total tax. (I did the math wrong the first time around on that invoice I formerly posted about.)

Corrected previous post... the last two orders I checked were both charged at 8.375% for items shipped by Amazon to my house in OKC. One of those was a combined order of stuff shipped by Amazon and stuff shipped by others, so the overall tax rate was less, but correct for what Amazon shipped.

Well then lucky me because all my orders since Amazon started collecting is 4.44%.

Well then lucky me because all my orders since Amazon started collecting is 4.44%.

I wonder... Even though you said you have an OKC address, is your house physically outside of the city limits? Maybe that could account for the discrepancy, since there wouldn't be any city tax...

I wonder... Even though you said you have an OKC address, is your house physically outside of the city limits? Maybe that could account for the discrepancy, since there wouldn't be any city tax...

Nope I live by the airport so well within city limits. It's odd for sure, but I'll take it. I did get taxed on one item when going back through it that was not sold/fulfilled by Amazon. Can't remember who the seller was, but I got charged 1.5% tax on that item. the rest are all 4.44%.

Nope I live by the airport so well within city limits. It's odd for sure, but I'll take it. I did get taxed on one item when going back through it that was not sold/fulfilled by Amazon. Can't remember who the seller was, but I got charged 1.5% tax on that item. the rest are all 4.44%.

That would mean you owe some tax on all your Amazon orders.

I won't tell, though.

That would mean you owe some tax on all your Amazon orders.

I won't tell, though.

Naw it doesn't work like that. Not my problem that Amazon may or may not be collecting the correct tax. Only thing that is my problem is the stuff that no tax was collected on. I'm not responsible for anyways failures other than my own.

Naw it doesn't work like that. Not my problem that Amazon may or may not be collecting the correct tax. Only thing that is my problem is the stuff that no tax was collected on. I'm not responsible for anyways failures other than my own.


You are, and always have been, responsible for paying the full tax on all your online orders. Nothing has changed there.

You are, and always have been, responsible for paying the full tax on all your online orders. Nothing has changed there.

Correct. Didn't disagree with that. Amazon now collects tax on items they sell, so only thing I'd concern myself with the items in which they did not. As far as I'm concerned with I paid taxes on everything else, because I have the invoices to prove it. If the IRS would like to come in and nickel and dime me because of Amazon's failure to not assess the "correct" rate for me, by all means, come go for it. I'll be more than happy to waste tax payers dollars for such a trivial pursuit. I mean think about the insinuation for a second, I'd have never even known I was being charged a different rate had I know shipped to 2 different addresses. So any sane person's reaction would assume they are being charged correctly for tax. I've never once questioned it when I went to Walmart. Or Chili's. Or any other local place. And at the end of the day for all we know I am being charged the correct rate.

Just saying that “it’s time fault I’d its wrong” is as valid of an excuse as “I’m not paying extra payroll tax in April, its not my fault my boss withheld it wrong”.

You are responsible for your taxes, even if everybody else involved failed to collect the right amount.

Just saying that “it’s time fault I’d its wrong” is as valid of an excuse as “I’m not paying extra payroll tax in April, its not my fault my boss withheld it wrong”.

You are responsible for your taxes, even if everybody else involved failed to collect the right amount.

Ah gee I guess you win buddy.

I will also point out that I'm not getting onto anyone for their status of actually paying these taxes, I'm just talking about who is ultimately responsible for them :p.

I would be surprised if 10% of online sales taxes ever make their way to the state, and I'm in no position to throw rocks in that glass house!

I will also point out that I'm not getting onto anyone for their status of actually paying these taxes, I'm just talking about who is ultimately responsible for them :p.

I would be surprised if 10% of online sales taxes ever make their way to the state, and I'm in no position to throw rocks in that glass house!

The last estimate I saw was 2-3% of Oklahoma taxpayers that legitimately owe use taxes actually end up paying them. I'm one of the few that does, but even I just use Oklahoma's standard calculation instead of figuring out my tax burden from every online purchase.

I asked this farther up, but it got buried. Is what we have an outright fulfillment center or is it something less?

I asked this farther up, but it got buried. Is what we have an outright fulfillment center or is it something less?

Sortation facility is what they call it.

Okay just making sure.

Or are you saying all of them are sortation facilities and we have what everyone else has?

Okay just making sure.

Or are you saying all of them are sortation facilities and we have what everyone else has?

We have a sortation facility.

I asked this farther up, but it got buried. Is what we have an outright fulfillment center or is it something less?

Ours is not a fulfillment center where they actually keep loads of inventory then assemble for orders.

The one in OKC is a sortation center where the packages come already sealed and they are just re-routed here.

Okay so if I have a business and want to send inventory to Amazon to be fulfilled I still have to send to DFW?

Just a FYI, a NYTimes article narrowed the choices for Amazon down to the top 25 and OKC was included.

Just a FYI, a NYTimes article narrowed the choices for Amazon down to the top 25 and OKC was included.

Dear Lord please let us not get selected...

Dear Lord please let us not get selected...

Assuming it's nothing new, it is just NYTimes' own analysis from back in Sept: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html?_r=0. We fall out by the time they get to Top 14.

I am sure you are referring to this article from back in September?

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html

This was a NY Times editorial and wasn't actually Amazon narrowing its list of potential cities down. Plus, OKC is eliminated after the first round.

Dear Lord please let us not get selected...
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html
Not to worry. The article was written in Sept. and the NY Times writers are the ones who came up with the list, not the traditional insider learned info from those "speaking off the record". The writers nixed OKC and 10 others for having an inadequate labor pool.

Insiders suggested something official from AMZN on Dec 1 [in terms of narrowing].

The point being for me is that despite the naysayings and put-downs from many on here, I'm pretty impressed some feel we make it this far.

The last estimate I saw was 2-3% of Oklahoma taxpayers that legitimately owe use taxes actually end up paying them. I'm one of the few that does, but even I just use Oklahoma's standard calculation instead of figuring out my tax burden from every online purchase.

I always do the standard calculation because I am paranoid and it is cheap. This year I probably won't worry about it since nearly everything I've bought has been taxed.

Dear Lord please let us not get selected...
Yeah it’s better more successful cities get it instead of truck stop like OKC.

Yeah it’s better more successful cities get it instead of truck stop like OKC.
Why are you here?

I feel like you're quoted post was just in response to why would someone not want this to come here. I don't feel like PluPan is one who is regularly down on OKC.

I feel like you're quoted post was just in response to why would someone not want this to come here. I don't feel like PluPan is one who is regularly down on OKC.
You got it! I was being facetious. Amazon locating to OKC would basically make almost every OKCTalker’s dream come true. Expansive transit system, vibrant core, huge boom to the economy, direct flights to tons of new cities, etc.

Perhaps Catch22’s comment was sarcasm and I missed it. But this would be amazing if OKC got it and it is possible. OKC is great for Amazon because they have a blank canvas basically. It could happen.

I see two things as a dealbreaker though. The state government and the labor pool. I thought I remember reading somewhere the 50k employees they want to hire will be over a 10 year period. So that can be overcome. But hopefully the state government changes and becomes more progressive.