Forum - View topicAmazon to begin collecting sales tax in Texas July 1
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Polycell
 Posts: 4623 |
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chefneer
 Aria Company Posts: 1686 Location: Fort Worth, Texas |
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As I stated earlier, I think it's inevitible that we will eventually all be paying sales tax on most, if not all, online purchases. The revenue potential is too great, and the states want it, bad. Texas, New York, and California are just the beginning.
If that is where we're all heading, then I think it would also be better for everyone if the feds were to enact legislation to standardize the rules regarding the collection of sales tax on online interstate commerce. I suspect that what we're going to get, though, is a patchwork of different rules in different states, which will make the whole thing complicated and confusing. |
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GDFan
 Posts: 254 Location: North of Boston |
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This past Febuary, Amazon opened a sizable office complex in MA, giving them a physical presence in Massachusetts. Federal court rulings require them to collect state tax because of this. Apparently, our governor wants nothing to do with it. So I suppose not all states want it as much as you think. Yeah, I don't get it either. |
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Alan45
Village Elder Posts: 9872 Location: Virginia |
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Amazon with its size and IT support will have no problem collecting and remitting sales tax to 40 some odd states. However, smaller online stores are going to go crazy.
They will have to apply for a sales tax license in every state and in most cases renew every year. They will have to program their sales pages to calculate sales tax on 40 odd states and see that the money gets sent to the appropriate state. This will probably be enough of burden to drive smaller online stores out of business. While some Brick and morter stores may feel that it is only just, we will be left with fewer options. Foreign stores will be next. 
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Xanas
Posts: 2058 |
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And this, my friends, is why big business supports regulations. |
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superdry
 Posts: 1309 |
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Its can be even worse since counties in one state can have a different local sales tax. That is a lot of work for small online business. [ |
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Sheleigha
 Posts: 1673 |
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I think it'll be a good thing, at least for B&M stores Amazon competes with. One of the biggest customer grabs (either than the lower prices) IS the fact that no one has to pay tax on their items. Maybe now this'll help some B&M stores thrive a bit more, since maybe some people will actually go to them, if they have to pay taxes either way?
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gsilver
Posts: 618 |
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Online prices are still vastly cheaper. Amazon regularly sells $60 games for $36. and in an extreme example, I bought a CD from them last year with a "regular price" of 9.99, and a sale price of 7.99. The same CD in a store? $15. It's also a lot cheaper to not pay for the gas to go to a store, and you can find what you're looking for on Amazon in less time than it would take to walk from your car, already in the parking lot, to the entrance of a store, nevermind the driving time and the time it takes to find it in a store. Also, no annoying sales people following you around.
When you look at all that, enforcing sales tax (which you're supposed to pay, anyway) is still no big deal. |
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potatochobit
 Posts: 1373 Location: TEXAS |
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lmfao
I just started buying tons of anime bluray from amazon this past year since they've been buying in bulk and selling at budget prices. since I live in TX, if they start charging sales tax I am going to have to cut back a ton of my disc spending. that's probably a good thing though. |
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Veers
 Posts: 1197 Location: Texas |
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potatochobit, just get a $10, year-long GotAnime membership with rightstuf. You'll get equal or better prices the majority of the time through them. Plus the satisfaction of knowing you're supporting a company that cares about the industry. Even without the membership the prices are usually pretty close, and you won't pay tax and will get free shipping on $50+ orders.
Just a few examples from titles TRSI has on their front page, for TX residents. Panty & Stocking [amazon]: $50 (+ tax in July) Panty & Stocking [TRSI w/ Membership]: $35 (funimation catalog discounts this week) Arrietty BD [amazon]: $30 (+ tax in July) Arrietty BD [TRSI w/ Membership]: $32 K-ON!! S2P1 BD [amazon]: $63 (+ tax in July) K-ON!! S2P1 BD [TRSI]: $42 (currently on sale, not eligible for membership discount) |
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gsilver
Posts: 618 |
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Another reason why retail is messed up:
I needed some light bulbs, so I went to the store today. $13 for a pack of 4 GE Reveal bulbs. The exact same package on Amazon? They list a "Retail Price" of $10, but they'll sell it for $3.90. With 2-day shipping. That's less than a third of what it would cost in a retail store. |
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Sheleigha
Posts: 1673 |
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Retail is not "messed up". Do you know how many people you have to pay when you put items on B&M shelves? Amazon has a minimal workforce, compares to store chains, and buy in LARGE bulk and are able to sell them. If B&M stores priced things the same as Amazon, they would go broke pretty fast, never making profit. It doesn't work the same and although I love Amazon and use it often, they are notorious for predatory pricing. |
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Xanas
Posts: 2058 |
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Predatory pricing is what I like. More money for me to spend elsewhere.
I do disagree with calling retail "messed up" for having a higher price though. It's a price of a speed/localization/etc. and in some cases that's of value. |
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GATSU
Posts: 15349 |
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Details on the terms in Cali here.
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GATSU
Posts: 15349 |
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