[nmnita]

Originally Posted by FriendlyFeller

How do you enforce it, dig through everybody’s emails looking for purchases?
Sure you can start requiring American companies to report stuff but what about shopping sites who have their servers in China?

Oh, the way it is now, you can't enforce it, I agree. That is why the attempt to change the law to make it mandatory for on line companies to collect it when we place our order, and it won't make any difference where the site is, the computers will automatically add the tax. I know I am in the minority here, but I do see the merchants side and there are a lot of merchants that are affected, not just WalMart. How about furniture companies, dept stores, even grocery shopping? Of course I love shopping and not paying taxes, all our becoming on line shoppers, but it is hurting the local merchants. They have to try and compete with the Amazons and charge taxes.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Oh, the way it is now, you can't enforce it, I agree. That is why the attempt to change the law to make it mandatory for on line companies to collect it when we place our order, and it won't make any difference where the site is, the computers will automatically add the tax. I know I am in the minority here, but I do see the merchants side and there are a lot of merchants that are affected, not just WalMart. How about furniture companies, dept stores, even grocery shopping? Of course I love shopping and not paying taxes, all our becoming on line shoppers, but it is hurting the local merchants. They have to try and compete with the Amazons and charge taxes.

Shipping and handling charges offset the tax savings. What hurts the local merchants is that they don't have the selection of goods that are available on-line. As a shopper, I shop on-line because I can quickly compare prices between sites, and because there is a huge range of choices. Also, customer service in my experience has been much better on-line.

Local merchants complain about on-line just as they complain about the big box stores. Just as they complained about Sears and its catalog almost a century ago. The bottom line is that people will shop at local merchants when local merchants offer people what they want at affordable prices. Local merchants want a monopoly on local wallets. And that isn't even desirable from a free market viewpoint.

[Luvvarkansas]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

The bottom line is that people will shop at local merchants when local merchants offer people what they want at affordable prices. Local merchants want a monopoly on local wallets. And that isn't even desirable from a free market viewpoint.

Very true.

I realize the tax thing isn't enforceable, and it does annoy me that the government is digging into my private life and my pocketbook even more, but when I found out I was supposed to be doing it, it was just hard for me to pretend I didn't know.....and you never know with the government, what kind of witch hunt they'll go on next!

Nita, just google your refrigerator's model #, along with "icemaker", and see what comes up. My hubby found ours on Amazon. It remains to be see whether it is actually the right one and will work....I'll report back!

[ArkansasTgirl]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Oh, the way it is now, you can't enforce it, I agree. That is why the attempt to change the law to make it mandatory for on line companies to collect it when we place our order, and it won't make any difference where the site is, the computers will automatically add the tax. I know I am in the minority here, but I do see the merchants side and there are a lot of merchants that are affected, not just WalMart. How about furniture companies, dept stores, even grocery shopping? Of course I love shopping and not paying taxes, all our becoming on line shoppers, but it is hurting the local merchants. They have to try and compete with the Amazons and charge taxes.

How can you make a Chinese company who probably also ships to the EU etc comply with an American law?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by FriendlyFeller

How can you make a Chinese company who who also ships to the EU etc comply with an American law? Like I said before the law can only make American companies comply giving foreign sites an advantage over American ones.

Most of what we buy on line comes from companies like Amazon, or in my case, wine or cheeses, etc which are American companies. You can't force a company in another country to abide by our laws, that much is right. As I have said, over and over, I realize I am in the minority. But that doesn't change my mind...You have your feelings and opinions, I have mine and guess what it doesn't make a heck of a lot of difference how we feel our elected officials will do it the way they want.

[ArkansasTgirl]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Most of what we buy on line comes from companies like Amazon, or in my case, wine or cheeses, etc which are American companies. You can't force a company in another country to abide by our laws, that much is right. As I have said, over and over, I realize I am in the minority. But that doesn't change my mind...You have your feelings and opinions, I have mine and guess what it doesn't make a heck of a lot of difference how we feel our elected officials will do it the way they want.

Its not about feelings, I agree with you on an emotional level.

I just think its a technical problem and would have to be solved using technical means.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by FriendlyFeller

Its not about feelings, I agree with you on an emotional level.

I just think its a technical problem and would have to be solved using technical means.

The American distributor/importer/delivering company would have to pay the tax.

[ArkansasTgirl]

Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge

The American distributor/importer/delivering company would have to pay the tax.

Not if they throw it in an envelope in China (or wherever) and ship it right to your door. Even if customs does open it they are only looking for contraband, not single mp3 players.
I've bought small things off of ebay direct from China in the sub $5 range with free shipping takes a little longer (sometimes its actually pretty fast) but is very cheap.
Why would the USPS pick up the tab for you? They are barely managing to stay open on Saturdays as it is.