Internet Sales Tax Debate

A topic that keeps popping up in the news and editorial commentaries is the unfair advantage the Internet stores have over the brick and mortar (B & M) stores. A recent piece in the local paper written by a B & M store owner whined that she was losing business because of this unfair advantage.

As a regular on-line shopper, I can't find fault with the assertion that many Internet stores do not collect sales tax. Of course, as a totally honest and above board shopper, whenever I buy something on-line that doesn't get assessed a sales tax, like all Florida shoppers I always report that purchase along with a check in the amount of sales tax to the Florida Department of Revenue as is required by law. Don't you?

The above mentioned B & M owner, in her newspaper rant, accused her fellow Floridians of being a bunch of low down, scum-sucking crooks (or words to that effect) for not abiding by state law and paying the required sales tax. For shame on those scofflaws! Many in our legislature agree with Ms. B & M that the state is inhabited by a bunch of crooks. This is somewhat akin to the pot calling the kettle black, though, but I certainly can't find fault with that assertion. Florida CEO Rick (with a P) Scott is a prime example.

Just for the sake of argument, let's assume that the collection of sales tax by the Internet stores becomes law. Does that level the playing field for the B & M-ers? Not necessarily, because most of the on-line stores add shipping and handling to the purchase. That could make on-line shopping more costly than shopping locally.

Notice I stated that it "could" be more costly, but consider this: Let's say that you are in the market for a new pair of blue jeans (I prefer Levi's - just plain Levi's), so you go to the mall at Britton Plaza as an example. There you will find two clothing stores. Do either of them carry just plain Levi's?

Nope!

You then hop back into your vehicle and brave the traffic on the way to the West Shore Mall. The first store you wander into has jeans, but only the ones designed by Omar the Tent Maker that seem to be in vogue these days. The next stop is that $300 a pop designer store. If I plop down that much money for a pair of jeans there better be a BJ included in that price. Since that is not allowed by my bride, the Belle of Ballast Point, I would have continue on my jeans odyssey.

Your next stop might be at Jacque Pennaise's where you find a plethora of jeans that appear to have been rejected by Goodwill. I took a look at these garments, some of which were in worse shape than the ones I wanted to replace, and I muttered an obscenity. These jeans were faded, torn, and had questionable stains, but a hellacious price. I thought to myself, "Holy shit, I've got a small fortune hanging in my closet back home."

Speaking of "back home", that is where I ended my shopping expedition. I still was in need of some new jeans - and a cold beer. The latter I retrieved from the fridge, and the former I ordered on-line. With just a few clicks on the keyboard I found the exact pair of never-worn-before jeans that I had spent several frustrating hours trying to find earlier. The price was competitive, even with sales tax and shipping, and I had my new jeans within ten days. I didn't need instant jeans gratification.

Since that disastrous jeans jaunt I have looked locally for a cable to connect a laptop to a TV. I called four stores in the area. No luck! Five minutes on the Internet and I found and ordered the necessary cable. Over the last year I purchased a new FAX machine, heat pump air filters, concealed carry holster, MP3 player, and a portable Waterpik that I couldn't find locally.

These are some exasperating examples of trying to shop locally. Toss in grumpy sales people and high gas prices, and I think it becomes obvious why many people, like me, prefer to shop on-line. Forcing people to obey the law while increasing state revenue may come to fruition, but it won't necessarily drive customers into the brick and mortar stores.

Chew on that brick, and may it serve you well.