Could this be the last year for the big chains?

[GA Russell]

Originally Posted by xroads

Quite honestly, outside of the grocery store and gas station, I make all of my purchases, not just books, on the internet now. The convenience is just too irresistible.

And the savings! Not only do you save on gas, but you're not paying sales tax, usually. This past year a great deal of what I purchased on the net came with free shipping.

[shutterbugtn]

This has been a fascinating read. Here are some thoughts that I had.

I find it ironic how BN and Borders are going through what the mom and pop shops experienced.

I fully support the move to ebooks. I have moved 13 times and honestly I am so sick of moving books. I love that I can start getting rid of my paper books and switching over. My home will be cleaner and less cluttered.

I will miss reading a book while taking a bath though. Maybe they will make a waterproof, rugged ereader.

[Blue Tyson]

Originally Posted by shutterbugtn

I will miss reading a book while taking a bath though. Maybe they will make a waterproof, rugged ereader.

the word for that is 'Ziploc'

[roc]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

And the savings! Not only do you save on gas, but you're not paying sales tax, usually. This past year a great deal of what I purchased on the net came with free shipping.

Uh, we in NC (I'm in Durham, neighbor) are "supposed" to report such out-of-state untaxed purchases on our NC income tax forms. I SWAG it ... some years.

Don't toot this horn too loudly, as it gives more ammo to the states for bellyaching to Congress about how much of OUR money they are not collecting, and how an Internet commerce tax is "needed" - like one robber complaining to a more successful one about the lean pickings, and asking for help.

Guess I would not be so bitter if I saw them spending OUR money more carefully, and if we could vote out the money/power-grubbing crooks, but anyone new coming in seems to wind up the same way - "power corrupts...".

[screwballl]

Florida has already implemented a sales tax on a large number of items (tangible or digital) bought/sold online.

[roc]

Originally Posted by screwballl

Florida has already implemented a sales tax on a large number of items (tangible or digital) bought/sold online.

Does that include the retailers in OTHER states collecting the tax, and forwarding to Florida? I suspect not (as with NC - voluntary compliance most likely), and that is the big debate going on about getting the Feds to enforce that on behalf of the states under the Constitutional Interstate Commerce provision.

[Andrew H.]

Originally Posted by screwballl

Florida has already implemented a sales tax on a large number of items (tangible or digital) bought/sold online.

All states with sales tax impose taxes on goods bought online, although I few still don't tax intangibles. However, the issue is not with imposing sales tax; the issue is with making out-of-state companies *collect* the sales tax. That is unconstitutional unless the entity has a physical presence in the state.