Understanding Online Buyers? - Engraving Etc. Forum

From:	Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC)	21 Apr 2007
To:	ALL	1 of 20

6716.1
I had a very funny sale this week from the online side (...if sales can actually be funny!) A woman called to say she was thrilled to find this one particular item, and had just placed a substantial order for crystal paperweights. Even though they're a municipal organization, nobody locally could accomodate and it's just "so convenient to shop online." She had input the engraving information and indicated they wanted the logo in the layout, and asked to see a proof before engraving. She would send the graphic only if we thought it could be included. A pretty normal phone call, until... She said that the logo was very intricate, using the Town Seal as its centerpiece. I told her that we'd have to see it first, but unlikely a big issue. She said well, I hope so but we come from a very small town in Connecticut and the local stores say they can't do it. Lightbulb "Small town in Connecticut?" I ask, figuring she's upstate. "Yeah, it's really lovely but often frustrating that you just can't find everything you need," she says....and tells me the location. I agree....and tell her my wife and I almost bought a home there, my daughter learned to skate there, and we drive through it every night to get home. Her office is 15 minutes from the store. I've engraved that town seal dozens of times for other groups. Item+shipping+tax=more expensive than spending 2 minutes with the Yellow Pages (we're in her book) and a 15 minute drive at lunch: Item+no shipping+no tax. And BTW...the paperweight is available everywhere. Undaunted (...or maybe too embarassed,) she let the order ride. Go figure! Jim

From:	Engravin' Dave (DATAKES)	23 Apr 2007
To:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	4 of 20

6716.4 In reply to 6716.3

"municipal organization"

http://www.expressionsengraved.com

EDITED: 4 Jul 2010 by DATAKES

From:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	23 Apr 2007
To:	Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC)	6 of 20

6716.6 In reply to 6716.5
Duh, your are right; must be because I grew up in the valley, Ansonia. But then why would you charge tax on an internet sale? quote: Item+shipping+tax=more expensive than spending 2 minutes with the Yellow Pages (we're in her book) and a 15 minute drive at lunch: Wasn't just born at night, sometimes it seems it was last night. Big Sky Awards/a>

From:	PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY)	23 Apr 2007
To:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	7 of 20

6716.7 In reply to 6716.6

Washington State/County/City Organizations pay tax.....

WA is pushing all internet businesses to collect tax on sales to WA addresses........... Of couse that will drive you all crazy because every city has a different tax rate depending on what bridge, light rail, or feyy system is being suplemented bt the local tax base. So maybe they will go for a flat "internet tax" rate.........

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Mark
In the Great Northwest!

From:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	23 Apr 2007
To:	PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY)	8 of 20

6716.8 In reply to 6716.7

Mark,

That's Washington based internet businesses, correct?

Wasn't just born at night, sometimes it seems it was last night. Big Sky Awards/a>

From:	PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY)	23 Apr 2007
To:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	9 of 20

6716.9 In reply to 6716.8

No...Nation wide.

Just had a case where a gentleman was buying cigareettes on-line...out of state.. they (the state) handed him a bill for something like $8,000 + in taxes that were due. They are expanding this effort to recover lost revenue on all internet purchases........

Gov. Chris Gregoire has signed a measure that encourages Internet and catalog companies to collect and send the state sales taxes on purchases made by Washington residents.

"This is absolutely about tax fairness to the businesses of the state of Washington," Gregoire said as she signed the bill into law Thursday.

Washington will join 21 other states that have passed legislation to become members of the Streamlined Sales Tax Project.

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Mark
In the Great Northwest!

EDITED: 23 Apr 2007 by PENINSULATROPHY

From:	John (ICTJOHN)	23 Apr 2007
To:	PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY)	10 of 20

6716.10 In reply to 6716.9
quote: Streamlined Sales Tax Project Boy is that an Oxy moron! (intended pun) Kansas is also part of that group........ It is a royal pain in the patootie to try to figure each and every sales tax district for one state let alone multiple states...... >.< John http://www.creative-awards.com creativeawards@msn.com

From:	Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC)	23 Apr 2007
To:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	11 of 20

6716.11 In reply to 6716.6
quote: But then why would you charge tax on an internet sale? We have to collect sales tax for all online purchases within the state. There's no mechanism on our site to checkout as a tax-exempt organization...it takes a phone call. Jim

From:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	24 Apr 2007
To:	Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC)	15 of 20

6716.15 In reply to 6716.14

Small world. Heritage Village is in Southbury, correct? Spent the summer of 67 varnishing doors in the condo's. Got stoned on the fumes by 9am every morning. No wonder my brain is the way it is!!

Dave

Wasn't just born at night, sometimes it seems it was last night. Big Sky Awards/a>

From:	Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC)	24 Apr 2007
To:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	17 of 20

6716.17 In reply to 6716.15
quote: Small world. Heritage Village is in Southbury, correct? Spent the summer of 67 varnishing doors in the condo's. Got stoned on the fumes by 9am every morning. No wonder my brain is the way it is!! It is...but you wouldn't recognize the town anymore (I know we don't...and we've only been there for about 3 years!) Growth has unfortunately been explosive. Jim

From:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	24 Apr 2007
To:	Doc (GREAT_ATLANTIC)	18 of 20

6716.18 In reply to 6716.17

I understand, the population here in the Flathead County is growing tremendously and the rest of the state isn't far behind.

Soon the state will be over one million in population, not bad for the 3rd or 4th largest state! ;-)

Dave

Wasn't just born at night, sometimes it seems it was last night. Big Sky Awards/a>

From:	Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY)	24 Apr 2007
To:	Dave (MT_DAVE)	19 of 20

6716.19 In reply to 6716.18
Growing up in NYC, that number seems quite small. :O) Philadelphia, PA (Really Bensalem) When you finally understand it completely... it changes.

From:	Mark (MAXMACHINE)	24 Apr 2007
To:	ALL	20 of 20

6716.20
Oregon has tried (meaning the liberal state government) many times in the last 30 years to institute a sales tax. Our property taxes are very high here... they want to add the sales tax to the already high income and property taxes. Failing this, they are adding "usage fees" to everything under the sun... A fee to stop your car by the side of the road during winter snows A 1000% increase in the annual corporate fees A scheme to tax the number of miles you drive your car (everyone has to have a GPS unit, the fees vary according to whether you are driving through a particular city) Numerous other increases in taxes that are not voted on Eliminate the "double majority" rule (no tax measures unless more than half the registerd voters show up to vote, as well as more than half in favor of the measure) Welcome to liberal heaven.....