Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
You're saying your 20% rate is less then what we pay in the states?

No, I believe the average sales tax is in the 5% range. California probably has the highest and some states like NY and Florida have local and state sales tax that increase the overall tax rate but its still far below 20%

My state (Massachusetts) has 6.125%

No I meant most states pay less than our 20%. 5% seems like a really good deal.
 
I'm actually happy that Amazon has to charge sales tax. It gives the brick and mortar stores a fighting chance. I admit that even I was using Best Buy as a store room for my Amazon purchases before... some products just need to be handled before you purchase.

Wtf? How could you be HAPPY to have to pay more?

Thing is, it isn't just about taxes, that small amount is nothing compared to the overall low prices at amazon.

Hdmi cable may be 99 bucks at best buy, but go to amazon and get it for 4 bucks.

That little bit of tax is nothing there.

If they REALLY want a fighting chance they will start price matching online prices and stop the excessive prices they're known for.





As much as I didn't mind tax-free purchases from Amazon, in the end I also agree that it's an unfair advantage compared to brick and mortar businesses.

Typical shopper goes display shopping at Best Buy. Then leave Best Buy without buying anything, goes home and then fires up web browser and orders (the same product) tax-free from Amazon. So yes, Amazon had a huge advantage, while the physical retail stores were bleeding to death many going into bankruptcy.
Like I said, it isn't just taxes, a lot of that is lower price period.

It's stupid to pay more than you have to for the exact same thing. Best buy and other B&M retailers need to understand people go where the price is right.
 
Still gotta pay the tax buddy. Sorry to break it to you.

Because it's unenforceable, it's never paid by anyone.

I don't have a problem with sellers being required to collect sales tax on internet purchases. Given the tens of thousands of other taxes I pay (income, property, AV on cars, etc), the sales tax on the small amount of money I spend online is practically nothing.

What I have a problem with is is putting that burden on some companies, but not all.
 
Effective today, Indiana, Nevada and Tennessee join the list of taxable Amazon states.
 
No I meant most states pay less than our 20%. 5% seems like a really good deal.

Yeah definitely - 5% is much better then what you guys have to pay.

Depends what the tax gets you. On average, I spend thousands each year on hospital/ER visits for the misses. And that's with nothing going wrong, that we would have to file for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, living in Oregon, I pay no sales tax, on anything, ever.

If that 20% covered healthcare, I would be so ahead.
 
Wtf? How could you be HAPPY to have to pay more?

Thing is, it isn't just about taxes, that small amount is nothing compared to the overall low prices at amazon.

Hdmi cable may be 99 bucks at best buy, but go to amazon and get it for 4 bucks.

That little bit of tax is nothing there.

If they REALLY want a fighting chance they will start price matching online prices and stop the excessive prices they're known for.

Best Buy already DOES price match online prices! Just show them the product page and... As long as it's for Amazon itself and not a merchant... they'll gladly mark the product down. They also price match with Newegg (which sometimes has better prices than Amazon.

I'm happy because the whole showroom thing was never sustainable; The tax advantage Amazon had would have eventually killed the brick and mortar stores.
 
Last edited:
Best Buy already DOES price match online prices! Just show them the product page and... As long as it's for Amazon itself and not a merchant... they'll gladly mark the product down. They also price match with Newegg (which sometimes has better prices than Amazon.

I'm happy because the whole showroom thing was never sustainable; The tax advantage Amazon had would have eventually killed the brick and mortar stores.

Best buy only matches THEIR online prices.


They don't match other online retailers

From their own website


Best Buy Price Match Guarantee

Buy It Now with Confidence

Best Buy will match the price if you find a lower price on an identical available product at a local retail competitor's store, a local Best Buy retail store or BestBuy.com. Simply let us know when you are making your purchase or during the return and exchange period.

The Guarantee does not apply to: Our competitors' website prices, offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors, mail-in offers, competitors' service prices, items that are advertised as limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, refurbished/used items, Deal of the Day items, BestBuy.com Midnight Sale and special hour sale events, BestBuy.com Clearance & More and Marketplace items, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving.
 
Best buy only matches THEIR online prices.


They don't match other online retailers

From their own website


Best Buy Price Match Guarantee

Buy It Now with Confidence

Best Buy will match the price if you find a lower price on an identical available product at a local retail competitor's store, a local Best Buy retail store or BestBuy.com. Simply let us know when you are making your purchase or during the return and exchange period.

The Guarantee does not apply to: Our competitors' website prices, offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors, mail-in offers, competitors' service prices, items that are advertised as limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, refurbished/used items, Deal of the Day items, BestBuy.com Midnight Sale and special hour sale events, BestBuy.com Clearance & More and Marketplace items, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Umm, this isn't just something I read. I price match with Amazon at my local Beat Buy ALL THE TIME! Literally whenever I go in their I pull out my iPhone, launch my barcode scanner app, and look to see if the products I want are available for less online. My voice recorder, gaming mouse, Belkin MDP-HDMI adapter, mousepad, and several games were ALL successfully price matched with Amazon.

That policy you've listed must only apply to their Buy It Now Guarantee. Either that or some dimwit forgot to update the page when they started accepting online price matching over a year ago.
 
More like special treatment is expiring.

Nope, it's by design. Amazon's long-term goal is to compete with all brick and mortar stores close to you.
The holy grail for that is same day delivery. That's Amazon's end-game.

And for that, they need warehouses in every state, and every large city or populated region.

So, in order to get to completely annihilate B&M stores, they will sacrifice the advantage their customers had from not being taxed, in order to give them same day or next day delivery on all items.

-t
 
I'm in Oregon (no sales tax) yet I rarely buy at a local B&M store when I can buy from Amazon, Newegg, B&H, or Apple.com (and I'm 5 minutes away from an Apple store!) Online is just so much more convenient that even with a "level playing field" it's still hilly!

What irks me is having to pay sales tax when I buy something and have it shipped to other states. What's the deal with that? Some shipments have been to states I haven't visited in 50+ years and I certainly get no benefit from lining their coffers!

----------

Nope, it's by design. Amazon's long-term goal is to compete with all brick and mortar stores close to you.
The holy grail for that is same day delivery. That's Amazon's end-game.

Amazon's goal is to be what Sears could have been if they hadn't screwed up in the 90's by closing down their mail order business instead of enhancing it with an online presence back when Amazon was getting started.
 
Best buy only matches THEIR online prices.


They don't match other online retailers

From their own website


Best Buy Price Match Guarantee

Buy It Now with Confidence

Best Buy will match the price if you find a lower price on an identical available product at a local retail competitor's store, a local Best Buy retail store or BestBuy.com. Simply let us know when you are making your purchase or during the return and exchange period.

The Guarantee does not apply to: Our competitors' website prices, offers that include financing, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors, mail-in offers, competitors' service prices, items that are advertised as limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, refurbished/used items, Deal of the Day items, BestBuy.com Midnight Sale and special hour sale events, BestBuy.com Clearance & More and Marketplace items, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving.

Here: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Payment...ee/pcmcat297300050000.c?id=pcmcat297300050000

At the time of purchase, we will match the current pre-tax price for new, identical, immediately available products from a local retail competitor's store or shipped from and sold by a designated major online retailers: Amazon.com, Apple.com, Bhphotovideo.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, Frys.com, hhgregg.com, HP.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Newegg.com, OfficeDepot.com, OfficeMax.com, Rakuten.com Shopping, Sears.com, Staples.com, Target.com, TigerDirect.com and Walmart.com. We will match prices between our stores and BestBuy.com®. We will also match prices post purchase if we lower our price within 15 days of your purchase.

The Guarantee is limited to one price match per identical item, per guest and does not apply to: Contract mobile phones sold by any online retailer, the online prices of retailers not listed, the online prices of products shipped from or sold by third party vendors (Marketplace vendors) on designated major online retailers websites, post purchase price match requests to competitor's prices, Best Buy for Business™, offers that include financing, gift card offers, bundling of items, free items, pricing errors, mail-in offers, coupon offers, competitors' service prices, items that are advertised as limited-quantity, out of stock, open-box, clearance, refurbished/used items, our and our competitor's Deal of the Day, daily deals, special hour sale event items and credit card offers, BestBuy.com Clearance & More and Marketplace items, and items for sale Thanksgiving Day through 11:59 p.m. on the Monday after Thanksgiving.
 
Amazon's goal is to be what Sears could have been if they hadn't screwed up in the 90's by closing down their mail order business instead of enhancing it with an online presence back when Amazon was getting started.

Coincidentally, Sears' online business (with meta-search engine, links to external sources) is one of the few positive income generating divisions of Sears. Go figure.

-t
 
Best buy only matches THEIR online prices.


They don't match other retailers.

Incorrect. I just purchased a $149.99 TDK Weatherproof Boombox for $119.99 after showing them the product page on Amazon.com. They even say so on their web site somewhere but I'm not looking for it.
 
I'm actually happy that Amazon has to charge sales tax. It gives the brick and mortar stores a fighting chance. I admit that even I was using Best Buy as a store room for my Amazon purchases before... some products just need to be handled before you purchase.

Wal-Mart needs our helping hand so they can stand a fighting chance against the ruthless and exploitative Amazon.com. :rolleyes:
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.