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Best online store price (low shipping/no tax) for California residents?

joltaxt said:
You can buy goods online in California tax free? This is news to me, and I'm pretty sure unless it's a special promotion it's illegal.

Link me to this glorious website so I'll be shopping here exclusively from now on.
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It sounds pretty illegal to me as well. Is this an example of tax evasion? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when filing taxes, aren't you supposed to pay the tax anyways under what's called a 'use tax?'
 
bchreng said:
It sounds pretty illegal to me as well. Is this an example of tax evasion? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when filing taxes, aren't you supposed to pay the tax anyways under what's called a 'use tax?'
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Have you and the other guy been living under a rock since Internet shopping began? Everybody from every state can do this and has done this to avoid paying local taxes. The only people that hate this are scumbag politicians and parasite government workers, some of whom still do it themselves and still want the money from it.
 
Calidude said:
Have you and the other guy been living under a rock since Internet shopping began? Everybody from every state can do this and has done this to avoid paying local taxes. The only people that hate this are scumbag politicians and parasite government workers, some of whom still do it themselves and still want the money from it.
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Doing so doesn't make it legal. Here's a link I found.

'California imposes “Use” tax on the purchase of tangible personal (non-real estate) property purchased in another state and transported into California for “use”…hence the “Use” Tax name. While taxpayers play various games to avoid sales tax, the biggest problem comes from internet purchases, where the seller charges no California sales tax when it is obvious tangible personal property is being sold and shipped to a California purchaser.'

Think whatever you want though buddy. If you want to avoid paying taxes then more power to ya! :)
 
bchreng said:
It sounds pretty illegal to me as well. Is this an example of tax evasion? Correct me if I'm wrong, but when filing taxes, aren't you supposed to pay the tax anyways under what's called a 'use tax?'
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It's not federal tax evasion, but it is considered tax evasion by the state. You are correct. California tax law requires that state citizens who purchase items from out of state, either online or by direct mail order, must pay sales tax on the purchase if they are not charged it. Essentially you would keep a spreadsheet or review receipts at the end of the year, and any items you did not pay state tax on, you would tally up what you owe and pay it voluntarily on your CA tax form.

I won't go too far into the debate, but regardless, the state asks you to pay it. That being said, the burden of proof falls on the state's shoulders and enforcement of this tax law is nearly impossible thanks to existing privacy and constitutional rights.
 
Did anyone end up buying from macconnection? I called them at 2pm PST while waiting in line at my local Apple store, was on hold for 30 min and then hung up. Ended up getting 32GB Wi-Fi at my Apple Store with no problems so they lost my business.

I heard that macmall.com was having people call then saying they were just on "a list" but they didn't have any physical inventory so I didn't want the same thing to happen to me at macconnection.
 
bchreng said:
Doing so doesn't make it legal. Here's a link I found.

'California imposes “Use” tax on the purchase of tangible personal (non-real estate) property purchased in another state and transported into California for “use”…hence the “Use” Tax name. While taxpayers play various games to avoid sales tax, the biggest problem comes from internet purchases, where the seller charges no California sales tax when it is obvious tangible personal property is being sold and shipped to a California purchaser.'

Think whatever you want though buddy. If you want to avoid paying taxes then more power to ya! :)
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All people should avoid paying taxes whenever they can and its the main reason I buy all the big stuff from other states.
 
For those that did order from b&h, let us know if you have backlight bleed or dead pixels.
 
The only place I planned to order online from was B&H Photo. But after the ubiquitous backlight bleed and stuck pixels surfaced on Friday, I couldn't make myself pull the trigger knowing I would likely have to return it.
 
quid squid said:
http://www.macconnection.com is tax free and free shipping. i ordered my iMac from them a couple years ago. The front page of their site says they will start selling at 5 as well.
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+1 for macconnection. I think they charge the recycle fee in CA but not sales tax. Not from the state but I think that is how it works.
 
Zion21 said:
+1 for macconnection. I think they charge the recycle fee in CA but not sales tax. Not from the state but I think that is how it works.
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Have you ordered and not been charged tax in CA? I am almost ready to bite the bullet and get a system and would like to make sure.
 
Justin Luck said:
It's a shame Amazon doesn't sell the iPad 2 because you have to be in a dream world to think it even compares to a Kindle DX.

Anyone know of an online authorized reseller outside of California that will sell the iPad 2 with a low shipping fee?
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Get it from Craigslist...no tax.
 
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