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"about the way they collect taxes in Belleville."
???
Once again, assuming things.
I can only refer to my own experiences. I have no idea what my neighbour across the street buys nor how much tax he pays on imports. My own imports are all declared with full value clearly stated and GST/HST collected a large percentage of the time.
It never really mattered to me as, as you are, I am registered with GST/HST and all tax collected are fully recovered from the government.
Prior to moving to Belleville over twenty years ago, I lived in Toronto and parcels from the USA were also taxed at time of importation. It was a regular battle with Canada Customs as they often charged Ontario 8% PST on stamps purchased below face value although such purchases were not taxable at the time (they are now with HST).
Individuals having to pay the tax (GST/PST/HST) from their own pockets may have a slightly different perspective.
"Buyer after buyer is posting that they upset over the GSP."
And most posters, myself included, have clearly stated GSP is NOT a good thing for most Canadian buyers. Even the staff at eBay.ca agrees.
"With all of these posts I keep thinking that someone might clue in and start billing me the way they bill Pierre."
Personally, I wish the federal government would do its job and charge the appropriate amount of tax on ALL taxable postal shipments valued at $20 and more as required by law.
Why should Canadian retailers be forced to collect and remit GST/HST when American sellers can ship tax free into Canada? Not charging the appropriate amount of tax at time of Customs clearance does NOTHING for Canada, does it? It simply gives a tax break to some Canadian buyers buying from foreign lands while taxing Canadians buying locally and supporting Canadian jobs.
"I'm pretty sure that Canadians would all but stop buying eBay (for example) items from the States."
Are you suggesting that Canadians buy from American sellers only as a way to save the tax (GST/HST/PST 5% to 15%)? That does not make much sense to me.
I honestly think Canadians have stronger values than buying on eBay for the sole purpose of cheating the Canadian taxman. After all, Canada needs those taxes to pay for our health system, education system, support to seniors, etc...
"I'm pretty sure that Canadians would all but stop buying eBay (for example) items from the States."
ALL ???
That is where I have a problem with many of those types of statements. ALL?
Everything is not black and white, it is not always ALL or NOTHING.
"Listen to what posters are saying about the GSP and that's a good indication of what will happen.
Aren't they saying that they're done with eBay altogether?"
A few perhaps but certainly not a majority.
A large number of purchases from the USA by Canadians are valued under $20. Taxing all parcels containing taxable goods over $20 would have no effect on those transactions. Many purchases on eBay are made by GST/HST registered Canadians. Once again these transactions would not be affected as these individuals and businesses get 100% of the GST/HST refunded. Some individuals would resist buying if taxes are collected but I expect most would continue as so many Canadians already do when purchasing goods from American sellers registered to collect GST/HST. Tax avoidance may be a factor in mail order from the USA but certainly not an overwhelming one as you imply.
The way I see it, whatever money is not spent by those Canadians refusing to buy from the USA if purchases are taxed will be spent in Canada helping Canadian retailers. It is no rocket science. Canadians have money to spend: if they do not spend it there, they will spend it here.
I am also reminded of the numbers of sellers who would "quit eBay" when fees went up very substantially (to 8%) many years ago. Many predicted that would be the end of eBay. Nobody could afford to pay 8% FVF (at that time). Take a look what has happened in the years since then.... fees have continued to increase and the number and value of transactions on eBay keeps on increasing.
Things are seldom black and white.
By the way, I should add that I do not expect the federal government to implement a system where all parcels would be taxed as required by law. It would raise millions of tax dollars for the federal and provincial governments but that would be political suicide for the governing party.
It is much easier to waste mliions of dollars of taxpayers money than risk losing votes.
And yes, I am cynical.
