Maybe ‘local’ businesses could possibly up their business process. If local businesses have to compete with the Internet then maybe they have to become more part of the Internet and be able to take orders and fill orders in a quick and timely matter…if that’s doable depending on the business. It’s unfortunately the way the world is going. Increasingly there is a segment of the population that do not want to go out and physically shop, which means driving or taking a bus and then finding parking etc etc. Also as we all realize there is the actual cost of the item. I suppose even with brokerage fees there are items that can still save money by buying on line.
"If local businesses have to compete with the Internet then maybe they have to become more part of the Internet and be able to take orders and fill orders in a quick and timely matter…"
Let's assume for a moment that it is possible for that local business to offer the same product at the same price as the American online seller.
Why should the American seller have a 13% (*) price advantage by not having to charge tax - and Canada Customs inspectors routinely let parcels go without taxing them - while the Canadian business must remit the tax.
Is this fair to Canadian businesses and their employees?
(*) percentage may vary depending on product and province of buyer.
Is this fair to Canadian businesses and their employees?
No, obviously not. First of all one would have to talk to Harper about that. Secondly as you can appreciate, that would mean that every parcel would have to be opened and checked by customs and every person would be hit up for taxes. This would result in several things:
a) Most likely the need for more employees.
b) More paperwork and probably a slow down in the parcel getting to the buyer.
c) It would definetly put a crimp on international sales and trading at which point whoever is the PM would have to answer to the other countries involved, especially our largest trading partner the USA.
"Most likely the need for more employees"
That is not a bod thing. It would put some people to work! And their wages and benefits would be more than covered by the taxes being raised.
"probably a slow down in the parcel getting to the buyer"
Yes, there may be another day or two added to the delivery time. Is this a bad thing if it encourage buyers to buy at home?
"put a crimp on international sales"
Not really. In the big scheme of things, mail order coming into Canada through Canada Post for individual consumers represents a very small fraction of overall international trade. The Chinese would be the last one to complain since most the the goods shipped directly to consumers from China are not really genuine but copies of the "real things".
Looking at the USA, already many (maybe most) large suppliers exporting to Canadian consumers are duly registered with GST/HST and properly charge the tax to buyers at time of purchase..
That is not a bod thing. It would put some people to work! And their wages and benefits would be more than covered by the taxes being raised.
So that would mean we would make money in one hand and then hand it out in the other?
Not really. In the big scheme of things, mail order coming into Canada through Canada Post for individual consumers represents a very small fraction of overall international trade.
I think that depends on the item. That is often the problem with ‘stats’ they generalize and are not very specific.
Is this a bad thing if it encourage buyers to buy at home?
I don’t shop on-line other than the occasional rare item I buy off here…..however I have looked at some items to be found on-line and compare them to what I can get in a local store and the selection on-line is much Larger. That is a major advantage for people buying off the computer as opposed to buying locally.
I was looking for a sander a couple of weeks ago. Went to my local store and they did not have what I wanted.....actually they didn't have much at all. How long would it take to get one in?…..about 2 weeks. Out of curiosity I did an on-line search and found I could have one within 4-5 days and it would be 86 dollars less than buying locally….as well as delivered right to my door. But……..being the good Canadian that I try to be……..I did several long distance calls…..found one an hour away…..drove there and back, just to buy ‘local’. Not a lot of people will do that. But that was a semi big ticket item. When it come to items like DVDs, CDs, clothing, kitchen items and countless other products…..more people are finding that buying on-line is the way they want to go in this new world of retail.
You have to factor in your time to hunt for a local store, the time to call them and the two or three hour round trip, plus gas. Unless you need the item THAT day, or the local store is offering a super deal (which they probably weren't), you end up saving nothing and it's a waste of your time.
I’m well aware of that. Problem is……I live in the country and even the closest town doesn’t have much of a selection that can be found in a larger city. The situation arises that small town stores can’t carry a large stock and end up with dead stock on the shelves and dead stock is dead money. I know a store in London with dead stock in a dying business and all the guy does is complain and complain. He would do better to get better stock and clean up his store and even do some dusting because customers do their own complaining about what it looks like.
If they don't want to compete, that's their problem, good luck to them
On-line companies are different that local brick and mortar stores for many reasons. You can’t compare the two. It is unfair to try and especially feel that the local store is doing it just because they don’t want to ‘compete’.
As for someone attacking someone who tries to get a deal at a store and discredits them to others in order to hurt their business…..that’s despicable…..and dangerous.
In many places in Europe few transactions are done without trying to ‘make a deal’. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s called …….life. People accept that and do not try to damage the reputation of others. It seems to me that some people would never be able to exist in any other culture for long.
