.The new state tax being charge on EBAY purchases.

[khowell4eb2]

Dear EBAY community, with the new state taxes being added to many of our purchases it has become very hard to see the advantage of buying on line. The EBAY Bucks program has been lowered to just 1% and even with special offers of 6%-8% its just not there. Sad to see this all coming to a end. At least I am lucky enough to be able to drive right over to Indiana where no sales tax is added to  bullion sales. There will always be government looking to get in your pockets. SAD 😞

[bonjourami]

The advantage is convenience.

[soh.maryl]

Not only is the advantage convenience but, in the case of vintage items, in the fact that you find things listed tidily in one place that you would have to travel to several antique shops to locate.  I used to collect vintage Pyrex.  There is always enough of that listed on eBay to satisfy even the most intrepid collector's wildest dreams.  

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

That's even if you could find things locally. New England is not a very good hotspot for vintage anything. I don't think people up here collected cool things like they did in the heartland.

[mopata]

By itself, It was a fairly big deal (I now reduce the amount I am willing to bid by 8% to account for it). But, we also got the double whammy with the new USPS shipping rates that results in BIG increases in shipping costs for larger items. It has almost gotten to the point that any low or moderate priced item that won't fit in a box with a combined L+W+H of 36" or less is almost unsalable on ebay.

[escarchac]

Oh, there is stuff up there. Went on a vacation in Vermont not too long ago, and saw a bunch of really cool vintage items, but the only problem was that every shop I went into, they were REALLY proud of their stuff, so proud that they had it priced to the moon. Fun to look through, but wasn't going to dish out that much for things.

[escarchac]

Sad that it is going that route. I do most of my shipping through USPS, but now that they have increased their rates, FEDEX and UPS might be an alternative. The taxes don't bother me as much. Now I don't have to worry about keeping track for my Tax ID#. I'm just waiting for eBay to increase their selling fees to the point where it will chase all of their sellers off.

[7606dennis]

Not having to pay sales/use tax on items purchased online has never been a legitimate advantage since the buyer has always been obliged to pay the tax if it had not collected by the seller.  The only thing that the new Marketplace Facilitator laws did make it easier for the buyer to fulfill his obligation by collecting the tax and remitting it through the facilitator.

[kataggr-44]

Yes, but how many people actually did this...and I am including otherwise law abiding citizens.  I agree with the OP that bargains are far and few, shipping costs are high and now sales tax.  The advantage to buying here no longer exists...As far as convenience, many brick mortar stores now sell on line and will ship directly to your home.

[bonjourami]

And I will still have to pay sales/use tax to those B&M stores selling online.

[kataggr-44]

 I drive so I can just go to the store and pick it up.  For those who can't will have to pay sales tax but they can compare prices.   B&M online gives them another alternative.  I am just finding that prices here are much higher than they used to be.

[lightlily_arts]

I buy about 95% of the things I need online and have been doing it for quite some time.    I shop all the venues and buy wherever I find the better price.  For me I love the convenience of shopping online.   No driving around reduces wear and tear on my car, or spending money on gasoline, and I don't have to lug heavy things home.  For example, I had to buy a replacement steel  wheel for my vehicle, which is far to heavy for me to lift and carry.   Love having everything delivered to my door.  Many of the items I purchase on eBay are already being taxed and come October I think eBay will collect taxes on all of them.  Most people buy by total price, and  online shopping is great for disabled people .  eBay bucks and cash back from PayPal for my purchases too are an added bonus. For each person it's cost versus benefit.

[7606dennis]

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@kataggr-44 wrote:

Yes, but how many people actually did this...and I am including otherwise law abiding citizens.  I agree with the OP that bargains are far and few, shipping costs are high and now sales tax.  The advantage to buying here no longer exists...As far as convenience, many brick mortar stores now sell on line and will ship directly to your home.

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The fact that many people were committing tax evasion is probably a good point in the minds of legislators as they debated the merits of passing the Marketplace Facilitator laws.

[7606dennis]

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@kataggr-44 wrote:

 I drive so I can just go to the store and pick it up.  For those who can't will have to pay sales tax but they can compare prices.   B&M online gives them another alternative.  I am just finding that prices here are much higher than they used to be.

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How is driving to the store and picking up an item going to keep you from having to pay sales tax on it?

[kataggr-44]

If the prices are similar and the taxes are similar...then I am saving shipping cost.  I combine trips when I am out and I live close to malls and b&m stores so the gas I'm using is not nearly as much as what I would pay in shipping.  There are all different crimes on the books and as I said previously in my mind there should not be a tax on used items.  It is doable if you buy from one seller but with multiple ones the shipping costs can add up fast.  I just do not see the savings I used to...especially when prices here have climbed as well.  Many new items I can buy at the various dollar stores or Walmart and use coupons to save as well.