This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As the operator of a small storefront retail operation, I have an observation to share regarding William Shughart's Dec. 18 op-ed, "Amazon 'deal' undermines tax rate competition."
Shughart's claim that brick-and-mortar stores have advantages such as "touch and feel," "immediate delivery" and "no shipping and handling charges," which more than offset online retailers' practice of not charging sales tax, does not survive the most casual scrutiny.
Here's the reality: Shoppers will often spend significant amounts of time talking to our sales staff to learn about different models, technologies, features, accessories and how to operate the items they are interested in. Then, after we've helped them to decide what it is they want to buy, they take out their smartphones and, with us standing right there next to them, they'll place an order through Amazon. When we ask them why, especially since we charge the same price, they respond, very casually, "No sales tax, and I get free two-day delivery."
Yes, they got their product education about what to buy and the "touch and feel" experience from us, but they bought from Amazon.
I freely admit that I personally buy things from Amazon. But let's not kid ourselves: A genuinely "level playing field" in an internet-driven economy must involve all retail purchases, whether in-store or online, being subject to the same sales tax. The economic playing field among retailers today is anything but level.
Seth Jarvis
Salt Lake City