Online Sales Tax

[bad company]

Sounds like a great idea to help the High Street:-

https://apple.news/AygrxjHV7Sr-PGymXc4D8aA

[anonymous-user]

Why? If they can’t compete it won’t help for long.

What industry would tax some suppliers to aid others who can’t compete?

If we want the ‘high street’ to remain as it us we need to shop there.

[worsy]

What about the bricks and mortar outlets who have an online presence and use it to "subsidise" the traditional channel?

[Jamescrs]

Wouldn't make me go back to the high street anyway unless they are going to make online more expensive than the high street but if prices between high Street and online were equal I would still choose online.

Its not just about the price its about product availability and choice.

[smashing]

bad company said:

Sounds like a great idea to help the High Street:-

https://apple.news/AygrxjHV7Sr-PGymXc4D8aA

Sounds like ministers have run out of ideas to me

[bobbo89]

It'll have to be a silly high tax to work. Online is usually cheaper, there's always more choice and it's much more convenient.

I have absolutely no desire to drive into town, find somewhere to park, pay for parking and then find that I cant get what I want anyway.

I'm also not a 'shopper', I don't browse and purchase things on a whim. I only buy what I need or want and I always know specifically what those things are and most of the time they'll be things that are only available through online specialists anyway!

[bad company]

bobbo89 said:

It'll have to be a silly high tax to work. Online is usually cheaper, there's always more choice and it's much more convenient.

I have absolutely no desire to drive into town, find somewhere to park, pay for parking and then find that I cant get what I want anyway.

I'm also not a 'shopper', I don't browse and purchase things on a whim. I only buy what I need or want and I always know specifically what those things are and most of the time they'll be things that are only available through online specialists anyway!

Lots of I’s in there, others like shopping. I do a bit of both online for stuff that can be hard to find but for clothing I really like to see, feel and try on.

[GroundZero]

The difference in online prices is only half the equation for many.
The other root problem is the over aggressive councils and their hate of the motorist. Instead of investing in the high street and making it easier for people to visit and shop in their private vehicles, they on decided cheap options which force motorists out and they did a whole load of pandering to the hypocritical climate mobs.

[Dromedary66]

Was a tax put on the big brick and mortar chains when they started pushing out small independents 40 years ago?

Utterly ridiculous, Sunak is out of his depth on anything he is involved with.

[Truckosaurus]

Quite a lot of cheaper items are more expensive from the likes of Amazon already as they add in the cost of 'free' delivery, but I (and I assume millions of other people) still buy them as it is more convenient.

The biggest thing 'The High Street' can do to improve is extend their opening hours into the evening when people are back from work and do a full day on a Sunday.

Out-of-town retail parks and supermarkets are open in the evenings and are busy while the traditional town centres are closing their shutters.

They don't even have to change the overall number of hours they are open, stay closed a couple of mornings a week and then be open those evenings.

[rxe]

bobbo89 said:

It'll have to be a silly high tax to work. Online is usually cheaper, there's always more choice and it's much more convenient.

I have absolutely no desire to drive into town, find somewhere to park, pay for parking and then find that I cant get what I want anyway.

I'm also not a 'shopper', I don't browse and purchase things on a whim. I only buy what I need or want and I always know specifically what those things are and most of the time they'll be things that are only available through online specialists anyway!

Simple example.

12 Duracell batteries - £7.10 from Amazon, delivered to my door. Same batteries from physical Tesco - £10.00, and I've got to go and get it. From anywhere other than Tesco, it would be more.

So any proposed tax would need to be of the order of 30% to make me even think about it.

And then there's stuff that you can't get on the highstreet - would that be taxed too?

[bad company]

It’s not all about price, convenience is also a factor and local councils making parking difficult has been a major deterrent to shopping.

Having to wear masks will also deter a lot of shoppers including me.

[Jasandjules]

Funny how the solution is to increase tax. What about reducing business taxation etc? (rhetorical question)....

[Truckosaurus]

GroundZero said:

... Instead of investing in the high street and making it easier for people to visit and shop in their private vehicles...

Also, for many smaller towns if people have to drive 5-10mins to their nearest town centre you might as well drive 15-20-30mins to the nearest 'big town' which will have many more shops and cost the same to park. (or go to Tesco and park for free and they sell pretty much everything anyway).

[Sophisticated Sarah]

How about...

Abolish business rates
Make the High street car friendly
Free parking

[bobbo89]

bad company said:

Lots of I’s in there, others like shopping. I do a bit of both online for stuff that can be hard to find but for clothing I really like to see, feel and try on.

So you're happy for the stuff you probably cant get on the high street to be taxed because you're buying it online?

[bad company]

Sophisticated Sarah said:

How about...

Abolish business rates
Make the High street car friendly
Free parking

Paid for by what?

[CzechItOut]

Jasandjules said:

Funny how the solution is to increase tax. What about reducing business taxation etc? (rhetorical question)....

If I was cynical I'd say this is all about increasing tax revenues hidden beneath the facade of "saving the high street" in order to fool the gullible.

[bad company]

CzechItOut said:

If I was cynical I'd say this is all about increasing tax revenues hidden beneath the facade of "saving the high street" in order to fool the gullible.

Or increasing tax revenue which is essential during a national emergency and to revive the High Street.

[ant1973]

Increasing the cost of online shopping will not detract from its convenience. Price is only one part of the reason why I shop online. It appears that the government has failed to understand this elementary point...