Dan, Let me paint another perspective.
Customer wants to purchase a $3000 system (most are less). KY Sales Tax is 6%. That's $180 We don't charge for freight either. That narrows the gap another $50 est. For that huge cost differential, that perspective customer receives in-store pre-sales consulting and advice on what he should be buying based on his needs as well as in-store and telephone technical support covering any potential issue regarding the system he purchased for as long as he/she owns it. With that perspective, are you doing someone a disservice recommending that they buy from a mail order house? Some may answer "yes". Some may answer "no". It all depends on the individual. You figure it out. Ward Oldham, MacDude MacTown 1041 Bardstown Road Louisville, KY 40204 502-485-1243 ward at mactown.us http://www.mactown.us On 3/29/03 12:30 PM, "Dan Crutcher" <dcrutcher at loumag.com> wrote: > Ward: > > Of course one of the uphill battles the local business is fighting is the 6% > sales tax differential between mail-order and local purchase (I know, they're > _supposed_ to charge sales tax and remit it to the states, but the reality is > that very few do so, and states have no way of enforcing it). > > It might not make too much difference when buying a low-end printer or > scanner, but when you get up in the thousands of dollars, it makes quite a > difference. > > Having said that, I also know that some local vendors occasionally come down > on their prices enough to offset the sales tax differential, but that's hardly > in the long-term interest of the business' financial health. > > Much as I like not having to pay sales tax, I think that not having to pay > sales tox to out-of-state merchants puts local merchants at a decided > disadvantage and that eventually legislation will -- and should -- correct > that. How to best correct it is a difficult call. I'd like to hear what you > and other think about that issue. > > Dan > >> Troy, >> >> Avoiding the problems and confusion such as the ones that you are currently >> faced with is the primary thing we sell. Its called SUPPORT. And it's >> something we GIVE away with every system we sell! >> >> Yet, it's a tough sell to those who have never been faced with a problem. >> Either the meaning of support just doesn't sink in or we do a poor job of >> selling it! >> >> It doesn't cost you more to buy locally. But why it's difficult to sell >> against mail order houses who offer no support has amazed me ever since the >> introduction of mail order computer sales over 10 years ago. Is it the free >> pos inkjet printer or the free no name RAM that they throw in? Possibly >> wanting to skimp on the local sales tax is the reason. I mean, who really >> needs to support our local economy! >> >> I have never understood it. >> >> But local phone and in-store support is something we excel at. We have six >> of the area's most technically knowledgeable folks at your beck and call six >> days a week whether you come into the store, call us on the phone or send us >> an email. You always get the help you need. I guarantee it! >> >> Why would you ever buy anywhere else? >> >> Ward Oldham, MacDude >> MacTown >> 1041 Bardstown Road >> Louisville, KY 40204 >> 502-485-1243 >> ward at mactown.us >> http://www.mactown.us >> >> >> >> >> On 3/29/03 9:04 AM, "Troy Mello" <troymello at hotmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I don't want to put anyone through any research, but does anyone happen to >>> know what I may be doing wrong... >>> >>> I have the CanoScan LiDE30 scanner and have installed the included >>> applications such as PhotoStudio, ScanGear, etc. >>> >>> It seems PhotoStudio is THE program that I am to use to operate the scanner. >>> I am using a new iMac with OS X 10.2.3. When I click the button to scan a >>> picture, I get an error message that says I must install the Stuffit >>> Expander first and I should visit www.stuffit.com first to do so. >>> >>> A few days ago, I downloaded the free DropStuff application via the dot-Mac >>> member page. This download came from www.stuffit.com. Why would this have >>> anything to do with my scanner? >>> >>> Plus, I visited www.stuffit.com. The Stuffit Expander is free, but it only >>> compliments the original Stuffit application which is not free. Remember, >>> it is just the DropStuff application which I downloaded. I don't want >>> Stuffit or it's expander. Again, why would the PhotoStudio application that >>> came with the scanner keep giving me a message saying I must first install >>> the Stuffit Expander? I cannot find a way to make this scanner operate. >>> >>> Thanks so much for any help! >>> >>> Troy >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _________________________________________________________________ >>> The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE* >>> http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail >>> >>> >>> >>> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >>> | be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >> >> >> >> | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will >> | be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. >> > > > > > | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will > | be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be March 25. The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>.
