Power Sellers Unite

psunite · Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 6213 Location: Columbus OH

The California Assembly's Business and Professions Committee met Tuesday to vote on Assembly Bill 1178, a bill that would require eBay drop-off stores to comply with the same regulations as pawnbrokers.link to article

KatyJoan · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 167 Location: Illinois

As much as I have written about this subject on my own Blog, across the boards, and even taken it up with an Illinois State Legislator - I can not get thru to people just how serious this new trend is to the auction industry.

I have no problem with the concept. I understand that. But, that aside, the issue is that we are dealing with the reality that "No man is an island, we are part of a nation". And, the cyber highway is that "a nation".

This legislation needs to be mandated on a Federal Level - one licence, one fee, one registration.

Allowing the individual States to mandate this, indivudually, is going to
be a fiscal disaster for the auction industry as it will presume that no
new platforms can start up and build from the ground level, such as eBay, as it will take thousands, and thousands, and thousands of dollars to pay for the fees in all the indivudual States.

The Streamlined Tax Legislation is headed towards National Registration.
http://www.icell.biz/icellblog2.html

We, as online Sellers and Buyers, need to wake up and smell the roses
here. eBay is right to be concerned. This is a very serious encroachment on the premise of Free Trade and very basis for the success of the industry to-date.

Kathleen Johnson.
http://www.icell.biz

xppman · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 1145

Any ebay Drop Off store should comply with all regulations of any business
in the state and locality they operate in. IMO
I don't like many of the regulations that burden businesses further, but actually hope it kills ebay's business.

You know why? More buyers will find all us great sellers at our own websites
were we can and do realize more BANG for our bucks and effort.
ebay itself is a serious encroachment on the premise of Free Trade.IMO

Look at their one side policies and you will see what I mean.

KatyJoan · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 167 Location: Illinois

Yes, I agree, on that issue, the registration of the store to comply with local and State laws, is not an over burden. What is a burden is if the Store has to register in all 50 States. Currently, Illinois, requires that all online auction platforms who do 'business' in Illinois must register the platform in Illinois $200 for non corporate and about $400 for Corporate per year.

No problem, probably. Excepting that if every State goes to this premise can you imagine the fees? And, once registered, you are obligated to provide lists of all Illinois residents doing business on that Platform. I can not imagine trying to keep up with the tax rulings for 50 states, towns, and counties across the US. And if you are an auction platform operating out of the Sahari Desert - tell me how on earth you are going to enforce them to comply and operate at the same baseline?

Whats it leading up to? The Streamlined Tax Act. About 80% of the States have spent three years enacting legislation in preparation for this new
approach, national registration of the Sellers, and the requirement that
Sellers collect taxes for all 50 States.

This needs to be Federally mandated, one license, one registration, one entity overseeing the program. I can not imagine 50 States in a loose net
organization overseeing this with any degree of efficiency at all. And if the States enforce 'use' tax (as many have such laws in place) - then all merchandise purchased on eBay will face taxation in one form or another no matter what State you reside in.

Kathleen Johnson
http://www.icell.biz

xppman · Joined: 15 Feb 2005 Posts: 1145

I don't think it will fly. I remember when in Florida they enacted an impact fee for license plates.
Like 500.00 bucks or so per plate. Really pissed everybody off. It was in effect I think a year or so.

Most of us just went to Georgia and plated there using friends and relatives as our addresses.
After so much controversy they repealed the fee in Florida.

One of my ventures when I lived in Florida was a mail order then a B&M. I had to get a tax ID and collect Fla. sales tax and it was a measly amount they were paying me to do so. After about 4 months I simply canceled the tax certificate and told them nothing, as they did not ask.

I don't care who or what state or Federal agency implements a sales tax and mandates we collect it for them. They better be prepared to pay me well for my service if they want me to collect for them.

I will tell them how much I am gong to charge them and if they don't agree. I will go underground and sell.
I'm tired of everybody including ebay, the gov and anyone else trying to squeeze the little mom and pops and I am willing to fight back with what ever force is necessary.

They will get out of our pockets one way or the other.
At least that's may stand on it. And they wonder why so many companies are now offshore.

Another Boston Tea Party is in order in this country.