Sebastian Leon/Contributing Writer
According to a global report by the Nielsen Company in 2010, 85 percent of Americans have shopped online before. The same report states that books and clothing are the two most purchased items online, followed by airline tickets.
In most states in America, there is no taxing on online purchases, as opposed to going to a physical store and buying the same product. Customers are usually looking for the better bargain.
“I’ve bought a few things online, mostly books, usually because they’re hard to find,” said Dr. Charles G. Macdonald, a professor of International Relations.
But this could change this year, as Florida State officials are considering adding a six percent tax on online transactions in the state of Florida, hoping to help small businesses compete with large retailers that have a bigger selection of goods online.
Online shopping has gained popularity due to the convenience and the bigger selection of products. Using the Internet to shop is a trend which could become the de facto way to do shopping.
Gena Zapata, a sophomore and psychology major at FIU, is one of those who prefer doing her shopping online.
“I hate shopping malls. I hate going in crowded places,” Zapata said. “I would much rather just use my computer. There’s better selection than at a mall.”
New York was the first state to implement this policy and since, eight states have followed suit, with officials in Florida hoping the Sunshine State becomes the ninth.
Reaction to the proposed bill has been mostly negative among those who frequent online website to buy goods. On the Internet, a consumer can buy anything from concert tickets, to services and even grocery foods.
“No one likes getting taxed. I think that when people hear that they’re being taxed online, they will rather go to a store instead,” Zapata said.
“I shop usually twice a month, but I spend close to $300 in that month,” said Amelia Gutierrez, senior, a journalism major and a self prescribed online “shopaholic.”
While she doesn’t really like the idea of being taxed, Gutierrez doubts she, or many of those who do use the Internet to purchase products, would stop because of the tax.
“I’m smaller, so buying clothes for me can be a pain when I go to a store,” Gutierrez said. “Online, I know which size I am, and I can choose exactly what I want. I would say I only go the mall when I need to return something,” she said.
This feeling is shared by her friend, and fellow journalism major Madeline Szwed, senior.
“I’d say I shop online once a week, but I do it more for the convenience, not the fact that I get charged taxes,” Szwed said. “So I don’t think it would make much of an impression on me if they added the tax.”
But then, there are those who usually do not shop online.
“I still like to see, touch and feel whatever I’m buying,” said Mabel Abreu, office manager for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
She says she prefers buying technology online, such as printers, hard drives and such. But also agrees that such tax could instead drive customers away from buying online
“If they want to kill online shopping, by all means they should pass it,” Abreu said.
“I’m not really an Internet person, so I don’t do my shopping online” said Danny Munoz, a freshman, Music major. “However, I wouldn’t want the bill passed, because there are many small businesses that are only online, and putting taxes on their stuff would probably drive customers away from them.”
Now, the question remains, would this tax drive customers away if it is indeed passed?
“In a way, yes, unless of course they come up with better deals,” Abreu said. “But we’ll have to see what happens.”
Whether the bill passes or not remains to be seen, but a bill like this has been proposed for years, slowly gaining more momentum, and if it does get passed, it would make choosing that birthday gift for that friend or family member a little more difficult.
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