I have enjoyed getting purchases tax free, I'll admit, but I am not completely opposed to this, I think it will help local businesses.
I am not sure if it will help local concerns in a meaningful way or not. We must wait until the law is passed to see what the impace is.
About all I can say is states will get this passed one way or another.
I buy locally only when I have no other choice. No local business can hope to compete with the online concerns because no local business stocks the variety I demand.
Case in point: local pen dealers. Only a few dealers in SLC and for the most part, the sales folks do not know anything about their wares.
To be fair, I would never expect a local dealer to carry vintage bike parts or the ink colors I prefer. Fortunately, what I require is only a day or two away.
to be fair to the other side: i am sick and tired of local sales people not knowing anything about their product line. I do not like waiting for help or being pushed in a direction I know I do not need to go.
Not to mention, the variety is limited. Online, I can find thousands of models-vintage and new.
People will simply pony up a few more dollars and gripe for a moment. Life will go on.
BTW, not every state must collect sales tax (as I understand it, right now) and not every seller (as I understand it from a lazy and cursory investigation) must collect taxes.
If this is passed, we will know more about the rules and changes that may or may not impact Internet sellers.