Just For The Sake Of Discussion

[Mitch f]

The new law that passed this week which forces online companies to charge sales tax is actually good for the brick and mortar guys. Up to this the online guys had a distinct advantage by not charging sales tax

[eric1978]

The new law that passed this week which forces online companies to charge sales tax is actually good for the brick and mortar guys. Up to this the online guys had a distinct advantage by not charging sales tax

Don't think it's law yet...still has to go through the House. Coin flip as far as I can tell. Also, retailers with less than one million in yearly sales are exempt.

[fishinwrench]

There is still a big "trout" stigma associated with FFing that is holding it back. A ton of gear fishing guys are gonna take to warmwater FFing someday.....and boy oh boy will they ever have some coin to blow !

It's time is comin'. We'll be lucky if there's enough deer tails and saddle hackle to supply us all.

[Buzz]

As I see it, Fly fishing is something that a lot of us picked up later in life, me at the ripe old age of 24, while almost all of us started out fishing for panfish and bass. It is not a cheap sport. Whether you buy your flies or your supplies at a brick and morter or online depends on your location. I have to drive at least 1 hour to my nearest fly shop, Plateau has been getting a lot of my business, but I have been going to Springfield much more often than before. Most of the flies that I buy are from online stores that offer either free shipping or deals that beat fly shops prices or the cost of tying myself.

So to say that prices going up means the interest is high doesn't match up with supply and demand. Online competition is going to be tough to beat when you can shop 10 stores in one evening as opposed to one or 2 actual shops in one day.

Gas costs has a lot to do with how I buy anymore. If I can get the product bought and shipped at a lower cost than making the drive I will be buying online. But if I'm in the neighborhood of a fly shop, Plateau or Tim's, I will always opt to buy from them.

[laker67]

Since about 1973, I have witnessed fly fishing for trout increase at an alarming rate. I am talking about the ozarks. Justin made the same reference. The trout parks were the first places to see crowds skyrocket. By 1990, trout parks were overflowing. The fall out did not hit taneycomo until 2002. Daytime and night time crowds increased 10 fold. Dont know how the rest of the country is doing, but the ozarks is overflowing with increased fly fishing pressure on our trout waters. After 2005, the fishing pressure doubled at taneycomo. Trout parks have had a hard time keeping up the quality of fishing they once had. All hope for bssp went out the raceway in 04. Fly fishermen in the ozarks seem to be increasing on a daily basis.

[Mitch f]

Don't think it's law yet...still has to go through the House. Coin flip as far as I can tell. Also, retailers with less than one million in yearly sales are exempt.

Good to see you on the forum again Eric

[Wayne SW/MO]

The new law that passed this week which forces online companies to charge sales tax is actually good for the brick and mortar guys. Up to this the online guys had a distinct advantage by not charging sales tax

Unfortunately it isn't what it seems IMO. Washington, as usual, failed to note that a large part of online sales is generated by rural buyers who don't buy online to avoid taxes, but to avoid the time and $3+ price of gas. The bottom line is it's basically just another tax on rural America and it won't really change brick and mortar because the so called "disadvantage never existed. They actually had an advantage all along due to shipping cost. If you live in a city that provides you with what you need close by, you will pay sales tax because it is cheaper than shipping.

[Mitch f]

Unfortunately it isn't what it seems IMO. Washington, as usual, failed to note that a large part of online sales is generated by rural buyers who don't buy online to avoid taxes, but to avoid the time and $3+ price of gas. The bottom line is it's basically just another tax on rural America and it won't really change brick and mortar because the so called "disadvantage never existed. They actually had an advantage all along due to shipping cost. If you live in a city that provides you with what you need close by, you will pay sales tax because it is cheaper than shipping.

Good Point, it also affects the FedEx and UPS guys too!

Also the Fly shops could sell online

[fishinwrench]

Also the Fly shops could sell online

True. I used to order online from a MO flyshop thinking I was doing a good thing supporting my locals, but they are insanely slow to get the goods on the way and they have this annoying habit of not letting you know that an item is out of stock until the package arrives short.

It is unacceptable that I can get stuff quicker from California than I can from STL, and be notified before the order is processed if anything is out of stock.

Some 'good' brick and mortar flyshops just can't pull off the online sales thing very well.

[Flysmallie]

Some 'good' brick and mortar flyshops just can't pull off the online sales thing very well.

Can't or Won't. All of them can do it. It's not rocket science.