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| Registered: March 17, 2007 |  Posts: 853 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting Bad Father: Quote:
Amazon.com is taking a big hit here in the US for other reasons.
This year, Amazon has been forced to collect Sales Taxes from it's US customers for all online purchases even if Amazon doesn't have a physical Brick and Mortar store in the State where the purchase originates from. This is hurting Amazon's bottom line as many customers, myself included, have stopped ordering current DVD/Blu-ray titles from them for the simple fact that we can just go down the street to Target or Best Buy and get the titles we want for close to the same price on the day of release and not have to pay shipping charges on top of the Sales Tax.
Online streaming is also hurting Amazon as more and more people are turing to Netflix, Hulu and others as their entertainment medium. I have cut way, way back on my DVD/Blu-ray purchases for the simple fact that it's more economical for me to pay $7.95 a month for unlimited streaming, albeit that the release of new and popular titles is very slow on Netflix. I would gladly pay $10-$12 a month if Netflix could guarantee a 30 day release of new titles. While the HD quality of the streaming isn't on par with actual Blu-ray, and we're limited to Dolby 5.1, it's good enough for my aging eyes and ears. While Amazon has taken legal hits due to taxes this year, most states will not make them start collecting tax revenue until November and only if they own a physical location in that state. In AZ we got screwed because they will start collecting taxes from us at the end of Feb. If I was Amazon, I'd tell those states to screw off and move the distribution center to other states and make deals for tax exemptions. By the way that is how Phoenix got the distribution center in the first place. But when you control the courts you make the rules. Most movies are two to three dollars cheaper and in some cases more for me on Amazon as I wait for the sales. I have Prime and do not pay shipping on most items. Even when I didn't have Prime I used the 3 - 5 day free shipping and all but one time was happy with the results. The hits Amazon takes along with the competition diing will only make them stronger. The only place they are losing my money are on games as Microsoft doesn't allow venders to play with the prices much and for .50 to 1.00 I'll go to Target. |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Posts: 4,596 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting Lord Of The Sith: Quote:
Quoting Bad Father:
Quote:
Amazon.com is taking a big hit here in the US for other reasons.
This year, Amazon has been forced to collect Sales Taxes from it's US customers for all online purchases even if Amazon doesn't have a physical Brick and Mortar store in the State where the purchase originates from. This is hurting Amazon's bottom line as many customers, myself included, have stopped ordering current DVD/Blu-ray titles from them for the simple fact that we can just go down the street to Target or Best Buy and get the titles we want for close to the same price on the day of release and not have to pay shipping charges on top of the Sales Tax.
Online streaming is also hurting Amazon as more and more people are turing to Netflix, Hulu and others as their entertainment medium. I have cut way, way back on my DVD/Blu-ray purchases for the simple fact that it's more economical for me to pay $7.95 a month for unlimited streaming, albeit that the release of new and popular titles is very slow on Netflix. I would gladly pay $10-$12 a month if Netflix could guarantee a 30 day release of new titles. While the HD quality of the streaming isn't on par with actual Blu-ray, and we're limited to Dolby 5.1, it's good enough for my aging eyes and ears.
While Amazon has taken legal hits due to taxes this year, most states will not make them start collecting tax revenue until November and only if they own a physical location in that state. In AZ we got screwed because they will start collecting taxes from us at the end of Feb. If I was Amazon, I'd tell those states to screw off and move the distribution center to other states and make deals for tax exemptions. By the way that is how Phoenix got the distribution center in the first place. But when you control the courts you make the rules. Most movies are two to three dollars cheaper and in some cases more for me on Amazon as I wait for the sales. I have Prime and do not pay shipping on most items. Even when I didn't have Prime I used the 3 - 5 day free shipping and all but one time was happy with the results. The hits Amazon takes along with the competition diing will only make them stronger. The only place they are losing my money are on games as Microsoft doesn't allow venders to play with the prices much and for .50 to 1.00 I'll go to Target. Well, I'm in California where Amazon has no Brick & Mortar presence and they started collecting State Sales Tax in December of last year. I'm not a Prime member as I no longer purchase enough to justify it. In order to qualify for Super Saver Free shipping the order must be at least $25 of eligible Amazon.com products and sometimes I met that requirement and sometimes not. In the long run, saving a few bucks here and there wasn't really worth the 5-8 business day wait from Amazon. The only purchases I make from Amazon now are for items I can't get at the local Big Box stores. | | | | My WebGenDVD online Collection |
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| Registered: September 18, 2008 | Reputation:  |  Posts: 2,650 |
| | Posted: | | | | One thing I like about Amazon UK compared to Amazon US is we get free shipping without a minimum threshold. Free shipping is standard in the UK though. |
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| Registered: March 10, 2009 | | Posts: 2,248 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting samuelrichardscott: Quote:
One thing I like about Amazon UK compared to Amazon US is we get free shipping without a minimum threshold. Free shipping is standard in the UK though. If you buy off marketplace, you have to pay postage. |
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| Registered: September 18, 2008 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 2,650 |
| | Posted: | | | | Blockbuster UK have today called in the administrators... | | | | Last edited: by samuelrichardscott |
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| Registered: March 17, 2007 | | Posts: 853 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting samuelrichardscott: Quote:
Blockbuster UK have today called in the administrators... I must apologize as being from the US, I am not familiar with the term calling in the administrators. Is this the same as filing for bankruptcy protection? |
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| Registered: September 18, 2008 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 2,650 |
| | Posted: | | | | Administration of a company happens when the receivers are called. The company is "technically bankrupt" but the receivers will go in, take control of the company and they will administer it and then start to assess the assets value of the company and see what can be sold off to pay creditors. If the asset base is not of sufficent value to cover the debts of the company and nobody is willing to provide further lending to revive its fortunes, then the next stage is "bankruptcy" and the firm will be liquidated by order of the courts and "wound up" (cease trading completely). Large companies like Blockbuster and HMV are rarely wound up though as there is often a buyer lurking for at least some of the stores etc - usually a rival. There have been a few big ones in recent years though, Woolworths, Jessops, Comet. | | | | Last edited: by samuelrichardscott |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Reputation: |  Posts: 485 |
| | Posted: | | | | I think it is sort of calling in the protection of 'chapter 11'. I am not saying it is exactly equal, but its basic function is to do the same: solving solvability etc. before bankruptcy is called in OR business can be turned around. | | | Eric
If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak. |
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| Registered: March 10, 2009 | | Posts: 2,248 |
| | Posted: | | | | Also in regards to amazon, and the tax loopholes here. They where prepared, well in advance, for them to be closed. That's why they open, there largest center in Scotland. If Scotland votes to go independent. The rate of corporation tax here, will be exponentially lower here, than in England.
So it's the best place for them to operate. In the British economic region, if that happens. | | | | Last edited: by ShinyDiscGuy |
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| Registered: March 14, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 1,819 |
| | Posted: | | | | Quoting samuelrichardscott: Quote:
HMV have now stopped accepting gift vouchers. They've also stopped taking loyalty card points. My sister bought one of their cards for £3 and has been saving. She rarely shops there but had managed to save up £14. She went in yesterday to use it and they refused. The only good thing about this is that they may have a big sale to offload stock - like Woolworths did - and some real bargains may be had. I realise that's mercenary; but given that I can't do anything to save them I would like to benefit from their demise.  |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Posts: 1,136 |
| | Posted: | | | | Looks like Game might be buying up to 50 of the stores (A company that themselves went this way last year) And also HMV Canada might want to get some of the stores too. Who knows, at this rate, Amazon might buy some  | | | Signature? We don't need no stinking... hang on, this has been done... blast [oooh now in Widescreen]
Ah... well you see.... I thought I'd say something more interesting... but cannot think of anything..... oh well
And to those of you who have disabled viewing of these signature files "hello" (or not) Registered: July 27, 2004 |
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| Registered: March 13, 2007 | | Reputation: | | Posts: 485 |
| | Posted: | | | | A sad bump up: today "Free Record Shop" went into receivership (or as we call it "declared bankrupt").
It was the largest retail chain in the High Street and shopping malls in the Netherlands and Belgium with over 140 shops, selling CD's, DVD's , BluRay's and games as its core business. It also catered for 'shop within shop' in an upmarket retail warehouse chain (the Bijenkorf). Growing losing sales to the internet is being said to be the main cause of its demise.
Apart from specialised shops with, for instance, classical music, little remains now on our High Streets in this segment. Only the MediaMarkt chain remains -- and also FNAC in Belgium. Bad news for retail prices. Only online there seem to be some variety of eshops left here.
A slimmed down continuation is being considered by the administrators, but it remains to be seen whether that'll work out.
With over 700 employees losing their jobs it is a sad day for them and for us, customers. | | | Eric
If it is important, say it. Otherwise, let silence speak. | | | | Last edited: by eommen |
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