Borders Closes the Books on Amazon

theodp writes "Borders said Thursday that it was severing ties with Amazon and will compete directly against the e-tailer with its own website. The loss of Borders could cost Amazon $80-$160 million in annual revenue, according to one estimate. 'Amazon could gain market share in book selling over time because it will have an advantage over Borders, which now will charge a sales tax for all books sold. Companies have to charge a sales tax for Internet sales if they have a physical presence in states that collect sales taxes, [Stifel, Nicolaus & Co analyst Scott] Devitt said. Amazon collects sales taxes only on books sold in Washington, North Dakota, Kentucky and Kansas. Borders would collect sales taxes in all 50 states, the company said."

huh

[mastershake_phd]

are they going to compete with Amazon? Doesn't Amazon have a patent on selling books online?

Re:All 50 States?

[Volante3192]

Yep, they'll collect the sales tax for those states at the proper rate: 0%

They just won't bother reporting it.

Re:All 50 States?

[Anne_Nonymous]

>> Amazon collects sales taxes only on books sold in Washington, North Dakota, Kentucky and Kansas.

Amazon built facilities in four states. In three of those states the populace can't read. That's kind of odd.

Re:For a $50 book...

[minotaurcomputing]

"No B&M bookstore can hope to compete to with the selection and ease of search that Amazon.com offers me."

WHAT?!? Going into the shop and finding a book is a simple as:

1) Head to the section where you think the book is.
2) Give up after 10 minutes of fruitless searching.
3) Ask a clerk at the information desk where the book is.
4) Have her look in the computer.
5) You both head to the same section that you just searched in the same exact shelf.
6) Give up after 10 minutes of fruitless searching.
7) You both go to the person who has been there the longest and ask them.
8) This guy looks in the computer.
9) All three of you go back to the same section as before, except this time looking one shelf left and right just to make sure.
10) Give up after 10 minutes of fruitless searching.
11) They tell you it is not available, so you decide to go home.
12) On your way out you notice the book sitting in the knitting section by mistake.
13) You get excited and run to the front to pay.
14) You wait in line for 15 minutes while the 2 people in front of you are served by some guy talking to some other co-worker.
15) Get harrassed to join the frequent buyers club.

What could be easier?

-m