Guilt-Free Cybershopping
Anybody who knows me is well aware that I fervently push shopping locally, especially at independently-owned stores of any kind. My fervor is largely because of what happens to indies like mine when people don’t shop there, partly because of the effect on the community when local stores disappear and partly because of the essential unfairness that exists when so many online companies refuse to collect state taxes. That may not seem like such a big deal but it really is, especially during these less-than-fabulous economic times when local governments are sorely strapped for money to fund services. Amazon.com is the most visible of those companies that thumb their figurative noses at the idea of playing by the rules and I’m amazed at the lengths to which they’ll go to avoid collecting and paying taxes. I have to say I’m also disheartened by the state governments, including my own, that let such companies get away with it. (Virginia, how can you let Amazon claim it doesn’t have to pay when there is a huge fulfillment center in Sterling and a data center hidden elsewhere in the state, all that’s required by state law? And how could Gordon Hickey, a spokesman for Governor Kaine, say there’s not much that can be done about it?)
Having said that, I’m not a complete nincompoop and I don’t believe these companies should be driven away nor do I think people should be branded with a giant “A” on their foreheads for shopping there. Hey, I’ve been known to buy some things from Amazon myself when I couldn’t find them anyplace else and, yes, when the financial deal was just too good. All I ask is that shoppers be aware of how they can have the best of both worlds.
The 3/50 Project allows the shopper to enjoy both worlds and it’s not a huge burden. Simply put, you can do your part to help local businesses survive by spending a total of $50 per month in three indies (not $50 each). The platitude is true—every little bit helps.
Now, go enjoy your cybershopping 
3/50 Project
November 30, 2009
Posted in: Tales of a Bookseller
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2 Responses
Ooh, cool! Definitely something I can get behind. Pity the Roanoke area is so poorly represented on the supporters’ list, since we’ve got tons of indies around here.
Laura, Roanoke probably has more supporters than you know but they just haven’t gotten around to joining the list. This thing is still kind of underground, too, so a lot of stores may not know about it. If we could get into ShevaCon, I’d promote it there. Alas, ’tis not looking good.
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