Valley Businesses Come Together In The Name Of Tax Fairness

Online retailer Amazon is trying to collect more than 504,000 signatures by September 27th to be able to put a new online sales tax law on hold, until voters can decide next year if they want it.

“As a small-business owner I want California to enforce the law. I want Amazon to do the right thing, and I want our community to be better for it,” said Roger Kerchman, owner of Robann’s Jewelers at The River in Rancho Mirage.

A group of merchants gathered to protest Amazon’s efforts to hold onto what they call an “unfair advantage” over brick-and-mortar stores.

“We’re becoming showrooms. People come in. They find what they like. Then they go research on the Internet. And here again, we’ve lost another sale,” said Kerchman.

E-tailers like Amazon and overstock.com got away with not collecting money because they don’t have a storefront in the state.

Smaller retailers fear if Amazon gets its way, more stores will end up like Borders — having to shut down for good.

“If I were them, I’d try to do the same thing. Anytime you can get that eight to 10 points on the sale price of products, why not? That’s a heck of an advantage,” said Costa Nichols, owner of Desert Wine and Spirits in Palm Springs.

Amazon says it’s the new tax law that’ll hurt the economy.

It’s already cut ties with California-based websites that provided links to Amazon.

“Every other state is salivating for tax dollars just like we are. The only fair way to really do it is just make everybody collect taxes, period — for every state,” said Nichols.