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Proposed 'Parcels Tax' from the Chancellor.

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John Walker

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It seems the Chancellor has had a bright idea to help the High Street traders, after the effects of lockdown and Covid. He is proposing a tax on parcels, to try and get shoppers back into real shops. Great if you don't rely on online shopping, as I do. Seems I shall have to get a taxi when I want to shop. In the end I might as well carry on shopping online. They just don't think things through do they. PING! Bright idea. Any such tax is going to hit the people who can least afford it; yet again! Also it's going to stay with us, regardless of any effect it might have; good or bad! I shall have to find a High Street art supplies outlet that doesn't want to skin us! Good luck with that eh? John
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I missed that one - if that really is what he's trying to do, it's only remotely likely to work if people are confident about going back into high street shops: which I'm certainly not.  Chancellors who fiddle with economic rules in order to meet specific, and not necessarily economic, objectives are just a nuisance, and in this case all he'd do is attempt to benefit one sector of the economy which is in long-term decline anyway while penalizing another - online business and parcels delivery.   

Alan Bickley

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I doubt it will happen somehow, not long to wait! It’s always better to wait and see what he has to say, rather than reading speculative accounts and theories in the press, which are invariably wrong! Even if there was a small surcharge, it would still work out cheaper to buy from Jackson’s than my local art store, which isn’t particularly local anyway! Not to mention the colossal range of stock that these online art stores hold.

Edited
by Alan Bickley

Katy Dean

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I agree with you Alan, when you take in to account petrol and parking I’m sure online will stay more competitive. 

Peter Davison

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Posted
Difficult to see any tax resulting in a revision of priority for supplies as availability and range of stock is a prime consideration and online suppliers operating from a warehouse have a big advantage. Having said that I have encountered availability problems online recently and my nearest 'local' art shop is 30 miles away!