I had been considering the 42" Panasonic plasmas, so those recommendations are very validating. Yes, since WA has 9.5% sales tax, I like to shop online and get free shipping. Thanks, gentlemen!

No doubt - 9.5% is steep. That's our restaurant tax here, in contrast to a sales tax of 5%. I always feel twice as robbed at dinners.

I'd surely join Amazon Prime and get two-day shipping for free on everything I could find there. I'd try to squash my conscience that tells me I'm hurting my local businesses. Ooh, a dilemma. Juicy.

I pay sales tax to Amazon, so it's not THAT juicy.

That's right, because they are based out of Washington, yes?

That kinda sucks for you.

I've ordered from Amz through my aunt in Wash state and as far as I understand it, some items are taxed and some aren't, depending on where the items originate.

Yes, Sean, just another thing that sucks today.

Adrian, I haven't bought ANYTHING at Amazon that I haven't paid tax for, yet. There's no tax on food (groceries) here, so perhaps your aunt's nontaxed items were edible?

Man, that sounded weird.

Well, here's the thing....let's say you find something you want to buy on Amazon....a PC router for $99. You do a bit of searching on the 'net and find that the deal on Amazon is actually from a dealer out of state that you could order from directly and definitely pay NO TAX, then neither would you pay tax in Washgtn. I believe if Amazon is warehousing the product in question or the prod actually comes from Wash state, then you'd pay tax. Most of what I get through my aunt's address are tools...sometimes there's tax, sometimes not.

Don't quote me, but both myself and my father have ordered through her, sometimes there's tax, sometimes not. Maybe it's the type of purchases involved.

I've never paid tax on anything from I have ever ordered from Amazon.

You guys should all move to NH. No sales tax and no income tax.

No income tax?