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da5id:
gzt: Imo Amazon intends to geoblock in AU simply to drive traffic to the AU distribution center. It's not that smart imo.
Yeh, It still sucks. If the same product was available at its Australian store, I would say all well and good, but it isn't.
Ultimately, it still prevents people from getting the goods they want. The global marketplace is suddenly less global and the whole reason this is goes back to the Govt charging tax on goods that aren't even sold in Australia - rather cheeky if you ask me. The net result is a lot of pissed off people.
The goods are sold to Australian consumers and delivered to be used in Australia. The GST is a consumption tax on locally consumed goods. Why do you think this is a bit cheeky? If online companies don't participate in the tax system then the burden falls to the rest of the economy (ie consumers and local companies) to fund the essential services of that economy. If a business derives economic benefit from an economy IMO it is entirely reasonable that they contribute to that society.
It goes back to Amazon choosing not to participate in a market, although it will be temporary. They have a long history of behaving in a predatory way towards local communities, suppliers and their workforce.
This isn't unique to NZ/Australia, Amazon have tried to avoid paying sales taxes in most municipalities and they are slowly being brought to a more normal level of participation in the economies in which they participate.
