GST rise could limit bargains online
Saturday 20th November 2010, 3:00PM GMT.
Online shopping may not result in as many bargains in the future
IF the GST rate is increased to 5% this December the limit under which Islanders can import items free of the tax could drop from £400 to £240.
Senator Philip Ozouf told States Members this week that Budget proposals to increase the rate of GST could have the knock-on effect of bringing down the threshold below which Islanders do not pay GST on things they have brought outside the Island.
That would mean bad news for consumers used to getting a bargain online, but good news for Jersey retailers who are struggling with competition from outside the Island.
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Wont stop me buying on line, it will still be cheaper and less stressful, with more choice….simples
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Bothered. I’ll just buy my parcels in two lots then if spending over £240, would rather pay twice for postage than pay GST.
Raise GST as much as you like Mr Ozouf, put it up to 3000% for all I care, I buy virtually nothing in rip-off Jersey anymore.
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Pity that Gandey’s circus is not visiting Jersey this Christmas,because they would do well hiring Ozouf as a clown. Although no one in government will admit it most people in Jersey know that customs cannot cope with the high influx of internet goods arriving in the island as it is. Experienced drug busting officers are wasting their talent opening parcels
A small parcel could contain an item worth £1000 and a very large one only £300. They simply cannot open all the parcels !! With Christmas here soon there will be more goods bought from Amazon etc than ever before. Everyone is now at it and realize the savings which come in handy in the current economic climate. People have no sympathy with local shops as they have been ripped off for far too long ( VAT charged etc ) Ozouf is losing the plot and grasping at straws. Trouble is he is in charge of on all our hard earned cash…
The lunatics have taken over the asylum !
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You would think so but no; goods bought online will still be cheaper than local retailers.
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Absolute scumbags!
Not only do they wish to tax the poor, but they then try to block the other avenues for seeking bargains
Living in Jersey is like living in Africa. We may not have the same weather, but we certainly have the same corrupt Government
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“That would mean bad news for consumers used to getting a bargain online, but good news for Jersey retailers who are struggling with competition from outside the Island.”
Retailers don’t count your profits or chickens just yet. I would still rather pay 5% than 25% so this change will change nothing. I just hope the delivery companies have enough space and man power to store all those parcels coming into the island.
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Poor retailers….my heart bleeds for them. If they didnt charge so much in the first place, I wouldnt be forced to use on line shopping !!
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I don’t shop online purely because it’s a GST dodge I do it because I often find local shop assistants (including shop owners!) rude and unhelpful. If local retailers sorted out their attitudes they might find people buy locally again.
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Firstly, I was under the impression that GST would not rise until June 2011, why has it changed ???
Secondly, the amount that can be imported will drop from £400 to £240, comes as no surprise Phil – just confirms what we all know, you will do anything to screw the locals, hopefully come election time you will be the one that gets screwed !!!
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Do the states think by lowering the limit is going to make one bit of difference?
Not a chance, even with VAT & GST the majority of prices in the UK & abroad are still cheaper wether online or physically at the store with staff that actually treat you with respect.
So Mr Jersey Retailer, get your prices in line with the rest of the world and stop using the phrase it’s an Internet special price & I might shop with you!
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Absolutely disgusting this person ozouf is not only taxing to the hilt those that can least afford it, he is now trying to stifle the only real competition in Jersey the INTERNET OK for him and his multi millionaire friends in Government and the business community so disgraceful this man promised so much on election including shops like ASDA what a joke I pray this incompetent person is thrown out the next time he stands for election!!
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5% is still a lot less than the 25% markup by local retailers 20%VAT sorry shipping plus 5% GST + parking charges in St Helier if you can find a place to park. come on it’s a no brainier shop on line every time.
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It will make me even more determined to buy on-line or wait till i go to UK.
The C.O.C are looking at their own interests as usual,the same who have been stopping us getting any new retailers unless they approve and keep the profits flowing in their members shops.
No wonder food is so expensive here.
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Driving into town is stressful, parking is an absolute nightmare, choice in the shops is limited, nothing is ever in stock so delivery takes 6-8 weeks and why do I always get served by Wayne or Waynetta? I just feel like clubbing them to the ground. I will stick with internet shopping if only for the sake of my sanity.
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I am now ordering even more goods from Amazon, as I refuse to be ripped off by Jersey retailers! In fact, I will now think twice before buying most things locally, especially now they are raising the GST! I really can’t understand why Jersey and companies like Flybe continually shoot themselves in the foot and drive customers away?
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Whatever Ozouf or his ilk do i shall still buy online and buy whatever i chose.
Jersey is a dictatorship,but not in my name.
I want to buy the latest of anything i want,and will do so whenever i feel,without having to put up with bad mannered “rude” shop assistants,
Dickensian offerings and old crap from the 90s.
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Agreed no 15. I’ve just bought a new 32″ TV from them. It cost just under £200. The same one was on sale in Jersey for £348!
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Knew this would be a good one. It,s a ploy to get us all buying local again because local retailers are screwed. I agree with Tobias they can drop the limit to zero pounds for all i care,i love online shopping because of the wider choice and this will not stop me and as a frequent traveller to the motherland….sorry the “real land” you can buy there also. I,m fed up with Ozouf and his threats all the time to be honest.Put GST up to fifty per cent if you want but hey online shopper forever!!
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They arent exactly lowering the threshhold, the limit is £12 worth of tax, which will remain, but everything will have a higher tax amount.
Its still a joke, why cant they just STOP wasting our money instead??!!
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Even if we pay the 20% vat the price is still a lot cheaper than St. Helier shops, Its about time the shops realised this and stopped ripping us off,,, I,m off to the uk in a week to do some serious shopping
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Well the heir apparent is not liked but unless all of us voters get off our bums on Election day and vote him and his mates out, nothing will ever change. The problem is how do you get rid of them the States is not representative of the island you have members that have never faced an election. Evan if we get lucky, you can bet a Deputy in a nice safe parish will step aside for him until the States is reformed nothing will change.
And who do you elect, Southern and his Union Cohorts
would be like leaving a 5 year old in a sweet shop and telling him not to eat any, To be fair a 5 year old would have more commonsense and do a better job than the present lot in the Big House.
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MESSAGE TO SENATOR PHILIP OZOUF.
hopefully you have read at least some of the comments attached to this article – if you haven’t you should hang your head in shame at your total lack of understanding and alienation of the buying/voting public of Jersey.
Now show a little compassion and update the import law on goods to charge GST only on the portion ABOVE the £240 limit, which in this current economic climate should be implemented immediately – we are all waiting with bated breath !!!
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Yer all being run by a bunch of clows! Its just going to get worse and worse and worse! Liverpool might have its faults but at least nobody hates the place like all these posts imply of Jersey. Its simple! just stop spending en masse. Look around your gaff and ask yourself if you really need all this crap anyway. Run your car into the ground, drink at home, read online, buy in bulk ….happy days
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#9 It can’t be, they’ve just worded it badly, it will go before the States in December I presume.
#6 Don’t stop at 25% cause it’s really 26%. Assuming that Jersey retailers take the net value in the UK + the 20% VAT and then they apply 5% GST to the whole lot then we pay 26% of the net!
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Just need to make sure we buy from shops that ‘remove’ the VAT.
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This Senator is a plank… GST to 5% and lowering the threshold for imports will still mean plenty of bargains online. Infact lowering the freshhold to Nil so everything is charged GST still means everything is cheaper online.
anyone shopping in town is a mug. if you like looking around shops still do, try on the clothes, handle the goods, go home order it online, save a fortune and have it in 2 days or so.
I will not buy from a shop in town especially shops that display the think twice buy local sticker on the door
I would say this year by shopping online i have saved over £5k compared to local prices.
raiding GST will only nail in the final nail on local retailers coffin. they either cant compete or what i think they wont compete as they know peole will still buy in their stores so can charge high prices plus the actual knowledge buy a lot of staff in stores is very poor. In a high street camera and print shop quite near a coffee shop and the sales man was selling a camera and card to the young lad infront of me. total cost £882. For a start the camera was probably the worst on the market and could of been had for around £550 inc gst import from the UK.
To Tim 19. is it really £12 as I have been charged alot more for a delivery before in GST. NOt that I really mind as i saved over £300 compared to local prices.
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#2 tobias
I’ll just buy my parcels in two lots then if spending over £240, would rather pay twice for postage than pay GST.
Raise GST as much as you like Mr Ozouf, put it up to 3000% for all I care, I buy virtually nothing in rip-off Jersey anymore.
im with you brother!
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No vote for you Ozouf!
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You guys voted for these ‘clowns’. Why do you put up with all the cr** that they serve? Vote them out, it’s a simple as that! All I hear are moans and groans, take action voters!
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@25 – Tobias was referring to the value of the GST on goods at exactly the cut off point – 3% * £400 = £12. Or, 5%*£240 = £3. Was the total value of your goods higher than the threshold amount?
Re: raising the rate and lowering the limits… not going to stop me shopping online as most of what I buy is well below the threshold and still saves me a) the headache of trying to find what I want locally and failing, and b) some actual £ on the inevitably higher price locally.
Actually, I retract that last comment, on one ocassion recently I purchased something online then saw it in a local shop for 3p cheaper.
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Oops, obviously I meant Tim, not Tobias!
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I see they do grocery items on Amazon now.
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All you clowns decrying this – clearly no one wants to spend more than they need to, but the financial situation calls for it. If you want to see a real problem, look to Ireland, Greece, UK, Spain – their financial position is terrible.
You lot don’t realise how good you have it. Small amount of pain to stay in good shape.
Ozouf – you will continue to get my vote, and the votes of the intellientsia who appreciate the problem. Like last time, you will be re-elected, as it is the silent majority who count, not the ratbag vocal minority Trotskysists who carry on to try and elevate themselves out of the un-educated gutter where they so desperately belong.
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Some moronic comments on here…
‘paying more for postage rather than pay GST’
Why would you give you money to the UK post rather than put it back into the public services over here? What a silly throw away comment.
‘Jersey is like Africa’
A lot of the people there would give their right arm to live in a western economy. Why don’t you offer a swap? Disgrace.
‘final nail in the coffin’
how many nails does this coffin have?
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25 Born in the 80´s…..that´s exactly what I do. Walk into the shop, try on said shoes / clothing, see which size fits, go home and order it off the net! I´ve done this with so many items, stuff for my little boat (anything “marine” in Jersey means double price or an extra 0 on the price), sports equipment, fishing gear…
I should feel guilty but it ends up being the complete opposite as you get twice as much for the money
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buy on line send it to an Enlish address and then get it sent here. Simple wont be new then and money saved
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“…not the ratbag vocal minority Trotskysists who carry on to try and elevate themselves out of the un-educated gutter where they so desperately belong.”
So 32. Real Truthseeker are you saying that the people of Jersey who have opinions are all of the above?
I must remember this when you are on the comments sections moaning about something or another….will we ever take your opinions serious after this comment?
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32. RealTruthseeker..
To add… are you not moaning about the proposed cut in private fees in other comment sections?
Me thinks its kettle, pot, black and its you who are in the gutter when you back remarks like ‘un-educated gutter ‘
If you can not debate and take the opinions of other people then may be its time to get a mac and stand at the bus station (we don’t have a train station.)
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“try and elevate themselves out of the un-educated gutter”
This is obviously what you are trying and failing to do R.T. for your information:
intellientsia – intelligentsia , trotskysists – trotskyists, unless of course you are american( don’t get me started on that one) with a lack of command of the English language !!!
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Almost all online purchases such as books, cds, etc are going to come under the new £240 limit and there are big discounts.
I was looking for a book for Christmas for my nephew; Jersey bookshop £20, online retailer £7.45.
Rising GST is just one more nail in the coffin of local retail, it is our equivalent of out of town shopping that has had such awful effects on the UK high street.
One Minister is happily allowing developers to build shops and another Minister is happily pursuing a policy that will help local retail in to the grave.
Real Truthseeker et al cover up their moral bankruptcy and lack of any policy ideas with insults and sloganising.
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Real Truthseeker @ 32
Steady on RT! Some of us ratbags just resent getting ripped off whenever we ‘trotsky on down’ to King Street, and thus prefer to spend our hard-earned £’s online. We’re not all on £155k salaries and thus have to watch the pennies. Besides which if I want to basically give my money away then I’d rather give it to a registered charity as opposed to overpriced shops.
Whilst I agree it’s not all down to so-called greedy retailers, as rents and staff costs are so high, there are still plenty of them that have no idea about customer service – an essential if we are to be expected to pay over the odds.
Truth of it is, they had a partial ‘monopoly’ of sorts for so long, ie we had no choice but to buy locally, and they have become complacent. Since the internet, we can vote with our feet (or our fingers, to be precise!) and some of our local retailers had better start realising this.
As mentioned above, Amazon are now offering certain grocery items, including fine wines and port – GST definitely NOT included!
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32. Real Trusthseeker. Not TLS in disguise are you???
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#32 – seems to me you are the one who needs educating here – unless of course you are fortunate enough to have more money than you obviously have sense!
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Tobias: I like your points, and you are one of the rare opponents to most of my blogs who can put an argument together. If you look at the stupidity of those between mine and yours, you will see what I mean.
The government hasn’t come up with this plan to bring people in to buy locally – this is what people seem to think. They have brough in the reduction of the GST’able limit on imports to raise revenue. It is up to businesses locally to be competitive. The States will be very happy if everyone buys on line for the purpose of GST’ing imports. Simple.
Colin: I do like your post as well
I’m not, but understand why you may think it. I am just a reasoble, normal, intelligent inhabitant of Jersey… unlike ‘The Others’.
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Hay I can deliver into Jersey the latest 42 inch tvs from LG, Samsung for around 520.00 quid…. What do they cost there??? Do I have a market??
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Dave 17… Did Amazon send the 32″ TV direct to Jersey. When i have tried they say they don’t send to the channel islands.
Regards
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Quote
Real {truth seeker?}
Ozouf – you will continue to get my vote, and the votes of the intellientsia who appreciate the problem. Like last time, you will be re-elected, as it is the silent majority who count, not the ratbag vocal minority Trotskysists who carry on to try and elevate themselves out of the un-educated gutter where they so desperately belong.
I had hoped you would stay in New Zealand never mind your quote above had me in stitches quite apart from your pure vindictiveness towards almost every one you cant spell correctly
intelligentsia, Trotskyist, uneducated, the last word spot on in describing you please keep up the entertainment
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Fubar @ 45
Yes indeed they do, Mr Fubar. I bought a 40″ from them last year, free delivery. It did, of course, incur GST – but compared to buying locally it was like the proverbial budgie – “Cheep! Cheep! Cheep!”
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RT
You plonker!
Taxes would not require raising if the government could spend our, and I emphasise “OUR” (not their!) money properly and stop wasting it on useless projects, exorbitant wages, unnecessary consultants, ridiculous errors….
May I ask how a New Zealander such as yourself managed to slip through the 5 year residency law? What special skills do you bring to this island because it certainly isn’t humility or grace!
Your constant diatribe on these boards is extremely offensive….hopefully anyone on these boards who turn out to vote will recognise your NZ accent and abstain from putting the x next to your name. We have enough idiots in authority over here already…we certainly dom’t need another one!
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No 45. Yes they do (free if you can wait about a week for it to arrive)and free of VAT and GST (as it was below £400).
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I wouldn’t be surprised if Ozouf’s next proposition to the States would be to ban all online shopping by anyone living in Jersey, as it’s getting more like a dictatorship here every day!
I only wish that I had the choice to buy everything I need online, as I’m so fed-up with paying extortionate prices for milk and bread etc.
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I can see a time when the High St is empty and each day huge containers arrive from the UK with lighting, electronics, clothes (not music or books because we have downloaded these) etc.
I think 2011 and 2012 will be a lot harder for everyone and it will be interesting to see how many retailers are left in town in a couple of years.
I have to admit I’m as guilty as anyone else. It’s not just the prices it is the choice of products.
A few years ago I bought a new budget kitchen and customised it with nice handles, worktops and taps. Rather extravagently at the time (but not regretted) I bought a kitchen tap for over £500. I have just bought exactly the same tap for someone else for £140 on Amazon! I believe the seller is a company that quietly buys excess stock and re-sells on condition they don’t sell via the suppliers normal routes.
I just don’t see how local companies can compete with this, with or without VAT, GST and freight.
The future is murky!
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#48
‘May I ask how a New Zealander such as yourself managed to slip through the 5 year residency law?’
Hardly worth asking that question.
Does this ‘law’ get applied anywhere other than in public sector shortlisting?
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Michael: there is an apostrophe in “can’t” – talk about being unable to spell. Though appreciate the only thing you can bring to this forum is an attack on someone’s spelling which they do quickly. You get the point, though no-one would get yours.
Parktown Prawn: I agree re: the spending comment, though the fact remains that people are recruited at a salary level, and woudl not attract talent unless they paid the right level. Having said that, there certainly needs to be a review given some who have taken a voluntary redundancy are look at six figure payouts in some circumstances. Either way, we need to look at both revenue raising and spending cuts: but the point is that the GST’able level at 240 isn’t to bring abotu people spending here, rather to raise revenue.
In relation to how I arrived here with the 5year residency: I am a specialist in the finance industry, and was given a J Cat which enabled me to purchase property.
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Kate @ 35
I think you’ve missed the point slightly. If you get it delivered to a UK address you’ll pay the VAT on it. Whereas if its delivered to Jersey the VAT will be knocked off and GST imposed in its place if it’s over the threshold.
Anyway, this week I bought a TV that would have cost about £700 here. Instead I paid £450 on Amazon + £13 GST when it was held at customs. £700 vs £463 – no contest.
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Real Trusthseeker
Why must you continue to spout the same old rubbish?
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Just bought 600g of kenko coffee on amazon for 8.99!
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Just in the interest of clarity: £400 is NOT solely a GST limit. It is the de-minimis, below which it is not considered cost effective to collect ALL duties, not just GST. As such, items imported from countries such as USA will have duty applied to them because of their origin, and then GST on top of that, inclusive of freight and insurance costs.
The idea that ALL items under £400 are GST free is a misconception that arose from the initial inaccurate reporting of the GST system when it was launched. It is important to take country of origin, shipping and insurance costs etc into consideration when deiciding if you’re getting a bargain.
That said, you usually will be!
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As I have been saying for many years, retail has no long term future. The internet is not only much cheaper, it offers choice that no physical retailer could match.
The challenge for the States is to make St Helier a vibrant, post-retail environment. People will still need to buy some things, but the trick is to make sure the high street isn’t boarded up or filled with charity shops and is a nice place to spend time.
Clearly the biggest problem is exorbitant rents being charged: if business rates were say 10 times higher for unoccupied properties that would encourage landlords to rent rather than keep property empty.
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Is anyone surprised? It was only a matter of time until the threshold was lowered, as many other people have commented this will not stop me doing all (except groceries) my shopping on line.
I’ve been doing all my shopping on line for a number of years now and will never go back to shopping in Jersey whilst they continue to rip us off (and high rents is not an excuse). There is no choice in Jersey and I would rather (and do) fly to London and go shopping, it’s cheaper and there’s more choice.
Whilst the states are making decisions like this one it is only going to increase the amount of people who choose to shop online.
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chris what are you talking about? Be specific please, or rather better would be if you actually contributed to the blog, rather than just criticise.
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56. Dave
Milk and one sugar for me please mate
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You have to respect the “pseudo” intellect of
real truthseeker!
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Does anyone remember when retailers here wanted to make the upper limit £100 instead of £400?
When I needed to buy a new computer earlier this year, I tried to use the Ship2Me service but was told I’d have to pay VAT AND GST on it, as it was worth £500.
Instead I made a cash deposit into my Mum’s bank account who lives in the UK. She then bought the PC legally and surprise, surprise decided to send it to me as a gift.
While this is legal it’s not an ideal workaround as it takes longer and naturally we had to pay shipping costs twice plus VAT but I’d rather do that any day than pay an extortionate premium to the glorifed middle men that are Jersey retailers.
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53. “I am a specialist in the finance industry, and was given a J Cat which enabled me to purchase property”.
R.T. Must kmow all abuto fineacne!
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GST on food, what a great idea Mr Treasury Minister thought back in 2008. Over 19,000 signed a petion against this tax but The Establishment Party (intellientsia) still dictatored our needs and went for it. Luckily, I did not vote for any of the establishment party (Trotskysists) so do not really feel to blame. If only Tesco direct delivered to my door. Any entrapaneurs out there willing to give this idea a blast?
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Chris: Come on, is that your entire contribution? That is one meek comment: let’s hope the meek don’t inherit the earth… what a State we would be in!
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Ahh Real Truthseeker… part Stuart Baggs part Neo-Con, how you liven up this forum. I look forward to tearing you a new one at the hustings when you embark on your political career..
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“In relation to how I arrived here with the 5year residency: I am a specialist in the finance industry, and was given a J Cat which enabled me to purchase property.”
That is what I like about Real Truthseeker, the inconsistencies.
One day he works in construction, the next day he works in finance.
One day he owns two Audi’s, the next day he is driving to work in his Beamer leaving a magnificent wake.
He goes to Christchurch, New Zealand but he does not know that local time there is +13 hours over GMT so 12pm here 1am there.
If he runs for public office he will have to get his stories straight!
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64 – if you’d used dabs or someone similar they’d have delivered straight to your door at a very competitive shipping rate and without VAT.
Not sure why you’d use Ship2Me for something like a computer when almost all computer hardware companies operate online and have pretty good distribution channels.
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Buy online:
Local Vacuum cleaner £267. Amazon: £85
Local WII game: £36. Amazon: £25.00
I have bought ALL my Christmas shopping online having carefully shopped around and looked locally and having spent over £500.00 on various items I have saved myself almost the same sum by not buying locally.
The island is in a mess and tinkering with this that and the other will not help..
SCRAP the real culprit ZeroTen…
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Thanks guys, TV is ordered from AMAZON. Saved between £30 and £60 not buying in Jersey + 1 or 2 paycards, 1 tank of fuel and no traffic to deal with.
p.s I did think twice before buying local
Result !!
Thanks again
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If using ship to me, the retailer won’t take the VAT off, but you should be able to get a permanent export form from Ship2me – you can then claim the VAT back.
GST still payable up front though.
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54 RT
Yes, but my point (which you failed to grasp) is that revenue would not need to be raised at the level it is if the lunatics in charge hadn’t been so frivolous with OUR already paid tax monies!
You say you are a finance specialist?
I fail to see how a New Zealander can be more of a specialist in “offshore” finance than somebody who is already working and has extensive knowledge in an offshore finance centre???
Do they teach Jersey finance law in NZ?
Or is NZ a new offshore finance centre??!
Is there even a NZ bank based in Jersey??
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Amazon delievers for free hence no VAT or GST if it is under £400.
People are fed up with paying vat and as the government won’t sort this issue out the people have decided to vote with their mice.
No one needs to think more than once as it is a no brainer. Save money and get a better service with next day delivery. Go in to a local retailer and it can be up to 6 weeks to get the required item down as they don’t keep much stock anymore.
Why would anyone use ship2me?
Pip, RT seems to be the office cleaner. What does he know? Ripping Yarns comes to mind. He also has some more aliases on here as since the other day.
Amazonian Princess yes I agree 0-10 is the real culprit in all this.
As far as I am concerned this is a total shambles, ill thought out and badly implimented. I feel sorry for customs trying to police the collection of GST when they have more than enough to do trackling crime etc.
Until the electorate wakes up to whats going on things aren’t going to get any better.
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No problems at all Pip. I have all up five cars, including a Morris Traveller and a Hillman. Audis A3 and A5 wagon which will get sold since I have the BMW as the family vehicle now. I have been here for some time, and have changed jobs during that time.
I am back from NZ.
No inconsistencies Pip, just a stalker by the looks of it!
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Isn’t this getting off the subject matter? I have absolutely no interest where RT is from and how many cars he/she owns or where he/she works!
Back to the subject and I’ve now ordered a Freeview box from Amazon as well!
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Real Truthseeker – you appear to have posters ganging up on you! However, you bring that on yourself with confrontational posts like #33.
Unfortunately, the silent majority are diminishing and I’m one of them – I don’t trust our Government at all. They’ve made a succession of bad decisions, just look at the Waterfront for that. What worries me though RT, is that an increasing amount of locals are questioning their integrity – why are they so against a new supermarket chain(conflict of interests perhaps?), why does Dandara continue to have a green light to rape our island(to close a relationship with States members perhaps?).
So why introduce GST, forcing poorer residents to fill the hole as opposed to heavily taxing the higher earners? Once again, it’s probably self-interest & only the States members know the real reason
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Just had a browse in town as I need a new modem and 2 micro filters, town price £68, amazon price for the same items shipped is £43..hmmm where will I be buying from.
I have now done my xmas shopping online, have paid extra to have everything gift wrapped and still saved a fortune, infact saved enough that will pay for a weekend away…hmmmm think twice, buy online.
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Parktown Prawn: I have a degree in International Law specialising in finance. No they don’t teach Jersey law in NZ, but I went to Uni at St Andrews in Scotland… ever heard of it?
You really have a closed mind don’t you.
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Beaumont: my shoulders are broad, and doesn’t sway either my opinions or my approach. If some find it hard to swallow the truth, more problem them.
Introducing a new supermarket chain will have no impact on island wide pricing, there is enough competition here now. simple.
Secondly, GST is critical to the economic management of an island. When spending needs to be reigned in and revuew raised, there can’t simply be one method only, being ‘tax the rich’, when it is the rich who don’t use the services. If you tax high income earners, they will leave the island and take their business with them, therefore creating higher unemployment. It is a double-edged sword.
The fact remains, if we as an island receive £50k in taxes from a wealthy person, then happy days, it is £50k we woudlnt’ otherwise get. If we increase taxes further, we won’t even get that.
So you not agree with it, but is it the truth.
some peopel can’t handle the truth….. but you can rely on the one Real Truthseeker – treat me as your Yoda!
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Hi just brought a arm chair on line saved at least £160 on local price. Pip No 69 spot on regarding Real{truth seeker} but he is great entertainment
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I am glad I can be entertaining Michael, both entertaining AND factual….
Hope you enjoy learning something for the day.
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RT 81 PMSL at your self proclaimed economic expertese,you must be a politico or a wind up merchant.Surely if the number of people selling baked beans in a small community increases the price of the beans would decrease, if you are connected to the Islands finance industry then God help us all! a big IF methinks.
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RT
hmmmm…according to their website St Andrews University does not offer law as a subject.
Are you telling more porkies ??
My mind is far from closed, but I am determined to catch you out because something about you does not add up!
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[real truthseeker #54
In relation to how I arrived here with the 5year residency: I am a specialist in the finance industry, and was given a J Cat which enabled me to purchase property.]
in your fantastic specialist job, you spend all your working day here, seems they employed the wrong one, they should sack you and take away your j cat as you dont look very specialist to me……
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I’m going to dump a ton of horse manure outside Philip Ozouf’s house at 3am in protest.
This guy needs to know how bad his policies stink!
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I have checked through my academic mafia, my friends who are employed in UK universities.
There has never been a course in international law at St Andrews.
There is an MSc in International Finance but this is the first year for the course.
Another prime porkie workie methinks!
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“In relation to how I arrived here with the 5year residency: I am a specialist in the finance industry, and was given a J Cat which enabled me to purchase property.”
Elsewhere you state that you are married to a Jersey woman who owns the property and you will not qualify as a candidate until 2014!
Who owns the property and who wears the trousers in the Real Truthseeker household, I think we should be told!
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Firstly St Andrew do offer International Law as a post-graduate study.
Secondly: Never said I was married to a Jersey woman. I am married to a Scot I met at Uni. Accordingly my qualification as a candidate I also said was never until 2014, it is in fact in December 2011 when I receive my UK passport – which is all that is required combined with six straight years on the island (both of which happens then).
Thirdly: Dave – some people can do more than one thing, and besides my hours of work are flexible, as can be required to travel to Dubai/UK/Singapore/Lichtenstien at a moments notice so regularly read and contribute on the go.
So talking about porkies I hope I clear up all my stalkers uncertainties (well, that willbe impossible given the amoutn you muct have by the looks of yoru effors in contributing). Though my wife DOES wear the trousers quite happily.
Methinks you’re all adding 2 plus 2 and getting 6!
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#70 Mark – It seems that the distrubtion channels for this particular supplier weren’t quite that far reaching as like many companies they only delivered to the UK Mainland, a familiar story for everyone reading here!
Since you’re asking, at the time Quad Core PCs were much more expensive and I needed a bargain as a friend was starting their own business over here. V.
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The St Andrews Law Society website clearly states that St Andews does not have a faculty of law
http://www.saulawsoc.co.uk/
So give us a link to your course!
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Are the States really intent on punishing people for wanting to buy things that aren’t available in Jersey? We live in an internet society, we are aware of things available in other countries and sometimes we want them, should we not buy them just because we live in Jersey?
Hardly anything I want to buy is available in Jersey, apart from essentials the only stuff I buy here is from local craftspeople and artists.
If the States want more money coming in then have they considered dropping GST and sorting out the high-rent problem, lower prices on goods would encourage more people to buy. It’s just a thought, but it might actually work!
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How many years have you been married to your scot RT?
You appear to have watching too much Jackanory.
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Just bought a black and white and colour cartridge for my printer, genuine HP cartridges. Beyond Computers £41, WH Smith special offer buy one get one half price £31, Amazon £13, guess where I went.
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Pip: My apologies, I take it for granted people understand law school. One completes an undergrad (which I did back in NZ), and then complete a Masters in Philosopy (majoring in jurisprudence), and then go to Law School in London. My degree however is annoted St Andrews, since that is where my Masters is from.
Adrian: Married in Jersey 4 years ago – why the interest?
I must be the most famous blogger this site has ever had! Even my mates talk about this RT without even knowing it….
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No 95,
I bought one off amazon’s and interestingly it was sent to me from Queens Road, Jersey.
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Amazon is the way to go. As the government squeezes those at the lower end of the economic spectrum they have to make savings. This is one area where you can save a fortune.
RT all may become clear shortly…
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“I must be the most famous blogger this site has ever had! Even my mates talk about this RT without even knowing it…”
You must have some funny mates.
Most people read the JEP for the motors and property ads plus the deaths, births and marriages.
A very few read the political coverage, that is why there is so little of it.
There are about fifty posters on here.
So we are regular readers plus I know a few States members who read it.
Chuck in a few hundred odd lost souls who read amateur political commentary and that is 300 – 500 tops.
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#95 Was it from a Jersey retailer or just a fulfilment/warehouse-type organisation. If it is from a company with a retail outlet here then clearly they can afford to sell at this price normally!
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Just bought Christmas at Amazon, saved a packet regardless of paying GST on delivery.
Retailing in town as dead or dying and greedy shops and/or landlords have no one to blame but themselves and the GST party.
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I know several internet retailers that also have local outlets they sell at the same price as in store.
You get better service and after sales care in store, you have to pay GST for local sales and you get the expensive packaging.
On the internet you get brown paper and postage and after seven days (the statutory return period) it’s don’t bother coming to me with your problems.
It’s not just rents here, it’s social security for the self employed, its wages for the staff.
The internet is ok for cheap rubbish but would you make a ten thousand pound purchase over the internet?
If you don’t make ten thousand pound purchases then haven’t you got the message yet? Jersey isn’t for you.
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James 102. Yes i would make a 10,000 purchase over the internet. its just as secure as walking into a town retailer. postage is insured and tracked, payment is made over a secure gateway as well. I have made internet purchases for a couple of thousand no worries.
Better service in store ummm where. Personally my retaiing experience in jersey the store staff have provided bogus information simple to sell the item, always tried to sell me the more expensive model when i didnt need it etc. One time I went in to ask a question on a new item, of which I use professionally and the sales pitch was so bogus it was laughable. Most online retailers have a feedback system and print both good and bad reviews of the service and product. I find this excellent and much better than staff as the person providing feedback is not selling the item where as the sales staff may get a bonus or meet targets.
I have never had anything in brown paper from the internet, always comes down in the original packaging found in stores the only difference is its usually in a postal box with shed loads of air and bubble wrap.
Most internet retailers have a 30 day returns period, I have returned many items bought online and never once had a problem.
talking of one local internet retailer of sports goods that has a shop in town. I purchased something in stock from their site and it took 11 days to get to me, in that time I have ordered things from UK and spain and all arrived in 3 days.
The only pro about shopping local is you get to feel the goods however you can still do this and then buy online and save a fortune.
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no 102.
I estimate to pay about 2/3 of what local retailers charge when buying off the internet, so although returning goods is inconvenient, it is worth the savings. Consumers also have greater statutoy protection buying from say amazon, than they do buying in Jersey.
So if I had a choice of paying 10,000,in Jersey or 6,666 to a reputable internet retailer, I would choose the latter.
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It appears that “Real Truthseeker” is unfamiliar with the “Real Truth”
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I bought a camera bag for £74 on the internet that would have otherwise cost £154 in St. Helier
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@96 Real Truthseeker
I think the word is infamous.
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@ James Wiley 102.
Yes. I recently bought a brand new car from an internet based car exporter. Cost me about £14,000 for the car plus about another £1,000 for delivery, taxes, registrations, inspections, number plates etc. Would have cost me about £19,000 from a local supplier, but of course they couldn’t source the model I wanted. Instead they tried to sell me a higher spec one for £22,000.
PS Am I winning the “who saved the most by buying online” competition, or what?
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Real Truthseeker, construction worker, lawyer? I heard that he works in a local bar serving as a steward.
So he’s a lying barsteward.
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P.J.K.
‘It appears that “Real Truthseeker” is unfamiliar with the “Real Truth”’
Be fair, he is seeking it – not speaking it!
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@104
Well I don’t know which shops you shop in but the price in Jersey always seems cheaper to me.
Bought my wife a diamond ring internet price £11,500, Jersey price £7,000 (from the same retailer with just a bit of haggling).
Another time bought a Breitling watch internet price £2,000, Jersey price £1,500 (with a bit of haggling).
It seems to me you just aren’t shopping smart, you’re the sort of person who pays the price on the ticket no questions asked.
If you walk into any jewellers and speak to the far more knowledgable than either of us staff, they will give you a discount, they will adjust the item to your specific requirement, how do you do that over the internet? You don’t you end up taking it to a jeweller here to alter and end up paying more.
Do you know how to grade a diamond? So go to someone you know and trust.
OK maybe Jewellery is unfair because our tourism industry was built on our competitiveness in that industry (remember when there was 200 jewellers and only 60,000 people?).
You also can’t do that at New Look or a big UK chain, but then it’s cheaper in New Look here than on the internet anyway.
Seems to me (Born in the 70′s) that you young uns are so wrapped up in technology that you have forgotten that humans can actually just talk to each other.
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109 – who said lawyer and who said construction worker? Not I ever?
*yawn*
PJK – Have I lost your vote?!?! Nevermind, plenty mroe where they came from. Given the amoutn of voters on the island is what about 15k? And with 3 people at the left-hand-wringers concert last night, I think we have this one sewn up
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I bought goods from Asda and Matalan online Saturday night and had them delivered to my mum’s in Scotland (free), she then posted them to me here, got the Matalan stuff yesterday, Asda stuff today. Nice change from same old, same old in the shops here
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support the local retailer ????
whos idea was it to close the gas wrks car park 2 days after the late night shopping begins and 1 month before christmas , where are all the shoppers going to park ???
another executive decision from a highly paid civil servant. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SHOPS BUY LOCAL PARK MILES AWAY
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No 111. Your experience seems totally at odds with almost everyone else who has commented on this article and anyone that I have talked to about the subject.
The sector you are talking about is a very small proportion of the retail sector.
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111. Sound like RT is posting under another name yet again. No doubt Ozouf will vote for you, can’t see anyone else bothering though.
I doubt very much anything can be bought cheaper in Jersey, even locally grown. New potatoes cost less in the UK even after the air miles and extra travel are taken into account. Why is this?
Same with Condor, one price for the locals, and one for the tourists. So much for a level playing field.
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Awful tax that hits the poor and actually is bad for jobs/business aswell.
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@ 114
Have you not realised that we are only supposed to shop at the Abbatoir, where the landlord is the States of Jersey so they can justify higher and higher rents?
They were even going to pedestrianise Halkett Place.
@ 115
It may be small but it is likely that it is all we will be left with.
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I have done every single bit of my Chritmas shopping online ! Mostly from Amazon who not only offer Free shipping, they also take off VAT for delivery addresses in Jersey !! Now let me think, would I swap that for buying local??? I think NOT !! It makes me laugh how certain politicians take the public for a bunch of morons with no common sense! You do not need a degree in maths to work out that buying online, regardless of GST rises is so much cheaper and easier than shopping in Jersey !
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Thats it! I think im going to start up a price comparison website between those offering the same goods for sale in Jersey and UK. Watch this space all.
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I have just recently bought an item for £41.99 on the internet – the same item was for sale at The Powerhouse for £130. As per comment 1 – “simples”
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James Wiley, you’re a dying breed I’m afraid
Our daughter wants a new Dell laptop for Xmas. She gave us all the various specifications required, but the difference between Jersey and the internet just doesn’t make it worthwhile shopping here!
The best quote we had in Jersey was £591. Strangely enough, we couldn’t find anyone prepered to give decent discounts, so we went directly to Dell online
It was delivered today for a total price of £421. You might be happy paying an extra £170, but I’m not
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Adrian, nope 111 isn’t me.
However I bought some children’s games at mothercare (whcih is usually expensive). on line they were £35.99, at mothercare £21 on the money.
Agree, not everything on line is cheaper, and that pricing is starting to equate a little.
Just recommend you shop between the two and take the bargain. If you take a blind view and just shop on line or just shop loclaly you will miss out on bargains.
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#111 Which jewellers do you own… sorry, shop in? If you compare diamond jewellery like for like (as far as the 4 Cs are concerned) I’m pretty sure you’ll find it’s far more expensive here.
#113 Only place I’ve had any difficult getting goods from so far is Germany, and that’s only because their postal system forgets that Jersey isn’t in the EU. I’ve had to do a pre-payment bank transfer to a Netherlands’ bank account and still received the goods cheaper and faster than those coming from the media place around the corner!
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#110
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RT how many alter egos do you have now? Your writing style is too easy to see through. Why the need to use aliases all the time? Not confident enough in your main character?
It seems to be getting a bit of a hammering lately. I wonder why? What industry do you work in now?
People are sick and tired of paying exorbitant prices in Jersey. Amazon and others have thrown those with little money to spend, a life line. Those running the states have been caught out by the amount of money going off island and they don’t like it.
When people view taxes as unfair they will look for ways around them.
Local retailers are being consigned to the dust bin of history due to things like GST and high rental charges.
I can’t be bothered going to town having to look at naff new architecture, empty shops, and in the shops that are open having to deal with uninterested staff who can’t even be bothered to help. I also resent driving around endlessly looking for a parking spot and then paying for it.
Also at this time of the year the weather is often too bad to bother going out. Cold rain is not my idea of fun. People are also bad tempered now due to the stress of modern living. Walking down King Street is too much of a chore now, even in summer.
Better to save fuel, wear and tear on the car and damage from those who can’t park their 4×4′s properly. You also save an hour traveling in and out, scratch card costs, general agro involved with a trip to town etc.
Why not relax in your favourite armchair think about how much you can save and surf away to your hearts content? You will also get what you want, when you want, at a price you like, and save a fortune and lots of time faffing around.
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UK VAT goes up to 20% in the new year.
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Adrian: if it was me I would admit to it, but that particular post isn’t me. I suspect you might need to appreciate the fact there are many out there who think, act, and behave like me. Clones as you will. Lucky them, and besides, I can’t blame them emulating myself.
Anyhow, I dont’ disagreewith the gist of your email, however I have foudn some items (though admiteddly not many) here in Jersey cheaper than on line. Some items result in the postage being more than the cost of the item. Smaller items are generally cheaper becuase when local retailers buy, they get the benefit of bulk purchases, and spread the cost of freight accordingly. Other times, I have had to wait for a month, and lost in transit problems. All in all, the decision nees to be made on an item by item basis, rather than just a blanket approach to purchasing on line.
I can park my 4×4 properly by the way, may require two spaces, but it is in straight!
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Is it my naivety or is it plain common sense to purchase any item for the best price available irrespective of whether it is from Jersey Main Street or from a sidestreet branch of Argos in Motherwell.
Not everyone can afford to pay exorbitant prices (#102) – much as it might be more convenient and quicker to do so. If everyone on this island is supposed to be able to afford £10,000 purchases, it would have to be some super rich utopia and this is unlikely to extend to every person on the island. After all I cannot imagine a person on £45k working the till in the local HMV or whatever store it may be.
Therefore who cares what the GST increases to as there are always bargains especially on-line.
And no, I am not a regular poster
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#127 I think most people realise that, but it won’t make any difference.
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I own a jeweller’s in Jersey but I don’t sell Breitling or anything over £5,000. My main sales are between £20 and £100. My sales on the internet far exceed my sales in store.
I can assure you that for all my products I am the cheapest supplier on the internet, I have staff to go through and make damn sure I am. For one particular brand I am the fourth largest suppplier to the UK behind only Argos, John Lewis and H Samuel.
Our prices in store are identical to those online and with all the various sales I have on at the moment they are actually cheaper in the shop and the service and after sales is inevitably far better.
I regularly have to adjust watch bracelets, re-size rings etc. which makes the online purchase the more expensive as all those services on products bought from me are free of charge.
On a number of occasions I have had to confirm to people that what they bought as diamonds are in fact synthetic mozzanites and guess what no refund possible because the website was no longer there.
Shop where you like but in store in Jersey is where you will get the best deal if you aren’t too lazy to get off the computer and go look for it.
I think you will find that in many cases if you leave Amazon, and go to the sellers own site that the price will be lower still and at the end of the day eBay is invariably cheaper too.
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