Taxing my internet sales probably would not change my buying habits much. My local bookstores just don't maintain an adequate stock of computer books. They don't have much of a market here. Most of that business goes to Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million.
The primary issue here is that my state isn't "losing" sales tax revenue when I buy a book online. That book sale happened online because the bricks & mortar stores didn't stock the book. Absent the online retailer, the money would never have been spent at all.
The employees of an online retailer are spending their income in the state where their employer (online retailer) is located. There are probably quite a few online retailers in any given state whose employees are spending money derived from buyers in another state. Laying taxes on these online retailers may actually cause a net reduction in economic activity. An unintended consequence of political greed. The politicians should welcome the influx of money that gets spent in their own local economy.
What a mindful concept.....
For me, it's not that local retailers don't have the merchandise. The reasons i buy online are:
1.Easier price comparisons mean its often cheaper to buy online.
2.No hassle from salespeople or with uninformed salespeople.
3.The lack of sales tax generally pays for delivery charges if any.
4.CONVENIENCE. I don't have to drive to the store, find a parking place and fight the weather or crowds.