Canada has implemented a new tax savings from December to February for some things like taxable groceries, crafts, and gaming physical media. I wanted to get a new Xbox controller and found the best price at Walmart for $55 a week ago. The tax holiday starts today and I now see that the $55 has increased to $62 and change, which is about how much tax I should be saving. Great to see this thinly veiled attempt to help Canadians ( /s - win votes) is just going to be extra profit in the corporations’ pockets.

  • masterspace
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    1 month ago

    That’s not really relevant. A break in sales tax that just targets consumer necessities should be a progressive tax.

    The problem is that a lack of competition in this country means that grocers can raise their prices with no fear of losing customers

    • CileTheSane
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 month ago

      It doesn’t matter how much competition there is of they’re all going to do it anyway.

      • masterspace
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 month ago

        It does. Competition is literally the only mechanism that drives greedy actors to lower prices or improve their service. Without competition they hoarde.

        • CileTheSane
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 month ago

          literally the only mechanism

          You forgot about laws.

          • masterspace
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            1 month ago

            No I didn’t, price control laws don’t work. Companies will find another way of maximizing profits and screwing you.

            • CileTheSane
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              edit-2
              1 month ago

              “only the market can fix this”

              Gestures broadly at the market

              Multiple competitors just results in them all agreeing to raise prices when taxes are lowered.

              Out of curiosity, how do you propose increasing the number of competitors? Or is this a situation of “gee, that would be nice. Oh well, I guess nothing can be done.”?

              • masterspace
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                2
                ·
                1 month ago

                Multiple competitors just results in them all agreeing to raise prices when taxes are lowered.

                Price signalling happens in situations with low competition, in a healthy, competitive market, if you raises prices someone will undercut you to take your business.

                Out of curiosity, how do you propose increasing the number of competitors? Or is this a situation of “gee, that would be nice. Oh well, I guess nothing can be done.”?

                You literally just break up grocery store companies and stop them from merging in the future. The solution is not complicated.

                • CileTheSane
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  1 month ago

                  You literally just break up grocery store companies and stop them from merging in the future.

                  Oh, so you mean LAWS?