Airgas

[shortgoroper]

I am looking at a welder from Airgas.. I got a good price from the guy. The airgas store is in NY. I live in PA. Do you think Airgas would drop ship so that I can get out of paying sales tax????

[tasslehawf]

Depending on how much the welder weighs, it could be a toss up between tax and shipping.

[MMW]

When you buy anything from another state & have it shipped to you it puts the burden on you to pay the sales tax instead of the vendor. It is called sales & use tax & legally you are supposed to report & pay it. Having said that you need to weigh the cost of shipping vs. the cost of the tax.

[deafman]

May not get out of the tax

If Airgas has a store or warehouse in your state and ships the product from it, you will be billed for sales tax for your state.

[jimmy_pop]

If Airgas has a store or warehouse in your state and ships the product from it, you will be billed for sales tax for your state.

what he said

[ccm399]

When you buy anything from another state & have it shipped to you it puts the burden on you to pay the sales tax instead of the vendor. It is called sales & use tax & legally you are supposed to report & pay it. Having said that you need to weigh the cost of shipping vs. the cost of the tax.

If Airgas has a store or warehouse in your state and ships the product from it, you will be billed for sales tax for your state.

Both are correct. I never knew the use tax deal until I married an accountant.

Chris

[monte55]

I don't know about all states but Missouri or at least in my part....if I make a product for sale and I buy a piece of equipment to make that product, I don't have to pay tax on it. It's called shop expansion. I had never heard of it before I bought my lathe in about 1995. The salesman filled out the paperwork for me and I paid no tax. I also bought a mill ...no tax. When I bought my tig...no tax. Might be worth looking into. Now if the piece you buy
has no part in the actual construction of the product, it doesn't qualify. Buying a welder to repair your lathe let's say doesn't count. Buying a power washer to clean your equipment won't fly either. I sure none of this would appy to the home welder.

[Desertrider33]

I don't know about all states but Missouri or at least in my part....if I make a product for sale and I buy a piece of equipment to make that product, I don't have to pay tax on it. It's called shop expansion. I had never heard of it before I bought my lathe in about 1995. The salesman filled out the paperwork for me and I paid no tax. I also bought a mill ...no tax. When I bought my tig...no tax. Might be worth looking into. Now if the piece you buy
has no part in the actual construction of the product, it doesn't qualify. Buying a welder to repair your lathe let's say doesn't count. Buying a power washer to clean your equipment won't fly either. I sure none of this would appy to the home welder.

Too bad we don't have business-friendly tax laws like that in California. Of course business-strangling tax laws is why alot of businesses have left the state for greener pastures elsewhere...

[Leons2003]

I would buy online as I have in the past, no tax, no shipping and above all no dealing with the mullets at Airgas. But that's just my 2¢
L*S

[tasslehawf]

Indiana Oxygen has good prices and they also do free shipping. You haven't said which welder you're looking at.

[Blondie_486]

Even if you had it drop shipped you might be liable to pay sales tax at your local Airgas store. Sales tax is hard to avoid unless you're a business or farmer. Even if you went to NY to pick it up yourself you'd have to pay the sales tax. You might be money ahead to tell your local Airgas what price he is charging and they'll most likely match the price. I doubt the amount you'll pay in sales tax would be enough to ship the welder anyway. Even though I am running a business on the side I pay sales tax as I go and it makes the accounting at the end of the year easier. If it's for home/hobby use I don't see any way of avoiding sales tax unless you buy from Indiana Oxygen or the other E-bay seller in MD I can't remember the name.

But here is something to think about. What if you have a problem with the welder that you buy from Indiana Oxygen or the other outfit? You're dealing with shipping the unit back to them and having them ship back to you. I would strongly recommend buying locally even if it costs a little more. You'll save yourself a lot of headache and grief in the long run dealing locally than an online seller.

Just my opinion

[crawler]

But here is something to think about. What if you have a problem with the welder that you buy from Indiana Oxygen or the other outfit? You're dealing with shipping the unit back to them and having them ship back to you. I would strongly recommend buying locally even if it costs a little more. You'll save yourself a lot of headache and grief in the long run dealing locally than an online seller.

Just my opinion

If your welder needs warranty, any authorized Miller service shop will warranty it.
You don't have to ship it back to Indiana Oxygen.

[shortgoroper]

Airgas quoted me a price for a MM211... $890, but NY sales tax is 8%, so that comes to $962. I could buy one from Weldfabulous for $947 shipped to my door.

I like to buy local for the reason that I will ultimately need consumables, and I need a new helmet, which the Airgas guy said he would hook me up!

I am just trying to get bottom dollar.. if he quoted me $890 for the welder.. If I could get it drop shipped and not have to pay tax.. I would save $72.. and at $.30 a pound for scrap steel... that buys a lot (240#) of scrap steel to play with.

But then again... If I want to be fair and play by the rules.. Where would you guys buy from???

[MMW]

I can't believe that you would screw around for $15. $947 from weldfabulous with no tax which legally you would still owe or $962 from your local guy with tax. To me this is a no brainer, support your local LWS who in your own words "would hook me up" with other stuff! Do you think he would be so quick to hook you up if you didn't buy the machine from him?

[shortgoroper]

I can't believe that you would screw around for $15. $947 from weldfabulous with no tax which legally you would still owe or $962 from your local guy with tax. To me this is a no brainer, support your local LWS who in your own words "would hook me up" with other stuff! Do you think he would be so quick to hook you up if you didn't buy the machine from him?

Relax... I am just stir crazy waiting for it to arrive from Airgas.. I already ordered it on Friday. YOu know in the cold winter nights of PA... You get cabin fever, especially when you are awaiting a sweet machine like the 211 to arrive.

I know its a good deal.. so that is why I took it... I am just fishing around and playing monday morning quarterback...

Thanks for all your insight..