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Online retailers’ sales forces are ubiquitous — and insidious

Jeff Jacoby ( Everything to fear in Internet sales tax,” Op-ed, April 24) complains of the unfairness of Internet retailers possibly having to collect sales taxes for states in which they have no “substantial nexus . . . such as offices, a warehouse, or a sales force.” But Internet retailers have a sales force in every house that has a computer and in every hand that holds a smartphone.

Online retailers also take advantage of brick-and-mortar sales forces, when prospective customers go into stores to examine merchandise and then order the item over the Internet — sometimes while still standing in the store.

Is the Marketplace Fairness Act unfair or merely upsetting to Jacoby’s sensibilities?

Michael Biales
Acton