Page 136 - 416_

products that are available only for the holidays.
In recent years, many mail order companies have gone online
and started selling their products over the Internet. In addition,
many companies have sprung up that exist only electronically.
These companies are often able to offer merchandise at a discount,
because they don't have to pay the overhead that traditional store
owners deal with. However, by the time sales tax and shipping and
handling are added in, the product may not be as cheap as it first
seemed. But customers still get the convenience of shopping from
home, as well as having access to products that perhaps are not
available in their area.
A further twist on electronic shopping is the e-auction, which
allows potential buyers to bid on merchandise of all kinds. The
person who placed the highest bid by the end of the limited bidding
period gets to buy the item.

TAXES

Although shopping in the United States may be considerably
less expensive than in other countries, it may come as something of
a shock when purchases are totaled, and the total is a lot more than
what it said on the price tag. This is because sales tax is not
included in the price displayed on the tag; it is added only at the
time of purchase.
The amount of sales tax charged varies from state to state,
although it averages around 8 percent. In some places, people who
are not residents of the United States may claim back the tax they
have paid on their purchases. A few states do not have sales tax.

GLOSSARY OF AMERICAN TERMS

ATM
automated-teller machine; a machine located in the outside wall of
a bank and inside some stores that allows bank customers to take
out money and do other transactions.
blue law
a law that regulates activities that take place on a Sunday,
especially retail activity.