Do You Support a Sales Tax for Online Purchases?

The Marketplace Fairness Act was approved in the U.S. Senate, and is headed for the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would require merchants to collect sales taxes on online purchases.

It's called the "Marketplace Fairness Act" and supporters say it levels the playing field between online retailers and brick-and-mortar stores by requiring online merchants to pay sales taxes to the states, counties and localities where they have done business. Opponents include anti-tax activists and retailers who say it will be overly burdensome—in fact, nearly impossible, they say, to keep track of the tax rates and tax requirements for the myriad of taxing agencies where they may be doing business. The Marketplace Fairness Act passed the U.S. Senate 69-27 on Monday. Next up, the legislation goes to the GOP-led House. President Barack Obama has previously said he supports the bill. Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, voted for …

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PaulRevere

12:20 am on Monday, May 20, 2013

Let me commend you on your typing abilities. In 1986 the US congress passed "new laws" for immigration. Even though we had hundreds of laws stating exactly how to deport those breaking the laws. None were followed. The Govt just did not follow the laws. Amnesty took place with maybe under 6mill illegals kept in this country. So now we have over 14mill new illegals. So now in 2013 congress wants …   more ›

Ask the Patch Pro: Local Experts Answer Your Holiday Budgeting Questions

Our panel of experts are waiting in the comments to answer your questions about shopping and maintaining a budget during the holidays in the latest installment of Ask the Patch Pro.

It's time for another edition of Ask the Patch Pro, where each week we tackle a different topic and open up the comments section for questions. Our team of experts stop in to help you out and answer your questions. This week we're talking about sticking to a budget for the holiday shopping season. Patch wants to help find the answers to all your questions about wise holiday spending, but we needed a little help.  We've compiled a team of experts to help us out. Meet the experts:

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Black Friday: News and Updates

Find the latest on Black Friday lines, deals and news as it happens. If you see something we should know about, send us a tip at Maggie.Rotermund@patch.com or tweet @UniCityPatch.

It's the biggest shopping day of the year. Share your stories with Patch.

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News Nearby

35 Galleria Stores to Open at Midnight on Black Friday

The others in the mall will open at 6 a.m.

As area stores plans their earliest Black Friday openings ever, the St. Louis Galleria will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday, Nov. 23. These Galleria shops will be open even longer, opening at 12 a.m. on Black Friday. Other St. Louis-area malls plan early Black Friday openings. All the Galleria stores listed below will be open from 12 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday.

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Black Friday Shopping in St. Louis to Start Earlier Than Ever in 2012

Walmart announced a Thanksgiving Day start to its sales. Target, Toys R Us, and Best Buy aren't far behind.

Serious shoppers know Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is the day for bargains. Retailers are opening earlier than ever this year with sales to entice more holiday shoppers. Home Depot started its Black Friday sales on Nov. 8.  Walmart has set the bar at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for 2012 sales to start. Will other stores follow? Macy’s, Target and Toys R Us are among a growing number of shops kicking off Black Friday sales at midnight, the St. Louis Business Journal reports. Area mall doors will open at various times, though some of their stores may or may not be open then. Many sales haven't been announced yet. Target offers a signup to receive text messages of sales, and previews a 40-inch Toshiba TV, a Samsung laptop computer…

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Celebrate Columbus Day in University City

Columbus Day is celebrated this year on Monday, Oct. 8.

Columbus Day, a nationally recognized federal holiday, falls on Monday, Oct. 8 this year. While it is an opportunity for some to sleep in on a Monday, the holiday itself is also interesting, and a great time to celebrate and shop. Columbus Day remembers Italian explorer Christopher Columbus’ long journey across the Atlantic Ocean to the “New World." The voyage was victorious when land was first spotted on Oct. 12, 1492. Remember, local banks, including Commerce Bank and Royal Banks of Missouri will be closed for the holiday. The day is also considered a celebration of Italian heritage, as well as a huge shopping day in the U.S.  President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is responsible for making the holiday a federal one in 1937. What is closed …

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Black Friday News and Updates

Find the latest on Black Friday lines, deals and news as it happens. If you see something we should know about, send us a tip at Lindsay.Toler@patch.com or tweet @StLouisLindsay.

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Brandon Fry - Local Volunteer

9:38 am on Friday, November 25, 2011

We got in and out with all of our video games in about 1 hour. We got some great deals and little hassle with long lines this year. Of course we avoided the big box stores. Once we left the mall and went to McDonald's it was a different story.   more ›

Small Business Saturday Could Be Big Boon for University City Businesses

The program, on Nov. 26, aims to provide an alternative to the Black Friday shopping blitz at national chains.

The second annual Small Business Saturday is two days after Thanksgiving, and seems to be gaining momentum with customers and locally owned businesses. The effort is a way to focus attention on small businesses and regain a portion of the shoppers who flock to big box and chain stores on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  “I think there’s a backlash against some of the big corporations and more people are shopping at locally owned businesses,” said Jeff Weintraub, owner of The Silver Lady, with stores on the University City Loop and in the Central West End. There are some great deals at small businesses, especially on Small Business Saturday, Weintraub said. What's the deal? American Express and Patch are partnering to offer a deal to …

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Myra's Musings

Have You Ever Hidden a Purchase From Your Spouse?

A study finds 80 percent of people hide purchases from their spouse.

Have I ever bought something and hidden it from my husband? Eh, yeah. That's what closets are for. And apparently I'm not alone at shopping and stashing. A study by Marketplace Money finds that 80% of married people in America have purposefully hidden purchases from their husband or wife. According to the study, many couples see these omissions as (mostly) little white lies, done so to avoid an argument or an eye roll.  Sometimes it's hard to explain to my husband that I need the 1.5 ounce $230.00 bottle of cream my dermatologist recommended to help with my pigmentation and fine lines.  Or, the 20 dollar shampoo and conditioner with Shea Butter. He just doesn't understand. And the fabulous Vera Wang dress that was originally $430.00 but I …

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Kalen Ponche

10:08 am on Monday, January 10, 2011

Ha! I don't "hide" purchases, per se, but I might forget to show him a new dress I bought. Whoops.   more ›

Arts and Entertainment with Jeff Brandt

Loop Businesses Offer Out-of-the-Ordinary Shopping Ideas

University City Patch profiles three local businesses offering interesting holiday gifts.

Let's say you're sick of seeing all of the same bland gifts at a big box store. You want to spice up your shopping to make this holiday season one to remember. Why not just take a stroll down the Delmar Loop? These three stores on Delmar offer fun, unusual alternatives to traditional Christmas gifts. Enigma Tattoos Located above Sunshine Daydream, accepts walk-ins for tats and piercings. With a wall full of samples and an open mind when it comes to custom designs, Enigma is no stranger to offbeat Christmas shoppers. "A week or two before Christmas, people will come in wanting to buy their mom, sister, brother, dad or whoever a tattoo," employee Chris Greer said. Wait . . . moms? Even the white picket fence suburban moms who wear mom jeans…

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