Tanning salons will go out of business

[AGRP]

Ahh the good ole days:

When our founding fathers granted the federal government the right to tax tanning beds.

 

[Andrew-Austin]

Its funny because some people (liberals) say that only the rich bourgeois go to tanning salons, and thus use that as an excuse to tax them. Well, way to go left! They will become even more bourgeois as you force them to rise prices, way to make sure a service is unavailable to the poor.

 

[cindy25]

since this effects all tanning salons they can and will just pass it on to the end consumer

 

[Natalie]

Snooki is against it!! And John McCain assured her that he would never tax tanning bed use!

Snooki also addressed her recent Twitter hook-up with Sen. John McCain, who told the reality star that he would never tax tanning bed use. "I love Obama, y'know, he's the president," Snooki said. "I support him all the way. But, come on, tanning?"

SOURCE: http://www.popeater.com/2010/06/16/jersey-shore-snooki-fox-news/

On the other hand, maybe it's not such a bad idea...

 

[Noob]

As stated before, humans are greedy and foolish. Most are happy with nothing, as long as it is more nothing than their neighbors. "I do not go to salons, why would I care". LOL hehehehe....Just wait till you sin is taxed. With government control of people health, it won't be long until burgers are taxed, and soda, and candy, and ice-cream. We Do have a diabetic explosion occurring, and with a majority of people overweight or obese, I for one can not wait to have my food items taxed, all in the name of health. Bawhahahhahaha.
They were ready (did not check at last count) more than willing to tax medical supplies and equipment and health plans provide too much, lets see how else they will steal more money from our pockets. (But I don't tan, why would I care) HEHEHEHEHEHE.

Yes they well tax them, and they also make it were obese people can not have any children of thier own, so on untill every one needs to go to the government to get approvle to have children.

 

[specialK]

Work out some kind of system of trade.. who needs money.

Bartering is taxable.

 

[Working Poor]

I've read a lot about the benefits of Vit D and even using tanning to get it, but I'm still sketchy about the cancer risk, that's why I will not get into a tanning bed. Know of any scientists or doctors who dispute the cancer link with tanning beds?

I am pretty sure that since vitamin D is so healthy science is using every propogand idea it can to keep you from getting this free benefit they even tell you to use sun screen to keep you from getting any benefits from being in the sun.

 

[fisharmor]

Jane Doe's Salon & Spa:

This week only! Free tanning session with every mani/pedi!

Next week, Half-price tanning session with haircut.

This is great. It illustrates two points:

First, that government is always outsmarted by the market. A person who (presumably) has nothing to do with the industry figured out how to get around the law in less than a day.
Unfortunately there's a case from Maryland from a couple years back, where MD put price controls on gasoline. I think it was Wawa who started giving out free coffee with a fill-up, and MD shut down that promo post haste for "ignoring the price controls".

Whenever gov't control of markets was taken to its logical conclusion, it involves on-the-spot death penalties for rulebreaking. Anything less and it'll get outsmarted. Push it that far, and you're looking down the barrel of a revolution.
Gov't is always fighting a losing battle with the market, and as soon as it stops trying, things will get better.


Second, that IP laws aren't helpful. If IP laws were taken to their logical conclusion, then Melissa would be able to patent the idea of giving away free tans - except that the people at Wawa would have beaten her to it. Then nobody would get to use that idea. In the end IP just ends up being another way for gov't to try to shut down the market. Without it, everyone gets to use the idea, and everyone benefits.

 

[Bruno]

Tanning salons feel burned by 10 percent 'tan tax'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/07/AR2010070701076.html

By N.C. Aizenman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 7, 2010; 5:19 AM

The sun hasn't exactly set on Solar Planet, but anxiety over the fate of the Arlington tanning salon has been running high ever since a "tan tax" took effect Thursday.


One of the less publicized measures in the new health-care law, the tax imposes a 10 percent surcharge on the use of ultraviolet indoor tanning beds.

Supporters -- including the Obama administration, congressional Democrats and dermatologists -- have argued that the tax will raise an estimated $2.7 billion toward the cost of expanding health coverage to the uninsured, while discouraging a practice that increases the risk of skin cancer by as much as threefold in frequent users, according to scientific research.

But outraged tanning salon owners worry that the levy could deal a death blow to an industry already reeling from the recession.

"In 26 years of business this is the worst I've seen it," said Scott Shortnacy, owner of the Arlington Solar Planet as well as six other branches in the Washington area. "Normally for people who tan, it's a part of their lifestyle. They keep doing it even in a recession. But everybody has been looking for ways to cut back on those areas. ... Our sales are down 20 to 30 percent."

According to the Indoor Tanning Association, an industry trade group, most of the nation's 19,000 tanning salons are small businesses owned and staffed by women. Shortnacy said all but two of his several dozen employees are women. With business so slow, he opted against hiring the 10 to 15 seasonal workers he normally adds during the spring high season.

Even the Arlington salon, Shortnacy's most successful location because of its proximity to sun-deprived Pentagon workers and Northern Virginia mall shoppers, is suffering. Appointments have dropped from 300 per day to about 160.

How much further the tan tax will drive down those numbers is hard for Shortnacy to predict, however. And the early signs during a recent afternoon at the salon were mixed.

Like many customers, Lisa Haggett, 48, who recently retired from the Air Force and tans several times a week, said she made a point of buying her next package of sessions before July 1 so she could avoid the tax. After she's used up the package, she said, she may need to cut back. Unlimited monthly passes at the salon run about $50, noted Haggett, whose visits have toasted her to a medium shade of brown.

"This is something that makes me feel good," Haggett said. "The reality is it's a luxury. It's not a need."

Dane Ellington, 49, a health-care consultant whose deep bronze color spoke to a lifetime of indoor tanning, expressed annoyance at being singled out. Why not tax people who sunbathe outdoors? Or binge on cheeseburgers? Or, for that matter, who use Botox injections -- which were originally slated to be taxed under the law until a last-minute frenzy of lobbying prompted lawmakers to substitute the tan tax.

"I understand that the money [for the health-care overhaul] needs to come from somewhere," Ellington said. "But this doesn't seem like the appropriate place. It's just silly."

Still, plenty of other customers said they had no quarrels with the tax -- particularly those who supported the health-care law in general.

"I know I shouldn't be tanning, but I do it because it makes me feel better," said Karie Apicella, 34, a patent examiner whose fair skin had acquired a honey-hued glow. "So I guess I understand the idea behind the tax, and I'm willing to pay it."

"It's almost like when your parents tell you that you shouldn't drink and you sort of know it's true, but you do it anyway," said a laughing 29-year-old Marine officer who declined to give her name because she felt sheepish about divulging her tanning habits to those under her command.

"Some people pay $6 for a latte because it's their way of relaxing or treating themselves," added the officer. "Well, this is my latte, and I'm not going to stop ordering it."

 

[jmdrake]

In other news, looks like I'll be seeing a lot more tan lines during Spring Break in 2010

That and/or a bigger demand for privately owned nude beaches.

Of course you've just given me a nutty, but possible good entrepreneurship idea. What about a "natural" tanning salon? Basically a room with a skylight and mirrors on the roof to concentrate the sunlight plus an LCD filter to regulate how much comes in. Even on a cloudy winter day you might get enough to get a decent tan. Hmmm.....

 

[MelissaWV]

That and/or a bigger demand for privately owned nude beaches.

Of course you've just given me a nutty, but possible good entrepreneurship idea. What about a "natural" tanning salon? Basically a room with a skylight and mirrors on the roof to concentrate the sunlight plus an LCD filter to regulate how much comes in. Even on a cloudy winter day you might get enough to get a decent tan. Hmmm.....

Really nice spas already have sunning areas You could certainly do a lower-end version of such, and even include a "warning" about too much sun, just to cover your butt. You could hang that small warning just under the massive plaque in which you describe the benefits of natural sunlight. Please be aware that a retractable awning or similar device is better than a skylight; most glass tends to filter and distort sunlight, making it a bit pesky to get a tan.

If you are wondering, the last spa I went to had a central courtyard area with tile/brick walkways, and a bit of "lawn" area to lay out on if you like, or nice big cozy chairs to lie down on. There were plants, and it was open air, so whether or not it was open depended on the weather. The fountain, though, was obnoxious. You're encouraged to drink a lot of water, and hearing running water for a really long time means trips to the restroom....

 

[jake]

what about fitness centers that have tanning beds?

I *think* I saw on tv that they are not affected :o

 

[jmdrake]

Really nice spas already have sunning areas You could certainly do a lower-end version of such, and even include a "warning" about too much sun, just to cover your butt. You could hang that small warning just under the massive plaque in which you describe the benefits of natural sunlight. Please be aware that a retractable awning or similar device is better than a skylight; most glass tends to filter and distort sunlight, making it a bit pesky to get a tan.

If you are wondering, the last spa I went to had a central courtyard area with tile/brick walkways, and a bit of "lawn" area to lay out on if you like, or nice big cozy chairs to lie down on. There were plants, and it was open air, so whether or not it was open depended on the weather. The fountain, though, was obnoxious. You're encouraged to drink a lot of water, and hearing running water for a really long time means trips to the restroom....

Dagnabbit! Another multimillion dollar idea scoped again by captain obvious. How does the spa setup you've describe do in the winter months? (That's why I was thinking about the sky light).

Here's another idea. Medical marijuana dispensaries could just let the patrons lay out under the "grow lamps" with the plants. .

 

[MelissaWV]

Dagnabbit! Another multimillion dollar idea scoped again by captain obvious. How does the spa setup you've describe do in the winter months? (That's why I was thinking about the sky light).

Here's another idea. Medical marijuana dispensaries could just let the patrons lay out under the "grow lamps" with the plants. .

Vegas and Florida don't have very cold winters You can still sit out on chairs and read a book or have a mug of hot cocoa if it gets chilly. Spas do brisk business year-round because of "girls' day out" type things, pre-wedding parties, and really bored women with nothing better to do than get massages and skin treatments. I would re-iterate the caution about the skylights, because warping and filtering the sunlight might mean you are taking away some of the benefit, while simultaneously focusing the light in such a way that it's like frying an ant with a magnifying glass

 

[Natalie]

I quit tanning a couple years ago. The only safe tan is a tan in a bottle. I never burn, but I wear spf 70 when I go to the beach because I don't want to have sun spots and wrinkles when I'm 30.

 

[Matt Collins]

 

[jmdrake]

Is this an advertisement for burkhas?

 

[Matt Collins]

Is this an advertisement for burkhas?

Have you never heard of the Burkini?

​

 

[WaltM]

10% is a huge tax increase. Most successful businesses operate on a 10% - 20% profit margin to begin with.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...ax-would-trigger-job-cuts-store-closings.html

really?

20% is a very low return if you're a brick & mortar store, having to pay rent, be on time, close and 5...etc.

Maybe decrease in rent costs would compensate for this?

 

[Acala]

lol

Because they did not think this through, they have boosted tourism in the evil State of Arizona. The sun is always shining here folks. Come and get it!