Sainsbury’s not welcome here

Wednesday 24th November 2010, 2:29PM GMT.

COMMERCE and Employment has condemned two UK companies for using Guernsey as a distribution base without retailing in the island.

It emerged yesterday that Sainsbury’s Entertainment, a sub service of the supermarket chain, and Best Buy had launched online CD and DVD distribution from the island ahead of the Christmas season to take advantage of the VAT loophole.

The department said it would investigate the matter.

A spokesman said it had been at pains to make clear that UK business operations of this nature were something it would not support.

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1
John

November 25, 2010 at 6:00 am

DISGRACEFUL !!! It’s greedy organisations like this which will make Governments get wise and fed up, leading to changes in rules and laws. Come on Guernsey – stop this sort of thing from happening again before the residents end up paying !!!

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2
Stuart

November 25, 2010 at 11:22 am

Whats wrong with this. Business must provide jobs, and revenue. Its not illegal. If you don’t like it change your laws.

Typical island politics / jealousy !

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3
TL

November 25, 2010 at 12:34 pm

John – I think the point of the article is that the authorities want to stop it happening

Stuart – the point is that if UK operations are allowed to operate in this way the VAT exemption will be abolished, which then damages proper businesses that do operate here (Moonpig, Healthspan, etc)

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