Quote Originally Posted by Ohio_Buckeye_1 View Post
They are setup as place of last resort for people who really don't have the money or good credit to afford something. And their prices and financing terms reflect that. But hey, I'm a free market guy - so where there's a demand a business has every right to form and try to meet it. I was more thinking their prices were too high - that they were not an option as a place for me to consider buying the TV that I have been talking about - than they shouldn't be an option for others.

I know it's old fashioned, but what ever happened to denying yourself pleasure in the short-term for a long-term goal, and save up ahead of time for these type of purchases. They would avoid the high prices and finance costs. But hey, the whole US economy went in the tank because I am in the minority on that opinion.
OB,

The US economy went into the tank for a few more reasons that just the one opinion you mentioned, but no need to get into that here.

But for the Jamaican issue about Courts that you mentioned, when the average wage is around us$50 for a 40 hour work week, the Courts rent to own plan may be the only option should someone want to own something that they want to have to make their life more comfortable. Perhaps it would be wiser to forego any such purchases, but human nature being what it is - people do like to make their lives a bit more comfortable. I am sure that some people feel that Jamaicans should not have anything that they cannot directly afford, but not everyone feels that way.

A note about the duties charged on electronic items, only the items that are considered luxury items attract a high duty - which is exactly the same as in the USA. The difference here being once again the definition of luxury items. When you consider the average wage of us$50 per week, a big screen tv is considered a luxury so they do attract a higher duty.

Please note that for years there was no duty whatsoever on computers and related items. There was none because the Jamaican government realized how important they were to the economy and the education system and people needed every single break they could get to be able to afford them. Only in the past few years has there been duty on computers, and even at present the duty on a computer is between 10-20% - well less than the 100% you claim there is on electronic items.

Perhaps the electronic items you have experience with are considered luxury items. But still, why bring them in the first place? If you buy them here, which you can, you will be helping the local economy grow. This will make less need for the duty to be charged by the government as there will be more jobs and higher wages and more competition. You can rationalize your wanting to save the money any way you desire, but please do not think you are helping the local economy when you bring in items to the island that can be purchased here.