tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032227.post570526755587868929..comments2010-08-25T05:01:39.147-04:00James D. Schwartzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04454437680686627778james.schwartz@theurbancountry.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032227.post-35785047338291191352010-08-25T05:01:39.147-04:002010-08-25T05:01:39.147-04:00Does MEC pay taxes?<br /><br />Yes, MEC pays capital taxes and municipal property taxes.<br /><br />MEC also pays corporate income tax on any earnings left at the end of the year. MEC&#39;s corporate income tax is calculated earnings that remain after a patronage shares are allocated to members. When MEC declares a patronage dividend, its taxable income is almost zero.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10032227.post-52592129817987215412009-08-31T17:15:32.604-04:002009-08-31T17:15:32.604-04:00I hate MEC. They are a WalMart disguised as a &quot;green, caring&quot; company. All they are is one step more evil than WalMart because they found a tax loop-hole (being a co-op) to unfairly price product and put small independent retailers out of business. Small retailers pay at least 22% corporate tax. Those small retailers are usually passionate participants and advocates of what they sell (hiking, kayaking, skiing, cycling, etc). MEC pays no tax. They buy real estate. They buy suppliers. They &quot;forget&quot; to tell suppliers that they are, indeed retailers, not wholesale suppliers to retailers to buy unfair pricing over their little competitors. It is nice that they give 1 or 2 percent to ethical/green causes but they&#39;re not paying taxes. <br />MEC once faced the question, &quot;do we stay true to our roots to keep the hardcore outdoor enthusiast equipped with ethically sourced product, or do we become huge, put mom&amp;pop shops out of business, undercut fair pricing, get it cheap-sell it cheap retailers&quot;<br />It is time all those people who think MEC is good realize they are truly evil. When those people&#39;s kids ask, &quot;how was it back in the old days when a person could start a little shop and make a living? How was it before this boheimith with an unfair tax advantage made the dream of being a small, independant retailer impossible?&quot;<br />If you think, &quot;I deserve low prices and MEC gives them to me.&quot; You have the exact mentality that is putting North America in such financial crisis. You are killing small business. You are putting your neighbour out of work. You are killing the chance for people to follow their dreams, start a local manufacturing or retail business and share their passion for the great outdoors.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com