It’s officially time to kick off the new year here at Extreme John.com after a much needed brain decompression, I will get back to that brain decompression thing in a few hours. Anyway, those of you that are crazy enough to subscribe to my rss feed know that in addition to having this blog I also own the Extreme Tan and Smoothies indoor tanning salon chain located in Florida.
Every once and a while I will post information in regards to the business’s that I own and operate here, the content ranges from business tips for small business owners to indoor tanning events and specials.
Today I wanted to take a moment to address an issue that has the indoor tanning industry reeling. Some genius in Washington decided that it would be a great idea to replace a 5% proposed tax on elective cosmetic surgery with a 10% tan tax on indoor tanning services.
You know…. because kicking an industry that has all been but crushed by the economy in the beans is always a great idea, not to mention surely the average indoor tanning ticket is higher than elective cosmetic surgery tickets.
The last minute proposal was just a little more coal in the stocking of small business owners that employ over 150,000 employees in 20,000 tanning salons around the country. The coal was dropped off on Christmas eve and has tanning salon owners which are made up of mostly females, in a panic.
Panic isn’t really going to get anything done, instead I urge tanning salon owners to take a look at my “5 Things You Can Do to Stop the Tan Tax” below, take action and ask your customers for help. If the 10% tax on tanning services is not stopped it means that every indoor tanning customer will pay an additional 10% for each tan…. Let me say it again… an additional 10% for EVERY SINGLE TANNING SESSION YOU DO! Think about it.
5 Things You Can Do to STOP the 10% Tan Tax
If everyone works together and takes a moment to follow a few simple steps below we can make a difference and possibly STOP THE 10% TAX ON TANNING SERVICES before it’s too late. Here are 5 things you can do to help stop the tan tax.
1. Be Heard
Sitting back and getting all worked up into a panic isn’t going to do you or anyone else any good, take a few minutes of TODAY and make sure that someone hears your voice on this matter.
2. Contact Senator Bill Nelson’s Office
202-224-5274
Ask Senator Bill Nelson for his help in getting the 10% Tan Tax out of the Healthcare Reform bill. If you cannot reach Senator Bill Nelson as for someone that handles the healthcare issue.
*This is specific to tanning salon owners and indoor tanning clients in the state of Florida, click here for information about who to contact in your state.
3. Use Key Points About the Issue
Use some or all of the points I mentioned in my “Stop the 10% Tax on Tanning Services” post when you discuss this issue with your Senator or anyone else.
4. Follow Up
Follow up with an email to your Senator
5. Spread the Word
Get others involved in the fight to stop the 10% tan tax, ask your friends, family and customers to contact the Senators office.
I’m not looking to make this some big self promotion thing, but you can also share this post on Facebook and retweet it on Twitter to raise awareness, there is a convenient Facebook share button and Twitter retweet button as you scroll down this page, give’em a click. That’s 7 things you can do to help stop the tan tax.
Anthony @ Jumpness (19)
SafariDave (19)
sangalicious1 (14)
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s really ridiculous. I wonder who is the genius behind this thing.
MichaelR´s last blog ..OneSuite Toll-Free Fax Line Starting at 4.4¢ Per Page
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
@MichaelR, there’s a few of them Michael.
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When I lived in WPB I would go to the tanning salon occasionally. The best was when I was coming down with something [feeling cold and achy] and the heat would make me feel so much better. Then I would go get sushi.
Seriously, this is just another way to tax the poor [not that the rich don't tan, but in comparison to cosmetic surgery...] instead of those with money. Think beer tax.
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
@Anne, your last line says it all Anne.
What amazes me is how the good people that hate indoor tanning fail to recognize or even mention the benefits of indoor tanning to individuals with skin conditions and other ailments.
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That’s too bad John. I hope the 10% tax won’t materialize so you don’t need to raise your prices too.
ZXT´s last blog ..What’s Hot on YouTube
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I don’t personally tan at booths, but I do support people being able to do it, and business owners being able to make a living!
Any tax hike right now is STUPID! We are still climbing out of recession and raising taxes discourages people from spending….
Side note: When I lived in Fla. I was at the beach so much I didn’t need to tan! LOL Hope to move back there later this year, I do miss offshore fishing, golf year round, etc..
Keith´s last blog ..Are You Getting Things Done?
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 6th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@Keith, Florida is a tough state when it comes to tanning salons, the sun can be a beast. Half of the morons on Capital Hill that hate tanning have never even done it, they also never consider the fact that there are more people outdoors subjected to the sun than there ever will be in a tanning bed.
Tax the sun?
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Will Do as much as I can to help out the cause.
Please post Nelsons Email address that we can copy and paste.
Safari Dave
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Hey, just saw a person on your Fan Page.
His name is Jeff and he is a
9 month old baby
drinking a Budweiser, how bizarre and Extreme.
He better put that baby in AA now.
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Write your local newspapers voicing your opinion about the issue. I remember when I went to a wildlife protection meeting for the first time, I was surprised to find that the top effective thing to do to get your voice heard about an issue was to write any and all local newspapers, publications, etc, in addition to calling your senator’s or representative’s office.
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I tried to send a letter via the ITA site, but apparently my address isn’t real.
Mike @DailyShotOfCoffee´s last blog ..N.O. Brew Storyville Mocha Review
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 9:41 am
@Mike @DailyShotOfCoffee, grrrr!!!
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I’m sorry to hear that this small industry is being taxed when they should be focusing on other businesses. However, I do think that tanning is a luxury and not a need, so people who do indoor tanning have some disposable income to do so. It is by no means another way to tax the poor.
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 9th, 2010 at 11:13 am
@gochi, I do think you should probably read a few more facts about who tans indoors and just how much of a luxury it is. While your doing that please also consider the skin conditions that indoor tanning is known to cure and reduce the ill effects of.
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Good luck John…I hope they don’t approve the law about the bigger tax.
ZXT´s last blog ..Online Faxing
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 9:28 am
@ZXT, thank you Z, it would be nice to see it fall apart and get booted out that’s for sure.
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“Healthcare reform” was a big enough joke before this was added to the bill. Actually it would be a joke if it weren’t designed to further crush the economy of our country. It is 100% about the money, especially this idiocy of a tan tax.
Keith@Norman Rockwell Art´s last blog ..Dec 30, Breaking Home Ties, Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post Cover from 9/25/1954
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 9:22 am
@Keith@Norman Rockwell Art, I can only hope that more people share your same views. Hopefully some of the outrage might remind a few of the politicians remember that being re-elected might be tough if things like this get passed.
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Posted this on Facebook, Extreme John. Please let me know if there’s any kind of blogger related protest in mind, as I would be happy to contribute
Trey – Swollen Thumb Entertainment´s last blog ..Self Improvement Through The Workforce
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 9:07 am
@Trey – Swollen Thumb Entertainment, hey Trey thank you so much for taking the time to share this post on Facebook every little bit makes a big difference.
If any protests or anything like that come up blog related I will def. give you a shout, I appreciate that greatly bro thank you.
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This is just their way of taking everything away from people.
I believe the government would build a cover to block out the sun if they could. That way they could charge you for it.
While married to a man in the Navy we were moved from Pensacola, Florida to Bremerton, Washington. I went threw mass depression. I thought it was maybe having no friends….I finally figured out it was the dreary weather.
We did not have extra money but, I would go to a tanning salon 2 times a week if I made extra in tips. Laying in the light would brighten my mood 10 fold. I could care less about a tan, I needed the light.
The military gave me pamphlets warning that many military wives suffered depression when getting transferred to the Bremerton base. They even had suicide, alcohol, & drug use as possible problems from the move. Guess I’m lucky I figured out the tanning option.
I stayed in Western Washington for 15 years & now, I’m in Las Vegas. I could never even think of going back to Washington & living without the sun.
Sheryl Loch´s last blog ..Drinking Water to Stay Hydrated and Healthy
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Extreme John (4114 comments.) Reply:
January 10th, 2010 at 9:06 am
@Sheryl Loch, thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on a serious issue. My wife and I went through the same thing when we were transferred to Michigan, having no sun light was depressing and miserable. Just another thing that people in Washington don’t think about.
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Great BLOG! We are behind you, as well as the entire industry!
~CA suntan
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They will tax any thing now, but when all these people who use tan boxes get skin caner I dont want to payfor it!!!!
Great site by the way.
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