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Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts) Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:50 PM Jan 2014

I had two separate people complain to me today about paying sales tax...

I rang them up for various items you can buy at your local drug store. At totally different times of the day, they both said almost exactly the same thing and this is basically how the discussions went:

"Why is this so much?"
"Why is what so much?"
"Why am I paying so much tax? Why is it so high?"
"Ummm...Sales tax in this city is slightly above 8%. There are many other places with higher rates."
"This is ridiculous. I shouldn't have to pay so much tax."
"I'm sorry. That's how the city pays for things. Do you want to speak to a manager or something?"
"No, it's just ridiculous."
"Okay, sorry?"

Since when was sales tax such a mind-blowing concept? When I combine these two bozos with the guy I had to deal with last week who insisted that all US currency had RFID chips, I'm starting to wonder if there's something in the drinking water around here.

12 replies

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I had two separate people complain to me today about paying sales tax... (Original Post) Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 OP

Were they transplants (new to the area)? ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #1

One of them told me they were from Washington. Not sure about the other. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #4

Also, it's rotten that they treated you as the face of the company. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #5

Blaming me for things happens all the time. But the sales tax complaint is new. Gravitycollapse Jan 2014 #7

Honest to goodness, I just looked at sales tax in Washington state. ScreamingMeemie Jan 2014 #8

I think "luxury tax" refers to much higher taxes on things like rental cars and hotels Art_from_Ark Jan 2014 #11

Why is it . . . Brigid Jan 2014 #2

Tell me about it... customerserviceguy Jan 2014 #12

Are they Snow Birds? DURHAM D Jan 2014 #3

Well, our sales tax is close to 9%. No state income tax though. n/t GP6971 Jan 2014 #6

State Sales tax in theory is a fair concept firsttimer Jan 2014 #9

It might be something the right wingers are doing now to create the impression that everyone okaawhatever Jan 2014 #10

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)

1. Were they transplants (new to the area)?

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:53 PM

Jan 2014

I know it blew my little mind when I realized the sales tax was so high here in Texas. I spent a good deal of my adult life in MI, with a 4% sales tax, that was voted up to 6% (don't get me started on that) a few years back.

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

4. One of them told me they were from Washington. Not sure about the other.

Reply to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #1)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:54 PM

Jan 2014

Although, I'm pretty sure Washington has a comparable sales tax average.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)

5. Also, it's rotten that they treated you as the face of the company.

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Reply #4)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:55 PM

Jan 2014

Idiots.

Gravitycollapse

(8,155 posts)

7. Blaming me for things happens all the time. But the sales tax complaint is new.

Reply to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #5)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:57 PM

Jan 2014

The person from Washington attempted to make some snarky remark about some sort of "luxury tax" she also hated. Not exactly sure what she was talking about.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)

8. Honest to goodness, I just looked at sales tax in Washington state.

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Reply #7)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:58 PM

Jan 2014

It varies wildly from 7.5 to 9.5 percent (big cities). What a nut.

Art_from_Ark

(27,247 posts)

11. I think "luxury tax" refers to much higher taxes on things like rental cars and hotels

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Reply #7)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 12:33 AM

Jan 2014

The last time I rented a car in Washington State, for example, the tax was 18%, way over the normal rate of 7%. And the last time I rented a car in Arkansas, the tax was 14%, well over the regular local rate of 8%.

Brigid

(17,621 posts)

2. Why is it . . .

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:54 PM

Jan 2014

People gripe at people who have no control over whatever they're griping about?

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)

12. Tell me about it...

Reply to Brigid (Reply #2)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 12:48 AM

Jan 2014

Sometimes, I'm just the punching bag for my company's insane policies...

DURHAM D

(32,611 posts)

3. Are they Snow Birds?

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:54 PM

Jan 2014

My experience with most of them is that they complain about everything.

GP6971

(31,199 posts)

6. Well, our sales tax is close to 9%. No state income tax though. n/t

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Fri Jan 10, 2014, 11:57 PM

Jan 2014

firsttimer

(324 posts)

9. State Sales tax in theory is a fair concept

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 12:13 AM

Jan 2014

Motor vehicle property tax is not

okaawhatever

(9,462 posts)

10. It might be something the right wingers are doing now to create the impression that everyone

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Sat Jan 11, 2014, 12:29 AM

Jan 2014

hates sales tax and to plant the seed about paying taxes in general. If the pattern keeps up i'll bet you'll find a tea party website somewhere telling their followers to constantly bring up discussions about high taxes.

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