• DacoTaco@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    As a european, not knowing and legit asking: isnt that the thing all over the usa? I mean, you pick up something at the store, go to the counter and then SUPRISE, tax is added on top of the price. Like, that also feels like sneaking in extra costs?

    • Drivebyhaiku@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Basically. People just get used to the nebulous mental calculations of how much tax one can expect. It encourages a culture of routine overspending and should be illegal.

      People expect to budget roughly tax and tip, they are basically mad because this is not a cultural norm and they got stung by surprise.

    • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      A sales tax is expected in most states and is generally fairly similar within each state and almost never come to more than 10%. That also pays for services that most people use.

      This extra charge at this restaurant is not common nor is it expected. They also set it at 18% which is a standard tip rate but specifically say it is not a tip. They claim it is to provide decent wages but considering they still allow tips (some places do this but do not allow tipping on top) , that pretty obviously is not true. This is just a bullshit tactic to have prices seem lower than the menu price.

        • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Sales tax is fairly rare outside of the US. Most countries have a value added tax instead. The end result is largely the same but a VAT has fewer incentives to skirt it.

      • DacoTaco@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Sale tax is everywhere. And still, if its a static amount per state, why not include it on the sticker price so you know exactly how much you will be paying?

        Inventory and sticker work is done by computers, they know the price …

        • SeaJ@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Believe it or not, some states do not allow that to be included on the sticker price since the sticker is there to note the price of the item. The sales tax is a tax on the transaction. You could probably note both but that might confuse dumb people.

          I really wish we just switched to a VAT.