topic Re: Sales Tax in Community Chat

Sales Tax

TW — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:40:31 GMT

I wonder how many people check their sales tax on purchases online and shopping channels. ShopHQ is notorious for applying the wrong sales tax and refuse to correct it. They charge twice the tax we should pay and even after contacting them they refused to correct it. If you order high Dollar items that can make a huge difference. Needless to say I refuse to order anything from vendors that are not capable of applying the correct tax.

Re: Sales Tax

Kachina624 — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:46:08 GMT

@TW Why, oh why do people still do business with ShopHQ? They're famous for pulling all sorts of unethical, under-handed tricks. Sales tax is minor compared to some things they've done.

Run, don't walk, away.

Re: Sales Tax

ALRATIBA — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:54:24 GMT

ETA: I've never watched ShopHQ. I don't think that's on my cable system.

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Elsewhere online ...

I always glance at the tax line when checking out.

In NYC - we don't pay sales tax on clothing or food. I verify that no tax is added.

And there's never been a time I was charged tax or the wrong amount when it was a taxable item.

Re: Sales Tax

hckynutjohn — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 19:59:25 GMT

@TW

This goes back into the 1990's with this network. My wife was buying lots of items, and I also bought s Total Gym. When I saw the Sales Tax on my TG? I said, wait a minute now.

We did not live in the city, yet they had been charging all my wife's purchases over several years, with an extra 1% City Sales Tax. I had to contact several different departments over several weeks.

Then I had to ger a letter from our City Assessor to prove we did not live in the City. I then had to send it to QVC. Then I had to contact the City Treasurer to send a letter giving our correct sales tax amount.

This took months and many of my hours to rectify. They finally settled up with, I believe, over $300 of overcharged sales taxes. Had I not bought that Total Gym? I doubt I would have ever noticed it.

hckynut 🥅🏒

Re: Sales Tax

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:12:07 GMT

Where I live a lot of people don't even realize that there are two towns withing a large county.

The two smaller towns charge EXTRA taxes.

So when my friend and I eat on (sometimes) one side of the road it's a few cents less than when we eat directly across the road.

These two 'towns' have their own police force (I think there are maybe 5 or 7 cops) but they use the larger county's courts, etc.

I've lived in the large part for about 40 some years and I STILL don't know where one town ends and starts.

Re: Sales Tax

gertrudecloset — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:15:48 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
ETA: I've never watched ShopHQ. I don't think that's on my cable system.
----------------------------------------------------

Elsewhere online ...

I always glance at the tax line when checking out.

In NYC - we don't pay sales tax on clothing or food. I verify that no tax is added.

And there's never been a time I was charged tax or the wrong amount when it was a taxable item.

That's not exactly true @ALRATIBA . If you lived in New York, you'd know that New Yorkers don't pay sales tax on clothing items of $110 or less. Anything above that will have sales tax added. This does not include accesorries either. It does apply to shoes (thank goodness). So if it's 109.99 you pay no tax.

Prepared Food is taxed in NY too.

Re: Sales Tax

Twins Mom — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:30:32 GMT

Our area has many brick and mortar stores that do large on line business. Our city has lost considerable amount of revenue from on line sales. I am the first to admit I like bargains but purchasing on line is not my way of doing, for the most part. Our cities provide the streets that these delivery trucks pound - we have more than 5 trucks a day outside of holiday times. The B&M stores are there for returns, exchanges, advice prior to sale, etc. I just feel like on line shoppers should be paying their local rate.

Re: Sales Tax

Carmie — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:43:56 GMT

I always check. Pennsylvania does not charge sales tax on most clothing items. QVC charged me sales tax on a pair of sketchers shoes that had some of that fuzzy slippers fabric on the inside. When I complained they said it was faux fur.

PA does have sales tax on real and faux fur, but fuzzy slipper stuff is not faux anything. No animal has fur like that and I bought the shoes elsewhere before and didn't pay the tax. I fought with QVC and they would not refund my tax.

I received an official letter saying they already sent the money into the state and couldn't return it. That left a bad taste in my mouth and I don't buy much from QVC anymore. Their business practices are toxic.

I had to have the state of PA return it...which they did.

Recently Christopher and Banks charged me sales tax on tee ahirts. I called them and they refunded my money.

I try to see if tax was added before I complete the transaction on line, but often it isn't listed until the transaction is completed.

I have backed out of purchases with QVC a few times because they added sales tax incorrectly. I am not willing to go through the hassle again to get my money returned.

Re: Sales Tax

ValuSkr — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 20:42:42 GMT

Sales tax is so complicated and the rate in some places is a combination of state, county, and local taxes. And shipping & handling is taxed in some jurisdictions but not others. And some items, like clothing and food, are taxed in some jurisdictions but not others.

Big companies like Q ought to be able to handle it. But I can see how errors & disagreements happen. It would be nice if there was a dedicated customer service rep to handle such questions.

Re: Sales Tax

TW — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:12:02 GMT

I see that is an issue for many. Many companies get it right. Never had an issue with Amazon, QVC also changed it correctly. So why do some get it so wrong? I don't think anybody has money to throw away and we pay way too much in tax as it is. Another pet pieve I have is shipping. Why do I have to pay shipping cost on each item? If you order several items there should be one shipping charge. Especially if you order the same item, maybe different colors.

Re: Sales Tax

Shelbelle — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:17:38 GMT

I wont buy any health itrems or supplements from SHQ, they always charge tax and here in MD we dont pay tax on these items. I have contacted them numerous times and they act like they have no clue what I am talking about.

Re: Sales Tax

TW — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:17:50 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@TW Why, oh why do people still do business with ShopHQ? They're famous for pulling all sorts of unethical, under-handed tricks. Sales tax is minor compared to some things they've done.

Run, don't walk, away.

True. I like Isomers. I recently noticed Amazon has limited offers. The only other option is to order directly from Isomers in Canada.

Re: Sales Tax

Porcelain — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 21:22:27 GMT

Sometimes I wish they would get my sales tax wrong. I have to pay massive sales tax on everything, including food and clothing, because I live in TN.

Re: Sales Tax

Love my grandkids — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 02:27:02 GMT

@TW After reading a couple of posts on the Beauty forum I wonder why anyone shops with these crooks.

Re: Sales Tax

Love my grandkids — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 02:29:39 GMT

@TW Shipping per item is Q's policy. You don't have to pay it, just don't order. Easy.

Re: Sales Tax

Melzie — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:26:36 GMT

I watched that channel for years but they always seemed a bit questionable to me. One day they had an item that was a really good price so I took a chance and bought it.

In my state, if the shipping is listed as a separate line item on the order/invoice it is not taxable. You are taxed only on the item. I was charged tax on the shipping as well as on the item so I contacted them but they refused to return the incorrect tax money I was charged. I even sent them a copy of my state's tax laws but they still refused.

OK, so now this means war as it's a matter of principle! I contacted BBB with all the info and a copy of my state's tax laws. I got my refund! I don't know how that shopping channel is still in business.

On an unrelated note, one day they had a show with an in house audience the way QVC used to do. I had to laugh when they panned the audience that consisted of about 10 folding chairs and 5 people! Why they would even embarrass themselves by showing that is beyond me??

Have a nice holiday season everybody!

Re: Sales Tax

ALRATIBA — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 20:43:24 GMT

@gertrudecloset

True ..... thanks for correction! But it doesn't apply to the entire state - just NYC.

New York City has the state’s highest tax rates at 8.875%. Common goods that are exempt from sales tax include groceries and clothing or footwear that cost less than $110. New York City has its own rules, though. It charges a sales tax on some services that the state doesn’t tax.

I do live NYC.

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Re: Sales Tax

chlema — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:27:20 GMT

Boy I am so happy to live in a state that does not have a sales tax.

Re: Sales Tax

Highlands72 — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:34:44 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
Sometimes I wish they would get my sales tax wrong. I have to pay massive sales tax on everything, including food and clothing, because I live in TN.

Tennessee has no state income tax, as far as I remember (only lived there for short period). In that case, I would consider higher sales tax a good trade-off.

Re: Sales Tax

Puppy Lips — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 18:23:10 GMT

We live in a township in one county, but our mailing address is a city in the neighboring county - two different sales tax percentages. Thankfully, QVC gets it right (ours is less). But there is one place I buy from that gets it wrong, and I have to go back after the purchase and argue to get the difference back.