tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post4351896153313004238..comments2024-02-17T11:07:06.232-05:00Comments on Michael James on Money: The Myth of Visible Sales TaxesMichael Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-12484439473386337002010-07-18T14:09:52.535-04:002010-07-18T14:09:52.535-04:00@Rick: Eco fees aren't a fixed percentage of ...@Rick: Eco fees aren't a fixed percentage of the price of an item. The fee is intended to reflect the cost of recycling or proper disposal of an item. This price varies significantly from one item to the next. I don't know if they exist in Utah. Ontario has had them for a while now.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-38008401067347073502010-07-18T10:13:36.912-04:002010-07-18T10:13:36.912-04:00How much are the Eco fees? I have not heard of the...How much are the Eco fees? I have not heard of them where I live (Utah). I don't look at the sales tax when I buy. At 6.5% it doesn't seem too onerous.rick@ricketyhttp://www.rickety.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-2299114689456464642010-07-15T12:21:01.826-04:002010-07-15T12:21:01.826-04:00@Patrick: Back in the days when all transactions ...@Patrick: Back in the days when all transactions were in cash it wasn't unusual for people to work out what they owed while standing in line (at least roughly) and have the cash ready. Now, most people just hand over a card to be charged some random amount.<br /><br />@Big Cajun Man: If a vendor builds in inflated extra costs in the case where the advertised price is an all-in price, at least you can do some comparison shopping.<br /><br />@Gene: I don't know whether to laugh or cry about the $5000 trade-in trick. I guess the next "innovation" will be to assume a $10,000 trade-in.Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-40905724994589366642010-07-15T12:09:05.365-04:002010-07-15T12:09:05.365-04:00This is an interesting point, and I haven't re...This is an interesting point, and I haven't really given it a lot of thought. I'm so used to having the taxes added on, I never considered there might be another way of doing it. I often avoid taxes (and get better prices) by using eBay for small purchases.<br /><br />The most egregious example of misleading prices came, as you alluded to, from a used car flyer. The prices were remarkably low, and I immediately looked for the catch. The footnote said that prices included a $5000 trade-in credit. I wouldn't consider dealing with such a misleading company unless they were the only option.genehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05608927986297939720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-69707365597821547852010-07-15T08:50:05.063-04:002010-07-15T08:50:05.063-04:00Hiding it makes it easier to defraud with (for uns...Hiding it makes it easier to defraud with (for unscrupulous vendors), but I would still rather not have POST-sticker shock on prices.Big Cajun Manhttp://www.canajunfinances.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-71909191541978473462010-07-15T08:39:49.305-04:002010-07-15T08:39:49.305-04:00Yes I agree. I think any benefits are overwhelmed...Yes I agree. I think any benefits are overwhelmed by the fact that people are now accustomed to showing up at the cash register and being asked to pay more than the sticker price. Whether that's because of taxes, error, or fraud, it's increasingly hard to tell.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16816252455472704262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-57210807665442774422010-07-15T08:35:35.706-04:002010-07-15T08:35:35.706-04:00@Potato: I agree that the gas station method is g...@Potato: I agree that the gas station method is good (although I don't actually believe the breakdown they give).Michael Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10362529610470788243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5465015914589377788.post-83508408787024507392010-07-15T01:17:40.025-04:002010-07-15T01:17:40.025-04:00Here here. I like the gas station method of all-in...Here here. I like the gas station method of all-in advertised price, but with a breakdown available of what goes into that price.Potatohttp://www.holypotato.netnoreply@blogger.com