Forum Discussion

Me_Again's avatar
Me_Again
Explorer III
Nov 19, 2013

Tacky Company?

I am getting ready to service the automatic tranny in my truck, so I ordered 4 gals of synthetic ATF directly from one of the major suppliers that has dealers in every state.

Then I received this email a week or so later.

"Dear CHRIS xxxxxx,



You currently have a balance due on your account in the amount of $12.32, which was the sales tax on your most recent order. The sales tax on your order was calculated, just not settled on your card.



Date of Order: 11/07/2013

Order Number: xx

Invoice Number: xx

Order Total: $160.73

Amount Due: $12.32


Gee, this is the first time I had a merchant chase me down after a purchase and say they made a mistake and I own more money!

Our thoughts? Tacky company or not?

Chris
Tow Vehicles
  • ksss's avatar
    ksss
    Explorer
    Nov 21, 2013
    Like the old saying goes "watch the penny's, and the dollars will take care of themselves".
  • mich800's avatar
    mich800
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    I did not see where the OP was purchasing from a distributor or wholesale company. This is standard practice in retail. You do not need a sales tax license to purchase at the retail level.

    Never mind. I just re-read the OP. I could see this happening if that was the case.
  • Bird_Freak's avatar
    Bird_Freak
    Explorer II
    Nov 20, 2013
    Me Again wrote:
    Bird Freak wrote:
    This was a very simple mistake for them to make. As a supplier they would be used to their customers having sales tax numbers. When they found out you did not have a number on file for the tax they just billed you for it.


    From, my original post "The sales tax on your order was calculated, just not settled on your card."

    Still think it would have been better to call me first, not just send an email that I owed more money!!

    Chris
    Its always calculated but then assigned to your tax number instead of you paying it.
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Nov 20, 2013
    Bird Freak wrote:
    This was a very simple mistake for them to make. As a supplier they would be used to their customers having sales tax numbers. When they found out you did not have a number on file for the tax they just billed you for it.


    From, my original post "The sales tax on your order was calculated, just not settled on your card."

    Still think it would have been better to call me first, not just send an email that I owed more money!!

    Chris
  • Bird_Freak's avatar
    Bird_Freak
    Explorer II
    Nov 20, 2013
    This was a very simple mistake for them to make. As a supplier they would be used to their customers having sales tax numbers. When they found out you did not have a number on file for the tax they just billed you for it.
  • The_Texan's avatar
    The_Texan
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    When everyone started flocking to the big box stores and turned their backs on the mom & pop stores, that was the beginning of the end to caring merchants and the start of the "de-humanizing" aspect. We realized this a couple years ago and have now gone the other way, using local merchants and avoiding the big box stores as much as possible. Have NOT set foot inside a Walmart or similar retail store in close to 2 years.
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    bmanning wrote:
    mpierce wrote:
    bmanning wrote:
    Not surprising; in today's every-penny-counts economy it probably never crossed their mind to not come after you for $12.32.

    I think there was a time when not everything was about money; sadly those times are long gone. I think "Extreme Capitalism" is here to stay, and the average CEO or CFO would sneak in an extra small-print surcharge on their grandmother if they can get away with it.


    It is "Extreme Capitalism" to collect a tax MANDATED by the government?

    In a lot of states, it is against the law for a retailer to eat the sales tax. It MUST be added on as a separate line item. Not sure what state poster is in, but in a lot of states, it would be illegal for the company to just pay it. I have a sales tax permit in ND, and we must bill the tax separate.


    I was speaking in more broad terms, not specifically about collecting taxes. I'm not even saying that they should eaten the $12. The whole situation just compelled me to speak on something I've noticed over the years, that (to repeat myself) business transactions have been de-humanized, and once upon a time that wasn't the case, at least to nearly the extent it is today.


    Agreed. Now I understated. The "de-humanized" was not clear in your original post.

    I may be too old but on another thread I just learned that "Chat" service with some companies have computers to respond, not humans. No wonder I have never good luck with them.
  • bmanning's avatar
    bmanning
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    mpierce wrote:
    bmanning wrote:
    Not surprising; in today's every-penny-counts economy it probably never crossed their mind to not come after you for $12.32.

    I think there was a time when not everything was about money; sadly those times are long gone. I think "Extreme Capitalism" is here to stay, and the average CEO or CFO would sneak in an extra small-print surcharge on their grandmother if they can get away with it.


    It is "Extreme Capitalism" to collect a tax MANDATED by the government?

    In a lot of states, it is against the law for a retailer to eat the sales tax. It MUST be added on as a separate line item. Not sure what state poster is in, but in a lot of states, it would be illegal for the company to just pay it. I have a sales tax permit in ND, and we must bill the tax separate.


    I was speaking in more broad terms, not specifically about collecting taxes. I'm not even saying that they should eaten the $12. The whole situation just compelled me to speak on something I've noticed over the years, that (to repeat myself) business transactions have been de-humanized, and once upon a time that wasn't the case, at least to nearly the extent it is today.
  • Dog_Folks's avatar
    Dog_Folks
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    mpierce wrote:
    bmanning wrote:
    Not surprising; in today's every-penny-counts economy it probably never crossed their mind to not come after you for $12.32.

    I think there was a time when not everything was about money; sadly those times are long gone. I think "Extreme Capitalism" is here to stay, and the average CEO or CFO would sneak in an extra small-print surcharge on their grandmother if they can get away with it.


    It is "Extreme Capitalism" to collect a tax MANDATED by the government?

    In a lot of states, it is against the law for a retailer to eat the sales tax. It MUST be added on as a separate line item. Not sure what state poster is in, but in a lot of states, it would be illegal for the company to just pay it. I have a sales tax permit in ND, and we must bill the tax separate.


    I agree. The government is going to require the tax be paid if the company collected it or not.

    Further, in spite of many that think all companies are greedy, and without ethics, the $12.62 probably represented all, or nearly all the profit on this sale.

    Being an agent of the goverment collecting taxes was one of the most unpleasant thing I ever did while in business.
  • mpierce's avatar
    mpierce
    Explorer
    Nov 20, 2013
    bmanning wrote:
    Not surprising; in today's every-penny-counts economy it probably never crossed their mind to not come after you for $12.32.

    I think there was a time when not everything was about money; sadly those times are long gone. I think "Extreme Capitalism" is here to stay, and the average CEO or CFO would sneak in an extra small-print surcharge on their grandmother if they can get away with it.


    It is "Extreme Capitalism" to collect a tax MANDATED by the government?

    In a lot of states, it is against the law for a retailer to eat the sales tax. It MUST be added on as a separate line item. Not sure what state poster is in, but in a lot of states, it would be illegal for the company to just pay it. I have a sales tax permit in ND, and we must bill the tax separate.

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