General Consultant Discussion

{partial rant} So I just realized something interesting regarding cell phone purchases in Massachusetts (not sure about other states). Y'know how they advertise the embellished value of a phone (e.g., it's a $600 phone but under your upgrade eligibility you can purchase it for $200). Well you get taxed on the $600! Apparently this has been around for a long time but earlier this year they have begun to really police it. I suppose this is because it's treated as a Rebate and not a discount, but to me this is pretty deceptive. I guess realistically it's not much different than buying something at Staples for $50, and then mailing in the $5 rebate; you pay tax on the $50, but there's no hidden agenda. And with the cell phones it's all instant rebates right then and there. They make it seem like you're getting such an amazing deal on the phone, but the State is still ""sticking it to you"".

But how many people actually remember to mail in the $5 rebate with the original receipt? Then remember 10 - 12 weeks later that it hasn't come back or remember to open the envelope that looks like junk mail? Not sure why it is the State that is sticking it to you for simply trying to collect the tax. Isn't it more the cell company deceptively forgetting to tell you what all the charges are? I understand your ire but you should be ""mad as hell and not take it any longer"" at the cell company, not ""Taxachusetts"".

Oh believe me, I'm just as frustrated if not more with the cell phone company (in this case AT&T), but the tax thing is trickling down from the State. Who makes the decision as to whether it's a Rebate or Discount? And is AT&T benefiting by that? Maybe, if they're doing the State a ""favor"" so that more sales tax can be collected. If AT&T just says this $600 phone is discounted or on-sale for $200, the State loses that extra tax revenue on the over-inflated ""retail"" price. To me it just seems like yet another ""scam"" perpetrated on the American people.

The line between government and megacorps gets fuzzier every day...

I don't get that. If I go into a store and a $400 item is 'on sale' for $300, you pay tax on $300. But if they have an 'instant rebate' of $100 on a $400 item you pay tax on $400...WTF??? You should at a minimum be able to get a refund on your sales tax for the $100 rebate...

This is one of the many reasons I'm still using a $50 Windows Mobile 5 phone. Seriously... a $600 phone? Does it do lead qualification for you? :S #jealous

Amazonwireless is my favorite. And you do not wait behind 5 customers there to pay their bill after arguing about it for 75 minutes.

I have purchased and returned phones to Amazon Wireless and there is zero hassle. My least favorite stores to shop in are the phone stores. They're ok for urgent ""gotta fix this today"" but if you have an idea what you want you are well advised to look online as the prices are typically $ 100 or more cheaper.

http://blog.avalara.com/2011/12/21/massachusetts-using-sales-tax-to-fight-obesity/ Really?! I'm not overweight so why should I be penalized if I want to buy candy or soda?! Maybe it should be based on the weight of the individual. And along these lines, I think we should be able to deduct snow-plow expenses because there's gotta be lots of medical costs associated with snow shoveling. So if I pay someone to plow my driveway, then why not allow me to deduct that expense on my taxes since in theory that should reduce medical costs?

If you buy enough candy and/or soda for the tax to be significant, you will be overweight. And most of the medical costs associated with snow shoveling are for people who are out of shape.