Staples charging SALES TAX...

[Ed_S]

Just recieved my order from Staples, & the invoice shows sales tax has been added even though it was not shown on the total at checkout!

I admit, I didn't check for changes in their policies, and it's been awhile since I'd ordered from them, but they've not charged it in the past.

Their site DOES show:

Staples charges sales tax on orders, based on the destination of the order, in accordance with state and local tax laws. Staples has a business "presence" in each of the 48 states that we ship orders to, therefore we are required to charge sales tax based on the tax laws of that state.

but no tax figure shows on the printout I made at final checkout.

While I normally don't get upset at a vendor for charging tax at the time of purchase, I find it offensive to be hit with it AFTER!

Thought I'd post this so others would be aware...

[fyxxer32]

Interesting, seems I heard a story of some places charging tax just in case sales tax started to go into effect. They were telling their customers they were charging it now on all sales. Interesting story here.

[golfcart]

AFAIK All stores must charge tax if they have a location in your state. That is strange that they didn't show you during the order.

[Scott Tiger]

Yeah, I heard a story on Moscow Radio - oops, I mean NPR, about how some Click 'n Mortor's are charging sales tax no matter what state you live in (so long it's in the US and your state charges sales tax). It's just part of thier policy now.

Still, the fact that they didn't post it at the time you placed your order would really tick me off. I personally don't like to be charged any more than I agreed to pay - and I agreed to pay what they charged me at checkout. Even if by law they are required to charge sales tax they should have listed it as a charge.

Thanks for the heads up.

[AuraEdge]

That's been a law for a long time, since probably before the internet. A store must charge sales tax for any sales in states in which they have a physical presence. I'm actually more surprised they never charged you tax before, since they had to file it under taxable sales for themselves.

It's still not cool that they dont show you until your invoice, and a bit misleading, but it's expected that they would charge you tax since thats the law.

[Ed_S]

I've known all along about the "physical presence" part - AFAIK they don't have a store anywhere near here, certainly none in St Louis or anywhere in MO that I've been.

Heck, we charge sales tax on web sales at our site, Suntrup Ford Parts, and I personally don't think we should! But the co. accountant says we must, and so far I've not disproved him legally. But as site admin, I make sure the figure shows clearly prior to a customer finalizing the order, and if it's an "issue" I've been known to discount the item to offset the tax...


What's so irritating here is to be charged a figure greater than I authorized and be totally unable to protest it!!

[AuraEdge]

Doing a little searching on thier really bad map they have at their site's store locator. Seems theres none in a 50mi Radius of St. Louis, but there's one out in Rolla, one in Jefferson City, and two in Springfield, and a few others. Thier just steering clear of St. Louis for some reason, but there they are setting up shop in your state, even though its no where within miles of you.

Maybe the reason they didnt charge you tax before was that they didnt have these stores before, and they all sprang up recently, giving them presence in your state.
Or maybe they just forgot.
In any case, they should get someone to go in and code sales tax into the ordering interface. I tend to noice that B&M's office store's online fronts tend to be really poorly managed for one reason or another though.

[daveleau]

It is my understanding that if you buy from a company that resides or has stores in your state, then you have to pay sales tax. I thought this had been in effect for a long time.

That one reason why I try to buy from Newegg or MWave or any other store not located in Texas.

Dave

[Richard Cranium]

Unfortunately, there ARE stores in Mo

2636 N. Kansas Expwy Springfield MO 417-869-3890

2135 E. Independence Ave. Springfield MO 417-890-5146

1495 State Highway 248 Branson MO 417-348-0651

There may be more.