Taxing Taxing, Part 21

At The Checkout, Money, Retail, Sales, Stupid | Right | September 4, 2023

Our store has a “tax-free” sale day, where we give a before-tax discount of 8.75%. We’re still obviously charging tax, but the customer only pays the equivalent of what a tax-free purchase would cost on any other day.

A customer who finished their purchase a few minutes ago comes back into the store, speaking with a demanding tone.

Customer: “Where is the manager?! I have tax on this receipt!”

Manager: “Sir, we have to charge taxes. We’re just giving you a discount on the overall purchase.”

Customer: “But you said today is tax-free day!”

Manager: “Yes, it means we’re discounting the amount of everything in the store by the normal tax amount, but we still have to charge tax on that new discounted amount.”

Customer: “Then why don’t you just say that?!”

Manager: “Because ‘Tax-Free Day’ rolls better off the tongue than ‘Still Pay Tax But Get A Discount Equivalent To The Tax Day’.”

The customer just glared but walked out. They either understood it and felt stupid or they still didn’t get it, but either way, they left, so yay.