# Dear Customer, I'm sorry the term tax included is so confusing for you. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 10, 2014, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977 "2014-02-10T15:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/21 "2014-02-10T19:04:04Z")
I think the customer was a jerk who was trying to wear you down to a lower price, too. The store is taking care of the tax is perfectly understandable - your price is $460 total - give us $460 and go away. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/22 "2014-02-10T19:05:16Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Don’t fret about picky customers. Alright, who let this guy in? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/23 "2014-02-10T19:12:10Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Alright, who let this guy in? Some nut who wants to start a string of guitar puns. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/24 "2014-02-10T19:14:46Z")
So, how much for just one rib? ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/25 "2014-02-10T19:16:55Z")
That reminds me–Marshall dented the fender on my pickup. I wanted to wring his neck and throw him off the bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/26 "2014-02-10T19:32:48Z")
So, wait. When you say $20 tax included, that’s really $18.70 plus tax, right? So then we add the tax, because that’s included (which means you have to give it to me otherwise you’re definitely not being fair), so what you’re actually betting is $21.30, or… ??? 😕 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/27 "2014-02-10T19:35:32Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So, how much for just one rib? And a sip of cola. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/28 "2014-02-10T22:12:16Z")
I agree he was intentionally misunderstanding to try and get you to lower the price. But sheesh - he walked away from a $900 guitar for $460? ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/29 "2014-02-10T22:20:04Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > This is why we need a flat tax. A flat tax? That’s sharp! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/30 "2014-02-10T22:28:34Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > I agree he was intentionally misunderstanding to try and get you to lower the price. But sheesh - he walked away from a $900 guitar for $460? Do let us know when he comes back (bet he waits in his car for days til he sees the first sales guy come to work). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/31 "2014-02-10T22:33:15Z")
The puns are getting appalling. This thread needs less pall. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/32 "2014-02-10T22:36:52Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > The puns are getting appalling. > This thread needs less pall. Is it more pall than you can bear? ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/33 "2014-02-11T00:00:09Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > The puns are getting appalling. > This thread needs less pall. Noted. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/34 "2014-02-11T00:07:05Z")
These puns are striking a bad chord with me. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/35 "2014-02-11T00:15:11Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > These puns are striking a bad chord with me. Hey, they’re only having a bit of fun - take it down a peg. On the scale of things, this is very minor. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/36 "2014-02-11T00:51:26Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > These puns are striking a bad chord with me. Is it A minor chord? ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/37 "2014-02-11T00:55:09Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > And a sip of cola. Can you change a hundred? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/38 "2014-02-11T00:59:32Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > I agree he was intentionally misunderstanding to try and get you to lower the price. But sheesh - he walked away from a $900 guitar for $460? Huh? No, he didn’t. The guitar he’s trading is, according to the OP, worth $350. That $350 is part of the price he is paying for the guitar. The fact that he’s giving the store $350 worth of guitar instead of $350 worth of money does not mean that he’s getting a $900 guitar for $460. By your logic, if i trade a five-year-old BMW worth $25,000 in an even swap for a new VW Jetta worth $25,000, i have received a free car. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/39 "2014-02-11T01:07:10Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Huh? > > No, he didn’t. > > The guitar he’s trading is, according to the OP, worth $350. That $350 is part of the price he is paying for the guitar. The fact that he’s giving the store $350 worth of guitar instead of $350 worth of money does not mean that he’s getting a $900 guitar for $460. > > By your logic, if i trade a five-year-old BMW worth $25,000 in an even swap for a new VW Jetta worth $25,000, i have received a free car. You’re right - sorry, I must have skimmed over the part about the trade. I _was_ thinking what a master of a negotiator this guy must have been . . . :smack: ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977/40 "2014-02-11T01:20:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Exactly. The OP had a lot more patience with the situation than I would have had. I’m actually a little annoyed at the OP. This customer walks into the shop, and they settle on a price for him to come back the next day with his trade in. He comes back and the price isn’t what he was told. He hesitates because he feels like he’s been lied to and waits another couple of days. The third time he walks in a different guy gives him yet a third answer. Fucking hell, this guitar shop is worse than my cable company. The OP is pitting the customer for the OP’s failure to offer an understandable price structure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-customer-im-sorry-the-term-tax-included-is-so-confusing-for-you/680977.md?page=3)