John Kulp wrote:
On Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:14:59 +0100, Frank Slootweg
wrote:
[...]

[Re-added rec.travel.australia+nz because of the references to Oz (and I
don't believe in splitting up running discussions, unless there is a
very good reason). Of course anyone is free to think/act otherwise.]

Lawrence Akutagawa wrote:
[...]

Just for your edification - in California the sales tax (about
8.25%, depending on where in the state) is already included in the
quoted per gallon price of gasoline. A number of years ago it was
excluded from the quoted price such that the tax was calculated
subsequently as per all other taxable purchases. But no longer.

"tax", you pushed yet another one of my buttons (Perhaps that Sharx35
dude was right after all!?).

The tax thingie is rather confusing, needlessly complex, and, AFAICT,
has no advantages for the customer.

In most - but not all - cases, tax was excluded. As you say, the
percentage depends on the location and probably also on the type of
product/service. If you're buying one or a few products, it's hard to
impossible to give the shop attendant the exact amount or to (try to)
get as little change as possible back, until the cash register has
calculated how much you own. That is a nuisance, only takes addtional
time, and I see no advantage (*Is* there any advantage?).

In comparison, in Europe/Oz the sales price always includes the tax
(well, nearly always for Oz). In our country - The Netherlands - it's
even illegal to quote exclusive prices to 'consumers'. At minimal both
exclusive and inclusive have to be quoted, and even that is severely
frowned upon.

Which is exactly why we exclude it here, keeping our taxes much lower
than yours by constantly pointing out how much of the total price it
is.

Well, your *product* (i.e. sales, VAT, whatever) taxes are not that
much lower. You are probably thinking about income tax, social
securrity, etc..

Anyway, we don't have to be reminded how much the tax is, because they
are fixed percentages and - at least in The Netherlands - only two
categories, simply put 'essential' products like some foods, etc., and
'luxury' products, nearly everything else.. While a certain poster would
probably not believe it, most Europeans are able to remember two
numbers! :-)

[...]