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As a European I agree. It's bizarre trying to buy things in America, where you're expected to keep a running tally of state and federal taxes. Just put the actu

by dbspin 6y ago

As a European I agree. It's bizarre trying to buy things in America, where you're expected to keep a running tally of state and federal taxes. Just put the actual price on the label, how hard is that?

yurishimo 6y ago
As an American, most every state has a standardized tax rate statewide. In Texas it is 8.25%. Florida is 6%. This means that most of your daily transactions are predictable. Weird exceptions might be for infrequent purchases like cars that are taxed differently.
- senkora 6y ago
  Well, in Texas it varies from a minimum of 6.25% to a maximum of 8.25%, but 8.25 is indeed typical: > Texas imposes a 6.25 percent state sales and use tax on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. Local taxing jurisdictions (cities, counties, special purpose districts and transit authorities) can also impose up to 2 percent sales and use tax for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales// https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales//
  - yurishimo 6y ago
    Literally every city imposes the 2%. Its defacto 8.25% statewide.
- a5withtrrs 6y ago
  This is predictable IF you spend a lot of time there, but if you don't, say as a foreigner travelling throughout the US, it is not. Again, it's just extra hassle for no good reason, I don't understand why printing the FULL price of the item on the sticker/sign/whatever isn't a thing.
rhino369 6y ago
It's more like you are expected not to care how much the full total is. If you are frugal enough to care, its pretty easy to estimate for your own local area since you do it constantly.
- dbspin 6y ago
  American retail sales culture is fixated on price - percentage off deals, 'now only x' etc are far more prominent than in Europe. Not sure how that squares with being expected not to care about the overall total of a purchase.
anonunivgrad 6y ago
It's not that complicated. Tip is $2 on top of every $10. You know the sales tax where you live.

by dbspin 6y ago

yurishimo 6y ago

As an American, most every state has a standardized tax rate statewide. In Texas it is 8.25%. Florida is 6%. This means that most of your daily transactions are predictable. Weird exceptions might be for infrequent purchases like cars that are taxed differently.

senkora 6y ago
Well, in Texas it varies from a minimum of 6.25% to a maximum of 8.25%, but 8.25 is indeed typical: > Texas imposes a 6.25 percent state sales and use tax on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. Local taxing jurisdictions (cities, counties, special purpose districts and transit authorities) can also impose up to 2 percent sales and use tax for a maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales// https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales//
- yurishimo 6y ago
  Literally every city imposes the 2%. Its defacto 8.25% statewide.
a5withtrrs 6y ago
This is predictable IF you spend a lot of time there, but if you don't, say as a foreigner travelling throughout the US, it is not. Again, it's just extra hassle for no good reason, I don't understand why printing the FULL price of the item on the sticker/sign/whatever isn't a thing.

rhino369 6y ago

It's more like you are expected not to care how much the full total is. If you are frugal enough to care, its pretty easy to estimate for your own local area since you do it constantly.

dbspin 6y ago
American retail sales culture is fixated on price - percentage off deals, 'now only x' etc are far more prominent than in Europe. Not sure how that squares with being expected not to care about the overall total of a purchase.

anonunivgrad 6y ago

It's not that complicated. Tip is $2 on top of every $10. You know the sales tax where you live.