Tax Tantrums

[Dreamstalker]

We've always had the state meal tax on prepared food. Always.

A number of SCs yesterday felt the need to argue with me about the tax (a whole 35 cents) on our rotisserie chickens, citing: "I never had to pay it before/that's illegal!" No...what's illegal would be us NOT charging it. You're only noticing it now because this is the only thing you're buying.

Half of them then tried to pay with food stamps

[Mr Hero]

Remind the SC that there are two certain things in life. Then give them a choice.

[emax4]

I would have said that if they've never paid it before, then what THEY were doing is illegal, and unless they want their delicious, roasted, mouth-watering rotisserie chickens... then they have to pay the 35 cents tax. If they couldn't afford even 35 cents, then they shouldn't be buying something so expensive as a rotisserie chicken.

[Becks]

Maybe they've bought cold rotis. chickens before, thus not having to pay tax.

[bainsidhe]

No, a lot of people just don't think about tax. I'd have a customer jump all over me and ask why their bill was so high. I'd tell them it was tax and they'd be "Oh".

[Etna]

We don't even have sales tax here and I know it exists... how do these people function!?

[RealUnimportant]

Considering how many people bitch about being overcharged even a single penny, it's amazing these people have taken so long to realise that what they pay isn't the sticker price...

[Dreamstalker]

I've had to explain the complicated concept of bottle deposits before. Once or twice the SC literally only had enough money for the soda without the deposit so I had to tell them I could not complete the sale, and to try and argue their case over at the service desk (which they never managed to do successfully).

If the customer is very nice, truly forgot about the deposit/tax and I have the loose change in my pocket, I will discreetly kick in the 'extra' myself but that hasn't happened very often.

[PepperElf]

not to mention... it's also illegal to use food-stamps for prepared food too. And by "prepared" food I mean food you eat in the store, hot foods that are ready-to-eat, or foods marketed to be heated in the store.

Which disqualifies the chicken in the original post. Now if they'd purchased it raw however... then it would qualify. (but i don't know if the store would sell them raw)

Interestingly though... that same rule actually qualifies one of my favorite pizza chains for accepting food stamps. (Papa Murphy's cos you bake it yourself). which reminds me... mmmm we have some left over in the fridge. but i think i'll hold off until my bf gets home so we can have a tasty left-over dinner.

[Dreamstalker]

We do sell raw chickens, but obviously they need to be cooked and seasoned by the customer (now I'm waiting for someone to ask a deli guy to sell them a 'raw rotisserie chicken' so they could use food stamps ).

Manager A has instructed me once or twice to enter a 'misc coupon' that negates the prepared-food tax and bottle deposit...both mom and I were wondering if that was legal (it would be under my cashier number which I don't like).

[PepperElf]

i'd say... have him log in to do it if he wants it done

[Mytical]

*drools* Rotisserie Chicken *drool* I can barely keep down soup right now (throat is really really sore). I would love some rotisserie chicken...

sorry..what was the topic again?

[Shalom]

There's three places in or near my neighborhood where I can get kosher rotisserie chickens. They're the standard "emergency" meal if neither my wife nor I feel like cooking. They're usually referred to as "specials", because they come with a pound each of cole slaw and either potato salad or potato kugel, for one price.

I keep telling them that they should fill up the bottom of the rotisserie oven with potatoes and include that instead. None of them wants to do this, for some odd reason...

[Desk clerk knows all]

I often get people complain because they have to pay tax on their hotel room and they think we should include the tax in the price they are quoted. But they don't expect the tax to be included on the price marked on items in stores, so why should it be any different for hotel rooms.

[PepperElf]

Indeed. I mean it's not like we can change those rules.

Where I work our computers are all programmed already - tax on physical items, no tax on services. only way to get tax-free on items is to come around in August during tax-free weekend. or to be making a purchase for an NPO (and you gotta bring in the form as proof).

I keep telling them that they should fill up the bottom of the rotisserie oven with potatoes and include that instead. None of them wants to do this, for some odd reason...

this sounds both good and bad. Good if you get them piping hot. Bad if they've been left there all day long and are too greasy.

then again i haven't had breakfast yet either