Value-Added-Taxes in Europe Average 19.8%
Nov 21st, 2009, 11:36 PM
#61
Don't we mostly prefer the things we are accustomed to? I'm used to the way it is done where I live. I have no particular philosophical reason for preferring it.
I know I will have to add tax in Massachusetts when I go to a restaurant but not when I buy clothes or groceries or gasoline. When I travel to New York, I adapt to adding tax for clothing. When I travel to Europe, I adapt to not adding tax for the restaurant. It's one of the more minor mental adjustments required for travel.
I know I will have to add tax in Massachusetts when I go to a restaurant but not when I buy clothes or groceries or gasoline. When I travel to New York, I adapt to adding tax for clothing. When I travel to Europe, I adapt to not adding tax for the restaurant. It's one of the more minor mental adjustments required for travel.
Nov 22nd, 2009, 01:37 PM
#65
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Kerouac,
In some U.S. gas stations the Federal, or local, tax per gallon is posted on the gas pump. I agree it would be interesting to have this information be more clearly and universally available to see how much we are being gouged.
It is the same story, BTW, for booze. For spirits, the Federal, State, and local tax is usually leveled on a gallon of "proof" alcohol (50% absolute). The Federal tax on alcohol is currently $13.50, and in my State of Washington it is an additional $26.45. You will not find that information on the bottle, that's for sure.
OUCH!
In some U.S. gas stations the Federal, or local, tax per gallon is posted on the gas pump. I agree it would be interesting to have this information be more clearly and universally available to see how much we are being gouged.
It is the same story, BTW, for booze. For spirits, the Federal, State, and local tax is usually leveled on a gallon of "proof" alcohol (50% absolute). The Federal tax on alcohol is currently $13.50, and in my State of Washington it is an additional $26.45. You will not find that information on the bottle, that's for sure.
OUCH!
Nov 22nd, 2009, 04:41 PM
#66
Per Palenque "i agree that European waiters/waitresses being professionals who are paid a decent 'living' wage and who view their job like a professional "
Does that include the prancing little twit in Rocamadour who said we could NOT take the paper placemat without paying for it, since it was "OUR" choice to have only a coffee each. He did offer to sell it to us.
Would that I could have left a negative tip, perhaps of minus 200%, so that he would have paid US for his insult.
Thankfully, he was the only rude waiter in several trips to France.
Does that include the prancing little twit in Rocamadour who said we could NOT take the paper placemat without paying for it, since it was "OUR" choice to have only a coffee each. He did offer to sell it to us.
Would that I could have left a negative tip, perhaps of minus 200%, so that he would have paid US for his insult.
Thankfully, he was the only rude waiter in several trips to France.
Nov 25th, 2009, 06:54 AM
#67
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American tourists in Paris seem to often lament about surly wait people - much like tomboy's regrettable experience in Rocamadour - it seems at times since a waiter is guaranteed a wage and not groveling for tips they simply don't need to be polite, etc. and may treat tourists as one-time customers, etc.
But it is not just Americans that complain - i have French relatives who also say they have had really rude service - my son, born and raised in France was in a cafe in Paris and just wanted a coffee but the waiter was on a mobile phone and talked and talked and ignored them waiting at the counter - when they finally asked it they could get some service he yelled at them if you want quick service go next door!
That said most of the time i find French waiters doing their jobs in a professional way - not overtly friendly like i have at the local Coney Island here but proper and professional. Tourists may often confuse this with rudeness. (And as some of my French in-laws say - heck the French tend to be rude to each other and it's not just tourists.)
But it is not just Americans that complain - i have French relatives who also say they have had really rude service - my son, born and raised in France was in a cafe in Paris and just wanted a coffee but the waiter was on a mobile phone and talked and talked and ignored them waiting at the counter - when they finally asked it they could get some service he yelled at them if you want quick service go next door!
That said most of the time i find French waiters doing their jobs in a professional way - not overtly friendly like i have at the local Coney Island here but proper and professional. Tourists may often confuse this with rudeness. (And as some of my French in-laws say - heck the French tend to be rude to each other and it's not just tourists.)
Nov 25th, 2009, 07:10 AM
#68
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I'm not a fan of including the taxes in the price. Making the taxes invisible doesn't make them go away, we just blame the wrong people (manufacturer, retailer) for the high prices.
IMO invisible taxes are at least borderline consumer fraud.
IMO invisible taxes are at least borderline consumer fraud.
Nov 25th, 2009, 07:17 AM
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But bdjt, as I said above: why stop at sales tax?
Anything you buy has a whole host of taxes bundled into the price, payroll, duty, property taxes... Surely hiding these taxes in the price is also borderline consumer fraud?
Anything you buy has a whole host of taxes bundled into the price, payroll, duty, property taxes... Surely hiding these taxes in the price is also borderline consumer fraud?
Nov 25th, 2009, 09:31 AM
#72
<i>Making the taxes invisible doesn't make them go away, we just blame the wrong people (manufacturer, retailer) for the high prices.</i>
I don't <b>blame</b> anybody for taxes. I feel that I am getting my money's worth out of my taxes, either for my own benefit or for the benefit those less fortunate than myself.
And one would have to be very ignorant to believe that they would forget the taxes contained in the price of every item or service if it was not itemized every time.
I don't <b>blame</b> anybody for taxes. I feel that I am getting my money's worth out of my taxes, either for my own benefit or for the benefit those less fortunate than myself.
And one would have to be very ignorant to believe that they would forget the taxes contained in the price of every item or service if it was not itemized every time.
Nov 26th, 2009, 04:16 AM
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1) Get any sales slip of a purchase you did in Spain, UK, or Germany, etc. Check for item IVA, VAT, MWSt, etc. That is the amount of VAT you pay. It's not hidden.
2) We have fixed rates for regular and reduced VAT. These do not change every 2 weeks. They are fixed nationwide or for other political entities. People know these rates.
If someone is too stupid to compute a net price, cf. #1
3) Advertising prices excluding VAT or other taxes to end consumers is illegal in the European Union. For further reference: Article 2 of Directive 98/6/EC on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...8L0006:EN:HTML
2) We have fixed rates for regular and reduced VAT. These do not change every 2 weeks. They are fixed nationwide or for other political entities. People know these rates.
If someone is too stupid to compute a net price, cf. #1
3) Advertising prices excluding VAT or other taxes to end consumers is illegal in the European Union. For further reference: Article 2 of Directive 98/6/EC on consumer protection in the indication of the prices of products offered to consumers
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...8L0006:EN:HTML
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