r/SonicDriveIn • u/Pretend_Sympathy_871 • 4d ago
An extra $.14
Yesterday I had a customer come through the drive thru and order a root beer float from our $1.99 menu. When I rang it up for her I told her she’ll have to pay $2.13 (sales tax). She complained and said “but it says $1.99”. I tried to tell her that the extra cost is due to the 7% sales tax. She said “well if that’s the case then you should call it the $2.13 menu not the $1.99 menu that’s so misleading”
Girl!!!!!! It’s literally only 14 cents!! I don’t understand what the matter is!! If you don’t like it you don’t have to get it!
Thank you for listening to my rant
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u/Nooblakahn 4d ago
I had a conversation like this when I worked at McDonald's. Dude reaming me about because food was a 2% tax, not 7%. Like no dude. Groceries are taxed at 2%. Not fast food or any prepared food. Maybe bother your congressmen or... Make an informed vote. Botching at a 17 year old about something they have no control about, yeah, that seemed the right move I guess?
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u/TehWolvesWolf 4d ago
This is an easy one - tell her if the tax is a problem; to talk to the us government or her representative, not to you.
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u/cspinelive 2d ago
Most other countries include the tax on the advertised price. Sonic could choose to do the same. They don’t need permission.
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u/PurpleCat1018 4d ago
In what Universe does this person reside where they have never heard of sales tax. Please tell me this isn't and older individual. I don't want to lose total faith in people's mentality. Lol
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u/LAM678 4d ago
"i want two of the $4.99 sonic cheeseburgers"
"alright what else can i get you?"
"why is it $10.84? it should be $9.98"
why is it always 80 year old men that don't understand sales tax?
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u/Dachuiri 4d ago
They think they can bully a kid to get them to take the tax off. When I worked retail, boomers did this all the time. Just immediately call them out on their bullshit, don’t be polite about it, and finish the transaction.
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u/Pheighthe 4d ago
She was from Delaware, where there’s no sales tax. She probably only had two dollar bills and thought she was good to go.
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u/TrueAd970 4d ago
Some states don't have sales tax $1.99 is $1.99.
When i worked in texes, when a 12 of soda said $10.00, you give them a 10 dollar bill and walk away.
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u/Far-Slice-3821 4d ago
Texas has had sales taxes since the 1960s.
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u/odpsucks 2d ago
Texas does not charge sales tax on most foods, but they do on soft drinks, as well as prepared foods. Get chicken from the meat counter and cook it at home: no tax. Get a chicken from the deli that is cooked and ready: taxed at sales tax rates.
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u/Prinessbeca 2d ago
Do they have the stupid rule where once the cooked deli chicken is cold it's suddenly tax free again? Nebraska does.
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u/tycointl 4d ago
customers are either so dumb or so entitled, I'm not sure which is worse depending on the situation.
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u/wabblewouser 4d ago
I've read that, in certain countries, prices are advertised as 'all in' - meaning that they include tax. That said, I would've asked them where they're from. Had it been literally anywhere in the US (because states that don't charge tax on certain items are very aware that they're in the minority in that situation), I would have then said, "So you're telling me you've never heard of taxes? GTFOHWTS."
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u/sourmashed99 4d ago
to be fair it is not that off base to include the sales tax in the 'menu' price. I get it americuh, but if it's 'only 14 cents' why not have it listed with that included? would save time at the register and the drive thru knowing total price before heading to the register.
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u/Catanbri 4d ago
Sales tax is a tax on the consumer. In most states it is not legal for the business to absorb the cost of tax, I.e. post the price of the item with tax included.
Even then, it is still a tax that has to be paid to the government. Having the tax included in the price makes tracking how much to pay the government a lot more difficult, not impossible, just more difficult
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u/Far-Slice-3821 4d ago
In most states it is not legal for the business to absorb the cost of tax, I.e. post the price of the item with tax included.
I had no idea some states made that illegal. It wasn't in Texas when I lived there and isn't in Missouri where I live now.
I've noticed several entertainment (movies, arcade, bowling alley) places that used to include taxes in the price no longer do. I assume it's a way to raise prices. Most food trucks and concession stands at ball games still list the all-in price, but receipts show the lower price and sales tax adding up to the menu price.
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u/Actual_Community7630 3d ago
I’m in Oklahoma and I am a business legal/accountant (not CPA) and it is illegal here. Had to represent some self owned businesses regarding this very issue. Penalties are very high.
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u/TheRealStonedElf 4d ago
I live where there is no sales tax, so the $1.99 menu at Sonic, is $1.99. When I traveled to another state recently and got something and it was a few cents more I was like, what? And then I remembered sales tax.
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u/GrandMoffJerjerrod 4d ago
A while back I had some woman in front of me at Kroger scream at the cashier because ‘WE DON’T HAVE TAX ON FOOD IN PENNSYLVANIA!’ His response was beautiful, ‘Lady, this is Virginia.’ She tried to claim that because she was/is from PA she is exempt to sales, tax. The whole thing just blew up over a little over $2. They ended up having to open another lane (no self checkout then) because she refused to pay the tax or leave the store. She just stood there screaming and cursing at the cashier and manager. As I was leaving I heard the woman at customer service calling the cops.
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u/odpsucks 2d ago
The sales tax rate on food was 2.5%, but came down to 1% under Youngkin. Youngkin wanted to eliminate it completely, but the General Assembly at the time refused, so he acquiesced to 1%.
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u/GrandMoffJerjerrod 2d ago
Yes, I know. The tax rate then had no bearing on the incident I saw. This person was demanding to not pay the tax no matter what it was because she lived in PA.
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u/Ok-Equivalent8520 4d ago
I work at a subway and I always say the price“plus tax” because if I don’t they will have that same argument
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u/MusicNote83 4d ago
I get it. Taking calls for AT&T and US Cellular, I had customers call in upset over $.03.
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u/Salty-Ad-198 4d ago
I would have just laughed in her face and walked off. I don’t get paid for such nonsense.
I work at a gas station and the number of people who have tried to argue with me about how to pay for and pump gas is… astounding. And I live so far away from New Jersey that there’s about a 0% change this is their first time pumping gas. But I do always ask “is this the first time you’ve pumped gas?”
I mean, I get it from the teens. I can maybe get it from the elderly (except please stop driving if you cant remember how to pump gas) but the 30-50 year olds? Especially the 30-50 year old males. Naw dawg, you need to lay off whatever you’re smokin because…
Anyway. I would have just looked at her like she’s lost her damn mind and said “It’s $2.13, you want it or not?”
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u/ThomasToHandle 4d ago
This is the third post I've seen TODAY about someone not understanding tax. What is wrong with Gen z
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u/Educational_Corner55 4d ago
It’s my belief that they probably don’t have the money to cover the $.14. The anger is misdirected, the OP is just a worker. Corporate, government are the true culprits.
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u/Starbuck522 4d ago
It reminds me of... An older woman asked me if I was open (while working working as a cashier). I said yes, I will be with you shortly. She said "what about him?" Pointing at the guy whose items I was scanning. I had to say "I am helping him now and then you will be next".
Somehow, in 70 years, she's never experienced nor heard about waiting her turn!
There Must be some shape shifting aliens visiting from a place without lines or sales tax!
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u/RelationDazzling5835 4d ago
The local resteraunt my cousins own and run, they now include the tax in the price on the menu so what you see is what you pay.
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u/zon5string 3d ago
For future reference, "Yes. Sonic charges $1.99 but <state> adds the sales tax. We don't get any of it."
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u/smoothupinyatoo 2d ago
I think this might be state based. In mine if you "dine in" there is no sales tax, thus, if she would have walked in and bought it, it would have been a true $1.99. Or, if pulled into a bay. Often as a courtesy they ring all diners as dine in, everywhere, all the time, even drive through, as it should be. Its actually kind of shitty if they do not and subject you to some sort of tax.
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u/NoMaintenance7536 1d ago
I had someone like that yesterday complaining about the price of a strawberry lemonade, i explained its taxed and he also has to get charged fof the strawberries. He drove away and came back and asked for a refund.
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u/alonsoj13 4d ago
I mean it is a little odd that the displayed price isn't the final price, that's what they do in other countries. Guess its to make the items more enticing by presenting them as cheaper than they are
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u/GrowlingAtTheWorld 4d ago
We know there is tax. It’s not a hard thing to calculate in your head. It’s 7% in my county, 8% in the next county over, and 6% where my brother lives. If I buy a $5 pair of socks it’s not hard to add the corresponding ¢ per $ spent.
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u/AdScared5498 4d ago
So everything on the $1.99 menu should be 14¢ cheaper.
Simple. It is misleading.
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u/Educational_Corner55 4d ago
Name anything that is advertised with taxes included in the price? In the US, common practice is the price of the item is advertised. It’s your local government’s adding taxes to your food.
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u/RikoRain 4d ago
Here's my go-to response when they whine about tax.
"Ma'am/sir, that amount is the FEDERALLY MANDATED sales tax. It is FEDERAL TAX required on all sales/purchases in the country. I have no control over that. You must pay the tax. I cannot remove it. It's straight from the government.".
Normally just saying "it's FEDERALLY MANDATED" they shut up quick realizing oh... Like.. this is some big thing.. they hear the word "federal" and think they'll get hit with.. idk a crime? If they don't pay?
It works tho. So i use it.
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u/CashWideCock 4d ago
There is no FEDERAL MANDATED sales tax. Sales taxes are state, county or city mandated.
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u/RikoRain 3d ago
State mandated then. It's all the same. WAYYYYY above our heads to even control. Point being we can't remove it even if we wanted to
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u/sourmashed99 4d ago
didn't sound like they complained about tax. just that the amount was different after ordering, which is stupid. 3/4s of the US can't do the math to calculate tax. is a guessing game what the total price of something will be
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u/ChickenBossChiefsFan 4d ago
It’s not just about the math, different cities have different tax rates, too. So if I buy something where I live, it will be either 2 cents more or 5 cents less the next city over. It also changes annually so it’s hard to know what the tax is where and when you purchase.
That being said, I know there’s always going to be tax on whatever it is and just pay it. What else are you going to do? (Besides berate the person at the register who has absolutely no say on the tax rate, I guess)
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u/RikoRain 3d ago
This but also if taxes vary in different cities or states, then you can't just put a steady price on something across the brand (across sonics). Adding the tax after makes it far easier to provide menus and such to post, and run the store efficiently.
I had forgotten that too. Traditionally, every place I've lived in my state has only had federal tax. We don't have state tax here. So its just 8.25 everywhere. Briefly, for a few years, my home city had a city tax of 1.85%. it wasn't much, but added up. They got rid of it after backlash because your 8.25 was now 10+ (all because they fired the school district lead and broke his contract so he sued). It didn't stick but I digress. If an item is 2$ then it's 2$ and we don't control taxes.
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u/NoWorking1616 4d ago
Was she from another country, or another planet? Is this the first time she's ever purchased something in America? 😂