On Wed, 23 Aug 2006 16:16:10 GMT Brian Reay wrote :
While it is true that you have to allow for sales tax when comparing
prices, the prices of most things are far lower than the UK. It is
time we displayed prices without VAT so people start to recognise how
much we are being ripped off.

Ripped off? If you want to pay less tax the government has to spend less.
Is this a vote winner? David Cameron seems less than convinced.

The American system got me the first time I went the I was mystified
at street sellers in Chicago selling ice creams for 93c (of course = $1
with tax). The reason that US prices are ex tax, AIUI, is that not only
does each state have its own tax rate, but each local city council can
levy an additional amount - thus there are thousands of sales tax areas
across the USA. It would impossible to force retailers to advertise
inclusive prices since these will differ within relatively small areas,
let alone those covered by regional and national media.

Personally I prefer the way we do it. Go to Australia and look at new car
prices and you'll be envious. Then look at all the on-the-road additions,
which of course we used to have. Better WYSIWP g.

--
Tony Bryer SDA UK 'Software to build on' http://www.sda.co.uk