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FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

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Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#111

Post by trustinmenowpls »

crazygringo wrote: post #80
guidedlight wrote: post #10

They should ban hidden taxes too. The sticker price should be the final price.

If you're talking about sales taxes, they can't until you input your shipping address. Because they depend on where you live. Nobody's trying to fool you by not including sales taxes. There's just no way to show them in advance, unless you want to start typing your address and zip code into every shopping website before you even browse.

Yup, I know what sales tax is in my state and can do the math in my head pretty easily to get the approx. amount. If you live in a state for any length of time you should be able to do this too. even if its something odd like 7.25% you can figure out what 10% is really quickly and know it'll be a little less than that.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#112

Post by dylan604 »

crazygringo wrote: post #85

I'm glad (if it doesn't get reversed by the next administration). But I'm also baffled... how did this take this long? Why wasn't it done way back when they did it for airline tickets, in 2012?

Not sure about going all the way back to 2012, but maybe they were more worried about the Mayan calendar? /s

But as far as under this administration, it seems like it took half the term to right the ship and get the leadership moving in the right direction. I think a second term would have been impressive.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#113

Post by crazygringo »

websap wrote: post #105
crazygringo wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're talking about sales taxes, they can't until you input your shipping address. Because they depend on where you live. Nobody's trying to fool you by not including sales taxes. There's just no way to show them in advance, unless you want to start typing your address and zip code into every shopping website before you even browse.

Yes, because my IP address doesn't give them a way to calculate tentative taxes? My IP can be used to serve me ads, but not serve me actually relevant information? There's a very small % of traffic that actually uses VPNs

Correct, it doesn't. IP geolocation is nowhere near precise enough.

Remember, sales tax isn't something big like state-level. It's literally town-level, including tiny towns. Two sides of the same street can have a different sales tax.

Not to mention all the extra rules, such as individual clothing items under $110 being exempt in New York.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#115

Post by trustinmenowpls »

zten wrote: post #92
itake wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Healthcare surcharge: 6% tip: 20% tax: 8.625% = total: 34.625%

The healthcare surcharge is taxable, because it shouldn't exist, it should just be a 6% increase in the menu price.

what is a healthcare surcharge?

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#116

Post by qeternity »

nickff wrote: post #96
nabla9 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a pro-market fan, Khan is great. Pro-market: pro-market advocates for policies that enhance competition and market efficiency. Understands that god markets are made. Pro-market advocates believe in creating conditions where businesses can compete fairly without undue advantages from government favoritism. Government regulation can be essential to correct market failures and promote a level playing field. Free mark…

Why do you describe “free market” as being ideological, and “pro-market” without those terms? Both seem equally ideological (or not).

Because they are against one and for the other. Pro markets means whatever policies they agree with, which is of course how all broken highly regulated markets begin their run.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#117

Post by benreesman »

Lina Khan is my second hero in life after Evariste Galois.

Even if they throw her out it won’t change what she’s done: she put fear in the bellies of some truly terrible people who had almost forgot what the word “restraint” means.

Ms Khan, I salute you.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#118

Post by runako »

joshuaissac wrote: post #72
caseyohara wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not likely; sales tax is extremely complicated in the US. There are 13,000 sales tax jurisdictions, and many of them have different and incompatible rules for things like sales tax nexus.

I think legitster is suggesting that the sticker price on the product should be the price paid, rather than a uniform sales tax code. If the seller knows what to charge the buyer, then they know what they need to put on the sticker.

Local retailers would oppose this in very strong terms as a thumb on the scale in favor of online retailers.

Online retailers would presumably still be able to show pricing before knowing a shipping address, so their pricing would be pre-tax. That would make the apparent price differential even greater, and on every item.

I think this would make the marketplace less clear for consumers.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#119

Post by websap »

crazygringo wrote: post #113
websap wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, because my IP address doesn't give them a way to calculate tentative taxes? My IP can be used to serve me ads, but not serve me actually relevant information? There's a very small % of traffic that actually uses VPNs

Correct, it doesn't. IP geolocation is nowhere near precise enough. Remember, sales tax isn't something big like state-level. It's literally town -level, including tiny towns. Two sides of the same street can have a different sales tax. Not to mention all the extra rules, such as individual clothing items under $110 being exempt in New York.

I will take the blurb which says taxes are an approximate calculation based on web browsing data available, vs, no taxes shown. We're gate keeping good features for large % of users over some edge cases.

Re: FTC bans hidden junk fees in hotel, event ticket prices

#120

Post by Symbiote »

YaBa wrote: post #79

Now do the same with airline companies. WizzAir charges the crap out of you for everything they can. Do not fly with WizzAir!

A recent WizzAir flight was advertised (when I searched for the route on their website) for €21. I rejected all optional extras, and that was the total price I paid.

No checked luggage, probably only a small cabin bag that fitted under the seat in front, no priority boarding, no seat selection.

It's a budget service, but the advertised prices aren't deceptive.

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