Can somebody McExplain this, please?

[Thomas Veil]

This has been bugging me for a while now.

How come when I go through the drive-through at McDonald's and order a value meal, sometimes I get charged $4.95, and sometimes I get charged $5.03, for the exact same meal?

My daughter used to work there, so I asked her, because I thought perhaps the $5.03 figure included tax. Well, she got me even more confused. Not only didn't she have a good answer for the discrepancy between the charges, but she says that if you go into the restaurant and order your food to go, you don't get charged tax, but if you go through the drive-through, you do get charged tax.

Does that make sense to anybody???

[zelmo]

Restaurants (and we'll assume for the sake of argument that McD's actually qualifies as one) are only supposed to charge you tax for food not consumed on premises. If you order to eat-in, you do not pay tax. If you order to go, either at the counter or the drive-thru, you should be charged sales tax.

[themadchemist]

Restaurants (and we'll assume for the sake of argument that McD's actually qualifies as one) are only supposed to charge you tax for food not consumed on premises. If you order to eat-in, you do not pay tax. If you order to go, either at the counter or the drive-thru, you should be charged sales tax.

I don't think that's true...I'm pretty sure I get charged tax on BK whether dine-in or take-out. It probably depends on the state, but I don't think Illinois follows the regulations that you describe.

[zelmo]

I don't think that's true...I'm pretty sure I get charged tax on BK whether dine-in or take-out. It probably depends on the state, but I don't think Illinois follows the regulations that you describe.

True, each state probably has it's own rules for taxation.

[Wyvernspirit]

Restaurants (and we'll assume for the sake of argument that McD's actually qualifies as one) are only supposed to charge you tax for food not consumed on premises. If you order to eat-in, you do not pay tax. If you order to go, either at the counter or the drive-thru, you should be charged sales tax.

I think it depends on which state your talking about. In MA you are charged tax for any food received in or at a resturant. It is considered a "luxury" and therefore are charged, whether you eat in the resturant or if its to go.

You may want to find out what the sales/luxury tax rules are for your state as that may explain what the price difference is.

[7on]

In MO tax is the same whether you eat in or out.

[TEG]

I have had a similar thought but in concern to Subway. At two locations, and even the same location, the same sandwich, with the same topings, with the same displayed price, and exact same sales tax levels, will in the end vary in cost by as much as $1. Having worked at a fast food like resturaunt (a Fish Bar), I know that sometimes the server/cashier will be anal about things like extra sauces, or ketchups. Also, depending on the law, prebottled drinks are exempt from taxes a second time, whereas fountain drinks are taxed, but when the cost varries by sooo much, one has to wonder.

/ Man who gets 2 12" Subs, Lg. Drink and Chips for $4.95

TEG

[Roger1]

As a former McDonald's manager in Michigan, this is what I know: Taxes are supposed to be the same inside, or drive through.

As for the price difference, that might have to do with the way the register is set up.

Example: Say you go to the resteraunt and buy a number 4 value meal. A number 4 is a cheesbuger, medium fry, and a medium drink. The total is say, 4.13 with taxes. Now you go the the resteraunt and buy a cheesburger, medium fry, and a medium drink. Your total is 5.18. Why? Because you didn't order the value meal. When I was a manager (about 15 years ago) we had buttons labeled 1,2,3 etc. for value meals. What might be happening is sometime you get a worker who is savvy enough to realize what you want is a value meal, and simply converts it to such. Other times you don't get such a savvy worker.

What I don't have an answer for is say today you buy a soda and it's 1.68. Tomorrow, you buy the same soda and it's 1.69. The day after its 1.68 again. Why that happens, I don't know :confused:

[rueyeet]

And then, of course, there's the ever-popular cliche: Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.

Maybe the McClerk made a mistake at the register. Same goes for the Sub-clerk. Maybe there's someone on staff who doesn't know how to do it properly. Seems the simplest explanation to me.

That said: MD sales tax is 5% whether inside or drive-through, grocery or restaurant (though I'm not entirely sure on produce, I think it applies there too).

[Wyvernspirit]

And then, of course, there's the ever-popular cliche: Never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity.

Maybe the McClerk made a mistake at the register. Same goes for the Sub-clerk. Maybe there's someone on staff who doesn't know how to do it properly. Seems the simplest explanation to me.

That said: MD sales tax is 5% whether inside or drive-through, grocery or restaurant (though I'm not entirely sure on produce, I think it applies there too).

MA Sales Tax is 5% as well, but does not apply to groceries, but it does to resturants, where ever you eat it.

[homerjward]

man, y'all have low sales taxes. in tx it varies by city/county but in san antonio it's 7.875% IIRC, and a little higher in castle hills (where i actually live). o' course yall have state income tax :p

[bankshot]

A number 4 is a cheesbuger, medium fry, and a medium drink. The total is say, 4.13 with taxes. Now you go the the resteraunt and buy a cheesburger, medium fry, and a medium drink. Your total is 5.18. Why? Because you didn't order the value meal.

This is a little off topic, but it reminds me of something that happened a few years ago. Some friends and I went to some fast food place and my friend wanted one of the combos. But then he did the math and discovered that it was CHEAPER to get all the items separately. So he ordered all the items and naturally they asked if he wanted the combo, but he said no, he wanted them separate. He had to be very clear that he wanted them to ring up the items individually. Heh. :rolleyes:

I wonder how often that's actually the case? I'm like a price Nazi when I go to fast food. I always check the prices and if one franchise is charging a little more than others from the same chain, that location is banned for life. :p I'm sure most people never even notice...

[dPratt]

man, y'all have low sales taxes. in tx it varies by city/county but in san antonio it's 7.875% IIRC, and a little higher in castle hills (where i actually live). o' course yall have state income tax :p

Tennessee does the same stupid city/county thing, but here it's 9.25% up to 9.75% is some places (highest in the country b/c they refuse to pass a fair - ie non-regressive - state income tax, but I digress). Of course back in Canada it's around 15% (varies by province), so what am I complaining about ;)

[mfacey]

man, y'all have low sales taxes. in tx it varies by city/county but in san antonio it's 7.875% IIRC, and a little higher in castle hills (where i actually live). o' course yall have state income tax :p


bwahahaha, high?!?!?

I live in the Netherlands. Check this out: our luxury sales tax is .... wait for it... a whopping 19%!!!! :eek:

Now that's outrageous. So none of you living over in the States should be complaining! :rolleyes:

[homerjward]

bwahahaha, high?!?!?

I live in the Netherlands. Check this out: our luxury sales tax is .... wait for it... a whopping 19%!!!! :eek:

Now that's outrageous. So none of you living over in the States should be complaining! :rolleyes:
:eek: but isnt pot legal over there? cause id gladly sacrifice lower taxes for that :p

[Apple Hobo]

WTF is up with fast food joints accepting credit cards all of a sudden (at least at Wendy's and Burger King here in Miami, FL)? It's annoying to have to answer "cash" when they ask, "cash or credit?" A Whopper and fries is not a major purchase. :D

[stoid]

WTF is up with fast food joints accepting credit cards all of a sudden (at least at Wendy's and Burger King here in Miami, FL)? It's annoying to have to answer "cash" when they ask, "cash or credit?" A Whopper and fries is not a major purchase. :D

I have not yet made use of the ability to pay with credit card, but it's useful for people that make large orders to feed a volunteer moving crew or something like that. As a poor college student, I will sometimes find myself hungry but with an empty wallet or a lone crumpled bill. Being able to pay with my credit/check card thing would certainly come in handy then.

[leftbanke7]

Tennessee does the same stupid city/county thing, but here it's 9.25% up to 9.75% is some places (highest in the country b/c they refuse to pass a fair - ie non-regressive - state income tax, but I digress). Of course back in Canada it's around 15% (varies by province), so what am I complaining about ;)

Come move to Utah. You are taxed to make money (income), taxed to spend it (sales), taxed to invest it (property tax), taxed to save it. We pay more in taxes than anybody in this damn country....and we are still in debt. Gotta love government.

[Thomas Veil]

The thing that confuses me about my Mickey Ds, though, is that it's a different price for the same transaction. Which lends itself to the explanation rueyeet offered.

And yeah, states are all different. Here in Ohio, you get charged tax if you eat in, not the other way around.

[12ibookg4]

at the mcdonalds that i go to, its cheaper to go into the resturant and order it to-go then for "here". the difference is like 10 cents so i just thought that they charged extra becuase when it's for eat-in they have to clean up your table, take out your trash

[Roger1]

In Michigan, I pay property tax, sales tax, income tax (state and local). Some cities have a city tax, and some cities require you to register your vehicle with the city (another tax).

[BakedBeans]

in the uk its cheeper to take away than to eat in...

[Abstract]

in the uk its cheeper to take away than to eat in...

Generally true, but not for fast food. If I want a burger for £1, that's exactly what it costs me whether I eat in or take away. Also, I've always paid the price listed on the menu, and there's only one price.

But yeah, you'll get charged more if you eat at a restaurant, or have your coffee inside a Costas.

[Mike Teezie]

Tennessee does the same stupid city/county thing, but here it's 9.25% up to 9.75% is some places (highest in the country b/c they refuse to pass a fair - ie non-regressive - state income tax, but I digress). Of course back in Canada it's around 15% (varies by province), so what am I complaining about ;)

Our tax is now at 10% in the Monroe Area.

It's effing ridiculous.

[alexis357]

I am getting charged 7% Tax @ McDonals + an 18% "Eat in Tax".... I don't believe this is Legal in Florida. I live on South Beach & all the resteraunts include an 18% gratuity, but they have to remove it at your request (by Law) and it goes to the employees (By Law)..Plus no one charges the 7% Tax when you eat in..... McDonald Trump over here claims it's just like the accepted "Gratuity", but they , Illegally refuse to remove it, an cannot explain the 7% or the 18% either... I've collected hundreds of receipts. Snuck in a video camera while I fought with the manager & Requested charge removed, and Photographed prices on board...
Help ME SUE McDonaldTrump!!!!!!
HannerJeremy@hotmail.com

[Mechcozmo]

There was something about this a few weeks ago, some guy protested the required tip that a restaurant forced on him. He won.

Ask the McDonalds why they are forcing this on you, etc. Post their reasons back here. I wouldn't mind giving you some ammunition...and you might want to stop eating at McDonalds for health reasons too! :)

[jasylonian]

there are evil mcdonald's and there are good mcdonalds. one particular mcdonald's on the corner of watt and arden in sacramento is the most evil of them all. i somehow paid $28+ for 4 meals there when the same set of meals cost only $20+ at another location (which just happens to be the bestest mcdonald's ever). the evil mcdonald's has what i consider to be a fail rate of about 80%. when i say 'fail rate' i mean that they botch up 80% of my orders. i am not exaggerating. choose your mcdonald's wisely. this reminds me, i was going to write a letter to the bigwigs in Illinois and try to get evil mcdonald's disenfranchised.

[blackfox]

Just to weigh in on taxes...as far as sales tax goes, here in Portland OR, we do not have any. It is nice to know that the sticker price is what you will end up paying, through the drive-through or at the register.

Of course, we are taxed in other ways...still, reading this thread, I feel somehow blessed.

[themadchemist]

man, y'all have low sales taxes. in tx it varies by city/county but in san antonio it's 7.875% IIRC, and a little higher in castle hills (where i actually live). o' course yall have state income tax :p

How does 8.75% do it for ya? Plus state income tax--but I don't have to worry about that, since I'm a student and don't make any money.

[Applespider]

Generally true, but not for fast food.

It depends on the fast food. There used to be some weird combinations when I worked at McDs during University. Milkshakes, Milk and Donuts used to be cheaper to take out than eat in (something to do with deducting the VAT on them) If you get drinks at Starbucks there is no difference in price. If you buy a sandwich or a pastry there, then you'll find them cheaper if you get it to go.