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Brand new iPhone 4 32GB cost $370.44 including tax?

I

is300guy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 25, 2009
211
0
Fresno, Ca
Ok, so I just upgraded from my iPhone 3GS 32GB to an new iPhone 4 32GB, which cost $299.00 before tax. Last I remember, my sales tax was 9% here in Clovis, Ca. When I bought my iPhone 3GS, it was roughly $326 including sales tax so WTF? A near $50 jump or what on the new iPhone 4, which costs $370.44? It should have been roughly the same price as my 3GS correct? I asked the sales associate and he said that the high price was because it was a "hot item," which explains the high tax. It still doesn't make any sense, I feel like there is a mark up some where that he's not telling me...or am I wrong? Damn, that is a big chunk.

Edit**ok, so it just hit me, was I charged for the full retail price of the iPhone and NOT for the discounted price?
 
You probably got hit with some sort of upgrade fee.

Definitely wasn't full retail. That price for the 32GB i4 is $699.
 
This may seem obvious, call me crazy, but what does the receipt say?
 
There is no way of telling without us looking at the receipt. We need more information. Also, either you are so naive or an idiot...
Or you are trolling...

How could you possibly believe such thing as a higher tax for hot items? No... that's called either Bs or trolling. Show a receipt.
 
ugahairydawgs said:
You probably got hit with some sort of upgrade fee.

Definitely wasn't full retail. That price for the 32GB i4 is $699.
Click to expand...

No upgrade fees, I complained to AT&T and they would waive the activation fee. All that I was charged was for just i4 32GB at the contracted price of $299.00. My invoice does say "sales tax is based on the full MSRP, as required by Ca tax law." So that may lead me to believe that I was charged for the full $699.00 price...but still doesn't make sense, I was never charged that price for both my iPhone 3G and 3GS when I purchased them. Something is definitely fishy here....
 
Maybe he charged u for an extra service he dent tell u about?
I work at best buy and we add an email setup charge. It says it's 29.99 but it packages out for free. Maybe he did something like that and it ddnt package out. Double check your receipt if u still have questions go back to the store and have them explain.
 
As you have edited in your first post, you are charged tax on the 699. Full retail value of the phone. Certain states do this, CA is one of them.
 
hcho3 said:
There is no way of telling without us looking at the receipt. We need more information. Also, either you are so naive or an idiot...
Or you are trolling...

How could you possibly believe such thing as a higher tax for hot items? No... that's called either Bs or trolling. Show a receipt.
Click to expand...

Haha, funny comment that's for sure. I was in a hurry cause I was late to work, which explains the sudden impulse to just take it as is. I'll make sure to go back to the store where I purchased it from and ask more Q's as to why the up charge.
 
is300guy said:
Ok, so I just upgraded from my iPhone 3GS 32GB to an new iPhone 4 32GB, which cost $299.00 before tax. Last I remember, my sales tax was 9% here in Clovis, Ca. When I bought my iPhone 3GS, it was roughly $326 including sales tax so WTF? A near $50 jump or what on the new iPhone 4, which costs $370.44? It should have been roughly the same price as my 3GS correct? I asked the sales associate and he said that the high price was because it was a "hot item," which explains the high tax. It still doesn't make any sense, I feel like there is a mark up some where that he's not telling me...or am I wrong? Damn, that is a big chunk.

Edit**ok, so it just hit me, was I charged for the full retail price of the iPhone and NOT for the discounted price?
Click to expand...

I believe AT&T Charges a One Time $35.00 fee for Upgrade contract renewal
 
I have the answer. Though the OP already said it, and so did another poster. When I got my 32GB (here in California) I paid $360 and change. And yes, if you read the tax rules of California (who really does?!) they can charge taxes on the full price of the phone which is about 9% of $699.99. For me I think taxes were a quarter of a percent less or something in that range versus you in Clovis. But yes, that is your answer.

As to why this didn't happen before, I cannot comment on that as I have no clue, but I can tell you what happened this instance.

For those mentioning extra fees and other extra charges, I can assure you that it is the taxes he is paying.
 
is300guy said:
I was never charged that price for both my iPhone 3G and 3GS when I purchased them. Something is definitely fishy here....
Click to expand...

California raised sales tax rates in the interim, that's what's throwing off your math.

Or you bought the 4 in a different city that adds anywhere from .25-.75% to the sales tax rate (in my home county, for example, it's 9.75%).

$700*.09 (assuming that's your sales tax rate)=$63, which would make the iPhone $362.

$700*.0975= $68.25, making the iPhone $367.25.

The other possibilities are tied to your local laws concerning packaging/plastic bags. If you live in a city that taxes those things, that could have also been added to your total.

But, the easiest way is to just read the receipt. The wonderful thing about those things is that they're itemized. ;)
 
On the bottom of the receipt:
Subtotal: $299.00
h/s S. Tax #05: $71.44
That's all it says, no other info as to how much sales tax was.
 
Jonathan360 said:
I have the answer. Though the OP already said it, and so did another poster. When I got my 32GB (here in California) I paid $360 and change. And yes, if you read the tax rules of California (who really does?!) they can charge taxes on the full price of the phone which is about 9% of $699.99. For me I think taxes were a quarter of a percent less or something in that range versus you in Clovis. But yes, that is your answer.

As to why this didn't happen before, I cannot comment on that as I have no clue, but I can tell you what happened this instance.

For those mentioning extra fees and other extra charges, I can assure you that it is the taxes he is paying.
Click to expand...

I concur what you mentioned. I do believe that I was charged full MSRP. But it doesn't explain the other iPhones I purchased for the discounted price. Both phones i had purchased in the past were priced respectfully at $299.00 and plus tax was around $330 max. So it doesn't make sense to get charged higher this time. Maybe it is a city/local thing but I still shouldn't have to pay that high either ways.
 
is300guy said:
On the bottom of the receipt:
Subtotal: $299.00
h/s S. Tax #05: $71.44
That's all it says, no other info as to how much sales tax was.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but every receipt I've ever gotten from the Apple Store has had the rate of sales tax: Screen shot 2010-10-03 at Oct 3, 9.27.17 PM.png
 
is300guy said:
I concur what you mentioned. I do believe that I was charged full MSRP. But it doesn't explain the other iPhones I purchased for the discounted price. Both phones i had purchased in the past were priced respectfully at $299.00 and plus tax was around $330 max. So it doesn't make sense to get charged higher this time. Maybe it is a city/local thing but I still shouldn't have to pay that high either ways.
Click to expand...

You weren't charged full MSRP. As others have mentioned, the tax in CA is calculated on the full retail price. Welcome to CA. Yes its a somewhat recent change.
 
I don't know if this helps you out, but i recently purchased a 16 gig iphone 4 at the Modesto, CA. store around a week ago

2 year upgrade/contract renewal

My Reciept shows:

Sub-Total: $199.00
Tax@8.375%: $50.17
Total Paid: $249.17
 
I was charged tax on full retail price of the iPhone 3GS last year and also on iPhone 4 this year in CA so it's not a recent changes in tax regulation. I bet OP paid similar amount last year unless he didn't purchase it in CA or any other states that have similar tax regulations.
 
Amazing the stunts California pulls (like this) and yet it still manages to go bankrupt. Is the climate that nice so as to put up with this stuff? :eek: :p
 
james92se said:
Amazing the stunts California pulls (like this) and yet it still manages to go bankrupt. Is the climate that nice so as to put up with this stuff? :eek: :p
Click to expand...

Well nothing beats constant 80* days....though I think the ladies of Southern California (where I'm from) is pretty amazing as well ;)
 
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