$221 sales tax, California? More like Cali-fkk-ya. eff that. I’ll ship my new Macbook Pro to Texas and pick it up next month when I pass through there anyway.
UPDATE: Tex fails too. i updated the address and it went down from $221 to $216. really gov’na? 5 whole dollars? I thought you were better than this, Texas. I guess more of it is a federal theft? That would make sense and let ole “don’t mess with Texas” off the hook. But NO. The sales tax difference between the two states is only 1%… 7.5 vs 6.5% of the cost of the thing you’re buying just to be allowed to buy that thing. Sales tax is such a nasty sneaky little leech in every transaction – and not the good kind of leech that cures medieval headaches and menstrual cramps – but the bad kind of leech like the one in that kids underwear in Stand By Me.
You’re paying for the privilege of spending your own money on stuff you want or need. It’s like tipping a toll booth worker every time you buy something, even though you’ve already paid for the roads with your income taxes. It’s a double-dip that’s less delicious and just infuriating since the government had zero involvement in designing, manufacturing, or selling this thing – which I’m already paying an “Apple tax” on for it being made by a company that marks up their products by a third just cuz their operating system is easier than Windows and they have a sleeker physical build.
NEW PROBLEM: my total purchase including the Uncle Sam raping is $2,845.84. my current credit limit on my business credit card is $2,838. I am now on the phone with Visa trying to get clearance for this purchase, on hold listening to “put on a happy face” and contemplating the fact that even if I had it shipped to Texas to save that $5, I would still be $2 short to make this purchase.
Extra FML: I’m going through all the frivolous business purchases I made on this card that put me in this situation and forced to ask myself if each was worth it. They include dopey ebay items and joke domains such as whorepie.com (how could i resist not snatching that up? the origin was this girl mixing up/combining “shut your whore mouth” with “shut your pie hole” and saying “shut your whore pie” – this could be the next big thing. i had no choice. i have no regrets).
Late Breaking FML: right as I get off the phone with approval to make this purchase (20 minutes negotiating $5), I am about to pull the trigger and I get an IM from a business partner asking if I bought yet and if not, to not use that card… im now using a different card, making the last half hour a total waste.
UPDATE: my new Macbook left Shanhai Thursday morning and arrived in Anchorage Alaska by yesterday afternoon and at this point it feels like the only thing I have to look forward to. The exhaustion of the buying experience has Stockholmed me into being excited for the delivery as a mental balance of that future joy negating the pain path leading to it. omg u guyz, do you think it’ll come today? nahhh, its cant rite??? lolomg (im doing that thing where the bottom half of your eye lids are closed but not the top).
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