DanTekGeek
MacTechGeek
I have spent the entire afternoon trying to order my Powerbook. With local tax, the total should come to $2374.72 ($2279 + 4.2%). However, I live in an un-incorporated county, so I do not pay city or county tax, only state tax (4.2%). But, my shipping adress triggers the Apple store to charge me the tax rate for the county in which my post office sits (7.8%). The sales representative told me that I would be charged the correct tax, but the estimated total, the total that would determine weather or not my credit card charge clears, would be caclulated using the 7.8% tax. The available balance on my card is $2477, which is very close to the price I should be paying. When I go to check out from the Apple store, I am quoted $2457.90 ($2279 + 7.8%). I click purchase, and my card is denied. I get the same result after multiple tries. I call my card company, who tell me that Apple has been trying to charge $2494. How can this be? Well, not only does Apple not seem to be able to caclulate the right tax, but they make up for that by adding an extra 1.8% to every purchase to make sure that funds are available. This is so that because they are not certain of tax, they do not under-quote, and have the customer not be able to pay. I have been saving up for this thing for over 6 months. I would go to the local Apple store, but this will be a BTO machine. One would think that one of the largest computer companies in the world would be able to get something as simple as sales tax correct.
