[mzsyd]

My RA trip did not go as I planned today. I bought a pack of huggies and four J&J items.
First issue: She said I can not buy four like item and can only buy two.
Second: had to void my transaction because she didnt get my phone number for my rewards card discount, had to call manager over, asked him about me using coupons n taxes.
Third: She then rung it up and as I tried handing her my coupons she said I must pay the tax first before she can take the coupons. So I paid the tax of 1.31 before she took my coupons.

Then after all my coupons for the huggies and my two J&J items the total came down to 9.97! I asked if I can use my ten dollars gift of savings and of course no because I'm a few cents short! At this point the line was getting long my 39 weeks pregnant self was getting frustrated, so I paid and just left. I'm so upset because if I didn't pay the tax first I would have been able to use my ten dollars gift if saving! Now that I'm home and calmed down, I was not thinking at the time but should have added a filler to bring it above ten dollars. People behind me were getting impatient. Is it normal to pay taxes first? This is def a first for me having to do that.

[joshmamabear]

You're title is a bit misleading but if you're asking if computation of sales tax is BEFORE coupons, then it varies per county/state. You can check it with your state revenue office on how stores are suppose to compute tax if a coupon is used so you will get first hand information. Another way to find out is to check your grocery receipts to see how they compute your sales tax.

As to part of a coupon paying for sales tax, I think most stores, not just RA allow that. It says on coupons if you read the fine print that the sales tax is the responsibility of the buyer, if there is any.

[SomethingSnazzy]

That is very odd...I have never been asked to pay tax prior to my coupons, how does their register even process this?

It is a shame you had to be so frustrated.

[br28092]

Coupons usually don't affect tax and if they were acting like that u would have left because paying the tax first is weird if u ask me.

[tratra]

I've never heard of this but I think your Rite Aid is covering their backside. Some of their coupons will cut into the taxes due. That means that they don't have the cash in the register to send to the local, state and federal governments.

I bet this store has had a problem with this and this is their way of ensuring that all of the taxes get paid. Next time you're in you could ask why they do it that way. (Maybe after your little one comes? Whoo hoo! A new baby. Congrats!)

[mzsyd]

I know I have to pay taxes, but i've never been asked to pay the taxes prior to using my coupons its just odd. I've been shopping with coupons at other RA and have never been asked to pay taxes prior to coupon usuage. Maybe the cashier didn't know what she was doing?

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by mzsyd

I know I have to pay taxes, but i've never been asked to pay the taxes prior to using my coupons.

That is really odd...

[Ellen L]

I think she was just making things up.

[kywymy]

That is just plain weird.

[fantayja]

I have never heard that. You still end up paying the tax anyway so its not like you were trying to beat Uncle Sam. I think that cashier has an issue with couponers. It is unfortunate you had to experience that.

[savcoupon]

Sounds like this store/cashier has had a issue with people who know how to work the system and use their coupons to pay tax. Maybe she has been told if she allows it again she will lose her job. Perhaps the only way she could think of to make sure it doesn't happen is to collect the tax upfront.

[kathykat49]

When I first read your post, I thought OMG is that cashier for real? How could she even be sure what the exact tax was going to be? What if you decided, after seeing you were only pennies short of using your $10 GOS or whatever it was, that you wanted to buy a small filler so you could use it?
What if you canceled the whole transaction -would there be an issue refunding just tax? I would definitely call CS on this one - there is something fishy about a store that asks you to pay tax up front. What they should've done is allowed you to use coupons but made you aware when you were getting near whatever the tax was that you wouldn't be able to use anymore or only one for X amount. I always watch when they're ringing up the coupons how close I am to the tax so I don't try and give them too many/have it beep. Funny but I've used ECB's at CVS and they've actually gone toward the tax but with RA they don't allow it.