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Saturday, August 02, 2008

Gordy Tiger Marts Charging Sales Tax . . . WAWA Is Not!

Joe:

I think you need to hear this. . . then go visit for yourself and try it. . . as seeing is believing.

Everyday at the end of each workday, I usually stop-in to Gordy's Tigermart and purchase a 24 ounce Rock Star Energy drink. It makes no difference which location as they are all doing this. The price says $2.99 on their walk-in cooler. I take it to the register, the clerk scans the item and says that will be $3.17. No big deal. . . I've been doling out the money for months up until just a few weeks ago when I caught onto the scandal.

Now here is clencher . . .If you go to either one of the WAWA's their price is $2.89 for the same 24 ounce drink . . .but with no sales tax.

Question; where is the 6% going that is being charged at the Gordy Tigermarts? Is Gordy pocketing the money or is he erroronously collecting and paying the State of Maryland for these items.

I thought all of the people visiting your site might be interested on the price inconsistancy being charged to their customers. It may be on other items to. . . but I can tell you first hand it happens every single time on the Rock Star Energy drinks I have purchased there.

Editors Note: The bottom line is, WaWa is a better choice for consumers.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Gordo is a criminal and so is his son, the gas thief.

Anonymous said...

Hey Joe, just curious, i know the one Wawa is in Delmar, DE. Is that why there is no taxes?? MD has the tax but from what i gather, del dont have taxes???

Barry C

Anonymous said...

Joe:

If the Wawa is in MD, they may be in violation of the sales tax law -- check with the State Comptrollers office in the State Office Building in Salisbury.

Anonymous said...

Re: 3:13 PM Post.

No both of the WAWAs are located in Maryland. One across from the State Police Barracks and also the one on South Salisbury Blvd.

Anonymous said...

FYI -- this is from the State:

Tax Included Sales

Effective January 3, 2008, a vendor may assume and absorb all or any part of the sales and use tax on a retail sale and pay that tax on behalf of the buyer.

The vendor must, however, continue to separately state the tax from the sales price at the time of sale to the purchaser. If the vendor absorbs all or any part of the tax on the sale, the vendor shall pay the tax with the return that covers the period in which the vendor makes the sale.

Source:

http://business.marylandtaxes.com/taxinfo/salesanduse/taxincluded.asp


If Wawa is doing this, then is is charging only $2.72 for the item that Gordy sellls at $2.99.

Daddio said...

From the Comptroller's web site:

>>...For sales and use tax purposes, soft drinks, bottled water, alcoholic beverages, candy and confectionery are not "food." The sale of any of these items is, therefore, not entitled to any of the exemptions for sales of food...<<

IF you classify an "energy drink" as a "soft drink" then it is taxable in Maryland.

I would postulate that WAWA is classifying this product as something other than a soft drink, and as such is not collecting sales taxes on it.

Most likely, Gordy's classifies their sales of the same product as "soft drinks" and is collecting and remitting the funds to the Comptrollers office.

Bottom line? Buy it at WAWA !!

Anonymous said...

I am sorry to ask a silly question but I was curious where is the "gordy" marts located so I can make sure I don't go to them. I am somewhat new to the area.

Anonymous said...

Joe:

Looks like this is a question of right or wrong by WaWa -- please contact the Comptroller's Office and get the poop and post it.

Anonymous said...

One of the companies is wrong. Either Wawa is cheating the state out of tax revenue, or the Gordy's is collecting tax on an item which is exempt. Here is the question, if the item is exempt, is Gordy actually paying the money to the State, or is Gordy keeping the money as extra profit? If Gordy finds out he collected taxes on items which are exempt, and he paid it to the state, will he get the money back? If he gets it back will he return it to the customers who have been overcharged? Is he liable?

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Gordo is a criminal and so is his son, the gas thief.

12:57 PM

Hey I heard little Gordo go out on a call as an officer using some kind of number. Don't tell me that criminal got promoted.

Anonymous said...

I went to China Fun at 250 Tilghman Rd. and paid $7.45 on a $7.00 purchase. Sales tax should be .42 instead of .45. Tricky to determine when ordering several items as sales tickets are written in Chinese. Three cents isn't much, but they do a big carryout business. The extra that they are charging is going into someone's pocket. Does Md. have a sales tax office in Salisbury where this could be reported? I have decided not to patronize them unless they correct this practice. They speak very fluent English when they want to. Otherwise, Chinese to each other. If you go there, check your sales tax!!

Anonymous said...

Gordy is calling his socialist friend the comptroller first thing Monday a.m. so by Wed Wawa will be ordered to charge the tax!!

Droford said...

I bought 3 24 pack cases of Rockstars at Big Lots in Fruitland for $10 each last week. Worked out to about 40 cents a can.

Chimera said...

Drinks like milk and 100% juice,as well as PLAIN bottled water(no additives like Vitamin water) are deemed NONTAXABLE.Carbonated,sweetened(artificial or otherwise) and/or alcoholic drinks are TAXABLE.

Anonymous said...

There is a very large base of collective wisdom here on this issue--intelligent group. We can always learn!

Anonymous said...

As a "come here" going on 11 years now someone elighten me as to why Gordy is a crook? I mean I understand the high gas prices what else has he done? They sure got some cold beer in the Beer Caves.

Anonymous said...

Tell me please how did Gordy get so much influence with Barrie? Need some history here.

Anonymous said...

Gordo is charging tax on water also. Is this correct? Does Gordo make those decisions, or does his managers? Rumors are that the son is taking over the business soon.

Anonymous said...

Bluto...

Please read the comment by Daddio, above, at 4:28 PM yesterday, about the bottled water!

Looks like you're misinformed,

Anonymous said...

11:50:

Read the stuff sent by Daddio earlier about the bottled water.

Anonymous said...

Mr/Ms 11:27

Here's the answer to your question: How much does Barrie pay for gas?

Anonymous said...

I don't go to the WaWa and would not pay 10 cents for a bottle of that stuff. Can someone who buys it there -- the author of this post -- ask the manager about the sales tax issue that has been raised and post the answer?

Tax Guy said...

Looks like to me that WaWa has mis-classified the energy drink. This could happen very easily when inputting the bar code and product into their computer system.

I have no letter ruling from the state on this one, but I am 99% sure it's an error on WaWa. I would find it hard to believe that RockStar energy drink would be considered a whole food.

Anonymous said...

RESPONSE TO POST 8:25

I did ask WAWA, they said Rock Stars were exempt from sales tax.

I asked Gordy's Tigermart also, the employee said it scanned-in showing total of $3.17 and that was it. I inquired about sales tax, they said it is what it is on the bar code and scanning machine.

Bottom line, I now buy from WAWA.

Anonymous said...

While Wawa is the bigger company, I would bet the farm that the people who run the Gordy Stores know what they are doing. First class employees all the way, and they have been for years. Gordy may not be your favorite politician, but his employees are the best. Period.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with 2:07. I might not like Gordy, but the employees at the North location are FANTASTIC. Really genuinely friendly people, who make me want to shop there just for the interaction.

joe albero said...

Isn't it past your bed time Billy?

Anonymous said...

So if WaWa is not collecting tax on a taxable item- who is the real crook? You are so ready to jump on Tiger Marts but if another store is wrong it's okay! Let's be equal and fair Joe.

Everyone can find something wrong with any business or person in Salisbury, Maybe looking for the good would serve everyone better!!