Kobo Discounts: Coupon Codes + Discussion

[library addict]

I did 2 chats with Walmart. During the second one I was told "I am sorry to inform you that this card is for ebooks, so the card will have taxes."

I pointed out I could also use a Google Play gift card or the ITunes card to buy ebooks and I wouldn't be charged tax to buy those cards so that didn't make any sense.

He said he would leave feedback, but could not guarantee me they will remove the taxes.

So I filed a request/complaint with the state's taxpayer advocate office.

[sufue]

Too funny...I've been known to use the addresses of random Hilton hotels in foreign countries for similar reasons...

Thanks anyway...

Originally Posted by zelda.owns.link

I borrowed that address from a random hotel in Montana, I'm actually in Canada!

[sufue]

What state are you in? I might do the same (the complaint)...not so much for the value of the tax, but for the annoyance of them getting it wrong and then acting like I'm the one in the wrong...

Originally Posted by library addict

I did 2 chats with Walmart. During the second one I was told "I am sorry to inform you that this card is for ebooks, so the card will have taxes."

I pointed out I could also use a Google Play gift card or the ITunes card to buy ebooks and I wouldn't be charged tax to buy those cards so that didn't make any sense.

He said he would leave feedback, but could not guarantee me they will remove the taxes.

So I filed a request/complaint with the state's taxpayer advocate office.

[binaryhermit]

As far as I can tell, for a gift card, they don't charge sales tax up front but charge sales tax on the products bought on the back end. Usually.

EDIT "They" being the seller of the gift card.

[library addict]

Originally Posted by sufue

What state are you in? I might do the same (the complaint)...not so much for the value of the tax, but for the annoyance of them getting it wrong and then acting like I'm the one in the wrong...

PM'd

I wouldn't care if they had a valid reason. I would have probably shrugged it off if they were at least consistent with their invalid reason. But don't tell me it's "because ebooks so it must be taxed" and then not tax Google Play and iTunes.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by library addict

PM'd



I wouldn't care if they had a valid reason. I would have probably shrugged it off if they were at least consistent with their invalid reason. But don't tell me it's "because ebooks so it must be taxed" and then not tax Google Play and iTunes.

But Google Play and iTunes gift cards can be used for things other than ebooks, and the Walmart gift cards are only for ebooks.

I'm not saying that you should have paid tax, just pointing out the differences in the gift cards.

[j.p.s]

Wouldn't tax be charged when the card is redeemed?

Seems like double taxation to me.

[sufue]

^^^ Yes it would be double taxation!

HOWEVER: I'm about to fall off my chair, but I got an email earlier today from Walmart, in response to what I had told myself would be my last and final email before I shrugged and moved on, and they are going to give me a refund on the tax.

I still haven't seen it come through, but will keep an eye out since such things often take a day or two to show up on one's credit card.

I guess it can pay to be persistent, even by email. Apparently eventually I got bumped upstairs enough to find someone who both understood the problem and was willing to do something about it. And without hours on the phone - just four or five quick email replies - woo-hoo!

[disconnected]

My husband called Walmart customer service and they said that there was no mistake. They did refund the tax, but only as a "one-time courtesy".

In my limited research every article I found said that no states collect tax on any gift cards so I don't know what Walmart's rationale is.

[lkmiller]

Here in Michigan it wouldn't be double taxation because we aren't charged tax on ebooks or other digital goods. But how would they justify charging tax on a digital gift card for digital goods? It's kinda like asking a Walmart cashier to break a $50 bill and getting back 50 minus whatever your local tax is. The sales tax (if there is any on whatever is bought) should only come out when an actual purchase is made. Not on the item used to make the purchase.

[Apache]

There should not be a tax on gift cards. The taxes are charged when the gift card is redeemed. If you are being taxed on gift cards you might want to make a complaint with the Sales and Use Tax Division of your State Revenue Department.
Apache

[julesy]

I got an email with a 50% off promo code that expires December 19, 2019. I've tried it on several books that "qualify" but it didn't work (per usual). However, I was able to use another promo code that had expired last month. Go figure! Maybe the code will work for someone here. AVZH6C

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by julesy

I got an email with a 50% off promo code that expires December 19, 2019. I've tried it on several books that "qualify" but it didn't work (per usual). However, I was able to use another promo code that had expired last month. Go figure! Maybe the code will work for someone here. AVZH6C

Use the chat to contact Kobo. I had to do this recently. They were able to check it was valid and the book was correct for it. They weren't able to fix it, but, they did a refunded of the discount.

[julesy]

Originally Posted by davidfor

Use the chat to contact Kobo. I had to do this recently. They were able to check it was valid and the book was correct for it. They weren't able to fix it, but, they did a refunded of the discount.

Great advice! I did that and got the credit. Just took a loooong while for them to do it.

[Blue2u]

A whole 20% for my anniversary! Oh well, in case someone can use it:
20% off your next title Apply promo code MC6KQP at checkout