TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:39 pm

Busdepot wrote: That is only part of the requirement. In the words of Taxjar, "California is extremely complicated when it comes to shipping and sales tax." They're not kidding. Based on our reading and the advice of experts it was our determination that we should collect and remit the tax based on our current shipping charges and accounting (although like I said, that will be changing soon). The exact California sales tax we charge has always been clearly stated on every single order and every cent of it remitted, nothing has ever been hidden. Poring over the semantics of the law and how it may or may not be enforced is way beyond my pay grade. I'm not a California tax attorney and this isn't a forum for arguing fine details of California sales tax law, so I'll leave it at that. Thanks Ron. The end result is that if you charge sales tax on shipping to some states that do not require it, you will be at a disadvantage to other businesses that follow the tax laws more precisely. Personally I thank you for all the parts I have purchased from you over the years. However I think that document from California reads pretty clear although you may interpret it differently. People should know that they are being charged sales taxes on the shipping, which your invoices do not clearly show because shipping is not in the taxable subtotal.

Item sale price - taxable
Handling fees, service fees, and excess shipping charged - taxable
Actual Shipping cost thru USPS or a common carrier - exempt

Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:43 pm

SGKent wrote: Thanks Ron. The end result is that if you charge sales tax
FYI, businesses don't charge sales tax, they collect it and then send it to the specific states.

Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:24 pm

Glenn wrote: SGKent wrote: Thanks Ron. The end result is that if you charge sales tax
FYI, businesses don't charge sales tax, they collect it and then send it to the specific states.
So what happens if they OVER collect it?

Wed Mar 08, 2023 3:25 pm

Don't know, don't care. I carefully look over my order before clickling submit. if something is not right.. i call them.

Wed Mar 08, 2023 10:40 pm

Ron, I acknowledge that being a small business owner in these times is a brutal affair. I have seen so many small businesses shuttered over the past few years and admittedly, I have been worried for the small VW businesses. This is why I shop at the small businesses first and Bus Depot has been on the top of that list.

I have been a Bus Depot customer from their beginning and while I can't name that exact year, I know it was in the early 2000's because I still had my former '79 Bus. In the span of nearly two decades and countless orders, I have only experienced one order issue, of which when I called Bus Depot, it was immediately handled graciously. That sort of customer care encourages loyalty. After so many orders over so many years, the odds suggest that there will eventually be an issue and to me, it isn't as much the issue as how it is handled and BD earned my continued loyalty afterwards.

I hope the best for Bus Depot and all the other small VW businesses trying to survive in this market.

Sat Apr 01, 2023 7:21 am

Following up ... Our new shipping calculator is in place, not only more accurately estimating shipping, but also reflecting new shipping discounts from our carriers. So shipping rates are now DOWN. Also, as a result of the accuracy of this new system, shipping is no longer taxed in California (or any state).

Also, we are testing some new "Buy More, Save More" discounts. One is not as good as SAMBA members already get. As a SAMBA contributor, you already get 5% off orders over $50 (message me for the code if you don’t have it), and the new offer to the general public requires a $250 minimum. But the second offer is 10% off a $750 order, down from a previous threshold of $1000. See our main page for that code and details.

Tue Sep 24, 2024 7:23 pm

I've ordered a number of times from Bus Depot over the last 10+ years and just wanted to say every time I've gotten exactly what was advertised and the quality of the parts has been superb.

I appreciate they are in Pennsylvania like me so my shipping is always fast and everything is always boxed up very well. They are also very quick to respond with concerns over an order.

Thanks for helping us keep our vehicles on the road.

Wed Sep 25, 2024 3:16 pm

I ordered some shocks recently. They called to confirm a disconnect in the shipping vs shipping price, which was nice of them. Plus, they sold what I needed cheaper than anyone else.

Wed Jan 15, 2025 5:43 pm

k, so made an order in early december. we traveled to the states to my moms house for xmas and the order was not there. i emailed bd and they said they did not ship because there was one item out of stock and they had emailed me to see what i wanted to do but i had not answered. i went back and looked and yep they were right i had missed it. i told em just ship what you got but please hurry as i would be returning to costa rica soon. got it like the next day (xmas eve) so i guess they shipped it the fastest most expensive way on their dime.
after i received i thought there were some mistakes. i emailed again. again they responded immediately this time by phone. again i was wrong, order was correct

so shout out to those guys for job well done

so florentina will soon have new rubber in all the windows and headlights that will actually light up the road and a few other goodies