BassProShops - Harrisburg: Buyer Beware

[Scooby]

So I was in the store yesterday and purchased a camo jacket for $59.99 and the cashier said I owed $63.59. They are telling me camo hunting apparel is TAXABLE in PA. I don't think so. . . Checked the PA Department of website: NON-Taxable "Hunting clothing, including camouflage and blaze orange." - REV-717.

Funny thing. . . I purchased a similar camo jacket online BassProShops.com and NO PA sales tax collected. I showed the store manager the receipt. He said because it was purchased online. Bullsh*t. . . I purchase from BestBuy.com and they collect PA sales tax everytime.

[bogey1]

Call the correct authorities and report them.

[God's Country]

You paid it?

[Scooby]

No, I did not pay. I returned the item. Unfortunately, contacting the PA Dept of Revenue (DOR) is a waste of time. As long as BassPro is remitting the tax collected to PA, the State does not care. Any refund request will have to be made through the DOR. It is up to the buyer to know what is and is not taxable. As a side note; I am a CPA and have managed many state sales and use tax audits, including PA, for corporations and it irks me when businesses think they can get away with these kind of business practices.

I filed a complain with BassPro corporate office. Guess what. . . I was RIGHT! Merchandise Mgr from the HBG store called and apologized for the error. They are working with the legal dept to re-code all merchandise in the store. He wanted the name of the manager on duty that said it was taxable. Too bad I can't remember that F**cker's name. Offered me a $25 gift card for my troubles.

[streaker69]

I filed a complain with BassPro corporate office. Guess what. . . I was RIGHT! Merchandise Mgr from the HBG store called and apologized for the error. They are working with the legal dept to re-code all merchandise in the store. He wanted the name of the manager on duty that said it was taxable. Too bad I can't remember that F**cker's name. Offered me a $25 gift card for my troubles.

Sounds like a positive outcome. You effected a change on the entire company with a simple phone call. Now if you could work on EM's problem with them shipping ammo to Pittsburgh.

[MT1]

The cashier is obviously a transplant. Every native Pennsylvanian outside of Phila knows camo and blaze orange aren't just for hunting. Hell, this time of year it is standard wear by many folks.

[streaker69]

The cashier is obviously a transplant. Every native Pennsylvanian outside of Phila knows camo and blaze orange aren't just for hunting. Hell, this time of year it is standard wear by many folks.

To be fair, most people that run the registers only know what the register says. If it says there's tax, there's tax because that's what the machine says. The manager on the other hand should have known better, but he probably worked his way up to manager from cashier via a lot of ass kissing.

[Krichardson]

Good for you,and did you accept the gift card?

[bigandy1966]

At least you dont shop at



DICKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KCJones]

To be fair, most people that run the registers only know what the register says. If it says there's tax, there's tax because that's what the machine says. The manager on the other hand should have known better, but he probably worked his way up to manager from cashier via a lot of ass kissing.

Even worse:

A) That cashier would probably get fired for NOT charging you tax if the register said so, and

B) "Manager" = glorified cashier making an extra $1 an hour to fire cashiers that don't charge tax when the register says so, and probably no authority to override.

But I'm glad they seem to be doing the right thing after your call.