Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Alternative to chrome wires

and what a useful marketing tool VAT has been! So many suppliers whose goods are obviously aimed at the individual consumer market, advertise their wares at the base price with the “plus vat” caveat in small print. It grates with me and encourages me to look for a dealer who is more open and forthright, before committing to a purchase.

I agree it is very annoying, it happens a bit in Australia but the Government does advertise anyone showing prices without GST can be fined so it happens a lot less that it appears to in the UK based on websites I look at. The other thing was anyone who used the introduction of GST to raise prices by more than the new tax was going to be fined. The government carpark near my work went from $6.00 to $6.70 on the basis it was impossible to go to $6.60 as the machines are coin operated. Surely 3 by 20c or a 50c and a 10c would work just as well as a 50c and a 20c. Me and lots of others wrote in letters suggesting they fine themselves but they didn't.

I find VAT a funny name - Value Added Tax. Surely the UK government don't think they are actually adding value to the goods and that is what the tax is?

I think the principle is that if you are VAT registered you get charged VAT on your raw materials and pay VAT on your finished article ..... you then claim back the first part ... hence only paying tax on the value you have added .... hence the name ..... of course I could be totally wrong

K

A bit off topic but just spotted these discontinued 70th steels. Maybe an opportunity for somebody…..

I believe that practise is illegal - a trader is required to quote prices to the consumer including vat. However, its a bit like price fixing and cartels in that enforcement is negligible.

Its a question (from my now very old rusty law study days and this may have been superseded since) is it an 'offer for sale' or 'an invitation to treat'...... from a famous case of a shopkeeper offering flick knifes (which were illegal to sell) in a shop window and./or glass shop case ( forget which now).....