VAT on traders adverts

Post by **sixdogsisback** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:23 pm

Can anyone explain how the VAT works on the traders adverts in Minor Matters. All claim that their prices include VAT, but when you ring them up or visit their websites, the prices don't include VAT. One well known parts supplier explained the reason to me, but the explanation left me more confused than ever. Someone must have an explanation which makes sense.

Regards, Clive.

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:47 pm

As a printed advert, (often submitted 2 months in advance of release date ) its easier to put vat onto a list of parts. Webites are different in that the software is able to total live multi purchases then work out the vat at the check out stage.
We always give the cost of the product/service and clearly state that VAT is not included.

Post by **Sidney'61** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:12 pm

I think basically the idea of showing the price without VAT is just to make it look cheaper than it is!

Post by **jonathon** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:32 pm

I view it differently, in the fact that we state the cost of the part, VAT is an imposed cost on our goods and I feel should be seen as such.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:16 pm

A few years back the club managed to get the Trader's adverts to include VAT for the magazine. This is only fair as this is the price you actually pay. What the traders do on their own leaflets and websites is up to them.

If a trader refuses to honor the published price in the current club mag it's probably worth to contact the club to complain via the official route. However it's only fair on the trader's side that price increases have to happen (e.g. when their own supplier introduces 6 price rises in a year, as per recent times with a major panels supplier...) so if the published prices are out of date because of the time the advert was submitted vs the time the mag is printed, there is not a lot can be done about it.
If it's a case where a Tader has made up false prices for the mag, that's a very different issue (although pretty unlikely) and hence worthwhile to make the club aware of the complaint, so they can keep records and see if it's a common occurence.

Post by **PSL184** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:19 am

I went to buy an LCB from a well known supplier at the Minor Matters advertised price of around £85. When I got it I was charged £100 odd for it. On asking I was told it was a mistake with the VAT calculation and confusion was caused because the club insists on having +vat prices listed. Theer was no leaway on the price other than take it or leave it....

Post by **Jefftav** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:08 am

Hi All, I too have experienced this problem and wish there was a consistent policy for VAT charges in adverts. There really is little you can do as traders do usually retain the right alter prices without notice and this is all traders not just MM suppliers. When I am buying a lot of parts I email/fax a list to 3 or 4 suppliers and ask them to quote me a price and sometimes you can save a bit this way.

What I'm never sure on is some seem to include VAT on postal charges but some don't?

I have been caught out by online discounts and MMOC discounts as these seem to be applied very sparingly and only on certain things.

My best advice is before parting with your cedit card details is ask the price inc Vat and P&P. If your not happy then look elsewhere. Jeff

Post by **jonathon** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:52 am

Vat is charged on everything, except items like books, and others on the exempt list. So parts,and carriage are charged with vat. Its also the case with MOT's, if you take your car and MOT it you do not pay Vat, if a dealer/garage do this for you then you must pay Vat on it as its deemed to be a service. Many garages have been caught out with this one and the Vat office are very keen on recovering their dues. I know of one trader who owed 5 years worth of MOT Vat and had to find over £25K or loose their business.
Vat is also charged on export items and carriage even for those countries who are VAT exempt.
I cannot see the problem of not inc Vat on printed prices, the trader is bound by law to say if the items are inc or exclude Vat. As I stated before, its important to know the cost of an item before the tax man takes his slice.
If buying online then if you do your shop and end up in the 'check out' you will clearly see the cost of the goods, carriage and Vat applicable and a total, where's the problem ??

Post by **sixdogsisback** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:32 am

I know prices can change, but it definately seems to me that the prices quoted in Minor Matters are dreamt up to attract customers. Take the advert [moderated] in Minor Matters for example. It clearly says :- "Our Prices Include VAT" But when you ring up to order items, or visit the website, there is VAT to pay on top of those prices. Also VAT on the cariage. Other traders seem to be operating the same ploy. In the end, by the time you have paid for the item and the carriage, it ends up about 50% more than the quoted prices in minor Matters. I think the prices quoted are misleading.

Thanks for responses,

Clive.

Post by **LouiseM** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:56 am

Well I've just picked 4 items at random from the advert to compare with the website price and they cost the same ie they are shown at a cheaper price on the website but when you add VAT it comes to the same price as shown in the advert. There doesn't appear to be anything misleading.

Before buying any item it's always best to shop around and compare the prices at checkout. I was recently looking to buy a small ignition part and although one trader sold it significantly cheaper than another trader their postage charge was double so it actually worked out more expensive overall.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 12:49 pm

"Please Note: Our Prices Include VAT" But when you ring up to order items, or visit the website, there is VAT to pay on top of those prices.

If you have actual examples where the mag advert prices are not honoured, please put them in writing through the official channels.
To comply with the site rules I've ammended your reference to their advert. I'm not disputing what you say, although I've not had that specific problem, it's just that this isn't the place to air a dispute with a trader. ;-)

From personal experiences with Midlands suppliers (when buying over the counter) the magazine prices have been honoured. In some cases the supplier has beaten their own 'price list' price to match the advertised price of a rival supplier. So personally I've found the opposite.