It isn't a waste if each store orders their own signs independently of what is sent out by corporate, which if Safeway can do it, I don't see why Wal-Mart can't too.
I know why they do it, because the prices look lower, but if everyone did it, it wouldn't be a problem. And I also wasn't just referring to retail shops, so I'm gonna assume you've never bought something like a house, car, or even TV.
Unmentioned electronic recycling fees onto of tax for a TV or monitor.
And houses & cars are the worse offenders with all sort of "mandated" fees and percentages and commissions and taxes.... don't even get me started on taxes for houses.
But a lot of that isn't being disclosed upfront, so yes it is very misleading to think, "oh, this TV is on sale for $599, I can afford $600...."
"Don't forget to add $50 for tax..."
"That's pushing it, let me borrow $20"
Then you get to the register and you also get hit with an electronic recycling fee for an additional $10
And to relate back to this thread, cellphones do it all the time too. iPhone 6G is on sale for $99 on contract. I'm gonna do the sales tax in my head... 8%... carry the 3... divide by 4... to the 7th power... add a decimal... equals $107... I brought cash, exact change.
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WRONG!!! You gotta pay tax on the full price of the phone which was $999.99 off contract, so now you need to come up with almost double the money because you also forgot you electronic recycling fees, contract tax, upgrade fee and we hope you didn't get talked into any extras. Now that advertised $99 phone is gonna cost you almost $200 out of pocket. I would call that misleading.