I have been very proud of my Dumb Phone.   Two years ago It was the smartest cell phone you could get without having to buy a data plan.  Now after two years, it’s kinda of a pain. Small screen, non-responsive touch screen, in other words, time for an upgrade with the phone company whose name is also on the baseball field where the Giants play.

After many many hours of searching and researching, The Queen Of Research (I call her Donna) proclaimed the best way to go would be the Samsung Galaxy G III.  So let it be said, So let it be done.  Now for the shopping part.

Her Highness determined the highest price we would pay per phone would be $49.95.  After months and months of digging and chasing, it all came together.  Thanksgiving Morning she found exactly what we were looking for!  The Price was right (sorry Drew Carrey & Bob Barker), the provider was right, the shipping costs were right (Free).  So we order 2 new smart phones.  Fast forward to this morning.  Checking the bank account she finds we have been dinged twice by the people we bought the phones from, once for the $49.95 price, then again for $47.17!  After spending better than an hour on the phone she learns something.

The State of California charges sales tax on the full price of cell phones irregardless of the price you actually paid for the phone!  Okay I can kinda of see the reasoning behind it, the way the prices are advertised – never a “sale” price, always “instant savings”.

I’ve got a lot of problems with the way this state collects money.  Now I have one more . . . . . .