MusicDirect

@lowrider57 please define “your area”. However, MD does not have any such facility in my town. I have been to MD and have seen their warehouse. Everything from them appears to come from their Bryn Mawr Ave offices and warehouse. 

Thanks everyone. I think we covered this. As per @funthings IL has sourced based sales tax. Since MusicDirect is based in Chicago they will charge ALL IL buyers the Chicago sales tax rate of 10.25%. Out of state buyers are charged their local sales tax rate. As for me, I have and only will buy open box items with a discount code that nearly covers the tax. If I want something other than open box, I go elsewhere. Thanks everyone for clarifying this. Regards, K

Oops. Make that ORIGIN based sales tax. 😀

@tvad Thanks for that helpful info. So how does that explain @ohlala ‘s experience in being out of state and being charged their local sales tax rate and not MusicDirect’s local sales tax rate? 

I buy only select open box or other special items with a coupon code from them. But believe me, I do buy the majority of my gear elsewhere. It’s like they are charging me an extra 4% over the posted price. And as we have seen above, if you live outside of IL they charge you your local sales tax, which is where the point of sale is. 

Thanks. They are in Chicago. I am not in Chicago and they are not in my town. Please see above. Thanks. 

Ok. Thanks everyone. Interesting input from everyone. I learned that some state’s sales tax is “origin based”. I think that is important to know and it is never discussed (until now, to my knowledge). Well that is “the terrain upon which I am deployed”. So I know what I need to do (which is what I have been doing). I was just hoping this was a mistake. Oh well. Onward...

Although I enjoy paying no sales tax, there is nothing wrong with paying sales tax. The essential services and worker in your town are not free. But I have a problem with the origin based sales tax. I don’t live in Chicago and don’t feel I should pay Chicago’s sales tax. I will pay my town’s sales tax, thank you very much! So I only buy open box items for prices I can’t get elsewhere AND if at the time MD is offering a coupon to offset their Chicago sales tax. Otherwise, I shop elsewhere. If they want to put themselves at a 4% price disadvantage that is there problem and not mine. Other competitors to MusicDirect for many of their brands include DedicatedAudio.com in Scottsdale, AZ who are a pleasure to work with. Also Soundapproach.com, and moon-audio.com. There are others.