View Full Version : Went to the big new store by Loveland
I went to the big new store by Loveland, the one with the ferris wheel inside.
It is large and airy and has lots of clothing.
I got some bullets and checked out. In the car I looked at the sales slip,WTF I thought?
They total up your purchases then put PIF @ 4.5% onto that total then sales tax that total at 4.5%. I found out PIF is Public Improvement Fund/Fee when I returned the merchandise.
I went about a mile or so west to another store and got the same items for the same prices, paid tax but no PIF. Saved about $10.
I won't be going back to pay that PIF BS unless I can't find an Item anywhere else. On a large purchase like a rifle or something that would be quite a bit.
Buyer Beware. Mike
That extra tax is on all business right there in the centerra area. It's not the only place in state with stuff like that.
Often, the state tax is reduced some or something like that. So you might see a 5% locality, then the usual sales tax is only 5% instead of say 8%. You still pay more, but usually there's some offset.
Scheel's prices are not going to be great on gun stuff even without the locality tax. Just look at that place, and the upkeep particularly on that 16,000 gallon saltwater tank. The place is basically the norths new yuppy high dollar high class mall. Like gun wise, miss all the $8000 shotugns and $3k christenson guns? I looked at clothes and it's all expensive imports.
Cool place, and there's a few things I'd shop there for, but it's certainly not going to be the go load up on supplies/new guns for a good price.
Better that the tax is on the users of the store and not the general area in a property tax.
XC700116
11-19-2017, 11:25
That extra tax is on all business right there in the centerra area. It's not the only place in state with stuff like that.
Often, the state tax is reduced some or something like that. So you might see a 5% locality, then the usual sales tax is only 5% instead of say 8%. You still pay more, but usually there's some offset.
Scheel's prices are not going to be great on gun stuff even without the locality tax. Just look at that place, and the upkeep particularly on that 16,000 gallon saltwater tank. The place is basically the norths new yuppy high dollar high class mall. Like gun wise, miss all the $8000 shotugns and $3k christenson guns? I looked at clothes and it's all expensive imports.
Cool place, and there's a few things I'd shop there for, but it's certainly not going to be the go load up on supplies/new guns for a good price.
You might be surprised when the right sales hit, they get some really good prices on some stuff. Also, they are one of the few brick and mortar stores that stock Dillon Reloading machines and accessories, high end optics and, high end archery equipment. I'm not saying it's perfect, as this stores reloading stock kinda sucks compared to most of their stores, but it's pretty nice to be able to walk into a store and actually look at and handle a $3k optic before you buy, and BTW they'll price match even on high end stuff. On high end stuff we're kinda spoiled in Northern CO as we have Mile High, LFI, Trigger Time now Scheels, and even Sportsmans stocks a little bit of it. Scheels and Mile High are the only one's I know of that you can actually go into and handle and compare a wide variety of High end optics. Mile high is still the best when it comes to that though.
The Tax thing is what it is, different locations around CO have different tax rates it's not like they are doing something to skim off your wallet into theirs.
Oh, if it didnt sound that way I was basically defending them. The tax isn't their idea. (OP sounded like maybe he thought it was some like flat fee like on a cable bill or something?) There's stuff there that you don't usually see in person at other stores.
Thanks for letting us know.
I am getting the picture and understand that now, it is called Johnstown and they have imposed this fee to be able to shop there.
To add it to your total purchase price then put sales tax on top of that seems unfair to me.
It is nice to see and handle some fine high end things but on the other hand, there are other places you can go and get the same things and actually support brick and mortar stores that have been in business for a long time and support what we do.
This PIF thing added on top is something I don't think is quite Kosher and goes to double taxation to me. Something that our forefathers started a Revolution over.
Maybe something like avoiding TABOR and calling it a fee and not tax.
I will continue to support the shooting shops in the area and have learned my lesson.
I may pay higher tax rates but in the end save money by going to them. And they were there for us from the Git-Go.
Scheels also does not have any discount for Military or Law Enforcement and I think those guys need a break. Regards, Mike
Special district "development" taxes are nothing new. Pretty much every new mall in CO in the last 30 years has some form of this(Park Meadows, Colorado mills, Flatirons). Usually it is to offset property tax incentives given to the builders/developers to entice them to place their projects in a given location. It's important to realize that taxes are a pass through expense for businesses, and they do not benefit from them.
I wish TABOR had included a provision for all tax incentives to be approved by the voters. Fuck corporate welfare.
Great-Kazoo
11-19-2017, 20:01
I am getting the picture and understand that now, it is called Johnstown and they have imposed this fee to be able to shop there.
To add it to your total purchase price then put sales tax on top of that seems unfair to me.
It is nice to see and handle some fine high end things but on the other hand, there are other places you can go and get the same things and actually support brick and mortar stores that have been in business for a long time and support what we do.
This PIF thing added on top is something I don't think is quite Kosher and goes to double taxation to me. Something that our forefathers started a Revolution over.
Maybe something like avoiding TABOR and calling it a fee and not tax.
I will continue to support the shooting shops in the area and have learned my lesson.
I may pay higher tax rates but in the end save money by going to them. And they were there for us from the Git-Go.
Scheels also does not have any discount for Military or Law Enforcement and I think those guys need a break. Regards, Mike
If you feel the fee is unfair, don't rent a car or hotel room. Those fees and taxes add a nice chunk o change to your bill. it's nothing new, in fact your utility , cell phone and cable bills all have some extra fees added in.
I wish TABOR had included a provision for all tax incentives to be approved by the voters. Fuck corporate welfare.
All taxes have to be approved by a vote. That's why they call the PIFs Fees. A Fee doesn't have to be approved by the voters. That went all the way to The Colorado supreme court. The liberal court said that a fee isn't a tax even though the only difference between a tax and a fee is the way it is spelled.
Not what I was saying. Any tax incentive offered to a business for building or moving should need approval of the voters.
I misunderstood you. I agree with you 100%.
Similarly add in a vote requirement for any eminent domain land grabs for commercial enterprises too.
Eminent domain should be for public use only. Should be forbidden to earn a profit on stolen land by government. ED shoild be restricted to roads in this state. No other valid reason for the government to steal land these days. Schools and parks can be required by permit in new developments.
I now understand about these PIF things and know about lodging taxes for rooms, vehicle rental etc. Passed to the consumer and likely voted on by the people in the area.
Is this PIF thing at Scheel's a tax that was voted in by the people in that area or is it a fee? If a tax it should show up on your sales slip as a tax just like sales tax is clearly identified on the sales slip as sales tax. All it prints is PIF and I guess we the customers should know that?? And yes they do add a chunk o change to the bottom line.
The intent of my OP was to bring attention to all of us that when you go there and buy you are paying a high amount of taxes and fees? and can do just as well if you drive back over the bride and go elsewhere.
That is where I will be taking my business in the future, back over the bridge to the west and supporting brick and mortar store in that area that don't impose these "fees" on me.
I should have known better to start with I guess but we live and we learn. Mike
Thees Public Improvement Fees are relatively new. Maybe 15 years or so. They're just hitting most development projects lately. Any large scale build gets them. And plenty of smaller ones. Most of the money goes to funding the actual property. The PIF near me is supposed to take care of payback on the project, and up keep of roads and parking lots. I find them silly. Makes the hit almost 10 percent at the Costco near me. And it gets charged to food too. Big purchases get made elsewhere.
That is where I will go in the future, ELSEWHERE. Not to where they charge these Fees for me to shop. and buy things.
I will go down the road and save my money and support others.
I feel like a fool. Mike
Then they wonder why everyone shops online.
Then they wonder why everyone shops online.
You can shop Scheels on-line too. :)
I compared several prices to Cabelas and Bass Pro and found Scheels to be better overall. I try to shop locally owned as much as possible, but I found several things at Scheels that were the same as on-line, a few items (like their Fiocchi exclusive shotgun shells) that can only be bought in store. And the homestyle pretzels are pretty good. They also have some pretty good prices (and sales) on Trek bikes.
You can shop Scheels on-line too. :)
I compared several prices to Cabelas and Bass Pro and found Scheels to be better overall. I try to shop locally owned as much as possible, but I found several things at Scheels that were the same as on-line, a few items (like their Fiocchi exclusive shotgun shells) that can only be bought in store. And the homestyle pretzels are pretty good. They also have some pretty good prices (and sales) on Trek bikes.
I realize I can shop online but why wouldn't I go to the lowest price which likely won't be Scheels?
They're prices are competitive... For now. I'm sure they're running slightly lower margins currently as most everyone will be price comparing. Walmart does the same thing when they first open. Humans are lazy g most check prices once (if at all) & then use that data set to form an opinion. Few check the data regularly for variances.
Those pretzels are made with crack cocaine. Amanda's folks gave us a few bags when we went back to Nebraska to visit them last year. I was like: "gee thanks for the crusty old pretzels" (the bag isn't much to look at) but when I tried one I quickly changed my tune. Man are those tasty! I was glad to see that we could get them local but the price at $13 per bag is a little steep.
Went to a Scheels in Iowa a year or so again.. wasn't all that impressed.
Those pretzels are made with crack cocaine. Amanda's folks gave us a few bags when we went back to Nebraska to visit them last year. I was like: "gee thanks for the crusty old pretzels" (the bag isn't much to look at) but when I tried one I quickly changed my tune. Man are those tasty! I was glad to see that we could get them local but the price at $13 per bag is a little steep.
Expensive yes, tasty yes. I am going to go and grab a few to munch on right now.
Expensive yes, tasty yes. I am going to go and grab a few to munch on right now.
Strong move.
colorider
11-20-2017, 18:30
I've never heard of Scheels and had no idea of this place opening.
PIF, just like the Lone Tree shops I avoid.
gnihcraes
11-20-2017, 20:55
The PIF fee's usually cover the utilities, storm, sewer improvements required for the necessary project.
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