Help me do this math

[CathyA]

I feel so stupid, but I'm stuck. Here's what happened: I bought something at Walmart online. It was $64.97 plus 4.55 tax for a total of $69.52.
Then I found the same item on sale at Menards for 49.99 plus about 3.50 tax for a total of 53.49. Walmart meets a competitor's price, if you bring in the receipt and the ad in the paper.
So that's what I did.
Well, these 2 woman at the service desk had trouble figuring out how to do it, and they finally gave me $11.48 in cash back. After I walked away from the desk, I realized this just wasn't right. So I went back and tried to explain it to them, but I got very confused, and they convinced me it was just the way tax was figured out and they couldn't do anything about that.

Looking at the receipt right now, this is what they did. They took 49.99 from 64.97 and got 14.98. Then they taxed that amount which came to $3.50, which they subtracted from the 14.98....which was the $11.48 cash they gave me back.

This isn't making any sense to me. Seems like I'm paying tax too many times. I think they figured things wrong, but my poor little mind can't figure it out.
Seems like if they were meeting the competitor's price, I should have gotten around $15.00 back.
Can anyone help me understand this?
Thanks!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Correct refund: 69.52 - 53.49 = 16.03

Or the difference in the net + the difference in the tax = amount of the refund
(64.97 - 49.99) + (4.55-3.50) = 16.03

What they did: (64.97 - 49.99) - 3.50

It's kind of they subtracted the tax when they should have added it. But actually they should only add back the different in tax on the higher price to your refund as shown above.

That was kind of challenging, I mean the answer is obviously the top line (best to look at the most simple solution which is just the differences in price), but arriving at how they even got their answer and where it went wrong ...

[CathyA]

That's what I tried to tell them and they kept saying I was wrong. Dangit. Now I have to go back again. They owe me 4.55.....otherwise, I have paid tax on this twice.
Thanks ANM.

[Packy]

Well, Cathy; I don't think you are stupid(like they say I am): I just figure that you have been taken advantage of by the system. Yesteryear, it would've been much worse; be glad you live now, instead of then.

[Songbird]

That's what I tried to tell them and they kept saying I was wrong. Dangit. Now I have to go back again. They owe me 4.55.....otherwise, I have paid tax on this twice.
Thanks ANM.

The math you need to do now - is it worth the amount you'll spend on gas driving to Walmart to get a 4.55 refund? I remember you saying you lived out in a rural area so thought you might have a long drive to get there....

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone. I don't know why this is driving me so crazy. Sometimes my anxiety grabs onto some issue and won't let it go.

You're absolutely right Songbird........the gas to get there and back would cost almost as much as the refund. If I waited until I had other errands to run, it would only complicate some of the issues (how long it is on sale at the other store). I know I probably sound like a highly consumeristic person.........wasting money and energy to get the best deal. It's just the principle of it. I ran a bunch of errands in town yesterday, and they screwed it up. Plus.......I've been dealing with lots of screw-ups lately..........with the phone company, the insurance company, my cpap company, a defect in a live-trap cage I bought, etc., etc., etc. I wish people could just do their jobs right to begin with.
Some of the problem is my own personality issues...........if there is a problem, I'm totally anxious until I can resolve it. I wish I were different. I can't seem to get there from here. :|(

[Gregg]

I was in WalMart yesterday. The last bag of the dog food I buy was ripped so I asked the checker if there was a discount for damaged goods (it was really more of a joke since it didn't feel like much, if any, had leaked out). She asked her manager who said, "is 10% ok?". I said sure. The checker told me the food was $31.96 and started trying to calculate 10%. I told her it was $3.20. After a couple minutes she asked me if $4.00 would be ok. I said its more than 10%, but sure. She then ran some paper out of her receipt printer and wrote $31.96 - $4.00 on it. I told her it was $27.96. After a couple minutes, with the line growing longer this whole time, she asked me if $24.96 would be ok. I said sure.

[CathyA]

I was in WalMart yesterday. The last bag of the dog food I buy was ripped so I asked the checker if there was a discount for damaged goods (it was really more of a joke since it didn't feel like much, if any, had leaked out). She asked her manager who said, "is 10% ok?". I said sure. The checker told me the food was $31.96 and started trying to calculate 10%. I told her it was $3.20. After a couple minutes she asked me if $4.00 would be ok. I said its more than 10%, but sure. She then ran some paper out of her receipt printer and wrote $31.96 - $4.00 on it. I told her it was $27.96. After a couple minutes, with the line growing longer this whole time, she asked me if $24.96 would be ok. I said sure.

LOL........I wonder how much money they are losing on a regular basis. At first, you try to be honest about them wanting to give you too much back (because they can't add).......but then when it goes on and on, you figure "okay.....the little profit is paying for my time!"

[Tenngal]

there is just no training at Walmart these days......for anyone. I would also like to know what it cost them.