Audiolab Stereo & Video Center, Inc.

Review: I am a US citizen currently working overseas. I ordered merchandise from Audiolab.com. For the goods ordered, 6% sales tax was assessed on the invoice. When the merchandise was delivered to my overseas address, I sent the bill of lading and the overseas customs information to [redacted] of Audiolab.com, who had been my contact there, so that he could credit me back the sales tax. He stalled and ignored several emails. Finally after I threatened to file complaints against Audiolab.com, he said he would refund the sales tax. Amazingly, he then sent me a doctored invoice showing that no sales tax had ever been assessed on the larger of the two invoices. I kept a copy of his original email with Audiolab.com's original invoice showing that sales tax was assessed. When I sent [redacted] the original invoice from the larger order and challenged him on his revised version of the invoice, he broke off communication. The total amount of sales tax I was billed is $1,183.86, and any help would be appreciated.Desired Settlement: I would like Audiolab.com to refund the sales tax that was charged to my credit card. Given the altered invoice that [redacted] sent back to me, I think either he or the company just pocketed the sales tax that was originally charged since they knew the merchandise was being shipped out of the country. One of the items was missing parts, and a flat screen TV arrived with a broken screen. Since I don't know if those items were damaged or lost in transit, I never asked for my money back. The least they can do is refund the sales tax.

Business

Response:

The merchandise was delivered to a Pennsylvania address and under the laws of the state of Pa we must collect sales tax. The invoice provided to the customer prior to delivery as well as after the delivery had sales tax on the paperwork. We have requested a tax exemption form and have not received one to date.

Best Regards,

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

No sales tax exemption form was ever sent to me by Audiolab.

Months ago I provided Audiolab ([redacted] specifically) with paperwork showing that the merhandise was sent overseas.

At no time did he request additional paperwork from me (over a six month period) until the Revdex.com complaint was filed.

They have not made it clear what further documentation is required

I was provided with an altered copy of an invoice that showed no sales tax was billed on the 2nd of two sales invoices. Luckily I kept the original copy of that 2nd invoice and the email from [redacted]. The original invoice showed over $800 of sales tax.

No explanation has ever been provided to me as to why an altered invoice was sent to me.

I asked [redacted] to confirm that the sales tax billed to me was actually remitted to the state of Pennsylvania. He has not done so.

As of last week, [redacted] told me he would be crediting the smaller amount of sales tax (on the 1st invoice that was not altered) back to me. He went so far as to ask how I would like to be reimbursed. I told him I wanted to be credited via the credit card on which I was billed. I have received no reimbursement. At that time, he didn't ask for any exemption form, nor did he bring up the delivery to a freight forwarder in PA.

At every turn the story changes, now Audiolab is trotting out the argument that they delivered within PA, but I provided them the documentation weeks ago showing that the merchandise was transshipped out of Pennsylvania, and [redacted] at Audiolab knew the merchandise was being shipped overseas from Day 1.

[redacted] promised to look into parts I was missing in the shipment and inquire with Panasonic about the broken TV I received. To date I have heard nothing back on either of these two problems.

Nothing is done, and every time I ask the story shifts and a new excuse is found.

Regards,