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Thread: any members ATB tanning?

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    Veteran Member monicabi's Avatar
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    Default any members ATB tanning?

    i have a question. how much do they charge for mega package? they charged me $47.50 but i used to pay befor $32.50
    i think they screwed me and where could i file a complaint on them??

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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    They have the right to raise prices. I use to go to a place were it was 30.00 a month and in a course of 3 months it went up to 40.00. Hell in some areas I have traveled to its over 100 now due to the high pressure beds that they charge like 30 a visit. Thats why I just spray tan now. I pay 40 and only do it when I go out of town to work.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^^^ also don't forget that since the Obamacare law was passed there is now a new 10% federal tax on tanning !!!

    A lot of tanning salons who had sold 'multi-session' packages before the Obamacare law went into effect wound up having to 'eat' the 10% Obamacare tax payments ( i.e. they couldn't retroactively increase the price they had previously agreed to in order to cover the additional cost of the tax).

    Thus the tanning salons are now forced to increase prices even higher in order to cover the additional cost of the 10% Obamacare tax going forward, PLUS 'catch up' on the Obamacare tax payments that they must now make to the IRS to cover all tanning sessions from July 1st ( the date the new tax went into effect ) through december 31st of 2010.

    Also, a lot of states and cities have changed their own tax laws to remove the sales tax exemption for 'services'. As such, the tanning salon owners in those jurisdictions may also be facing an issue of having to pay a new 4-6-8% 'sales and use tax' on top of the new 10% Obamacare tax.

    Also, tanning beds really chew up a lot of electricity. A lot of states have also added a new 'stealth' gross receipts tax to utility bills, a new 'carbon tax' / 'green energy' price premium to electricity etc. that has significantly increased commercial electric rates. This is particularly the case in areas that depend on coal for most of their electric generation ( like Texas and the MidWest ), or have a slew of new solar / wind generation coming online ( east and west coasts ). In order to absorb this higher 'input cost', tanning salons must increase their prices even further.


    Depending on how much tanning you do, be aware that you can buy a 'lower end' new tanning bed for $1300 or so. This would also be eligible as a 'first year business expense' tax write off ( worth perhaps $400 in reduced income taxes ). So for the net out of pocket cost of around 25 tanning sessions, you could tan at home. Also, the amount that your home electricity bill goes up will probably be less than the gas savings you'll realize by not having to drive to a tanning salon. I found that tanning at home in my own tanning bed was a lot easier on my skin as well ... because I could do 'small doses' every other day instead of 'frying myself' at a salon once a week.

    ~
    Last edited by Melonie; 01-12-2011 at 11:32 AM.

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    God/dess firemaiden04's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^ Obama isn't the only one to blame for taxes on tanning beds...

    My tanning package went up $5 a month before Obama was even elected, because NY state cracked down on it.

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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^Melonie how is that possible ( the write off) Housewife rule you cant take a deduction on tanning since alot of people tan and cant write it of ie housewife rule. You are always touting about it.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^^^ technically speaking, it's classifiable as 'capital equipment'. Or put another way, while it is typical for housewives to go to a tanning salon and spend $40 bucks, it is NOT typical for housewives to spend $1300 on a tanning bed ( well, outside of Beverly Hills anyhow LOL ). Good catch through !

    Under 'normal' business tax rules, 'capital equipment' would have to be depreciated over a number of years thus you couldn't take the full $1300 deduction in one year. However, part of the Obamanomics package and GWB tax cut extension law allows for an extension / expansion of first year 'expensing' of 'capital equipment' purchased by small businesses.

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    Veteran Member monicabi's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    there another reason why i want to file complaint on them.
    after my one year contract has expired, they kept charging my account for 32,50 month to month and if i wanted to cancel membership i had to file cancelation form (i know that now, i didnt know then)
    and when i asked girl who working there, she told me - if i want to keep my current rate i have to sign another year contract. (wich is a lie)
    i sayed ok and she filed papers, i signed. i got home looked over and there was sayed that my rate is 47,50 for the same package i alweys had.
    yes i should look over befor i sign papers. i believed her word.
    i also researched on them online and their former employers wrote that they were trained to lie to people in order to get more money out them, and if they get cut, they just have to say - oh my mistake..

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^^^ the first business practice, i.e. automatic renewal in the absence of active execution of a cancellation form, is tacky but legal.

    The second business practice, i.e. deliberately misinforming new contract signers of the true total cost of their new payments, is only 'legal' in the subprime mortgage industry LOL !

    Good luck with your complaint.

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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^ You would need to be incorprated to do that though? Correct?

  10. #10
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^^^ nope, you can also claim this as an LLC or even as a sole proprietor business ( i.e. Schedule C ).

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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    Yup, my tanning membership went up after a Texas tax on tanning beds was passed. I am pretty sure it was a TX thing, not an Obama thing, right? I've already forgotten, it happened last year. They also promised that I would retain my rate, and I figured they would grandfather me in. Nope, it went up, but only by $3 or so. Cancelled the membership, but not because of the tax. And it was easy.

    This was Darque Tan. I highly recommend that place, I enjoyed ruining my skin with them for a decade or so, lolz.

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    Banned Melonie's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    ^^^ the new Obamacare 10% federal tanning tax took effect in July of 2010. The price increase by Darque Tan was probably just enough to cover the new tax.

    Obviously, my point was that between the new federal tanning tax, many states imposing their own additional tanning tax, the rising price of gasoline, etc., that investing in your own tanning bed versus a tanning salon membership may now make more economic sense than ever. Having your own tanning bed also is 'gentler' to your skin, in that you can do short sessions 3 times a week versus a single weekly 'bake' without having to 'pay extra' !!!

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    Featured Member rusdancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    Yeah,I heard about the tanning tax or whatever they call it.My gym actually had a petition for members to sign to go against thst,but guess that didn't do anything.I consider myself lucky,my gym charges only 15$ a month for an unlimited package.It a stand up,not very strong,but good enough for sure.so now they rose it to 16,50$,which is still ridiculously cheap.
    None the less all of my tanning friends though this tan thing was an odd occurence.

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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    Loreal Sublime tan..switch between the spray, lotion, and gel. Cheaper than a spray tan membership, and just as effective if you practice and can get it on evenly.

    During warm weather...find a private place where you can lie out in a thong, for tan line purposes. From my experience, its pretty easy for strippers to be invited over to nice houses of rich men with a private pool and sundeck.

    For me now, tan lines don't matter, so spring, summer, and fall, get lots of real natural sun, with sunscreen put on during peak times.

    Tanning beds are bleh...however I confess that I do miss going a bit and have thought of just going in and paying $10 for a quick tan. Old habits...

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    God/dess Miss Jessica's Avatar
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    Default Re: any members ATB tanning?

    Does the tanning tax apply to faux/spray tans as well? Under the assumption that really doesn't matter, I'm sure the salons will raise the prices on that too since no one is likely to question them.
    "We all must suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons. In order to achieve what others don't, you have to do what others won't."


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