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What's the deal on California food taxes?

rileyray3000 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:19:33 -0800

I've noticed when I buy food in California at different restaurants, sometimes there's sales tax and sometimes there's not. What's the deal? This is something I noticed at the quiznos the other day. I got charged sales tax on my meal. But, the next day, at Subway, NO sales tax. Both were takeout. One, arguably, with the toasted bun, was hot. But otherwise I have no idea why one meal gets sales tax and the other doesn't. I know if you go to a sit down restaurant there's always sales tax on the bill but does that become more arbitrary when it's fast food?

Ideas?

It's my money, and I want it now!

mudpuppie — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:19:32 -0800

As of January 1, 2008, California law requires merchants to redeem gift cards for cash if the balance is less than $10. However, the statute lists an exclusion for gift cards issued for "perishable food products." Before I send my nasty letter off to Quizno's, help me out here. I attempted to redeem a gift card for Quizno's. The manager didn't know about the law and was extremely rude, although after I repeated the phrase "state law" about 80 times, she did finally give me cash.

So here I am, busily writing a shame-on-you letter to Quizno's corporate, when I come across California Civil Code, Section 1749.5(d)(3), with the above exclusion for "perishable" food items.

Perishible food isn't defined in the title. To me, the Quizno's card isn't hampered by this exclusion because they wouldn't even make a sandwich until I ordered it, so it's not like it's going to spoil if I don't order it.

I wanted to get some input, though, before firing off this letter. I'd hate to get toasted, pepper-bar-flavored egg all over my face. Does the perishable food exclusion apply to restaurant chains?

The statute I cited, by the way, refers to gift "certificates." However, section 1749.45 specifically states that gift cards are included in that term.

What's the profitability of getting into the restaurant industry?

CWitt — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:27:19 -0800

What is the profitability of a small restaurant? I'm a young entrepreneur graduating soon from college and can not bring myself to getting a 9 to 5. I want to be self-employed and I know that I will be successful. I think the first step is entering a business that I know will make me some residual income.

I've become very interested in owning a small restaurant. I cannot decide if the restaurant industry is for me or not, but I think I could succeed. I could obviously start my own local cafe or something, but I'm worried of the risks. I quick fix could be to open a Subway or Quizno's franchise (something with a low franchise fee), but I don't know if they are very profitable. Does anyone own a franchise restaurant or regular restaurant that could offer some rough figures to get me going in the right direction?

Where did the Quizno apostrophe and plural go?

Gucky — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 10:50:40 -0800

Why is Quiznos Sub the official name of the sandwich shop and not Quizno's Subs? The name of "Quiznos Sub" has bugged me for some time, but today I came across the Wikipedia article that mentions they were formerly "Quizno's Subs."

Why on earth would a company do that? What good reason could there be to make the sandwich singular? Why take away the possessive? When did they switch over?

The Quizno's (or should I say Quiznos's?) website offers no illumination.

Thoughts? Theories? Inside information?