Verizon wireless California wide bait and switch @Verizon Santa Barbara, California

Yes, I could have walked away. But I spent an hour finding what I thought was the perfect phone and was told it was only going to cost me $100 and it cost me $196.13 (corrects previous number -just looked everything up).

Regarding breakdown on costs (correcting my earlier figures- I didn't realize someone from Verizon was going to question every aspect of this): It was $119 (I don't know how it increased from $100 to $119) for the phone, $47.49 in tax $30 for the "upgrade."  So it was a 96.13% increase in price. 

Again, all I asked for is transparency.  Don't mind paying taxes.   Maybe I will stand out in front of Verizon with a warning sign (about the tax and upgrade fee) and see if you ask me to leave the property! 

"Actually $299 when all was said and done."

What was added to the bill to change it to $300? That's an increase of 200% not 300%.

You could have walked away from the deal before signing.

You are beginning to sound like a Verizon rep.   I have no problem with paying taxes or fees associated with buying something.  But I (and even more the sweet old lady) should not learn about a 300% increase after we agree to a price for a product (in my case after I gave you my credit card)

Here is the State of California Board of Equalization website explaining the tax (http://www.boe.ca.gov/pdf/pub120.pdf) no matter what Verizon chargea for the cell phone.  So for the phone I just bought "special today $100+ phone retailed for $699=$50 tax (our sales tax is 8.25%) and $30 for a new contract.  The numbers on  the sweat old ladies phone were a little different but you get the point't have time to explain

It is a bait and switch on the cost of the phone "Only $100" I was told.  Actually $299 when all was said and done.  (I don't have time to explain all the other add ins when I actually checked out)

Several years ago the CA legislature had nothing better to do and saw a big source of taxes they haven't tapped yet.  So they put in regulations that on any cellular phone that is sold for less than retail, the end user must pay the sales tax on the FULL retail amount.  If the OP has an issue with this tax then take it up with Sacramento.

As for the rest of the OP's report, perhaps the OP should actually look up the definition of "Bait and Switch" before they start trying to use that term.

What's the bait and switch? How does a $10 phone cost $60 in taxes?