Executive Media called me in a telemarketing campaign to offer advertising in the Facility Perspectives magazine with a free editorial. I replied that the advertised cost was too inhibitive and salesman Max offered to discount the cost by 10%. He sent me a quote for the GST exclusive amount that was equivalent to the advertised GST inclusive amount. In other words, he did not reduce the price at all!. I pointed this out to Max and he claimed the advertised price was incorrect, that it should show "Plus GST". However, I have to say that this advertisement has been in place for a very long time. Max claimed he took 10% off the advertised price as a discount - but this is not correct. If you take 10% off you do not end up with the GST exclusive amount, it is slightly different. My main question, as should always be when advertising in a newspaper or magazine, is about the circulation figures. Max claimed that they are not available! I called the head office to discuss what I believe to be a trick to simulate a discount and I spoke to the manager, Michael. Michael says he is a CPA but that he is unaware of the requirement to advertise the "GST Exclusive" status of an item! He also claims that he can't see any difference between reducing the figure by 10%, and deducting GST (for this advertised figure, $2194.50, discounting by 10% results in a cost of $1975.05, whereas removing GST results in a figure of $1995.00. The difference is only small, but it means that Max did not discount 10% and was already aware of the real GST amount! Michael fully supported Max's actions so I have no option but to consider the company as one if extremely low integrity.