Originally posted by adwb vat has nothing to do with it, there are sales taxes in the USA as well, it is simply the usual dual pricing that takes place.
Prices for goods in the US are
never listed with sales tax included (except for some in-person services and vending machines). And for good reason, especially in the case of internet sellers.
The price you see is the base price, sales tax is calculated later based on where the store is (for in-person purchases) or where you live (for shipments) and added to the total.