Wow. That is terribly shady. I would definitely get my money back and then go full custo.

If the shop asked you to pay in full up front (which you did) and forgot to charge you sales tax then that is their ovesight, not yours. Tell the manager to charge the tax to whoever failed to correctly bill it to you DURING the transaction.
As for the decal screw-up - sounds like a communication error between your shop and Waterford. I've been to the Waterford factory numerous times and can tell you that the request for no decals would be on the build tag, and that tag would stay with the frame from order through to shipping.

I thought it was called an "upper decker"?

hey brad... just to get your lexi. up to snuff.. that particular move is called an upper deck.

i gues me an nocoins are on the same page

I've never heard of this having a name. So, when you pinch one off in someone's toilet tank, it's called giving them the upper deck?

BS+L=LBS. Always remember this simple equation, it makes life much easier.

I vote for telling them off and demanding a refund. First, though, figure out when the shop is at it's absolute busiest, go in then, and tell them off in no uncertain terms. Don't yell, but be clear enough for everyone in the shop to hear, and state the exact nature of your grievance, point by point, several times. Do not let them move you off the sales floor. Tell them precisely how disgusted you are with their atrocious lack of business ethics and scammy practices. Then tell them again, and again. Don't get flustered or use obscenities. With any luck, they will do that. And pay you off to get rid of you.

While you are doing this, have an unindicted co-conspirator drop one on the upper deck, or whatever the heck it's called.

Thanks for the tutorial on the upper deck --most insightful. For anyone who might be just dying to know what has happened, here it is. I went to the shop and talked to Pete, the owner. He explained that he had spoked with Richard Schwinn personally, and had been told that Waterford would not sell a Gunnar without at least those decals. This information was supposedly known to me when I gave the go ahead to the order; it wasn't then --the first time I heard it was from Pete. He further explained that Waterford's claim was that without at least those decals they wouldn't know that the frame was theirs in the event of a waranty claim. Which is rather obviously a steaming pile; that's what the serial number is for. Translated into honest english the statement reads "we won't sell you a bike unless you'll advertise for us". (So I'm a little bitter.) Pete also explained that if I asked for my money back he'd be stuck with a frame that he most likely couldn't sell. He offered to knock the cost of "sales tax" (which I believe was honestly missed at the time of sale) down to ~$15, and to install my headset for me when I'm ready, while I wait. Regarding the decals, he suggests stickers. He was such a nice guy, and it's such a sweet frame (and I've been waiting more than two f'ing months to ride (I sold my previous bike (which didn't fit) to help fund this one)), that I bought it, and resolved to not be too bitter about it. One way or another, I've got a sweet frame... and I didn't punish a nice fella for his lying, no-customer-service-skill-havin' employee's and/or Waterford's mistakes.

Well, I think wilcru's LBS could sell that frame without too much trouble.

I had noticed on a visit to Wateford's site that they said they would make a bike without decals but they didn't like doing it for a couple of seemingly bogus reasons, none of which involved their ability to identify their own frame.

If I ever have the bucks for a custom lugged frame (it could happen), I don't think I'd ask Waterford to make it for me, especially after reading the above.

I like some of the paintings done by Vincent Van Gogh.
I have some really nice, although modest, prints of his paintings.
My favorite doesn't even have is name on it.
I guess he forgot to sign it.

If a framemaker makes an extraordinarily beautiful frame, people will ask the owner who made it.
They'll say, "Wow! Who made that beautiful frame?"
If the owner says Waterford, the person asking will remember that name much better than if he'd seen it decaled all over the frame like a WalMart $60 Special.

I don't like other people's names on my clothes and baggage, and so why would I like it on my bike?
Somehow, I've resigned myself to the Bianchi decals on my soon-to-arrive Pista, and even come to like them; but only because I will, in all likelihood, never see another Bianchi in Bend.
Something perverse there, sort of reversed perversed.

Anyway, no Waterford for me.

If the same thing happened to me that happened to wilcru, it would make my tummy hurt.
Don't accept the frame and get your money back.
They had their chance to make it right and lacked the will to do so.
Next thing, they'll spit in your soup (I hope not).

problems?

does the man not have internet, live in a cave and not eat pies?

i think it could sell on ebay perhaps. or maybe it is too 'bling bling' for ebay.