TAX FREE WEEKEND....the SCAM you ALL fell for!!!

#1 08-03-2003, 05:08 AM

Seriously, any other retail peeps out there work in a state that has the enormous foresight to hold a Tax-Free weekend right before Back to School?

Seriously y'all, i don't know about your states, but the tax rate in Texas is around 8%. So that means, AND SAY IT WITH ME FOLKS, you only save $8 for every $100 you spend. TO ME, it's not going to be worthwhile unless you drop over 5 or 6 benjamins, yet you have every cletus, billy bob, patty sue and all the other people who get a raging hard-on at the thought of saving a measly $8 dollars tearing through old navy like bill clinton at a prospective intern informational.

Not to mention that people seem to feel personally insulted that we might have sold out of a size they need(fathom that) or the fact that the table of polo shirts now resembles the dirty clothes corner of my bedroom and they can't find anything.

GRRRRRR. And another thing, do you people get some kind of sick enjoyment out of following behind a sales associate as they fold an entire booth of denim, then systematically take out every 3rd pair of jeans, hold them up to the light as if you're examining some inoperable tumor on a CAT scan, then wadding them up and stuffing them back in the booth at a spot of your random choosing? All the while ignoring our continuous offers to help you find the size you require?

Another fun game is the hide and seek people like to play with merchandise. As fun as it is for y'all to take a pair of baby cargos and stash them behind a jet rail of sweatshirts, we really don't share the same enthusiasm as you do.

ARGH! [/rant]

OH, and on a side note, to the cop that pulled me over at 3am, while i'm wearing my Old Navy staff shirt on TAX FREE WEEKEND for "Following to close"(spelling as appears on the warning i receieved) the reason i was on that guy's back bumper is because he was driving 10 mph UNDER the speed limit and weaving more than a Delta pilot on his way from the bar to the cockpit. Hmm, lets see, 3am, Saturday night....you think he may have been a bit intoxicated? mmmm? Probably more of a danger than a frustrated retail worker just trying to get home and to bed.

That's it, i'm done

Kitso
KS 361 pairs of jeans i folded, then refolded, then refolded again, for people who 'were just looking'

carnation · #2 08-03-2003, 09:19 AM

Georgia just had a tax-free weekend and TigerFan (our 4th daughter) worked at Limited Too all weekend.

She looked absolutely haggard when she came in.

AGDLynn · #3 08-03-2003, 09:30 AM

I agree with Kitso. For the amount of money "saved" versus time driving, finding a parking space, putting up with crowds...this is definitely a dream idea come-true for retail owners!

No thanks, I'll take my $8, go to a movie and sit down for 2.5 hours, lol.

Munchkin03 · #4 08-03-2003, 10:54 AM

Never really been impressed by tax-free week or weekend (I think it's a week in Florida), especially when you live in a state that doesn't tax for clothing anyway...

tnxbutterfly · #5 08-03-2003, 12:48 PM

I went to find a semi-formal dress for Convention yesterday and came back home empty-handed. It was so crowed yesterday, I had been up since about 5 because I had to be at work at 6:45 so I was kind of tired

dzandiloo · #6 08-03-2003, 02:12 PM

Yeah, it's a crock. The only reason I ventured out is because I thought the retailers would capitalize on it and have some good sales on top...which I hear they did in Lubbock, but I'm in Dallas right now, and basically, we found nothing worth going out & braving the crowds for...there.were.no.good.deals. I didn't leave Cedar Hill...can't imagine what the ant farm in Arlington was like.

Kitso-I went to Old Navy-it was insane, and yes, I witnessed the poor girl trying to fold all those little puppy dog t-shirts, only to watch as people pulled them out, unfolded and dropped them on the floor. CAN'T THEY SEE THE LITTLE SIZE STICKERS< SO CONVENIENTLY PLACED ON THE SHIRTS SO YOU DON"T HAVE TO DO THAT????? Sorry-I was a Structure Manager for a while, so I feel your pain...sometimes I catch myself folding shirts and jeans and straightening piles when I shop. It's been 10 years...wonder if I'll ever outgrow it. Cheer up-it'll be over in less than 12 hours.

33girl · #7 08-03-2003, 02:29 PM

PA doesn't tax clothing, but we have had a few periods where you could buy a computer tax free. Since they are large purchases, it was well worth it.

aRHOgantdeuce22 · #8 08-03-2003, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dzandiloo
Sorry-I was a Structure Manager for a while, so I feel your pain...sometimes I catch myself folding shirts and jeans and straightening piles when I shop.

I do the same thing--I call it "retail reflex". Thanks to J. Crew, I can't pick up a shirt and then just throw it back down. I have to at least halfway fold it back right. I think everyone should have to work in a major store at least once--they would have a lot more respect while shopping somewhere else knowing what the employees have to come back and clean up.

Oh, and "tax-free" weekend is a crock. Unless you're spending a truckload of $$$ at one time, it's pointless. Tennessee's sales tax is pretty high (9.25%), but on a $30 purchase, that's only $2.78. Wow, I save almost a whole three dollars!!

justamom · #9 08-03-2003, 06:43 PM

I went to Houston. WHY? because I DO drop a lot when I buy them clothes for school. I go to Houston EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Also, we don't have the selection in our town. We JUST opened a FOLEY'S!

To me it was worth it, because in the end, it meant a couple of extra items from the tax money. It took about 20 dollars in gas and remember, I was going ANYway. So, why not go on Tax Free Weekend.
I think LOTS of people are "going anyway". So why not save some money while you're at it.

DolphinChicaDDD · #10 08-03-2003, 07:51 PM

See, now this is EXACUTLY why I love Del.
This state had it right when they decided to no clothing sales tax.
Jersey's tax isn't tooo bad when your in an Urban Enterprise Zone (which I think if about 1/2 the state now, everywhere you turn, its there) its ony 3%
Rest of the state 6%.
NYC used to do tax free days. Then for awhile to revitalize the City's economy they dropped it all together. I jumped for joy. Bloomburg recently reinstated it at 8.625%. Yet another reason I dislike the man. I wonder if NYC will reinstate tax free days.
But I totally agree with everyone else. For the amount of hassle, its not worth it. Kinda reminds me of how Christmas is- all croweded and everyone all pushy to get what they need. No thanks, I'll pass.

texas*princess · #11 08-03-2003, 10:12 PM

I stayed as far away from any retail stores as I possibly could.. some people just go bonkers on tax-free weekend.

phi sig girly · #12 08-03-2003, 10:28 PM

yeah oh god i feel your pain regarding folding and sales...i work at victoria's secret, and organizing the panty bins after closing during the semi annual sale is effing hell on earth!! or starting the folding and organize a half hour before the store closes so that we dont have to spend 3 hours after the mall closes cleaning and sorting and folding only to have people who should have realized the store closed a half hour ago go through already organized and folded bins and mess everythign up again!!! GRRR!!!! and some of those stringy undies are a pain in the ass to sort GRRRR hate hate hate! lol

docetboy · #13 08-03-2003, 10:59 PM

I'm glad I have access to the military base - tax free on all items (except gasoline...) 365 days a year

AXO_MOM_3 · #14 08-03-2003, 11:21 PM

We ventured out early Friday morning before everything got too crowed and hit a few stores at the mall - Gap, Gymboree, Children's Place, Limited 2 and Old Navy. They did have some pretty good clearance sales (we got some great stuff!) - but I feel sorry for anyone coming in the rest of the weekend cause I'm sure everything was picked over by then. Most of the stores were not too crowded in the morning, but we hit Limited2 after lunch, and that place was awful! They have all the summer stuff 70% off now, and the line was crazy. Total disorganization every time we go in there. GRRRR! Kudos to Kitso and Old Navy - they had all the registers open and we did not have to wait at all! We scooted our hiney's home after that cause it was starting to get crowded!

1savvydiva · #15 08-04-2003, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AggieSigmaNu361

Kitso
KS 361 pairs of jeans i folded, then refolded, then refolded again, for people who 'were just looking'

AWWW...poor baby!! I think that was the best "361" you've come up with yet though!!! Why do people do that? "No I'm just looking!"