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Home > The Sales Tax-Free Weekend is a Rip-off

The Sales Tax-Free Weekend is a Rip-off

August 10th, 2009 at 11:07 am

There is a lot of hype about the before school sales tax-free weekend for school supplies and clothes. I for one do not get hyped up or excited when everyone else does. We actually went school shopping over a month ago. We went to an outlet mall an hour from our home with 140 name brand stores. We purchased around 10-12 items of clothing for around $110. Then the next weekend we went garage sale hopping. At the last house of our trip, we came across a goldmine. A teenager that only wore name brand designer clothes who hardly wore them or they were still new, was selling them per bag. So for just $5.00 my daughter walked away with 11 items that would have easily cost over $300.00-400.00 if purchased brand new.

Sales tax-free weekend just ended this weekend. The malls were packed and people were buying like crazy. My daughter decided to return a couple of the outfits from the outlet mall, and take the money to get more stuff at garage sales. When we went into Children's Place, Justice, and Osh Kosh I didn't see any bargains or sales. I saw jacked up prices with huge signs advertising a "sales tax free." What a rip off! And, people buy into the media hype.

I asked my daughter if she would rather have a bag full of name brand clothes for $5.00 or to spend $100-$200, and still need more clothes. She said, "A bag of designer clothes for $5.00." The money we saved on her clothes we are using to redo her room.

Was the sales tax-free weekend a bargain or rip-off for you?

Posted in Money Management | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “The Sales Tax-Free Weekend is a Rip-off”

  1. NJDebbie Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 12:29 pm 1249907341
    1249907341

    I shop early for back to school also. In my neck of the woods schools start in September and I already got most of my son's clothes. I shop early to avoid the packed malls and the selection is much better when you shop early. By the way, congrats on your garage sale finds.

  2. Carol Says:
    August 10th, 2009 at 01:53 pm 1249912410
    1249912410

    I hear ya on the tax-free nonsense. Back when the tax rate in MA was 5% (it's now 6.25%) I often wondered if people would shop in flocks if a store was offering 5% off. Especially when it wouldn't apply for the large ticket items.

  3. baselle Says:
    August 11th, 2009 at 12:05 am 1249949104
    1249949104

    Lots of times it is a ripoff...isn't it funny how retailers are trying to promote sale "seasons". Its frugal fakery to me. Buying something for the sake of buying something but appealing to generic frugalness is just as much a ripoff during "sales tax free weekend" as it is regular time. The best way to save is not to buy in the first place.

  4. Jerry Says:
    August 14th, 2009 at 08:29 pm 1250281773
    1250281773

    You taught your daughter an INVALUABLE lesson with that experience which will hopefully lead her to view money (and clothes) in a different way altogether. People have no insurance that they are saving any money on those sales, but they are advertised like the bargain of the century. I am so glad that she will get her room redone along with her new clothes! Awesome job.
    Jerry

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    September 3rd, 2009 at 10:35 am 1251974122
    1251974122

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