Tax-Free Weekend: RUNAWAY! RUNAWAY!

Tax-Free Weekend: RUNAWAY! RUNAWAY!

by Serendipitous | Published on August 1st, 2008, 12:03 pm | Life

Don't let the cute LOLkitteh convince you to go shopping this weekend!

Every year, it's the same thing. Tax-free shopping the first weekend in August. http://www.dor.state.nc.us/taxes/sales/salestax_holiday.html

Well, as usual, idiot me didn't pay attention to the calendar, and wandered to Burlington's University Commons shopping center for my lunch break. Usually, the parking lot isn't quite so full, but today, I had to drive around to find a free space. I knew it was too early for Elon students to be starting classes again, parents in tow to find everything needed for dorm rooms or apartments. Then I drove past Old Navy and saw the big TAX FREE sign.

Every little bit saved can add up and could help, but just like the push for a gasoline tax break, it doesn't add up to much unless you have a lot of purchases or have the bigger purchases like computers. Here's the list from NC Department of Revenue. I just don't get why some people are OH SO EXCITED about it.

So maybe this weekend, I'll be shopping at the stores less visited. You definitely won't find me during "prime shopping hours" at any of the major stores. I don't play well with others in busy stores or malls. :twisted:

My son is planning to go shopping for a computer this weekend. I hope he has some aromatherapy or something waiting for him when he gets back. :mrgreen:

I hope he knows what he wants and has scouted out in advance where he can go to get it!

Actually... I think he's waiting to see what specials are advertised in the Sunday papers. He WILL be skwished.

Ugh....

As much as I looove saving money, I don't think I can stomach the crowds.

But.... I'll be needing some new shoes pretty soon, so Jack Daniels and I may brave the huddled masses this weekend. All in the name of saving a few bucks....

And really -- it IS only a few bucks. For instance, if you buy a $600 computer package that is deemed OK for the tax break, you get a break of $42 or so. Enough to buy a meal for 2 at a decent restaurant, but worth the hassle of fighting Christmas-like crowds? That's a toughie.

Not to mention, most things can be found on Amazon or eBay for a heck of a lot cheaper anyway. :roll:

Pineview Style has a plan that might make it at least halfway worth going! I haven't had any SUI (shopping under the influence) in years!!!

OMG -- Imagine a mall filled to the brim with drunk, stressed shoppers and concealed-carry laws in place.

I'm gonna hide in a museum this weekend! :twisted:

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:And really -- it IS only a few bucks. For instance, if you buy a $600 computer package that is deemed OK for the tax break, you get a break of $42 or so. Enough to buy a meal for 2 at a decent restaurant, but worth the hassle of fighting Christmas-like crowds? That's a toughie.

And with a tank of gas running over 40 bucks for a normal car, it almost negates the savings if you have to drive a considerable distance as well as if you weren't going to buy anything in the first place.

Runaway from the pai-pai...ai ai ain.

Janie got a gun.
dog days just begun
now everybody is on the run

Pineview Style wrote:
SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:And really -- it IS only a few bucks. For instance, if you buy a $600 computer package that is deemed OK for the tax break, you get a break of $42 or so. Enough to buy a meal for 2 at a decent restaurant, but worth the hassle of fighting Christmas-like crowds? That's a toughie.

And with a tank of gas running over 40 bucks for a normal car, it almost negates the savings if you have to drive a considerable distance as well as if you weren't going to buy anything in the first place.

And if you're me, it would be a minimum 30 miles roundtrip to get to a "real" computer store.

Serendipitous wrote:
Pineview Style wrote:
SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:And really -- it IS only a few bucks. For instance, if you buy a $600 computer package that is deemed OK for the tax break, you get a break of $42 or so. Enough to buy a meal for 2 at a decent restaurant, but worth the hassle of fighting Christmas-like crowds? That's a toughie.

And with a tank of gas running over 40 bucks for a normal car, it almost negates the savings if you have to drive a considerable distance as well as if you weren't going to buy anything in the first place.

And if you're me, it would be a minimum 30 miles roundtrip to get to a "real" computer store.

So frak it, it's settled! We're all staying home and drinking! :mrgreen:

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Sanjuro wrote:So (expletive) it, it's settled! We're all staying home and drinking!

I think that'll be the perfect plan for tonight at least. I need a lot of liquid comfort I think. :cry:

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:
Sanjuro wrote:So (expletive) it, it's settled! We're all staying home and drinking!

I think that'll be the perfect plan for tonight at least. I need a lot of liquid comfort I think.

Works for me! :mrgreen:

Sanjuro wrote:So (expletive) it, it's settled! We're all staying home and drinking!

Staying home???
Get a designated driver and let's go SHOPPING!!! :mrgreen:

Think about it... aisle hockey at Target or Wal-mart! :twisted:

Serendipitous wrote:
Sanjuro wrote:So (expletive) it, it's settled! We're all staying home and drinking!

Staying home???
Get a designated driver and let's go SHOPPING!!!

Think about it... aisle hockey at Target or Wal-mart!

Well that might work well for the well-to-do rich britches such as yourself.... :lol:

Sanjuro wrote:
Serendipitous wrote:
Sanjuro wrote:So (expletive) it, it's settled! We're all staying home and drinking!

Staying home???
Get a designated driver and let's go SHOPPING!!!

Think about it... aisle hockey at Target or Wal-mart!

Well that might work well for the well-to-do rich britches such as yourself....

Going shopping doesn't necessarily mean BUYING anything!

I'd have fun getting in the way of folks trying to get bargains. Better yet, if there will be more shoppers, it might be fun to hit a few things on the 101 Fun Things to Do at Wal-mart list.

Commendeering the Wal-Mart intercom is more fun:

You can use the intercom from any one of the many telephones Wal-Mart provides around the sales floor. Even better, we know the code! Here is how you use the intercom at Wal-Mart:

• Pick up the phone
• Dial #96

You're now on the store intercom!

The proper way to use the store intercom, I mean, apart from the fact it is only supposed to be used by Wal-Mart employees, is to declare the code and the location. For instance, "Code White in Automotive". Here are a few helpful things you can do with the Intercom.

Intercom Codes:

INTERCOM HOLD: Sometimes silence is golden. So if you pick up the phone, dial #96 and then hit hold, nobody can use the intercom until they figure out which phone is on hold.

CODE 1: This code is used for SHOPLIFTING!

CODE 10: Dry Spill.

CODE 20: Wet Spill.

CODE 90: Management Needed. That sounds useless.

CODE 99: This code implies that there is an emergency and all male employees are to immediately stop what they are doing and move to the announced location.

CODE 300: Security Needed. For grins, call Code 300 to the location you are currently at.

CODE ADAM: Code Adam is used to report a lost child. Technically, the store is supposed to shut all doors until the lost child is found. This sounds like fun until you realize that you are going to be trapped in a Wal-Mart for hours while they attempt to locate a missing child.

CODE BLACK: This code is used for severe weather. It's only used if something severe is happening such as tornadoes are bearing down on the store. All employees are supposed to immediately head to the fitting rooms at the center of the store. Wal-Mart doesn't like to use this code because it quite frankly, when the employees all leave, it leads to looting.

CODE BLUE A bomb scare.

CODE C: Customer service. A customer needs help in a location like housewares.

CODE GREEN: This code is used when there is a hostage in the store. Ask yourself, do you really want to shop at a store that needs to have a special code for a hostage situation?

CODE ORANGE: This is for a chemical spill. Water is a chemical.

CODE RED: This is used in case of a fire!

CODE WHITE: is used for an injury.

Liv wrote:Commendeering the Wal-Mart intercom is more fun:

Oh the things you could say ... :twisted:

Attention Wal Mart Shoppers this is God. Today all my blessed children are encourage to purchase Jalapeno peppers covered in Salmonella.

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:And really -- it IS only a few bucks. For instance, if you buy a $600 computer package that is deemed OK for the tax break, you get a break of $42 or so. Enough to buy a meal for 2 at a decent restaurant, but worth the hassle of fighting Christmas-like crowds? That's a toughie.

Not to me. But some people don't need much of an excuse to shop anyway.

Hey, doesn't apply to booze, does it? :wink:

I might be willing to fight the crowds at the ABC store.

So did anyone brave this? I stayed in and watched old episodes of Doctor Who, and when I did venture out it was where no one else would be (stayed faaar away from Wendover)!

I went to Costco to buy some groceries Sunday. It was a little crowded, but not oppressively so. The Apple Store at Southpoint was a bit busier than usual Saturday, but that's all I noticed. Didn't get into Best Buy or anything like that.