The sales tax holiday (login) is approaching, and as someone who currently (though not for much longer) works in retail, I can assure you it is absolutely not worth the crowds you will encounter. My store (which sells electronics) plans to work all its employees to the bone, with 12-hour shifts and few breaks, and it still won’t be enough to account for the bargain-crazy crowds. Here’s a few reasons why you should find something else to do those days, at least when it comes to shopping in my store:
- You’ll wait a guaranteed 30-45 minutes in a greeting area just to have the pleasure of buying a computer package you could have bought for less with rebates the week before.
- You’ll be hard-sold on one of the prearranged packages just so our associates can get you in and out the door, regardless of whether that computer package suits your needs or not. Nobody gives a shit what you need, because if you don’t buy that computer, someone else will. Take it or leave it.
- If you’re lucky, there will be a rare package that actually is the same price it was the week before, and you’ll save a whopping $40-50 off a $1,500 purchase (the highest dollar amount you can spend and still be eligible for a tax exemption).
- You’ll have the pleasure of waiting at least another 30-45 minutes to pay for the package you’re saving little or no money on, and which probably doesn’t meet your exact need anyway.
- With how long you’ll have to wait just for that $50 savings, you’ll have to skip at least half a day of work, where you would have made at least $20.60 (given Georgia’s minimum wage of $5.15). For most people reading this, that missed wage will more likely approach or exceed the $50 you’d save on that laptop — if you were lucky.
In summary, the tax free holiday is a sham, and all stores partaking in it should be avoided during those days.
UPDATE: Oh, and if you REALLY need that $50 off, you can probably get it now anyway by saying, “well, I want to buy, but I’m waiting for the sales tax holiday.” If you’re persistent enough, you can get a manager to knock that dollar amount off ahead of the holiday since sales are destined to be slow the week before.
After my IKEA rant on Bloglanta, it got me thinking about the upside to having that store in the city limits. One percent of the sale goes toward fixing Atlanta’s sewers, and another percent goes toward MARTA. That’s something worth paying, if you ask me.
And you never have to travel OTP again!
Well Rusty, you have just convinced me not to buy a Mac.
You weren’t going to buy a Mac anyway, fibber.
Ha! I was too! Whenever my Compaq dies again, which you know will be soon. My warranty ended in April so there’s no point in me keeping it.
The OTP/ITP hateration is really getting old y’all. There’s glowinthedark minigolf at Discover Mills. I mean, hello . . .
Jen - I don’t understand how this convinced you not to buy a Mac.
Nikki - I was being facetious, of course. Hence the emoticon.
Amber - It didn’t. I just like to raise your hackles.
I’m with Nikki on being tired of the OTP-hating. I’ve spent quite a bit of time ITP the past few weeks, and it’s not like it’s all that great. This is my slogan:
How about a link to info about this Discovery Mills minigolf you speak of?
I thought we were going to Pirates Cove!!
You talkin’ to me? I told you, I was kidding. I just like to raise your hackles. (That is a great phrase, btw. I’m going to try to slip it into conversation as much as possible this week.)
We seriously need to go mini-golfing. There’s the pirate one by Gwinnett Place, and now I hear there’s glow-in-the-dark by Discovery Mills… how to choose??
Glow in the dark Mini-golf!?!?!? How the hell did I not hear of this sooner. Possibly man’s greatest invention.
I mentioned the Pirates Cove in an earlier comment, but “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” Damn! And I didn’t even use any swear words.
Hackles. Yeah, my Mom uses that phrase a lot in reference to the dogs.
I can’t actually find a link to it. Apparently they do not have a website, or I have poor google-fu. But, it’s like the minigolf equivalent of cosmic bowling. Ok, I found one weblisting: Moonlight Mini Golf. Alas it is not very informative.
I’m an OTP hater, even though I live there. And work there. Oh, how I wish I got into the city more.
I bought my current computer at the first sales tax holiday a few years ago. There really were good sales that year. Now you can only find really good deals the day after Thanksgiving.
Or online. I’m surprised anyone buys computers in real stores anymore.
I fucking HATE shopping in real stores. I have to be in a very specific mood to do it, or else I just feel like I want to stab myself and everyone else.
I agree. Oh yeah, I’m back.
Bully!
I know for a fact that the Best Buy in Edgewood will have a “flow” built into the plan… which will simulate the same format that Best Buy uses at Christmas. (creating a really long line that forces customers to go through washers, fridges, etc). Does that mean that sales tax is the new Jesus?