Any Mass. DISers take advantage of the "No Tax" Holiday 8/14/04?

[Pooh's Pal]

Just wondering if any Massachusetts DISers out there took advantage of the no-tax holiday today? The store were nuts! DD's friend said her and her mom were in Best Buy for 3 hours buying a computer.
We did a lot of "dorm" shopping today....all the usual taxable items...linens, phone, TV/DVD, basically anything that wasn't edible or wearable & under $2500.00!! We saved a few bucks too!

What about you? Anyone from CT or RI venture over to MA. today? I know those in NH reap from this benefit everyday...lucky you!

About the tax holiday: the sales tax holiday will occur on August 14, 2004 and on that day, all non-business sales at retail of single items of tangible personal property costing $2,500 or less are exempt from sales and use taxes. However, under that Act all sales of motor vehicles, boats, meals, telecommunications services, gas, steam, electricity, and of any single item whose price is in excess of $2,500, do not qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption and remain subject to tax.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Am in the process of doing over bathroom and meant to get out to Loew's to buy fixtures but never made it. Oh well... Glad you got some good deals!

 

[LadyBears]

Yup! We bought a new card for the digital camera for the upcoming trip , party supplies for the luau/pig roast next weekend (grass skirts & stuff), back to school sneakers for DD. Just lots of "little" things.

 

[kasar]

We bought a surround sound system that we've had our eye on for awhile. (and a new TV that wasn't part of the plan, oops!). Ladies, do NOT let your men go to the Bose store at the Natick Jordan's Furniture store without supervision! LOL.

 

[Virgo10]

I had another yard sale yesterday and I didn't charge any sale's tax. Does that count??

Roberta

 

[antkim]

Dh bought 4 new tires for his car!!

 

[Tiffany]

We did. We were planning on buying a tablet PC anyway so I we went to Costco yesterday and bought it instead of waiting for another day.

Costco has the new Averatec Tablet PC for $1279.00.

 

[tidoublegger]

Originally posted by kasar
We bought a surround sound system that we've had our eye on for awhile. (and a new TV that wasn't part of the plan, oops!). Ladies, do NOT let your men go to the Bose store at the Natick Jordan's Furniture store without supervision! LOL.

LOL! We were at Panera Bread in Framingham last night and almost went over there to poke around, but went to the movies instead! Good thing~ I don't even want to know how much that cost you!! We went into that section one night, and trying to get dh out of there was like trying to get a kid out of a toy store! LOL!

We didn't take advantage of the tax-free day. We aren't really in the market for any big ticket items right now. I returned something at Walmart though and saw people leaving with tv's galore!

 

[jipsy]

No, we spent the day in Vermont LOL.

 

[CamColt]

Nothing major, but I did buy a new Mickey watch(I lost mine on our last trip) and made a trip to CVS for stuff for our upcoming trip. I saved a few bucks, but I actually saved more with the sales and the coupon I had for Sears. The Mickey watch was originally 50.00 and I got it for $28.30.

 

[zippeedee]

I'd been thinking about replacing my four year old Ibook, and couldn't pass up the chance to buy it locally and not pay the tax. I was one of about 15 lunatics waiting for the Apple store at Northshore Mall to open at midnight.

I didn't want to risk them running out of the one I wanted, and it was a little adventure to walk through the dark, empty mall. Of course, my dear roommate couldn't resist a Dawn of the Dead reference, but at least he came along so I wouldn't have to carry my very expensive bag of stuff through the dark, deserted parking lot at 12:30 by myself.

There is a $99 rebate if you buy an HP printer along with the computer. I got a printer/scanner/copier for $30 after the rebate, and saved the tax!

 

[OhMari]

Wisconsin would have a fatal heart attack if it gave us one day of no sales tax.

 

[Pooh's Pal]

Glad to see some took advantage of the savings, especially with the "big ticket" items. We bought a 20in.TV with DVC/VCR...on sale from $240.00 to $200.00 and saved the tax too.

I just heard on the news that other states have had and/or will have their day! Listed below

State--- Sales tax -- 2004 tax-free dates ---Tax-exempt items

Connecticut(1) 6% Aug. 15-21 Clothing and footwear

District of Columbia(2) 5.75% Aug. 7-15
Clothing, shoes, accessories and school supplies

Florida
6% July 24 - Aug. 1 Clothing, books and school supplies

Georgia
4% July 29 - Aug. 1
Clothing, school supplies, computers and computer accessories

Iowa
5% Aug. 6-7 Clothing and footwear

Massachusetts
5% Aug. 14 All retail items

Missouri
4.225% Aug. 13-15 Clothing, school supplies and computers

New York
4.25% Aug. 31 - Sept. 6 Clothing and footwear

North Carolina
4.5% Aug. 6-8 Clothing, school supplies, sports and recreation equipment and computers

South Carolina
5% Aug. 6-8 Clothing, school supplies and computers

Texas
6.25% Aug. 6-8 Clothing and footwear

Vermont(3) 6% Aug. 7-9 Computers and computer components

West Virginia
6% Aug. 6-8 Clothing, footwear, school supplies and computers

(1) Connecticut's tax-exemption period recurs annually until repealed by the state legislature; this general notice includes announcement of the 2004 period. Guidelines for this year's holiday are identical to last year's rules.
(2) In addition, Washington, D.C., will hold a second sales tax holiday beginning the weekend following Thanksgiving, Nov. 26 through Dec. 5.
Vermont will hold a second tax-free shopping period for computers on Oct. 9-11

Sorry OMari!

 

[Randi]

Sure did! Been needing a new mattress set for ages. The chance to save on tax was the motivation to get me to the store. Then the store was giving 5% off yesterday on top of no tax, so I am happy with my purchase. The stores sure were crowded!

 

[KingsFanInRI]

We were anticipating a busy day at work, but since cars were not part of the exemption people must have thought that car parts were not exempt either. We actually had a rather slow day.

DW tried to go to the Lowe's in Attleboro to buy our new carpet and have them hold it until next week when I could pick it up, but they told her that they would not do it and that she would have to take the carpet same-day. So basically they refused service to her because they did not want to set the carpet aside.
Near as I could figure by reading the guidelines it would qualify as a layaway AND be tax-exempt because it would be paid in full on 8-14.
I believe that Lowe's was in the wrong in this, and coupled with some other recent troubles we had at another Lowe's I think we are about to become loyal Home Depot customers.