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No tax-free school program, but suffering retailers offer sales

Tribune file photo by JIM REED (2003)

JCPenney, Bealls and other retailers have started offering what they call "Tax Relief" or "Tax Holiday" deals leading into August.

By RICHARD MULLINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 12, 2009

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TAMPA - Florida's state budget couldn't afford any tax-free weeks this year, an irony not lost on parents facing their own grim budgets.

No state-subsidized discounts for jeans or shoes. No artificial price cuts on plywood or batteries amid hurricane season.

Retailers starving for foot-traffic have their own ideas about that.

JCPenney, Bealls and other retailers have started offering what they call "Tax Relief" or "Tax Holiday" deals leading into August.

Essentially, they're offering a 6-to-10 percent discount off the price, depending on the retailer, a price cut that probably won't shock shoppers who barely turn an eye anymore unless it's a 50-percent sale or BOGO.

And there are plenty of those deals out there lately. A rough sampling of big-name retailers:

Old Navy now offers 20 percent off any online purchase over $100.

Sears offers 50 percent off school uniforms and 50 percent off backpacks, with other discounts on items such as underwear and socks for kids. Macy's now offers up to 50 percent discounts on kids clothing and buy two/get-one-free uniforms. Scores of online retailers now offer free shipping on purchases as little as $50.

The office supply stores are into the fad too, Staples offers 1-cent notebooks, $1 bricks of printer paper and $5 coupons on anything else in the store

Office Depot offers a free backpack with any $10 in-store purchase, and a free Papa John's Pizza for some orders.

As for "tax-free" discounts, there's a catch as well. At the checkout line, retailers will start with the discounted price, then add tax to the total.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919.

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