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News, Information and Ideas on how to deal with hearing loss in a hearing world. Plus a few other topics!
Holiday specials - Prices in Wisconsin are higher
Just a reminder for all of you Holiday shoppers out there. Starting Nov. 7th, stores like Wal-mart started advertising their specials for the Holiday season. If you are looking at the ads online, please keep in mind that the prices will be higher if you buy it in Wisconsin or for that matter, any other state that has the Minimum mark-up law.
We made the mistake of standing in line at the Mukwonago store last year (Black Firday) at 4am. At 7am, the manager came out to let all of those in line know that the laptop that was advertised at 298.00 was going to cost all of us 398.00 due to the laws in Wisconsin. Needless to say, all of us were very disappointed to find that we had been standing in line instead of sleeping to save a whopping $50.
So, if you are going to be heading out at midnight on the day after Thanksgiving this year, it would probably be a good idea to either call ahead to confirm the price or go online and bring up the 'local ad' for your area to see what the 'real' price is going to be. I went online this morning to view the local ad for our Wal-Mart here vs. one down in Illinois and there was a difference on the prices of $1 - $36.
This affects all stores in Wisconsin or any other state that has this law. It's the same mark-up law that affects our drug, gas, grocery, ect. prices. If you are lucky enough to live close to a bordering state that does not have this law, it may be worth your while to shop there instead if you are looking at buying quite a few things. I'm not sure how they price things if you buy them online. So, if anyone out there knows, please feel free to put that information in the comments section!
No wonder our businesses up here lose out to the Illinois ones during the Holiday season.
Tami: This is an issue that needs to be addressed by the legislature. The premise that brought the law into being, trying to prevent large chains from undercutting the pricing of the smaller "mom and pop" stores, was laudable, but failed to accomplish it's goal. The smaller local stores have all but disappeared even with this law. I don't know how the repeal of this law would affect businesses, but it sure would seem to help the consumer.
ref - a federal judge declared it unconstitutional a few months ago, but that is now being appealed. So, we continue to pay more. I'm not for all 'big box' stores, but if you look at the prices being charged in Wisc. (via the national ads/local ads), it sure does seem like we are paying more than most.
Have a great week!
Tami: But it was a limited decision. I believe it only affected fuel pricing. Speaking of fuel, and this has absolutely nothing to do with the post, but is simply a vent. Travelling yesterday, I got behind a convoy of three combines going down the road at 20 mph. I've had to follow tractors pulling various implements, all going less than 35 mph, quite often. Since these farm vehicles pay no highway use tax on the fuel they use, why are they allowed to use the highways for travel? There, I feel better.
ref - didn't know that! I'll see what I can find out.
Ref - Here you go. The actual form with explaination of those items that can be exempted. Quite a few items...
http://dor.state.wi.us/forms/sales/s-211.pdf
And here's the actual publication on it from the Wisc. Dept. of Revenue. Never realized how many things don't get taxed depending on how they are used here in the State. No wonder the rest of us end up paying for it. Good question Ref!
http://www.revenue.wi.gov/pubs/pb201.pdf
Have a great week!
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