I’ve been scouring the interwebs, ya know, doing my “research” (read: drooling over overpriced shiny things) and I haven’t exactly stumbled upon a “TAX-FREE BALENCIAGA JEWELRY SUPER SALE!!!” flashing neon sign. BUT, hold on a sec, don’t despair just yet.
We gotta think *outside* the box, people. Think *circumventing* the system… legally, of course. Mostly.
Okay, so, first of all, that Bloomingdale’s ad mentions free shipping and free returns for Loyallists or orders over $150. While it doesn’t explicitly say “tax-free,” sometimes, *sometimes*, when you buy online from a retailer in a state with no sales tax (like, um, I dunno, maybe Delaware?), and you live in a state that DOES have sales tax, you might, just *might*, get away with not paying sales tax. It’s a gamble, I admit. But worth a shot, right? Especially if you’re talking about dropping serious cash on, like, a Balenciaga chain bracelet.
Then there’s the whole “free shipping and returns” thing at Saks. Okay, again, no guarantee of tax-free, but at least you can try something on, decide it looks like a dog’s breakfast on you (which, let’s be real, sometimes happens even with designer stuff), and send it back without losing your shirt. Less financial pain, ya know? Think of it as a roundabout way of saving money – money you *would* have wasted on something fugly.
And Lyst.com? 489 items on sale? That’s a lot of Balenciaga! Might be worth digging through that pile of stuff. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a discounted piece that, even *with* tax, is still cheaper than buying it full price elsewhere. It’s the thrill of the hunt, people!
Honestly, though, my personal opinion? “Tax-free Balenciaga” is probably more of a marketing ploy or a lucky coincidence than an actual, readily available thing. But hey, a girl can dream, right? And if you’re really, *really* dedicated to avoiding taxes (again, legally!), maybe consider a trip to a state with no sales tax and hit up a Balenciaga boutique there. It’s a vacation *and* a tax write-off! (Okay, maybe not a *real* tax write-off, but let’s just pretend.)