It's a sight we have come accustomed to this time of the year. Florida residents stocking up and taking advantage of the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Items purchased this time of year include batteries, flashlights, and carbon monoxide detectors.

"I think it's great!" said Mike Spradlin of Fort Myers.

Spradlin plans a week-long savings bonanza before the tax holiday ends.

"It's the one time of the year when you can really take advantage," said Spradlin.

While there are many residents taking advantage of the tax exempt holiday that runs through June 12, there may be stores that you frequent that might be taking advantage of you.

The Valero gas station on Martin Luther King Boulevard and Evans Avenue did not honor the tax free holiday. WINK News purchased AAA batteries and D cell batteries, which should be tax exempt. We asked for the manager who was not in on Sunday. We did not hear from her in time for our Sunday 11PM broadcast.

WINK News also went into the Shell gas station on Palm Beach Boulevard and purchased a pack of C and AA cell batteries. The grand total was $7.29, including tax of $.42. The manager was not there so WINK News got the manager on the phone who goes by the name "Tom". He explained it is very difficult to program the tax exempt items in his registers and only he knows how to make the change. He apologized for not exempting the items and promised to fix it by Monday.

"That's pretty tacky frankly," said Spradlin.

Spradlin says it is unpatriotic that some businesses are not complying with the state law. Spradlin's advice to shoppers this time of the year is to take a good look at your receipts.

If a person finds a business that is not honoring the tax free holiday rules, customers can contact the Florida Department of Revenue in one of two ways.

Call 1-800-352-3671 or file a complaint at this link below: