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The Benefits of Shopping at Outlet Malls

by San Diego Bargain Mama

What We Can Expect

Brand name and designer merchandise, a festive kid-friendly ambience, noteworthy customer service, and a fun get-away location - what more could you want from a successful shopping experience?  Saving extra cash while buying valuable merchandise is a huge incentive!  With a little research online and in the retail stores bargain hunters can obtain some great finds at shopping outlets and save between 25% -65%. 

When we shop "outlets", we are patronizing manufacturer-owned stores where the merchandise sold is no longer merely a means to clear out excess inventory, but also the manufacturer's opportunity to provide an alternate channel of distribution.  In other words, the same items are sold simultaneously at certain retail stores, but at the outlets for a fraction of the price.  Selling at outlets has grown to become another very viable alternative for manufacturers to tap into the market.  Case and point: Barneys New York Outlet carries classic pieces from Marc Jacobs and Armani that concurrently are in other chains and boutiques for much more!  Neiman Marcus Last Call also caries a large collection of designer and name brands including Juicy Couture, Rebecca Taylor, Theory and more at savings of 25 -- 65 % everyday.

Having to sift through irregulars and outdated apparel in the hope of finding some great bargains is basically a thing of the past.  Outlet shopping has become a refreshingly new experience over the years, and the stores have evolved into centers of profit more so than ever before.  Shoppers do encounter merchandise that was transferred from other stores or overstocks from last year's lines to lines released just a few months prior.  A set amount of merchandise is created specifically for the outlets, themselves, which gives shoppers their favorite brands that are more affordable than the higher end lines or products.  Whatever the case, the merchandise is still up--to-date and of high quality.

Is It Always a Deal? 

Some of the stores in the "outlet malls" or "factory outlets" are independently owned stores that do not carry the manufacturer's products, but are long-time tenants who want to offer the public quality merchandise at affordable prices.  An example is Learning Express Toys, which carries hundreds of name brand toys and games at a lower retail price than many toy stores.  There, you will also find higher quality merchandise and superior customer service.  Join their mailing lists and you will be sent coupons and be notified of sales.  Also, ask if the stores have membership cards that give you a free gift if you purchase a certain amount of products or spend a certain amount of money.

Stores at outlets, for the most part, are clear out merchandise, providing the means for fashion conscious and brand name seeking shoppers to find great deals without having to chase the touch-and-go sales at the higher-end retail stores.  The best bargains, however, are the items that are concurrently being sold at retail stores, and were overstocked or under-sold in a specific geographic location. The shopping experience can be a shopper's delight for some, but to those who do not know going retail prices, it might seem like the mall experience revisited.

Quality of Merchandise 

Many shoppers do not mind the compromises they make when they weigh the savings and quality for their favorite brands and styles.  Outlet-goers are more than happy to overlook the reality that, at times, the design, fabric grade, attention to detail, and the fashion style can be somewhat of a lesser quality than the more top-of-the-line versions (of similar design and style) available in their retail store equivalents.  Analogous to the Vera Wang line now sold at Kohl’s (previously not too accessible to mainstream women on a major budget) is the casual, yet elegant, apparel from the outlet's Banana Republic Factory Store and the comfortable, practical clothes from Gap Outlet.  The lines are manufactured specifically to be sold to the outlet clientele who want value, but are perfectly content to forgo the higher-end signature line in lieu of getting significant savings.  In other words, they are not purchasing overstocks, nor discontinued merchandise, but rather alternatives to higher-end lines manufactured under the same name. Sometimes the lines are newly released but are based on the previous year's fashion trends.  Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Eddie Bauer, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Tommy Hilfiger, and other manufacturers have been known to slightly change their regular-store apparel manufactured solely for outlet stores.

Families are finding that the benefits far outweigh the added expenses required to dress their families in expensive name brand clothing that kids will likely outgrow.  Also noteworthy is that some of the best deals are the latest released lines that for various reasons did not move rapidly in the retail store, but are sent directly to the clearance section of the outlet store.  Clearance items at Coach, for example, often show a greater percentage off the ticket price (up to 40%) than the sale price than on the remainder of the storewide merchandise. In actuality, these are the most recently released lines showcased in the outlet store! These items are transfers, or merchandise that is either overstocked or needs to move to make room for new lines in the non-outlet stores; they become the clearance items.  Sometimes the bags might have minute stitching flaws or irregularities as trivial as a small leather tag missing from the little chain tag; at 50% off, this item might just be worth overlooking the flaw!  If you can snag the Legacy line bags at Coach, you’d be smart to do it.  At that discounted price, if you blink they'll likely be gone.  Why?  The Legacy bags can also be found at other non-outlet boutiques with higher ticket prices, so they'll be gone very quickly!  Ask the store employees which select items in the stores are currently recent releases in the high-end shopping malls, and become informed! If there is a regional trend, the advantage once again, goes to the outlet-savvy customer!

One of the top-rated purchases made by outlet shoppers are kitchen goods.  Crate and Barrel Outlet Store has a plethora of items such as kitchenware, household furnishings, candle-holders, and frames,that over the period of a season have been replaced with a more "updated" look.  The change in design in some of these items is slight. Once again, the quality of merchandise might be more important that obtaining the most updated versions of products.

And lastly, sold right along with current items, are the cherished Disney outlet clearance items (at 40% off retail prices) are direct arrivals from the mall retail stores.  Disney's up-to-date merchandise sales are very much seasonally based and market-driven, but we all know that the merchandise moves to just be replaced with a different version of the same theme!  Character-product marketing corresponds with the movie and music releases, so being a few months behind in purchasing the DVD's or CD's actually pays off well for parents who are not pressed to be on the waiting list for new releases!  Purchasing items such as towel sets, costumes, and stuffed animals when they are being cleared out is prime time for parents to stock up with quality gifts for the upcoming year.  The safest bet in this scenario is to stick with classic characters, rather than those from the latest hot movie releases. Minnie and Mickey still have yet to go out of style!

When is shopping the outlets most beneficial? 

The optimum time to shop is during typical working hours on the weekdays.  The holidays always offer noteworthy savings on top of savings, so be sure to check the outlet's website to have some time to plot out your day.  Check out the Sales & Events link, too, as you might just want to plan your experience around some form of entertainment or free activity for the kids.  In some outlets, on particular days, shoppers who are 50 years old or older and show their ID's will benefit from an additional discount.  Black Friday shoppers have been known to start waiting in line at their favorite stores as early as 10 p.m. (before "Midnight Madness") as to have the first pickin's of the deep discounts.  Sales events that offer gift certificates to the first batch of arrivals are also incentives to bring in the crowds.

Knowledge is Power -- Tips to Saving Even More! 

Take advantage of your favorite outlet's website and inquire about their VIP programs, online coupon printouts (exclusively available online), and other ways to get special discounts.  It is always smart to just check in at the Customer Service Office of the outlet, anyway, as you will often find coupons and upcoming events, and other offers for discounts in the community. Check if the outlets have a senior discount day.

Inquire about the stores' return policies. Certain stores have a no-return policy, while others accept returns within 24 hrs. Some stores will honor your discount if you return next day with a coupon in hand and your receipt.  To some, a return visit for a thirty-dollar refund is well worth the trip back, but it is better to go prepared, and to have researched opportunities for extra savings!

True bargain hunters who get to know the managers of their favorite stores have definite perks.  Often, they will personally call you when what you requested comes in. Some stores often can not predict when they are going to have a big sale, while others might be able to help guide you better.  Just ask.  Also, managers are often able to tell you which nights they regularly stock the shelves with new merchandise for the store.  A very smart idea is to contact your favorite store's manager and take advantage of this perk!

In conclusion, the outlet venue has become a real win-win experience between the sellers and shoppers, and continues to evolve as a viable alternative to shopping at high-end stores.  If you know your prices, and can confidently discern great value with ease, then you will be educated and ready to scoop up fashionable, functional, and fun finds -- for less!