I love to shop for good deals and, in fact, an outlet mall is coming soon to my area. What are some bargains I can swing at the outlet stores and what "deals" should I avoid? – Susannah Saver
Dear Ms. Saver: Lucky you to have such a wide variety of sales close by – if you 1) make sure you can pay off your charge card at the end of the month and 2) be certain the merchandise is a true steal. AARP, which is such a great resource for many ages, explains what to expect when "treasure" hunting.
Just because a brand is located in an outlet center doesn't mean we're getting the largest discount. In fact, a lot of goods are sold only in outlet stores and not in other specialty or department stores, because the former isn't necessarily the same quality. Customers should carefully check out each item before purchasing; is the broken zipper on that otherwise-lovely sweater inexpensively mendable or would you pay enough for alterations to counter buying a first quality elsewhere? (Assuming you can repair yourself, including missing buttons and the like, ask the manager – not the salesperson - for a discount. You'll usually be surprised!) And what about the microwave in its ripped box? Are you sure it's not a re-stock or even damaged? If only a couple of dings and you're buying for your own home, the cosmetics probably don't matter; just ensure you can return the product if not satisfied.
Unfortunately, too many outlet stores tend to overprice their stock and, as a matter of fact, investigations have proven in many cases that the "original" prices are fictitious to begin with. By pricing the ticket higher, we often believe the item is of better quality and increases the likelihood we'll open up our wallets. Lisa Lee Freeman, the author of the article I'm referencing, has great advice: when deciding if the purchase should, indeed, be purchased, she searches Amazon and eBay on her smartphone to compare prices.
Check for extra-discounted prices at Tanger and Simon, among other big outlet malls, that offer such shopping aids as a coupon book. At the very least, the stores offer a 10 percent reduction and even more in many instances. (A Tanger mall is close to us in Calhoun, GA and presents a smorgasbord of big names, such as Ann Taylor, Coach, Kate Spade, Gap, and Cole Haan; less expensive brands include Sketchers, Famous Footwear, Dressbarn, Marshall's, and Old Navy, among others.)
Be sure to shop during end-of-season sales. The truly discounted items can mean huge savings at these big events. Truth in Advertising found that markdowns on what they tracked ranged from 12 to 75 percent off, depending on when their investigated/shopped.
Ask about individual stores' return policies, just as you would with "regular" stores. Additionally, some sales may be final, and you could be stuck with a not-so-good buy. If you're told the purchase may be returned, carefully look over your receipt to ensure that info is printed right there. Eyes are often much better indicators than ears when deciding if money is well-spent.
P.S. A diligent reader sent in some valuable info about library cards in Catoosa County (per the Sept. 8th column). The Georgia PINES system offers free library cards to any Georgia resident who has the same such card in a nearby county; moreover, workers in Georgia may get a card, by providing proof of employment. For non-residents, the charge is $25. Good deal!
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.