This is all about how to find the best bargains at "off-price" stores.
A few things to keep in mind before you walk in to one of these stores:
1.Don't be too specific- Sometimes we walk in knowing exactly what we are looking for, but at places like this, you will have a much better time if you go just enjoying yourself and hopefully find a few things that are a great price. If you have this one particular thing in a particular color that you want...you may not find it.
2. The stores do not look fancy- Part of the way you get such a big discount is that they cut down on unnecessary decorations to make the store look "cool". Sometimes (more with stores at the bottom of the list), they may even start to look a little cluttered or disorganized. Most of the time, it's not a big deal, but just don't have the expectation that you will walk into a store that looks like the loft, or you will be highly disappointed. The reason The Loft looks so beautiful is so they can draw your attention to the fun posters and models, and away from the fact that they are charging you way to much for your clothes. Keep that in mind, and keep your expectations realistic. The prices at these stores speak for themselves.
3. Be picky about how much you buy- I will say it from experience. It is easy to walk into a store like this, and because you can afford most everything, you want to buy all of it. Not a good idea. I find that buying a few things that I really really like is much better in the long run that buying a ton of things that looked awesome at the time but you don't end up using them. A good rule to follow: only get things that are actually filling a hole in a need that you already have. Getting things you have never thought about before means you haven't needed them yet, and you probably won't in the future.
Although finding clearance at almost any store is always an option, if you want to be sure that everything in the whole store is at least 20-60% off, the best way to shop is at the stores that buy new things from other stores and mark them way down (off-price). These are the nation-wide off-price stores I know of in no particular order, but please comment and share your own!
Big Lots
Ross
Marhalls
Tuesday Morning
Home Goods
TJ Maxx
MYTH: Merchandise at off-price stores is either from last season, or has something seriously wrong with it.
REALITY: After shopping at these stores for over 15 years, I have rarely come across anything that has a huge defect. Once you understand where these stores get their merchandise from and why, you can put your skepticism to rest.
How and why most of these stores get their merchandise:
Most of the time, off-price stores get their merchandise because another store
(like Macy's for example) ordered too many of a particular item. They sell it to a store like TJ Maxx for a very reduced price, and that enables TJ Maxx to sell you the exact same product you see at Macy's for 20-60% off. More than once, I have had a friend bought something from a store at full price, and in the same season I will buy the same thing for 1/4 of what they paid. The look on their face when I tell them how much I paid is priceless. A few times I have purchased something full price myself, and then I saw it a few months later at an off-price store for a fraction of the price. Needless to say I was kicking myself that I didn't just wait a little bit.
Though the majority of the merchandise at stores like this comes from buying overstock, they do also buy merchandise that is from a previous season or has a small defect. Often times if there is a defect, they will take an additional % off of the price (see "Bargain Hunting like a pro: Part One- The Basics" for how to do this and to get the most off at retail stores).
The above stores vary in quality and style of merchandise they carry. I will give a description of each as well as where to go for what.
Home Goods
This is a store dedicated to "home goods". You won't find clothes here, but they have just about everything you could ever want for your home. Pots and pans, area rugs, bathroom accessories, and lighting of all shapes and sizes. Everything in their store is high quality, and in my opinion the best selection of home goods anywhere. I would recommend anything in this store. This is a really fun shopping experience. For the most part, the store is neatly kept,and even if you don't end up buying that much, it is so fun to look around and know that you could if you wanted to! NOTE: Many times, Home Goods and Marshall's will be right next to each other, or even connected!
TJ Maxx
This is most upscale of all the stores that carry clothing. You will find very expensive brands here, so overall the prices tend to be a little higher than Ross or Marshalls, but you are getting clothing and household items that cost a fortune at full price. There is even a section in some stores called "Runway at Maxx" that carries clothing from American and European designers. Basically everything in the this store is top of the line merchandise, and you can really get awesome clearance finds at the end of the season. I have noticed that there home goods department does NOT have the best selection.
Marshalls
This store is owned by the same company as home goods and TJ Maxx. This is a still very nice, and even more affordable version of TJ Maxx. This is personally my favorite store for clothes. Most of the brands are very well made, but you still walking away with a Nine West Dress for $20.00. They have a good selection of Home goods and accessories, but they are priced a little higher than other stores below mainly because they are nicer brands. They have a very organized shoe department, and overall this is your best bet for a store that has a good selection of clothing and home goods in the same place.
Ross
I'll cut to the chase on this one. Ross has the best selection and the best prices for accessories and home goods. They are nice quality, and I ALWAYS go here first for purses and shoes. In my experience, the adult clothing is NOT the best quality I will say that they do have a good selection of clothes for kids and teenagers who will be growing out of their clothes anyway. For adults however, if you want your clothes to last a long time, I would go to Marshall's instead. This store can be very disorganized at times and frustrating to shop in, but most of the time you walk away with such a sweet deal (a pair of really nice dress shoes for $15.00), and suddenly it was all worth it.
Tuesday Morning
This is store for knick knacks. Personally, I don't shop here much unless I need something that is not very "mainstream" in the above stores. (Ex: a portable dog house). If you need something like monogrammed napkins or a bird bath, this the the perfect place. The prices are moderate and sometimes more than I want to pay, but they are still much cheaper than full price, and it is honestly your best bet if you are looking for a strange item. As you have probably gathered, it is somewhat of a random store, but most of their merchandise is pretty nice, and I will say they have lots of "fun" things. Note: The isles are close together and most of the time they are pretty small, so a double-wide stroller is a no-go.
Big Lots
Big Lots is a good place if you need more than one of an item. Most of the places above won't have household goods in bulk or look like a normal store in that there is often only one or two of everything. Big lots almost looks like a glorified dollar general. They do carry furniture, accessories, household items, and even some groceries. There is a little bit of everything.It a way, it reminds me of a nicer, personal-sized, Wall-Mart.
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