Outlet Mall Shopping-Successes and Failures

[pretty cheap jewelry]

Shopped at the outlet mall today- a rare event. But I often forget how good some of the prices really are.

SUCCESS!
Instead of running around to buy bras, I have gone to the Maidenform outlet once the past couple years and just stocked up. Today they were 5 for $12. YES you read that right. (OK now I may be smaller than some of you, but many were priced at $10 ea.)

Then to the Hanes outlet for sports bras, which were buy one get one 1/2. I got 4 for a total of about $58.

That makes 9 bras = $70 which will take me 2 years to wear out.

(No more running around to Kmart, JC Penny, getting one here and there)

FAILURE!
My favorite kind of store is one going out of business, at the outlet mall no less! There it was; everything 70% off whatever the lowest price marked. OK found a great summer shirt $3.50, capri jeans for summer $3.00 and sandals $1.50.

Got in line with the fifty other bargain lovers and waited almost an hour because it was so slow. I was forced to bail because of an appointment that couldn't be delayed that was impending. (I even called while I was in the line). Oh well...easy come, easy go.

[shelbylovesmelby]

We only do well with things @ outlet malls if we came there for a specific store. I like going to the corning store, hard to find things other than dishes @ local stores by them. Beyond that I love looking @ the kids clothes but alot of times they are priced no differant then if kohls is having a "deep disc" sale on Carters or Oshkosh so not worth the drive IMO. I do way better @ rummage sales for their brand name things.

[crabbypatty]

The only stores I consider real outlets are the ones attached to the factory (and there are still some left). Most of the other ones are stores that make a particular line of lesser quality goods specifically for the outlet. Bottom line for me is that if it looks like a mall, it's probably not a real outlet store.

But this may be different in other area's?

[MonkeyMama]

Outlets are such a joke in California.

I have been to the outlets in Utah - now those are Outlets. Everything is pennies on the dollar.

California outlets - they shave off 5% and call it an outlet. LOL. There are deals to be found, but usually nothing you couldn't find at a department store if you are a good shopper.

Really depends on the area. Sounds like Californians are easily fooled so they don't make it very worthwhile - hehe.

Your deals don't sound bad though - which outlet was this (you are in Cali right?)

[pretty cheap jewelry]

This was the Camarillo Outlets (north of LA, south of Ventura).

I'm so mad at Kohls Last time they had '40% off' kids jeans the price was still almost $25! I'm not going there again for at least a year. Probably two.

The Gap outlet was very good. Lightweight leftover sweaters were $9-$12. Long sleeve tops were around $6-9. I'm going to try them for kids jeans next.

I tend to try to buy off season, for sure for myself. It is harder for the kids.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Kohls prices are why unless I need a specific item they would probably carry I don't shop there. Their mark up is out ragious! But somehow people are fool enough to pay premium prices for their store brands like Sonoma wich usually aren't much better than than the disc big box stores KWIM? But when I was @ the Carters outlet unless it was stamped an irregular they wanted $8 a sleeper still!! When again I can find it for less even going to TJ Maxx & save some gas driving to IL in the process.

The only outlet attached to the mfg facility up here is Jelly Belly.

[shelbylovesmelby]

Kohls prices are why unless I need a specific item they would probably carry I don't shop there. Their mark up is out ragious! But somehow people are fool enough to pay premium prices for their store brands like Sonoma wich usually aren't much better than than the disc big box stores KWIM? But when I was @ the Carters outlet unless it was stamped an irregular they wanted $8 a sleeper still!! When again I can find it for less even going to TJ Maxx & save some gas driving to IL in the process.

The only outlet attached to the mfg facility up here is Jelly Belly.

JC penny's has an ok outlet up here, but again alot of it is @ TJ Maxx prices anyways plus the JC Penny's outlet is in a borderline "hood" area & we only go there once every few years.

Sears also has a scratch'n dent outlet again it's in a borderline hood area as well. But most of the items they have are large items like appliances & fitness equipment.

[shelbylovesmelby]

OOPS sorry bout the double post... strange

[fairy74]

Another good outlet in California is the Citadel outlet right outside LA. The Old Navy outlet there has terrific, terrific deals (shirts for 2.50, skirts for 4.00), there are some surf outlets that carry brand name tennis shoes and polo shirts at 70-90%, the Eddie Bauer outlet had tank tops for 2.50 (nice ones), leather sandals for 3.75 and lots of other good stuff under 5.00. They also have an OshKosh, Kids superstore and Carters that have incredible deals. There are some stores there that are way overpriced (BCBG, Guess) but overall every store there has an excellent selection and huge clearance sales on a monthly basis. Outlet shopping is like anything else, you have to really look and if it's too expensive just go to another store.

[Daylily]

Wait, is someone saying there is a Kohl's outlet? I've never heard of a Kohl's outlet before. I'm surprised by the negative responses about Kohl's. I shop their clearance sales and clean up. When the clearance gets to 50% off the lowest marked price, I can get things for a couple of dollars including professional/office clothing. The Kohl's clearance is probably the reason that I don't spend much time going to the thrift stores any more.

[pretty cheap jewelry]

No there is not a Kohl's outlet. I just needed to rant on them a little...
You're having good luck with adult stuff, but the kids stuff stinks.

[fairy74]

Originally Posted by pretty cheap jewelry

No there is not a Kohl's outlet. I just needed to rant on them a little...
You're having good luck with adult stuff, but the kids stuff stinks.

agree totally! We never have problems finding good clearance stuff for DH there but everything else is massively overpiced

[bigsaver]

Usually, the things I want are never on sale at an outlet. I've noticed that the outlet stores like polo carry different stuff than what is on sale at the regular store in the mall.