Five Ways to Shop Smart and Save Money at Outlet Stores

It’s a common misconception that outlet stores sell items that are discounted and sent in from regular department and designer stores. It’s not the truth. In fact, sometimes the ‘deal’ you’re getting at an outlet store is anything but. Sometimes it’s not a deal; sometimes you’re tricked into paying for something you think is a steal when it’s really an overpriced item that was designed specifically for an outlet store and not for a retail store. So how do you go about saving money at the outlet stores of the world if you’re not even sure how to do it? It’s not as difficult as you might think or as we might be making it sound, but we do think that you can save a lot of money by knowing a few tips and tricks that you can apply prior to shopping the outlets. Let’s face it; outlet shopping is fun. You get a lot of stuff for very little money. Let’s just make sure the deals you’re getting are good ones.

Compare Prices

If you’re looking to go into a Tommy Hilfiger outlet and shop for polos, check the prices there versus your favorite department stores. You might find that they are not all that different, or that the goods are not quite the same.

Check the Goods

Some items are not made for regular designer stores. You should be very careful about this in stores such as Coach and Michael Kors. If you want a really good deal, find a bag that you can find online at the designer or in department stores. Otherwise, it’s a bag designed specifically for the outlet and not necessarily a good deal.

Try Things On

Outlet items are sometimes not fitted and labeled correctly, so try them on beforehand. You want to make sure what you’re getting can be worn or it certainly is not worth the price in any way.

Look for Coupons

Coupons for outlets are possible to find, you just have to know where to look. Try the main desk at the outlet mall, the local paper and even online for these deals. They can make steals even more unbeatable.

Always Check for Return Policies

The worst thing about shopping the outlets is that many of the things you will find here are not returnable. This means that if they don’t fit or they are flawed, you cannot bring them back. Check first and make sure you really want to purchase something that can’t be brought back and returned.

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