Tips and Tricks to Scoring Outlet Mall Deals
Master the art of shopping at outlets
Outlet malls are not a modern day phenomena. Back in the Depression era, they were often located next to a retailer’s manufacturing facility and known as a factory store. Then, by the 1970s, outlet malls that contained a plethora of these types of stores were born, and shoppers began flocking in for bargains.
Seasoned shoppers know that outlet mall shopping has changed over the years. For instance, now much of the merchandise is made for the outlet store, and isn’t a factory second or overstock from the original store.
It’s important to know how to shop for bargains, and not buy something that’s lower quality than you expected.
Check the tags
Of course you look at price tags when shopping. But did you know that the price tags and sometimes the clothing tags will often tell you whether something was made for the outlet store or made for the original full-price store?
Here are some of the stores that make products specifically for their outlet stores, and what to look for on the price and/or clothing tags:
Coach – Look for an F at the beginning of the serial number on the price tag (as seen to the right). This stands for factory store and means that this is a product that was never meant to be sold in a full-price regular retail Coach store. These products often feature fewer high-end details than bags meant for full-priced stores. So while you’re scoring a great price, be aware that you’re not getting the same bag that you would if you shopped at the full-price Coach store.
Banana Republic - Anything that's made for the outlet store has three small diamonds on the clothing tag, below the standard Banana Republic logo.
Gap - On the back collar tag, there will be three small squares directly below the Gap name if it’s a factory outlet item.
J.Crew – There are two diamonds under the r on the J.Crew labels for the J.Crew Factory outlet.
Brooks Brothers - Merchandise from the Brooks Brothers outlet line is labeled as Brooks Brothers 346.
White House Black Market – The items made for the outlet store have a white clothing tag with black lettering, while the items made for the full-price retail store feature black clothing tags with white lettering.
Hugo Boss – Any suit with a fit known as Grand/Central listed on the tag is outlet specific.
Not everything is a bargain
Not all outlet stores are outlet stores. Sometimes they are just full-priced stores that are located within an outlet mall. There’s no set rule, but the retail industry generally agrees that a shopping center is an outlet mall if 50% of its stores are outlets. There’s no difference between the Harry & David store at your local mall versus the outlet mall, according to Consumer Reports.
And if a sign says 70% off retail price, if you’d have never paid the full retail price anyway, it’s not a bargain.
Disappointing for anyone who shops at Off 5th and thinks they're scoring fantastic deals from Saks Fifth Avenue is that executives from Off 5th told investors its products are 10% leftover Saks inventory, 25% private-label goods, and the rest is merchandise created for the stores by “brand-appropriate” vendors. While price tags on outlet goods may list a manufacturer-suggested retail price, that’s simply a suggested price and doesn’t mean it ever sold for that price at the store, according to BuzzFeed.
Tips to follow
David Zyla is an outlet mall expert and author of How to Win at Shopping, and he shared his best shopping tips with LadyLUX:
- Always get to outlet stores early. This is especially true during a sale. The earlier you arrive, the better chance you’ll have of finding that great deal. You can also usually get a great parking spot.
- Always park near the food court. This way, when you take a lunch break, you can put the morning’s purchases in the trunk and start fresh for the afternoon. You will be relieved to not have to schlep your bags anymore, which can give you a boost of energy for the rest of the day.
- Always go to the most popular stores first. By noon they will be very crowded, and you may even have to wait on line to get in. These may be the stores you were most looking forward to. Why ruin the experience by having to squeeze through a crowd, wait on line for a fitting room, and deal with messy racks and shelves?
- Sometimes there is quite a bit of travel time required to get to an outlet. Never feel that you need to justify the drive by returning with bags full of things that aren’t absolutely perfect for you. One great find is well worth the trip. Always remember to only buy something you absolutely have to have.
- Price tags are sometimes misleading. Unless clearly marked “original price,” items at a discount store may not ever have been offered at the amount listed. Sometimes retailers will claim that a particular price is the “discount” price when it’s really just the regular price of the item. It is also possible that the items were manufactured for the discount store. The tags could also say something vague like “offered elsewhere at . . .” However, none of these reasons should interfere with your decision making. It is best to remember that if the item suits you perfectly and the price is what you want to pay for it, then make it yours.
- Never pass by a rack of “factory seconds” without a quick glance. These are items that did not pass inspection, but their defects could be as minor as a slight snag hidden by a belt. It may be worth your while since the discounts are always deep.
- Consider outlet shopping during off-peak hours. It is easier to navigate an outlet when it is not crowded, you will always be able to cover more ground in less time, and you may also have the advantage of shopping freshly arrived merchandise. There will also be shorter lines, which can really speed you up. And there is no greater motivation than the idea of getting something as it hits the rack.
Do's and don'ts of outlet mall shopping
Andrea Woroch, a nationally-recognized money-saving expert and on-air news contributor, shared her do’s and don’ts for outlet shopping:
DO Know Before You Go—Prices on outlet items may not be as low as you expect since brand names are expensive at the get-go. According to a study from Cheapism.com, some items are offered at the full outlet price during the first week of being on the sales floor, and then quickly discounted to a lower rate at which it will stay until sold. Ultimately, the 30-percent savings you can usually find at outlet stores are a result of constant sales and promotions.
DON'T Shop Without a Plan—Outlet centers can be dangerous if you shop without a plan. With so many great values and sales, consumers tend to get overwhelmed and end up buying a bunch of items on impulse. Curb the urge to splurge by creating a shopping list of items you need like say, new jeans, and figure out which stores you’re going to go to before heading out. OutletBound.com is an online directory of outlet centers across the country. Search by state to find a nearby outlet and peruse the list of available stores to help plan your day. Many outlet centers also offer store maps to help you plan your route and decide where to park. Simon even has an app that you can download and view store locations right on your smartphone. Once you decide where you’re planning to shop, check the outlet center’s like or store sales or shopping events or any other added discounts and VIP vouchers.
DO Search for Coupons—You may think that outlets don't offer coupons since they're merchandise is marked down to begin with, but that's not true. I shop frequently at GAP and Banana Republic Outlets and always check CouponSherpa for printable coupons or use their free mobile app to save more at the register. For instance, you can save 15% off at GAP Factory Store and 15% off at Adidas Outlet. You can also sign up for The VIP Lounge at PremiumOutlets.com, which provides information on upcoming sales as well as exclusive coupons to the outlets in your area. Or sign up with to receive emails from the outlet store directly. Coach Outlet offers new members a 20% coupon just for registering online.
DO Shop Outlets Online—Many more outlet stores are selling their discounted merchandise online which will save you time, gas and money on tolls. Not to mention, shopping online will help deter you from getting lured into a store promoting a clearance event and buying items you didn’t plan to.
DON’T Overlook Limited Return Policies—Though some outlets have traditional return policies that allow customers to return unused merchandise with a receipt, others don't allow any returns. And, the factory or outlet store may have a different return policy than the traditional retailer so don’t assume you know it. Ultimately, it’s wise to know any store's policy before making a purchase. Keep in mind, an outlet center that is really far from home makes it harder to make returns so don’t buy items you’re 100% committed too especially if it’s a store with a no-return policy on clearance goods.
Tagged in: shopping, retailers, discounts, mall, outlet mall,
