Crosby at the fashion pr blog prcouture, posted a very interested article last week about a recent bargain shopping trend in China.
Crosby writes:

In a piece of interesting trend-watch spotting, groups of disparate consumers in China are organizing on a single mission – to use mob power to negotiate group discounts at retail shops and showrooms. Groups meet online at a variety of websites like TeamBuy, Taobao and Liba and then agree on a time and place. The websites make money from ad revenues and/or commissions from suppliers.

While I think this idea might work stateside at liquidation type stores like Big Lots,  I highly doubt this shopping tactic would work at your local Anne Taylor. Also, Americans are not really use to bargaining, while bargaining is a way of life in most countries. Still, it’s a very interesting concept