Marshalls
1Site1Price.com: Site Review
As budget shoppers, we like it when things are simple—no “13% off during the first hour of a new moon” sales, no “$5 credit if you sign up for our email newsletter AND promise us your firstborn child”—just straightforward and to the point. Which is why 1site1price.com caught our eye—everything on the site, they claim, is $29.99. Everything. Simple as that. Okay, we’d prefer if everything was $9.99, but hey, we’ll bite. So we clicked on over, and this is what we found:
Women’s and men’s clothing and accessories—tops, pants, skirts, coats, shoes—for, in fact, $29.99 apiece. And before you go thinking all Steve & Barry’s, the stuff on 1site1price.com is designer and namebrand (La Mode, Cecil Gee, Fornarina, etc.), meaning the regular “retail” prices are much higher (like this Fornarina Wool Blend Jacket, retail price—$159.99). Okay, so what’s the catch? There isn’t one, it seems, because 1site1price operates on the same business model as a store like TJ Maxx, meaning they buy overstock and samples from distributors, in this case to sell online only. Hence the ability, it seems, to sell everything at one low price. And we can’t argue with that.
And we have to say, while we would expect a “closeout” site to be the online equivalent in appearance to a store like, say, Marshall’s or TJ Maxx (translation: we love ‘em, but they can be kind of a hot mess), 1site1price.com is actually visually appealing and totally easy to search and navigate.
But wait, there’s more: buy in quantity and save—purchase any 2 items and receive 5% off your entire order; purchase any 3 items and receive 10% off your entire order; purchase any 4 items and receive 10% off your entire order plus free ground shipping (free shipping for continental USA and Canadian orders only). Okay then.
So, what’s the downside? Well, we think the name is really un-fashiony. But since we just made up that word, we’ll give them a pass.
The Return of Layaway? You Betcha.
What: Could it be true? Layaway (when you put items on “hold” for a period of time and make payments toward the purchase of the item) is back.
What They Say: New York Daily News: “The old-fashioned purchase plan, which had its heyday in the ‘20s and ‘30s but dwindled in the days of easy credit, lets shoppers who can’t afford full price at checkout pay as they go. But instead of putting that toy or new coat on plastic and bringing it home, buyers leave items on hold at the store until they’re all paid up.”
What I Say: Yipee!! I have very fond memories of layaway (also called “Lay-By”), as it was the only way I was able to stock my closet full of Girbaud jeans back in the day. Now, with access to credit limited and bank accounts running empty, it makes sense that layaway makes a comeback. Also, layway is a lot less risky than issuing a credit card to the customer, as the entire value of the items aren’t lost if the customer doesn’t comeback for the items, but the entire amount owed on a credit card can be lost if the customer defaults.
Stores that have Layaway
Daffy’s
Marshalls
Sears
K-Mart
elayaway.com
Burlington Coat Factory
Wal-Mart (reports that it does/does not)
Photo/Art Credit: Anne Lee Arts
A Holiday Shopping Plan that Will Keep Cash in Your Wallet and Keep You Sane
Throw everything you’ve ever thought about holiday shopping out the window because it’s time for a massive reality check. We are officially in a recession, and while the results of Black Friday may show otherwise, America is broke. So this holiday season, it’s time for you to go old school- coupons, price comparison and shopping off priced stores.
Here’s Our Stress Free, Budget Friendly Holiday Shopping Plan
1. Get Over Yourself.
Your kids are not going to remember they only received four toys instead of eight, but will remember that January when the lights were turned off for failure of payment.Your mom isn’t going to love you any less if you bought her LeCresuet pot from HomeGoods instead of Macys. She, will, however remember that you had to borrow money from her to pay your January credit card bill. Remember it’s just one day a year and, if you’re religious, mass consumerism isn’t what the season is all about.
2. Set a Realistic Holiday Shopping Budget.
Your holiday shopping budget should not exceed more than 50% of yourpost life expenses budget, which is the money you have left over after paying off all of your bills. So if all your bills equal $3000 a month and you only have $500 left over, your holiday budget should not exceed more than $250. Small? Yes. Reality? You can’t afford to spend any more without going into debt.
3. Write a List and Check it Twice.
Write a list of everyone you need to purchase presents for this holiday season. Next to each name write the maximum amount you can afford to spend based on your holiday budget. Then write two or three gifts that fit into that budget next to each name.
4. Compare Prices Online
Take the list you just made and search for the best deal possible for each item online. I like to type in the name of the item into google, but MSN’s Live Search is also a great way to comparison shop (plus it offers cashback on certain purchases).
5. Create a Holiday Shopping Folder
Print out the products sheets of the cheapest items and place them in a holiday shopping folder. This is the folder you will take with you when you go shopping and it’s the folder in which you will place all your store receipts.
6. Search Sunday circulars and Compare in Store Prices
With your Holiday Shopping folder in hand, search the Sunday circulars (and online) for special in store deals. Also head to brick and mortar stores, letting your per gift price range guide to the stores you should visit (if you can only spend $10 per person, then there’s no reason to head to high end stores.) Make sure you check out stores like Marshalls and TJ Maxx, purchase the overstock of top designers and manufacturers. If find an item that is cheaper online than in store, ask to speak with a manager to see if you can get a price adjustment. Many stores, including Nordstrom, offer price guarantees.
7. Determine the Cheapest Option and Buy!
Compare the in store price with the price of the item online (make sure to include shipping and subtract any discounts from online coupons) and purchase the cheapest one!
Macy’s Name Changes: Good Bye Marshall Fields, Hello Mediocrity
Bye, Bye Hecht….
Sayonara Marshall Field’s….
Peace out Lazarus….
Today, September 9, 2006, is the day that pretty much every department store in America becomes a Macy’s.
Even though we signed petitions (keepitfields.org collected close to 60,000, yes 60,000 names), that wasn’t good enough for the corporate heads. According to a fashion industry friend of this blog, Macy’s “researched” the names on the petitions and found that the people on the list were “old” (I’m 30) and we all know that “old” people don’t shop. They sit around eating creamed corn, playing scrabble, and ordering the entire spring collection of the Suzanne Somers line on QVC, letting those “crazy kids” deal with all that fashion babaloo.
A couple of thoughts….
1. Macy’s and Marshall Field’s are not the same place. I grew up in the Midwest, in a city that had both a Macy’s and a Marshall Field’s. Fields is more on par with Bloomingdales than Macy’s.
2. Target is better than Macy’s. Not only are the products better designed, less expensive, and come with a more flexible return policy (90 days), Target is a lot more tech savvy than Macy’s. Try returning something you bought online to a local Macy’s and you’ll see the difference. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so…. Target has been growing at a steady pace, while Macy’s (and department stores in general) have been struggling.
3. People who live in NYC don’t like Macy’s. Every New Yorker I know avoids the Macy’s Herald Square location like the plague and rarely have anything positive to say about the store. While, every Chicagoian (sp?) I know, has fond memories of shopping at the State Street Marshall Field’s, especially during the christmas season.
4. Macy’s is better than Hecht. I’ve been to quite a few Hecht and I must say that the boys at Federated Department Stores was on the money changing this one over to a Macy’s.
For more on the good fight—head to fieldsfanschicago.org
Everyone’s Getting Ready for Fall (Fashion)
Some recent shopping scoops from fellow TBF readers:
Many of you are in love with the new George ME line at Wal-Mart. I’ll be writing a review of the line and my many trips to Wal-Mart this past weekend, later this month.
A rash of new store openings has prompted several readers to write in. Kelsey reports on a new Lane Bryant opening in the Yorktown Center in Edina, MN (right across from Target Greatland) on September 14th. As a part of their grand opening on the 14th, the store is offering 40% off on just about everything in the store and after that, offering 20% off through the 18th.
Michelle reports on her great finds this past holiday weekend. At Marshalls, she found a short gray (hot fall color) Micheal Kors wrap sweater for $7.00 (original price $70.00) and a pair of Roxy winter pants for $5.00! At Nine West, she cleaned up at the summer clearance sale with shoes originally $59.00, now $14.99! She reports that all belts are marked down, with an additional 50% off the lowest price. She picked up a wide brown leather belt for $9.99!
And, on an international note, Marilyn reports that the “Top Shop in Madrid looks like Forever21”. Let’s hope the New York version is better.
What’s New at Marshalls Department Store
Marshalls has an designer denim event coming up in a week or so with Paper Denim and Cloth, Chip & Pepper, Joie, and probably some Sevens. Jeans will be priced $39.99 to $99.99.
Plus . . . Marshalls bought the Carole Little line. This isn’t “new” news, but I thought I would share it with you. Carole Little was a department store based line (Macys, Bloomingdales, etc.)- sort of the Boho look for women over 35. Really cute, different stuff. Also check out Marshalls’ Kenar line, which takes its “inspiration” from big time designers like Prada (but sales for 1/8 of the price).
Sears is having a big sale of 50% off all women’s suits (including some of the fall collection). I’m so in love with Sears right now. It’s like they finally get it and now my cousins in Salina, Kansas will be able to rock BCBG. Nice . . .
Tons of stores are offering major discounts right now, which leads me to wonder if the items are really on sale or do the stores hike up the prices, and then slap on a discount to full us unsuspecting shoppers into thinking we’re really getting a deal, when the discount just brings the price down to its original full price? Something to ponder. Leave a comment with your thoughts.
Barney’s Warehouse Sale begins tomorrow. I’ll say a prayer for those brave shopping souls who dare to enter the madness. My god be with you.
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