Sales
The Downside of Liquidation Deals
What: If you’re headed to a local fashion boutique or mega retailer that’s shuttering its doors soon (hint: Gottschalks has just begun liquidation), you’re looking forward to once-in-a-lifetime kinda deals. But make sure to try on those clothes and leave second thoughts behind, because if you find a defect later on, you may be out of luck.
What the Denver Business Journal Says:
“Retail liquidations are a trend that’s playing out more and more as store chains — such as Circuit City, Mervyns and Linen ‘n’ Things — increasingly go out of business because of the current recession.
And in such liquidations, defective merchandise often isn’t returnable.”
What We Say: While we suggest that you take advantage of as many opportunities to save as possible (thanks to the Recession), we do remind you to double check anything you buy. In fact, with this unsteady economy, there’s no telling what stores might close down next, so even if you’re not at a liquidation sale, just be extra cautious about what you buy.
Bargaining for a Good Bargain?
What: Best-selling author Lee Eisenberg shares the ups and downs of trying to haggle prices on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile; although consumers have new leverage to negotiate their way into a great deal (because of the, you guessed it, economy), they aren’t so great at the “art form” yet and retailers aren’t so comfortable with it, either.
What Lee Says: “Seasoned hagglers know that it’s a dance, a social ritual best conducted leisurely in a sun-drenched open market or over a glass of sickening sweet tea. There, hagglers on both sides of the encounter parry and thrust, using a full arsenal of shrugs, gibes, expressions of mock outrage, bursts of humor, gentle put-downs. In contrast, we’re overly aggressive and impatient, intent on scoring a quick, one-round knockout. We go at it with red faces, clenched fists and sputtering take-it-or-leave-its.”
What We Say: Ask for a deal and ye shall receive? Such a brilliant, but simple idea. The only part that bums us out is Lee says we’ll have to wait a little while before we can expect department stores and fashion boutiques to drop prices on hand bags, shoes, clothes, and accessories - retailers expect those items to sell at full-price, at least through March. Doesn’t mean that the pushy sales lady at your local Macy’s won’t get desperate eventually, but until then, keep printing coupons and searching for good sales. But hey, if folks can talk their way into a cheaper lap top at Best Buy, why shouldn’t they do the same for a designer purse at the mall?
We’ve talked about haggling at a consignment store before, but have any of you done so at a mainstream retailer? If so, tell us if you failed or succeeded.
Labor Day Sale: 40% off Bloomingdale’s Coupon—In Store and Online!
THIS COUPON IS EXPIRED. FOR CURRENT DEALS, PLEASE VISIT TBF’S ONLINE SALE PAGE.
Take An Extra 40% Off* Already Reduced Items
August 31st - September 4th
Shop Fashion, Shoes & Accessories For Her. Enter Code 40SALE At Checkout. Online & In Stores.
Thanks Megan for the tip!
The NYC Sample Sale Run Down: Weekend of August 25th, 2006
Hermes Sample Sale
When: Aug. 23-26. Wed., 2-6 p.m.; Thurs., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., b/t Sixth & Seventh Aves., 4th flr. (212-759-7585).
Prada Sample Sale
When: Friday, August 25th. Appointments on the hour from 9:00AM - 5:00PM.
Where: The Fuller Building at 57th Street and Madison Avenue, 2nd floor
Barney’s New York Warehouse Sale
When: Thru-Sept. 4th, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: 255 W. 17th St., b/t Seventh & Eighth Aves, 212-450-8700
Billion Dollar Babes
When: Saturday, August 26, 2006, 9am-5pm
Where: The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street Btw 6th and 7th.
Intermix Warehouse Sale
When: Thru August 26th. 9:00 am to 8:00 pm daily
Where: Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th St., b/t Sixth & Seventh Aves., 4th flr. (212-759-7585).
Atlanta Sample Sale and Warehouse Sale Events
From an Atlanta Journal-Constitution article (featuring an interview with yours truly). Read the full article.
AmericasMart Corporate Fridays: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 21. Showrooms in Building 3 are open for shoppers seeking jewelry, handbags and clothing at wholesale prices. Some showrooms offer sample items. Bring $25, a picture I.D. and a business card with your name on it. It’s located at 240 Peachtree St. N.W.
LUXE sample sale: Aug. 26-27. To attend the invitation-only event, you must sign up at luxeatlanta.com. This sale will feature Jimmy Choo, Prada and Dolce & Gabbana at 70 percent off retail prices.
Intown Boutique Warehouse Sale: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 21-22. Twelve boutiques, including Bill Hallman, Bella Azul, Cherry Bomb, Demure, Mitzi and Romano, Veruca and Wish, offer up to 90 percent off store merchandise. 728 Ralph McGill Blvd, 404-876-6055.
Boutique Warehouse Sale: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 22 and noon to 5 p.m. July 23. Now in its third year, this bi-annual sale will feature 20 boutiques, including Sandpiper, Tulipano, Bloom, Kaleidoscope, Sabot, Pink Lemonade and Mark Edge with items discounted 50 to 80 percent. Market at the Works, 711 Trabert Ave. off Howell Mill Road, 770-433-2989. Only cash and checks will be accepted.
The Children’s Boutique Warehouse Sale: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 29 and noon to 5 p.m. July 30. The sale includes 12 children’s stores such as Baby Cakes, Mint Julep, Frou Frou and Discovery Toys. Market at the Works, 711 Trabert Ave., 404-876-1359.
Shopping Advice: Bargain Shopping in Las Vegas
Dear Budget Fashionista: What are the best places for bargain shopping in Las Vegas
A: Personally, I think the best places to do real bargain shopping in Las Vegas is at the outlets (read below my comments on pawn shops). Las Vegas has more shopping outlets per capita than probably any other place in the world. which is just fine my me. At the Fashion Outlet Las Vegas. you’ll find a pretty good Williams Sonoma Outlet, as well as outlets from companies like Coach, Last Call Neiman Marcus, St. John Knits, Tod’s, Burberry, etc. at the Fashion Outlet Las Vegas. It is about a 10-minute (around $10) taxi ride from the strip or you can use the shuttle from the MGM Grand.
Head to the site, to get more information on the outlet (as well as a link to a coupon to save an additional $3.00 off the shuttle service). Make sure you get a discount book with coupons for additional savings at the mall.
There is also another, outlet mall (Las Vegas Premium Outlets) located about 10 minutes or so from New York New York (about a $10-15 taxi ride) between the strip and Downtown Las Vegas. They have a Dolce & Gabbana, Tahari, etc outlet. Go to Premium Outlets and register for the VIP club to receive even more savings.
I would also check out the shopping mall on the other end of the strip near Treasure Island and Circus, Circus. It isn’t a discount mall, but they have some great stores, like Neiman Marcus and Saks. Since it is the end of the season, these stores are probably having pretty good sales. Some people like the pawnshops (which, of course, are EVERYWHERE). Personally, I feel kind of creepy buying something that was someone else’s misfortune. However, if a pawnshop had a pair of Cartier gold and diamond earrings for less than $500 bucks I would purchase it as quick as you can say “bankruptcy”.
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