Those giant “60% off” and “close-out sale” banners at the outlet mall are practically permanent fixtures. According to ConsumerAffairs writer Kyle James, those signs stay up for months at a time, which means the discount you’re seeing isn’t the limited-time event it’s dressed up to be. He also points out that plenty of outlet merchandise is made specifically for outlet stores, meaning it’s a lower-quality product line rather than genuine overstock from a main retail store. A simple way to tell the difference: real overstock shows up in broken size and color runs, while outlet-made goods come fully stocked in every size and color.
The good news is that outlet savings are still real for shoppers who know the tricks. James recommends shopping the store backwards, skipping the full-price front displays and heading straight to the clearance racks at the back. Once you’ve found your items, track down a coupon book at the customer service desk or search the mall’s website for a hidden coupon page. That extra 10% to 15% off can stack on top of sale prices and make a real difference on bigger purchases, which matters as fall visitors arrive and holiday shopping gets underway here on the Suncoast.
So before your next outlet run, do a little homework. Check the mall website for coupons, ask about coupon books, and walk straight past the front-of-store displays. Have you tried the shop-backwards method, or do you have your own outlet strategy that beats it?
