Outlet malls are a popular destination for shoppers looking to score the best items possible for the least amount of money. Everyone loves a good bargain and outlet malls are the perfect place to find them. Before beginning your next outlet shopping adventure, I would like to share with you 7 things that every outlet shopper should know.
1. You Will Have to Go the Distance: Ever wonder why most shopping outlets are located in rural areas and away from major cities? The reason being is that low density areas have a lower land value compared to their high density counterparts. As a result, retailers are able to buy a large amount of land for an affordable rate. By situating themselves in a centralized yet distant location, they are then able to attract consumers from multiple cities, creating a large target audience. In addition, they are not in direct competition with their full retail counterparts. There is some psychology involved in this equation as well. If people travel a great distance to go shopping, they will make an unconscious, internal commitment to themselves that in order to make this trip “worth it,” they need to spend more money.
2. Outlet Stores are NOT Retail Stores: There has always been this notion that items carried in factory stores were originally carried in retail stores. This may have been true previously but unfortunately, it is not the case anymore. In general, 10-30% of the items carried in outlet stores were once housed in a retail store. The remaining items were made specifically for the factory store. To determine where an item originated, pay careful attention to the item’s tag, material, and model number. Usually, an item made specifically for factory stores will be lacking in quality when compared to its retail counterpart.
3. Retail Prices are Inflated: Have you ever walked into an outlet store and noticed that the entire store was 50% off? I’m guessing that you probably were very excited and could not wait to shop your heart out. However, your excitement quickly went away the second that you looked at the original price tag. Most outlet stores use reference prices, the price that people believe an item is worth, that are well beyond the original retail price. By marketing large discounts on items, consumers believe that they are getting a great “deal,” when in reality, they are paying at or above market value. It is a very powerful psychological effect used to achieve consumer and retail satisfaction.
4. Travelers + Shopping= Winning Combo: I know that I can only speak for myself here but whenever I travel to a new location, I always look forward to the day (or days in my case) that I get to go shopping. Travelers are a HUGE target audience for outlet centers. By providing transportation, coupon books, luggage deals, and travel discounts (just to name a few), outlet centers know their audience and they want to cater to them as much as possible.
5. Research Before You Shop: Let’s say that you went to the outlets to buy a new pair of sneakers, for example. You found a pair that you love for $100 and you can not wait to take them home with you. Being the savvy shopper that you are, you do a quick Google search for a similar pair of shoes online. Google tells you that a similar pair retails for$75. Considering the lower quality of materials and the higher price tag, you realize that your great outlet find was not such a great find after all. To ensure that you are getting a good deal, do a little online research before heading to the checkout line.
6. You Might Some Amazing Finds: On the other hand, you might score some great deals while outlet shopping. Personally, I have had 2 AMAZING finds from outlet stores worth mentioning. First, while visiting my family in Buffalo, I bought a pair of Burberry denim jeans (that I still wear all the time) marked down from $225 to $99 to $50. They belonged to one of Burberry’s higher-end labels and were originally carried in retail stores. My second find was actually found pretty recently at the Nordstrom Rack near me. I scored the coveted Stuart Weitzman Lowland boot for $45 (You can read all about that HERE).
7. Always Look for Extra Savings: Most outlet centers offer additional discounts to customers. One of the most common methods of acquiring additional savings is to visit the center’s customer service desk for a coupon booklet. Some outlets provide them to customers for free (sometimes with a AAA membership) while others ask customers to pay a small fee. Other ways to find additional savings include finding free coupons on their website and asking about military, senior, or student discounts.
Be classy. Be confident. Be strong.
Baci,
Bianca Ida
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