Top Ten Outlet Tips

This weekend is Memorial Weekend! And since I slept through the post Thanksgiving sales (I didn't KNOW!!) I am not about to miss this one. Things are going to be at an all time low, and where to go then to an outlet right? Here are a few tips I picked up the last (and first!!) time I went to the outlets.

Top Ten Tips for outlet shoppers:

1. Outlets are very far and you want to know someone with a car-otherwise the time needed to get there can be very dampening on the spirit
2. Outlets are usually outdoors, even though they're called an Outlet mall and in any normal people would inspire an image of an indoor mall. So bring a lightweight jacket (lightweight so as to not get in the way of shopping)
3. Outlets are rather big and require walking. And people tend to buy a lot of things, so minimize amount of carry on to your keys and wallet-maybe some water (but there's always the foodcourt. . ) so as to maximise the shopping bags you can hold at one time and wear comfortable slides (so you can try on shoes quicker!
4. Not all shops in outlets malls are outlets and sell items cheaper then normal. You must look carefully at prices and make you own judgement. Most of the times they have tags saying price before and "our price" so you know its cheaper, but sometimes your not so lucky. An example of this would be the PacSun and the Miss Sixty/Energie shop.
5. In outlet stores, when you see something you like, you must grab and hold onto them, even if your not sure if you want to buy them or not. Because there are competitive shoppers around who has the eye of an eagle, and before you know it, its gone! This also applies to places like Filene's Basement as well. . . . . esp when your a size small. In the event of undecision, ask and see if they can hold it for you for an hour or two
6. In the event of a huge confused queuing system, you are not supposed to ask people around if they're in the line or not. Just barge right in as if you were always there, and hope no one noticed.
7. Do not wear expensive branded items to outlet shopping. They will just appear incomparable against the super cheap items on sale and make you miss out on a super bargain like a pair of $40 Guess Jeans, which you can wear anywhere, mess around in, get dirty and you wouldn't feel too sad about it when they expire.
8. Classical pieces like v necked sweaters and turtlenecks are timeless. Go for it, buy loads! They are easy to match with, warm, never out of style and will last for ages (esp those from Gap). And you can just stick it into the washing machine without a second thought.
9. Allocate a whole day to shop, so as to ensure that you have the chance to do a double check around and time to think all that you've seen to ensure that you have no regrets and have not missed out on a great bargain-esp since getting there without a car is so difficult, you'd want to maximise this shopping experience.
10. The price marked on the item in a shop is not always the actual cost of the item. And here are 3 reasons why:

• In America there is always the stupid sales tax designed to dampen your aggregate demand to cool down the overheating economy. And this applies to outlet malls as well despite it being in the middle of nowhere (although the tax rates are usually lower), so mark the price about 10% up.i.e. a 30% off sale is in fact only a 20% off sale.(this is all except for Philly which is tax free for both food and cloting-as it should be)
• Some shops are just not bothered to label everything, especially outlet shops. So you just have to read the signs hanging around the store that gives additional sales sometimes. Like the red labelled items being an extra 20% off or some shit like that. OR they just shout it out, so keep eyes AND ears open.
• Lastly, its so messed up around there that some things are simply labelled incorrectly. So you'll just have to ask around and test your luck. Like my adorable sky blue adidas track pants, which I loved so much I was willing to pay $32 for, but was lucky enough at the cashier to get them for $19.

Happy Memorial Weekend everyone!