Anybody been to the outlet mall lately?

[eliza61]

I have maybe 3 outlet malls within an hour to a 90 minute drive from me.
The last time I went, was last October. I had anticipated getting great deals but I was a bit disappointed. Most of the stores (eddie bauer, Ralph lauren polo, gap, talbots etc) had sales but they were at most 25% off. Well truthfully I can get 25% off at the regular department stores and some times do much better if I go at the end of season.

I was thinking of heading back in a couple of weeks to do some summer shopping for my family (no kids clothes, all adults) but with gas as high as it is I really don't want to drive 60 miles for 25%.

Has anyone been to the outlet malls and seen consistently great deals.

I have premium outlets and an outlet mall at Atlantic city.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=75

 

[jessily]

I never seem to have luck at the outlet malls. I went to the Atlantic City outlets a few weeks ago and didn't find anything to be a great deal (we only went in 4 stores though). I bought a shirt at Gap only because I really liked it... the price was what I would expect to pay at the regular stores (with a regular discount, like you said). The selection and prices at Payless were exactly the same as online or our local store Maybe I'm missing something... they're always crowded and everyone seems to be carrying lots of bags.

 

[Frannie115]

I went to the outlets in NC last weekend. The best deal I got was at the Coach outlet. They were handing out the "additional 30%" off coupons. I headed to the 50% off table and found a bag I loved. With the additional 30%, it was a great deal. Another good deal was 4 pairs of ankle socks for 2.99 at Loft.

Everything else seemed like the same prices as the mall.

 

[Purseval]

I went to the outlets in NC last weekend. The best deal I got was at the Coach outlet. They were handing out the "additional 30%" off coupons.

Coach is the quintessential example of the outlet mall scam. When the outlet concept first arrived it was a way to get returns, blemished items, etc. at a discount. That hasn't been how it works for a long time. Now it's just a way to trick shoppers into thinking they are getting some sort of a deal. Here's how it works.

Say you're at the Coach store in the regular mall and they have a $500 purse on sale for $400. You buy it and you've saved yourself $100. Good deal.

Now you go to the outlet mall. You go to the Coach outlet. They have a $500 purse on sale for $400 plus, since they handed you a "special" 30% off coupon when you walked in the price goes down to $280. Whoopee, right?

Not really. The purse at the outlet store was made specifically for the outlet store. It's not the same quality as the one in the mall and it's also not the same cost to manufacture. So how much did you save? Nothing. You paid exactly the price they wanted to get for the purse.

Be prepared to have legions of Coach fans tell you about the "deals" they received at these stores, how you can't tell the difference, how X% of items at the outlet mall really do come from the regular stores but that's the beauty of a good con when the person being conned walks away happy.

I'm not picking on Coach, they just happen to be an example lots of people know about. Just about every outlet store now carries items made specifically to be sold at outlet malls and they are cleaning up.

 

[Reddy]

Last time I went - nothing was on sale but the end of the season stuff, most of that I wouldn't get if it was $1 since it all looked trashy

now the big purses were on sale but I don't like really big purses - I thought some were luggage - could had worked for a workout bag/computer bag all in one

Most of it - I could had gotten at Wal-Mart for alot less at the beginning of the season

 

[marie1203]

Coach is the quintessential example of the outlet mall scam. When the outlet concept first arrived it was a way to get returns, blemished items, etc. at a discount. That hasn't been how it works for a long time. Now it's just a way to trick shoppers into thinking they are getting some sort of a deal. Here's how it works.

Say you're at the Coach store in the regular mall and they have a $500 purse on sale for $400. You buy it and you've saved yourself $100. Good deal.

Now you go to the outlet mall. You go to the Coach outlet. They have a $500 purse on sale for $400 plus, since they handed you a "special" 30% off coupon when you walked in the price goes down to $280. Whoopee, right?

Not really. The purse at the outlet store was made specifically for the outlet store. It's not the same quality as the one in the mall and it's also not the same cost to manufacture. So how much did you save? Nothing. You paid exactly the price they wanted to get for the purse.

Be prepared to have legions of Coach fans tell you about the "deals" they received at these stores, how you can't tell the difference, how X% of items at the outlet mall really do come from the regular stores but that's the beauty of a good con when the person being conned walks away happy.

I'm not picking on Coach, they just happen to be an example lots of people know about. Just about every outlet store now carries items made specifically to be sold at outlet malls and they are cleaning up.

Coach has different designs but as far as quality goes is the same. A few years ago when the Coach outlets first started they had more merchandise from regular stores, then they came out with the Coach factory line. If you compare and coach factory and a regular coach bag most of the materials will be de same and they both will be made in China. The overall Coach quality has gone down. China is known for one for the worst stitching. And you can see how they are introducing more fabric purses than leather, the leather quality has gone down, the amount of leather use and the fabric lining all have decrease the quality. They were able to create the factory line with their move to China, they are saving lots of money on employees and they just left the same prices for their regular line. I do not buy Coach because their quality isn't worth the price. If it didn't have the C's the same purse with that quality is worth less $100.

 

[marie1203]

I have maybe 3 outlet malls within an hour to a 90 minute drive from me.
The last time I went, was last October. I had anticipated getting great deals but I was a bit disappointed. Most of the stores (eddie bauer, Ralph lauren polo, gap, talbots etc) had sales but they were at most 25% off. Well truthfully I can get 25% off at the regular department stores and some times do much better if I go at the end of season.

I was thinking of heading back in a couple of weeks to do some summer shopping for my family (no kids clothes, all adults) but with gas as high as it is I really don't want to drive 60 miles for 25%.

Has anyone been to the outlet malls and seen consistently great deals.

I have premium outlets and an outlet mall at Atlantic city.

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=75

I agree most outlets are just a rip off. I love saks outlets and the designer outlets are great too.

 

[Purseval]

If it didn't have the C's the same purse with that quality is worth less $100.

A few years ago coach sued Target for selling knockoffs of their handbags. Now Coach sells knockoffs of their own handbags in their outlet stores

I agree most outlets are just a rip off. I love saks outlets and the designer outlets are great too.

Saks and Neiman Marcus Last Call are one of the few outlet stores left that actually still follow the original outlet concept. We go to Saks Off Fifth all the time and find some wonderful deals.

 

[punkin]

I recently went to an outlet and picked up a pair of Prada Sandals for $125. I thought it was a steal.

You still have to be careful what you are buying. I really cannot stand the "made for outlet" stuff, but it is usually easy to spot and avoid. There are still possibilities of good deals, just not as often.

 

[punkin]

Sorry. Double Post.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We live near Concord Mills Outlet and a few hours from the Tanger Outlets at Myrtle Beach. I am finding you have to work harder to find the great deals. We tend to shop end of seasons for the next year and still do fairly well most of the time.

Some times I just find it not worth the effort. I walked the outlet mall for an hour last week looking for a particular time and ended up just going back to the regular mall and finding it just as cheap at Pennys.

 

[vickalamode]

I never find that the outlet mall near me (Wrentham Premium Outlets in Wrentham, MA) is full of great deals.

The only store I usually shop at there is the Cosmetic Company Outlet. I almost exclusively wear MAC makeup and it's less expensive than Nordstrom or the MAC store, although they don't carry the full line of products-usually discontinued products from old collections etc. I think eyeshadow is $10 or $11 each at the outlet and its around $15 at Nordstrom and MAC for example.

I went to the outlets to find a business suit for interviews and it took me almost 4 hours but I did get a good deal. I got a really nice $400 Anne Klein suit for approximately $70. It was the last one in that style and happened to be my size, hence the clearance. But that is honestly the only really excellent deal I have ever found at the outlets....

 

[WeekdayDisneyland]

I visited the Cabazon Outlets outside of Palm Springs a couple of weeks ago. While I made a few purchases, I know I didn't get any bargains or deals.

Nearby my home is a real outlet for Trina Turk which really does offer bargains. Its the kind of things that outlets used to be and I LOVE it!

 

[Purseval]

We have one outlet mall 10 miles north of us and another one 12 miles east. The north one is easy to get to and has a Saks Off fifth so we go there a lot, mostly to walk around. The one to the east has Neiman Marcus Last Call and a Burlington coat Factory but we may go there once a year.

 

[Frannie115]

Now you go to the outlet mall. You go to the Coach outlet. They have a $500 purse on sale for $400 plus, since they handed you a "special" 30% off coupon when you walked in the price goes down to $280. Whoopee, right?

Not really. The purse at the outlet store was made specifically for the outlet store. It's not the same quality as the one in the mall and it's also not the same cost to manufacture. So how much did you save? Nothing. You paid exactly the price they wanted to get for the purse.

I disagree. I know they make bags just for the Coach outlets. I have one from the "store" that I paid $500 for and a couple of them I got at the outlet for $100 and $77. I've had Bag 1 ($500) and Bag 2 ($120) for a few years and switch back and forth. Both are in GREAT shape. No difference. Get many compliments on my outlet bags and not many notice the $500 bag

BTW, I would never buy a bag at the outlet for more than about $100. For the difference (if there really is any), I'll stick with the Outlet

 

[kirstenb1]

Frannie, I agree with you about Coach. Our outlet in Williamsburg still does have what they call "deletes". These are regular Coach bags straight from the Coach store that have been discontinued. You can find great deals there on those bags.

I have 5 Coach bags, some were MFF/Made for Factory, some are regular Coach, all purchased at the outlet. They all make me happy, and I enjoy swapping them out for the seasons.

At the Talbots outlet here, they seem to be going to the MFF model. I scored 2 pairs of capris at $29.99 each and I was thrilled.

We have a Dooney and Bourke outlet, and they seem to only carry regular handbags, no MFF. There are some amazing deals in there.

Finally, whoever mentioned the CCO outlet, I love that place!!!! I swear by Estee Lauder Daywear, and I can get it 30 percent off department store price. Our dd loves Clinique and MAC, so we both shop there.

 

[kchughes]

I live 40 minutes from Concord Mills, but it is only about 10 minutes from my parents. It is not worth a 40 minute drive, but a 10 minute ride is. Stride always has good deals on last season's styles and my DS does not care. I can do just as well at a local department store, Kohl's, etc with a sale. I guess what I am saying is that I don't think it is worth a special trip! Hope that helps.

 

[Purseval]

I disagree. I know they make bags just for the Coach outlets. I have one from the "store" that I paid $500 for and a couple of them I got at the outlet for $100 and $77. I've had Bag 1 ($500) and Bag 2 ($120) for a few years and switch back and forth. Both are in GREAT shape. No difference. Get many compliments on my outlet bags and not many notice the $500 bag

You're missing the point. It costs Coach X dollars to make a handbag and they have a certain percentage of profit built into the price. When you buy from the Coach store at the mall and they have a sale Coach is taking off a percentage of their profit so they make less money on the bag and you save money.

At the Coach outlet store the MSRP is nothing more than smoke and mirrors so when they give you all of their discounts you aren't actually saving anything. They are making their full profit on the bag and you aren't saving a penny. You just think you are. It has nothing to do with how the bag looks or feels or how many compliments you get. It has everything to do with Coach making massive profits off of their outlet stores by using clever marketing.

 

[NYCDiane]

I was at Tanger recently and had "some" luck at Kenneth Cole, Calvin Klein and Saks Off Fifth. Other than that? Nothing. Many of the stores have the same prices as the regular mall stores.

I only go to Tanger when they have those 20% off coupons. They usually have those in March/April, July/August, November/December. Other than that I stay away unless there is some huge deal going on.


Oh, and it's true about Coach and Coach themselves will tell you. They make Coach Retail and Coach Outlet. The Coach Outlet stuff is absolutely of an inferior quality.

 

[WeekdayDisneyland]

Outlet vs. Retail

Ultimately, does it really matter? What most people are really paying for is the social status that carrying a Coach bag implies.