Not all outlet malls are created equal. Outlet malls are often associated with discount and deals. The idea is for mega retail stores such as Prada and Chanel to sell the previous season lines at the outlet malls for a discount. According to Consumer Reports, you can get an average of 38% savings shopping at outlets. And when you combine all the major brands in a centralized location, it’s easy to see why the outlet malls has become popular destinations for designer outlet shopping. But shoppers should understand the true value of these products and how to find the deals.
One down side about the outlets is that they are typically located far from the cities, and on top of that, the deals sometimes are not as cheap as they appear to be. If you compared the exact same item from the retail shops in the city and the item found in outlets, often times these items are placed near others that are on sale but priced the same. Here are some tips to find the real discounts.
1) Look for the discount racks. Typically, stores have a section, or just a rack, that are heavily discounted. These are usually items that have slight defects that aren’t noticeable, or they are uncommon sizes that takes longer to sell. But these certainly could be great deals.
2) Check with your hotel or the tourist information booths for coupons, especially during holiday shopping season, stores often release sales and coupons that are only available on print.
3) Do some research before your trip. If you’re looking for specific items, make sure you research the prices first so you can compare them at the outlets.
