Outlet Malls: Deal or No Deal?

Shoppers should be able to find bargains on shoes, especially since they're usually not an item made just for outlet stores and the quality will be up-to-par, says Sarah Lahey, co-author of Frommer's "Born to Shop" travel guide series. A good example of this is at Nordstrom Rack, ... Read more ˅

Shoppers should be able to find bargains on shoes, especially since they're usually not an item made just for outlet stores and the quality will be up-to-par, says Sarah Lahey, co-author of Frommer's "Born to Shop" travel guide series.

A good example of this is at Nordstrom Rack, the off-price outlet for Nordstrom that gets the bulk of its inventory via overstock items from the retail department store and Web site. Shoppers can find the Nina 'Genna' Girls' Flat for $54.95 plus tax and shipping at Nordstrom.com. For about $30 less, the Rack offers a similar shoe, the Report 'Moriarity' Girls' Flat, for $24.97 plus tax. Less ˄

You typically won't find bargains significant enough on electronics, such as TVs or stereos, that warrant a special trip to an outlet mall, Lahey suggests. At Sony's online outlet, for example, you can buy a refurbished Micro Hi-Fi Shelf Speaker System for $79.99 plus tax and shipping. For just $10 ... Read more ˅

You typically won't find bargains significant enough on electronics, such as TVs or stereos, that warrant a special trip to an outlet mall, Lahey suggests. At Sony's online outlet, for example, you can buy a refurbished Micro Hi-Fi Shelf Speaker System for $79.99 plus tax and shipping. For just $10 more, you can buy that same speaker system brand new from the retailer's full-price Web site.

Lahey adds that at some electronic outlet stores, including Bose (who was called out in a reader survey conducted by Consumer Reports magazine last year for having high outlet prices) prices for many items are actually full retail. Less ˄

Think twice before buying a suit from an outlet store. These types of stores don't offer tailoring, Lahey says. Once you factor in that additional cost on top of the discounted suit price, it may not be worth it after all. "When you buy at a department store, you'll get professional alterations and ... Read more ˅

Think twice before buying a suit from an outlet store. These types of stores don't offer tailoring, Lahey says. Once you factor in that additional cost on top of the discounted suit price, it may not be worth it after all. "When you buy at a department store, you'll get professional alterations and the cost may already be included in the purchase price," she adds.

Also, many clothing retailers create merchandise to be sold exclusively at outlets. Some even cut corners during manufacturing, so they're able to offer these items at the discounted prices. This can include using cheaper fabric that doesn't last as long or embellishments, such as buttons and zippers, that aren't as sturdy. You should not have to replace a suit every couple of years. Less ˄

Parents looking for back-to-school sales will get the most bang for their buck at outlet stores. You can save about 40% more on children's apparel at outlet stores such as Gymboree versus full-price retail stores. If you're buying clothes for your growing children, whether or not those items last fo... Read more ˅

Parents looking for back-to-school sales will get the most bang for their buck at outlet stores. You can save about 40% more on children's apparel at outlet stores such as Gymboree versus full-price retail stores. If you're buying clothes for your growing children, whether or not those items last for years probably isn't as important as it would be for a garment you'd buy for yourself, says Max Levitte, founder and CEO of the consumer news site Cheapism.com.

In addition to clothes, parents can pick up other back-to-school essentials such as shoes, backpacks and lunchboxes all in a single visit to an outlet mall. Less ˄

If you're looking to replace an old luggage set, you can find markdowns of up to 30% on current season bags comparable to retail at outlet stores such as Tumi and Samsonite, says Gina Briles, a writer for Cheapism.com. However, be careful about buying luggage from past seasons at outlets... Read more ˅

If you're looking to replace an old luggage set, you can find markdowns of up to 30% on current season bags comparable to retail at outlet stores such as Tumi and Samsonite, says Gina Briles, a writer for Cheapism.com.

However, be careful about buying luggage from past seasons at outlets, Lahey warns: "With airline regulations limiting weight, it might be worth paying a bit more to get the most current lightweight bag." Less ˄

Most athletic outlet stores, such as Nike and Adidas, are stocked with leftover items from their retail locations. The quality of these items in most cases is the exact same as what's offered at retail, and the outlet price is going to reflect that. "You can save a few bucks by buying gym clothes at... Read more ˅

Most athletic outlet stores, such as Nike and Adidas, are stocked with leftover items from their retail locations. The quality of these items in most cases is the exact same as what's offered at retail, and the outlet price is going to reflect that. "You can save a few bucks by buying gym clothes at these outlet outposts, but you aren't going to score significant savings," Briles says. Unless the outlet store is within jogging distance, you're better off saving your gas money and paying full-price for workout clothes from a store closer to home. Less ˄

With high-end cookware retailers such as Le Creuset, shoppers can find products for much cheaper than retail, Levitte says, at about 35% less. In Cheapism.com's outlet mall study, his team found this was largely due to items... Read more ˅

With high-end cookware retailers such as Le Creuset, shoppers can find products for much cheaper than retail, Levitte says, at about 35% less. In Cheapism.com's outlet mall study, his team found this was largely due to items being discontinued or slightly damaged (for example, a small paint chip on a pot). "In most cases, these were things that you wouldn't notice at first glance, but rather after a close-up examination of the product," he adds. Less ˄

Fine jewelry should be purchased from a reputable dealer who can explain the specifics of what you're purchasing, such as a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certification for diamonds, Lahey says. Customers might even want to invest in a warranty or insurance, which you wouldn't be able to get... Read more ˅

Fine jewelry should be purchased from a reputable dealer who can explain the specifics of what you're purchasing, such as a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) certification for diamonds, Lahey says. Customers might even want to invest in a warranty or insurance, which you wouldn't be able to get at an outlet store. Even costume jewelry is an iffy buy, Briles says. Oftentimes it's made to sell at a particular outlet store and looks cheaper than similar full-price items, she adds. Less ˄