There’s no better way to spend a day shopping and no better way to keep your shopping budget in check than at a factory outlet mall. Here are 5 tips to help make the day an enjoyable and budget-friendly experience.
1. Prepare for your shopping day at the Factory Outlet. Simple oversights can make the day much more pleasing. Most Factory Outlets are a conglomeration of different architecture, and typically in outdoor settings. Parking centrally will alleviate the need to run and back and forth to your car to unload packages out of weary arms. Wear or bring a good pair of walking shoes for comfort and to avoid blisters. If shopping with small children, don’t forget the stroller. Of course, it is the ideal way to transport little ones, but serves a dual purpose when you can drop your shopping bags into the nifty side pockets.
2. Take advantage of sales, coupons and mailing lists. If you’re familiar with your local Factory Outlet, sign up in advance to become a member of their mailing list for member-only specials and sales. Most Factory Outlet merchants participate with the mailing, providing coupons for their regular patrons and mailing list members.
Factory Outlet merchants are comprised of familiar, national brand retailers, and trendy upper-end boutiques, also well known and sometimes direct from your local geographic area. Specialty shops abound, and seasonally, you may find local and national artists displaying work in gallery form for display and purchase, while music, books, and office supplies can be countered at discount rates, as well.
3. Familiarize yourself with the merchandise. Prices at a Factory Outlet are considerably lower than traditional department stores, and much of the time the products are the same items purchased in the bigger, more expensive parent operation. Most Factory Outlets carry overstocks of the same first grade merchandise you find in the parent store at considerably reduced prices. Along with the overstocks, there are even more budget-friendly options on irregulars and factory seconds.
What are “factory seconds” and “irregulars?” Factory seconds and irregulars are not necessarily faulty or even of lessened quality, but rather a piece of merchandise with a minor problem (typically cosmetic and easily reparable) that prevent it from passing the quality checks in the inspection process, subsequently preventing it from being shipped to the parent store counterpart; apparel may contain irregular or mis-marked size tags or hanging threads that need a quick snip. Pay special attention to apparel items, and always try them on before you take them home. House wares may or may not come in full 8-piece servings, but what better way to replace the broken item in your treasured china set, without having to purchase the entire set, while electronics may evidence a minor cosmetic scratch, ding, or dent one the packaging or external shell of the item.
4. Refunds, returns, and exchanges. As with any merchant, be sure to read each Factory Outlet store’s refund, return, and exchange policy. These will vary for the individual merchant. Knowing when and how to return something that doesn’t quite fit, or didn’t happen to be the exact china pattern, will save both shopper and merchant time and ensure hassle-free shopping.
5. Lunch. When spending the day at the Factory Outlet, don’t forget to plan for lunch. Casual dining is typically available in both indoor settings and bistro style. The fare may range from cozy espresso shops offering latte delights with a variety of pastries, to gourmet sandwiches, hand-tossed pizza, and of course the standard burgers, hot dogs, French fries, and plate-lunch specials. For those with a sweet tooth, there are nationally known cookie shops tucked in the midst of the dining areas to indulge on as a pleasant dessert or on the move, treat, while shopping.
Shopping at the Factory Outlet mall is a uniquely, fun experience. These 5 tips will help make it enjoyable, while keeping the budget reined in with savings and discounts on nearly every purchase.
