I Want a Bargain

by Nancy             

I got religion late, but now I'm in the front pew.  I don't know about you, but nowadays I never set foot in Macy's unless I have a coupon in my handbag. The store has trained me. Here's what I know: Eventually, the price of a set of 500 thread count sheets will drop below the original laughable number printed on the ticket.  Once the price drops, I will whip out a coupon, and in the end I will pay the same price for the good sheets at Macy's as a set of sheets from K-Mart that will turn yellow, no matter how much bleach I pour into the washing machine.

So I don't buy anything---anything!--from Macy's unless the price is way less than the original number on the hanging ticket.  Even at the Elizabeth Arden counter, where prices never, ever change, I will wait until Bonus Days when you get free stuff and a cheap plastic bag to keep it in.

"Dynamic pricing." This is a new term for me, but turns out I've been employing this economic theory for years.

Would you dream of buying a Dustbuster that wasn't a doorbuster? A handbag that wasn't displayed with that 30% off sign?  Does anybody actually buy Lean Cuisine without a coupon? I have it on good authority that our own Tart champion shopper Michele waits for the Manolo sale before she whips out her credit card.  And, Elaine?  We know all about that Escada outlet in your neighborhood. Me, I buy all my clothes at the Talbot's outlet. Using my Talbot's charge.  Which gives me extra points, plus a $25-off coupon three times a year.  Why shop anywhere else?

Yes, the benefits of dynamic pricing only come to those who are willing to work for it. And until the last couple of years, I resisted doing my homework.  Do you sort all those junk flyers that come with your Sunday newspaper to look for the best deals from Best Buy? Do you open all the envelopes from your local department store just in case they revive that fun contest where you get the rub-off coupon, but you can't rub it off until you're standing at the checkout counter to see what your discount is?  (I love those!)  Do you wait until the end of the model year before waltzing into your car dealer to see what's left on the showroom floor?

Bed Bath and Beyond has a 20% off coupon in the newspaper every Sunday.  Every single Sunday.  Why would I buy a big ticket item like a Dyson sweeper anywhere else?  (Although--full disclosure--I snapped up mine from Target when the price was low and I received a $100 gift card with purchase.)

I'm not a cheapskate, really.  But you'd have to be an idiot to buy just about anything at full price these days.

Now that it's back-to-school time, I scramble into all the big box stores looking for their loss leaders---the stuff that's priced really, really low to lure buyers into the store.  Wal-Mart ususally has a back-to-school bargain on notebooks for @.05.  A great time for writers to buy up notepads!  I heard a newscaster use the term "desperation pricing" on the news last night. 

Somebody on the Today show suggested the pain of back-to-school shopping could be eased by sharing the cost with a neighbor. Buy in bulk and split up the packages. I don't know about you, but this might be a step too far.  Or maybe I used to have neighbors with bad taste.  My kids would never carry notebooks picturing little kittens.

There are people who haggle for everything.  Did you know that? Apparently, lots of shoppers have success buying stuff on Tuesday that is no longer marked at the same price it was on Sunday.  But if you ask the right sales person, you can get the lower price! Am I a fool for not knowing that?

My father didn't know you could negotiate the price of a car until he met my husband, who spilled the beans that spoiled a great gig for the Cadillac dealer in my hometown. My father never again bought a car from his regular dealer, who had not once hinted that the price of my father's car could be anything but the sticker price.  My father felt not only cheated, but foolish.  Which is Not a Good Thing To Do To a Presbyterian Cadillac fan.

                           

Really, though, I have no time to research every purchace I want to make. The idea that we must buy a new dining table for our porch has paralyzed me.  (It's all my fault.  I dragged the old table across the deck by myself, breaking the welds that hold the legs on the table.  We've lashed the table together for this summer, but we can't let that go forever.  Can we?) I want this table, but it's $699 in the store, and $599 online ($75 for the shipping!) and either way, that's too much to spend on an outdoor table.  (I bought one out of a barn years ago for $20, and my daughter still uses it in her dining room.  Now, that's a table!)  So I'm asking all of you to be on the lookout, please, for an outdoor table that expands to seat at least ten people.  On sale. Within easy driving distance for me to pick it up myself.  (It will cost me $120 to drive my other daughter's Jeep Cherokee to the Pottery Barn outlet in Lancaster, people, and that doesn't count tolls or meals.) 

Since I've been trapped at home while recovering from this stupid foot surgery, unable to shop in person, I've been trolling the internet for deals. I want a pair of these sandals.  In black. But they're $60!  Surely I can get them for less, right? It's the end of the season!

There are people who know how to find the best deals on the internet, but I'm not one of them. When you finally click your shopping cart to the checkout, there's aways a box marked "promotional code." I hate leaving that box blank, knowing somebody's getting a better deal than I am!  Do you have words of wisdom on that issue?

And how does a person sign up for those airline alert services? They send you an email when the price of an airline ticket to Hawaii becomes a bargain?  Does anybody know how to do that?  Because I'd like to go to Left Coast Crime next spring.  I mean, how many chances do you have to take a tax deductible Hawaiian vacation?

In these tough economic times, today I'm asking TLC readers to share your shopping secrets.  C'mon. Dish.  Where do you get your best steals--er, deals?

Comments

[Josh]

This may take more dedication than you are willing to give, but hit the supermarket early in the morning on the first day of a new circular. For Acme, it's Friday, Shop Rite, Sunday. The stores have a policy that anything that rings up more than the shelf price you get for free, and at that hour, many things are not yet changed in the system. (They may also not be changed on the shelf, but if it's in the circular, they'll treat it as if it's posted on the shelf.

I often get things for free. Most recently, a $9.49 bag of Polly-O cheese sticks. But I've also gotten three boxes of crummy cheese steak meat for the price of one and plenty of other things. Nothing feels better than beating the system that way.

But, you need to be dedicated to get to the market early on the first day. Too late, and the system will have picked up the change, or someone else will have gotten that free orange juice.

[Josh]

Another downside is that you need to remember the shelf price of everything you put into the cart, especially the things on sale.

[Laura (in PA)]

Josh, my husband got a bag of free chips - the same ones - about 4 weeks in a row, because they didn't change the price on the shelf. Even after he told them the first time.

I never buy anything that's not on sale, except, ironically food. And I work in the grocery retail business, and know how much it's marked up, even when it's on sale. I do buy more if it happens to be on sale when I'm there, but I don't shop circulars and use coupons. But I do know which are the less expensive stores, and shop at those.

Everything else, clothes, shoes, household items, I buy on sale. Clearance, mostly. Or those register roulettes - I love them too! I'm heartbroken that Boscov's is in financial trouble - I love that store. They have great sales (which is probably the problem). And I bought my Dyson at Kohl's during a store-wide 50% off sale - great deal.

I have Macy's coupons in my purse as we speak, but I always let them expire, even though King of Prussia mall is 10 minutes from my office. I guess I'm better off. But I now have the outlets within walking distance of my house, so I shop there.

As for online, I use Bizrate.com to find who has cheaper prices, although I know there are other places too.

Right now, due to the tuition surprise we got from the ex, I am not shopping for much of anything. The Wii I wanted to be hubby and my joint Christmas present, is now going to be something very wee indeed.

[smr33]

My solution to this confusion is I just don't shop. Or, when I do, I hit those stores that don't require coupons when they have sales.

Over the past few years, I've gotten increasingly annoyed with stores that force you into buying more than you need, just for the sake of saving a few pennies. I hate it when cashiers say something like, "if you buy three more bottles of that hand lotion, each bottle will be 50% cheaper and you'll get a fifth bottle free!"

I'm sorry, but I only want ONE bottle of this goo. Why must you punish me for only buying ONE bottle? Is it better for your margins if I don't buy any of this stuff? Should I just leave now and we'll forget this ever happened?

I feel similarly confused when I go to a Starbucks (too many choices and I still don't want to order "venti" when what I mean is a large) or Boston Market (I don't to take home a free apple pie when all I really want is a chicken. Nobody likes apple pie around here and I'll feel guilty dumping food).

American retail mostly just sucks. If I really need something, I depend upon the Internet or send my husband out for it. When it comes to food/household shopping, I buy most of our day-to-day stuff at Costco or Trader Joes or Target.

We were recently in Charleston and found the most incredible farmer's market. The veggies/breads/cheeses, etc. were all sparkling fresh, incredibly delicious, and priced well below anything I've seen in my local grocery stores. It reminded me that such markets exist also in Pgh. and that I should support my local farmers/food artisans here in my own backyard. Shopping is a joy when you're talking to the person who actually made the pickles and insists on giving you samples of all 25 varieties before selling you a container to take home. I loved spending 20 minutes thinking about pickles. It made me happy. And the pickles were dirt cheap and delicious.

[Nancy Martin]

I love the farmer's market! I get this stupid boot off my foot today, and one of the first places I plan to drive is directly to the farmer's market--specifically, the guy who sells blackberries!

Josh, you're right.---Your method may be too much for me. It's not the getting up early, it's the squabbling with somebody over the price. I can't face the confrontation before 9am.

Bizrate! Thank you, Laura! What I need today is tips, folks, really great shopping tips!

[Annette Dashofy]

I recently stopped at a garage sale in a ritzy neighborhood because the sign boasted they had a breadmaker. Well, the breadmaker was long gone, BUT I bought a black, classic designer gown that fit like it was made for me for THREE BUCKS! That has to be the steal of the century for me.

Hint: shop at yard sales in nice neighborhoods. They don't use their stuff until it's falling apart before selling it. And they aren't trying to make grocery money by pricing things way too high. You'll find nice stuff that the previous owner is thrilled to have someone pay them to take off their hands.

[Annette Dashofy]

By the way, I'm in the market for a used treadmill for cheap. Anyone have one they're using for a clothes rack and want to donate to a struggling writer?

[Joyce Tremel]

Nancy, you're talking my language! I'm a cheapskate--I mean smart shopper from way back. I learned from my mother. She never bought anything unless it was from Gimbel's basement. I've passed it on to my kids, too. Son #2 just built his own computer for $600. He said if he would have bought it with all the stuff he wanted it would have been $3000.

Now that I have the time, I read the supermarket ads and shop at two or three different stores to get the best prices. I'm saving anywhere between $100 and $200 a month. And I've been getting my produce from the local farmer's market.

My favorite bargain store is the Coldwater Creek outlet at Prime Outlets Grove City. I found $85 sweaters there for 9.99. The individual stores have sales, too, but not like the outlet. Which reminds me--I still have a gift card to use.

[William Simon]

A few years back, a house law was enacted and I, specifically, am no longer allowed in Best Buy or CompUSA unsupervised. (Something about needing some cables and coming home with a five-speaker Home Theater System.) When I was able to go in those stores, I found out there are some terrific savings to be had if, say, the computer you want is sold out, and the only model left is the Shelf Model. More than once over the years, it cost me just slightly more than 50% of sticker price because, for example, there was a magic marker slash on the back end of the case, or a tiny chip on the top corner of a monitor casing, in one case a new printer that "didn't work" (it was out of ink).

Not real sure what's going on in those stores today; as I said, I am not allowed inside them without The Escort of Escorts, so that's kind of curtailed my shopping....

[Nancy Martin]

William, during my foot-enforced home stay, my husband has been bringing home dinner several nights a week. One of his favorite places is a Chinese restaurant beside a TJ Maxx. While the food cooks, he goes shopping. (Normally unheard of!) Now he comes home with shrimp & snow peas as well as a bag of new excerise clothes.---But he never tries anything on, so the sizes are usually wrong. And nothing---but NOTHING--ever matches. I guess he needs an escort, too. Know one I could hire?

Coldwater Creek outlet....mmmmm.

[Cheryl]

Since you are about to become a doting grandmother, for children's clothing, you can't beat The Children's Place and the Hanna Andersson outlet.

If there is a Children's place outlet by you, you are in luck, since they do some serious markdowns on really cute, high quality clothes. The stuff ends up cheaper than Target, but keeps it's shape and lasts. A big kudo for them, they still sell "kid" stuff, not pint size hoochie mama ensembles. If there is a grand daughter in your future, you are in for a shock.

Their web site also had some sweet deals, shipping is always $5, which beats a drive. You can almost always find an online coupon.

If you are going high end, the Hanna Andersson outlets will work with you over the phone. Call on a non-prime day (Mon-Thur) and the sales associate will run around the store and describe items. To make it easier for you and the associate, keep a back log of catalogs. The fabrics change, but they have fairly consistent styles. They have adorable, really well made clothing. My girls are wearing the pajamas that their 2 older boy cousins wore. Super soft, great quality.

[Annette Dashofy]

Another of my favorite bargain tips is the scratch and dent deal. Like William with the marred electronics, I go that route anytime I need a new washer or dryer. My laundry is in the basement, so no one sees it. Who cares that the dryer looks like it went ten rounds with a dump truck! As long as the equipment works, appearance doesn't matter. What does matter is the $200 they knocked off the price.

[Cheryl]

Now for the record, we do all go out of our way to buy books from our local independent book seller. It is one area that I try to not economize. Yay, Left Bank Books in St. Louis.

[michele]

I wish I could say the farmer's markets save me money! I'm addicted to the fresh local veggies, fruit, cheeses, eggs etc. around here. The flavor is amazing. But the prices! I've become a locavore and it's costing me big-time.

On the other hand, rural life saves me a bundle on clothes. No need to dress up, and nowhere to buy the stuff even if you want to. I'm starting a new job Monday (teaching law twice a week) and I could use a few things. No time for a trip to the big city, so my choices are Kohl's, JC Penney and the local college girl boutique that carries cute T-shirts and minis. I find myself yearning for a Target.

[xena]

Sooooo......in 2 words....thrift stores. In Hialeah there is a place called Flamingo Plaza. Back when the earth's crust was still cooling, when I was growing up, it was over the river and thru the woods and a really nice shopping plaza with a Richards as the main department store. Now it is a plethora of thrift stores. I shop it when I'm looking for ready made things like kids dress shoes and pants for plays. It always amazes me how most kids only own jeans, t-shirts and flip flops or sneakers. You have to know where to look and always have a tape measure. You'll be overwhelmed by the crush of people with their whole family in tow the first time but then you learn to focus and not to brag but I've done the entire cast of "You can't take it with you" for $150.00! If you have a problem wearing used clothing, even tho' they are clean, there are plenty of brand new items with the tags from big department stores still attached for 5.95. And then they are half off on Saturdays. (Senior discount days are Wednesdays and I must confess I don't have take my mother with me any more.)So get your bootie off and see what's in your neck o' the woods. Hallandale has some great thrift stores too and all those hoity toity snow birds get rid of a lot of fancy schmancy stuff. As with garage sales, or as I like to call them, junkque sales...the better the neighborhood the better the junkque.
Just saying.

[Josh]

Michele, wear the half shirts and minis. It will greatly increase your attendance rate, at least among the portion of your class that enjoys that sort of thing. They may not be thinking about class, but, hey, you can't have everything.

Remember, this is from someone who married his law professor, although she never wore half shirts or minis, and once she was clued in on "issues," she made sure to wear jackets or something else that would make it less obvious.

[sarahS]

Michele and I are in the same boat and, actually, she's better off. Where I live is the Death Valley of Retail. Except for farmers markets, those we have in abundance. Otherwise, we're screwed.

When I go to places like Cleveland or P'burgh, I'm stunned by the # of stores. Every conference I go to leaves me wandering the aisles of Saks dazed and awed.

But since I'm currently writing a book that contains a lot of savings tips, let me share the one that's more unusual -

Buy your gas at dawn, especially in the summer. It's thicker in the ground and you get more bang for your buck

[Kathy Sweeney]

Just about every online store is doing promotions this week - free shipping, stuff in on sale, etc.

If you need a computer, the Apple Store is having its Student Sale. If you don't have a student, faculty members get discounts too - we just got Tom a Mac Book laptop, with a free printer and an iPod Touch (you get the rebates by mail) and still saved $600 with my faculty discount. (I'm teaching this semester too - a last minute thing that should be fun).

You don't have to be an actual teacher to qualify for the discount. If you are on the PTG board at your kids' school, you can qualify. There are other ways too - check the website for more info. IF you live in Pittsburgh, just about anyone with a UPMC ID can qualify because of the affiliation with Pitt.

I love the Talbots Outlet too (they carry Real Women Sizes) as well as the Jones New York Outlet in Grove City - assuming it's still there.

[storyteller Mary]

My friend has been introducing her children to the savings at Aldi's. they are thrilled because the $2 she gives them to spend on treats goes so much further. I'm limited by my latex allergy -- Mid-Towne IGA has promised there will be no latex balloons, so I go there. I do have a favorite produce stand, Anthony's, where prices are good and the produce is fabulous. To try to save a bit with the new mortgage to pay, I have taken the advice of several friends and signed up with http://www.angelfoodministries.com/
There are no qualification requirement, just sign up and get a good deal on basics.

[Nancy Martin]

Update: Still no grandbaby, but weve reached the hour-by-hour update stage now. I did find the Carter's outlet in Lancaster several months back and loaded up!

[Karen in Ohio]

Nancy, the airline discount site I think you're referring to is Zapta.com. In July I flew out West, but I missed the best rate, waiting around for my husband to make up his mind on whether or not to go (he decided he couldn't leave work), and the price went from $432 to $630. I signed up for Zapta and added this flight for them to watch. A few days later I got an email that the flight's lowest price was now over $1,000, then a few days after that it dropped to $475. At that point, Zapta arranged for a voucher for the difference between what I paid and the $475 for me, which came in the mail a few days later. It's only a voucher, which means I have to use it to fly on that particular airline, but it's still a huge savings; Zapta takes something like $15 for the service, but it's worth it, I think.

In the 1970s I was in the retail business and I saw retailers begin to train their customers to expect sales. At this point we'd be crazy to pay full price for anything, and I rarely do unless it's something I need right this minute and don't have the luxury of time to wait, or if it's something that's really rare and special. I honestly don't know how Macy's makes any money, between their sales and the $25 gift certificates they send me when I use my credit card in their store. I have three of them in my purse right now.

Did you know that Linens, Etc. does not require you to have an actual coupon, and that they accept Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons? And Krogers doubles manufacturers coupons every single day, plus if you take your own bag (reference my post yesterday), they give you a nickel for each one you provide. I love that kind of stuff.

[Karen in Ohio]

Shoot, I always leave something out. I meant to also add that you should beware of "outlet" stores, which are not what they used to be. Originally, they were truly the repositories of overruns and other extras manufactured but sent back or never sold. Nowadays, due to their popularity, manufacturers make all sorts of stuff specifically for their outlet stores, generally lesser quality stock that you would most likely not buy anyway if it were in with their regular, department store inventory. As the saying goes, caveat emptor.

[Harley]

Oh, my God, the synchronicity! Why, JUST LAST NIGHT I was in Macy's, replacing my 8-year old's beloved new favorite sweatshirt, left onboard our cruise ship (yes, we've hounded the Lost & Found) and the saleswoman persuaded me to renew my credit card because I'd get an extra 15% off, then pulled out another 20% off coupon she handed me, and voila -- I ended up buying another sweatshirt and 2 pairs of junior sweatpants.

And hey, my kids are the precise age to take kitten notebooks to school. Send 'em over!

[Karen in Ohio]

One more (sheesh, where is my brain today!): There are dozens of online sites for coupons, but this one offers links to many of them:

http://www.dailyedeals.com/ Online and store coupons.

Also, all the bookstores now offer coupon deals when you sign up with them (and some have free keytag thingies to receive discounts), and they regularly send offers. Books-a-Million's is the best, and they have in-store coupons at their "book club" area, including one for free coffee. (Their coffee is very good.) Borders' is also free, but you have to pay a fee for Barnes & Noble. However, with B&N all you need is your phone number, so all my kids use that one and I feel as though we definitely got our $25 worth.

Nancy, I'm so happy you're getting that thing off today, and am keeping my fingers crossed for your daughter and an easy, quick delivery of a happy, healthy little bundle of joy.

[Nancy Martin]

Karen, you are a springing well of information today! I'm going straight over to Zapta...