No matter how hard you try it’s almost impossible to avoid the mall. At some point in time we all need to buy something whether it’s new clothes, a gift or just some retail therapy. It’s the prices that make us wish we didn’t have to go, but with a few tricks we can all afford to hit the mall now and then.
Find clearance items. Almost all stores have a clearance section that is filled with marked-down items. Clearance sections are great, sometimes you’ll find great pieces at up to 75% off. Ask a sales clerk when they do their markdowns each month and hit the stores at that time for the biggest selection.
Wednesdays and Saturdays are sales days. What better way to get people in the door than having sales. Lots of stores start sales on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so if you see something you like wait for a sale day. There’s a good chance your item of choice will be marked down.
Use store-specific credit cards. Stores know that if someone has their card they’ll be more likely to shop there. So you’ll often see special sign up discounts such as 10% off and they regulary have special discounts for card holders only. But be sure to keep up to date with your payments because the interest rates are high. Be careful not to sign up for a card that has an annual fee.
Don’t be shy, ask for a discount. It can’t hurt, the worst that can happen is they’ll say no. Stores will think you are cheap or strange if you try to bargain. In fact if you look at a lot of price tags they say, ino sale is ever final.i Don’t be greedy though, bargain reasonably.
Ask about price matching policies. A lot of stores will meet a competitors price and some will even offer you the item at 10% less. You’ve seen the commercials, if you find it cheaper somewhere else we’ll match the price. Also know about sales if you by something and it goes on sale a few days later some retailers will give you back the difference. Make sure to know the return policy, you don’t want to get stuck with an item you won’t use.
When it comes to purchasing life time items, go for quality not cost. Just because it’s cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better. If you are buying something you are going to continually use it’s worth it to pay a little more so you don’t have to keep replacing it. If you’re only going to use it once, then go for the cheaper model.
Check your credit cards to see if they are partnered with any retailers. You can save money by either using a specific credit card, showing a school id or being a member of a specific group. Check your credit card company’s website to see what they offer.
So now you’ve got 7 tricks to help you save when you hit the mall. But remember, don’t buy it if you don’t need it. A great deal is only a great deal if you are going to use the item.
