Factory Outlet Malls
 

So, what's your experience with them? I've been to three different ones, and have had varying savings from them. I just found out that the one closest to me has two new stores that I love, and am toying with the drive.

What's your verdict? Did you ever get something really a bargain? Or have you found something that you liked from another season? Or is it mostly older styles?

Give up your Factory Outlet stories!!

It depends. I have been to some stores that make the claim that they have "outlet prices", but in fact their prices are no better than a sale at the store. I hate that! After driving (wasting gas) to get there, I hate to find out that I could have just looked on the clearance rack at my local mall to find the same thing and price.

I can only recall a few outlet places that I've been to where it was truly oulet prices - and that was the Gap distribution center in Erlanger (Northern KY) and the Coach outlet in Pigeon Forge, TN. I do have to say that on the 2 occassion that I have been to the JC Penney outlet store in Kansas City that I have scored some deals there so I'll include it for now. :)

The only one I've truly been thrilled with is the Lenox outlet. I broke a salad plate to my china and was able to just buy one replacement plate there, which is helpful.

I really like the Gap Outlet in Lebanon, TN. It is really nice with some good deals.

I LOVE Opry Mills. It is all outlet stores. I have gotten Halston shoes for $60 bucks before at Off Saks. And, Charlotte Russe is nice. Some things from there suck, though.

Like the above poster, Pigeon Forge has some awesome outlet shopping. Whenever we go to our vacation house in Gatlinburg, we hit the outlets:)

Usually, I have found that I can always find wardrobe staples from outlets. If I want something really trendy, I know better than to look at outlets. But, if you are looking for things you can wear from year to year it is AWESOME. (By wardrobe staples, I mean jeans, shoes, t-shirts, nice blouses, jackets, skirts, little black dresses, etc.)

I am a big fan of outlet malls. I've gotten quite a few really good deals there. Many of the places have last season's styles, but some have current styles...it all depends. Some places also make lines of clothing expressly for the outlet stores. Of course, some places have better deals than others. For example, the L'eggs Hanes Bali Playtex, which has good deals on some stuff, sells other things (like Just My Size bras etc.) for the same price you can get them at Target. I've seen Levi's jeans on sale at Kohl's for the same price or less than they are at the outlet. On the other hand, I've consistently gotten great deals at the J.C. Penney outlet, Eddie Bauer outlet, the VF Factory Outlet (sells Lee, Wrangler, Vanity Fair and some other brands), and Nordstrom Rack.

My big score today: I went to the Chicago Premium Outlets, which is a fairly new outlet center in Aurora (west of Chicago). I decided to go into the Kate Spade outlet store, just to see what was there. I snagged a really cute red tote bag with a dog on it (the Darling Dog Jaidyn I think it's called), originally priced at $175, for $59 including tax!

I posted about my Vera Bradley buys in that thread. (A small cosmetic bag - with some body lotion thrown in - for $7 with an extra 10% off at the Crabtree & Evelyn outlet, for instance!)

I luuuuuuuurve the Premium Outlet Mall here. I don't go too often because it's somewhat of a "drive", but when I go, I usually find great stuff at Guess?, Saks Off 5th, BCBG/Max Azria, Kenneth Cole, and Coach without spending a fortune!

The only bitch part about the experience? The parking. The parking's like hell on earth, especially on the weekends.

Went to one today. LOVE IT!!!

I found great deals. So happy!

You definitely have to know the general prices of the "regular" store before assuming it's cheap just because it's an "outlet" store. That being said I HAVE found some GREAT deals, mainly at the same stores OTW mentioned, Guess?, BCBG, one of my coach purses is from the outlet. I go into Gap and such, but the prices weren't THAT great and it was the same stuff I passed over in the mall at the beginning of the season. I usually go around x mas and when I'm driving that far away anyway.

I love the Outlet Malls up here.. and we have a TON because of No Sales Tax in NH.

But they can be VERY hit or miss. Sometimes you find AMAZING deals (especially when they have sales) - other times it is just as expensive as the regular stores.

I ALWAYS have good luck at the GAP outlet though - Ralph Lauren is usually good too!

Factory 'outlet' malls - combat shopping at its finest! :D

There are fabulous deals on kids' clothes at the nearby Gap and Old Navy outlets. All the other stores are a ripoff, though.

We used to have a Spiegel outlet near us that was wonderful. Sometimes you had to dig but you could usually find some really great stuff there. Unfortunately when they went bankrupt they closed the outlet store. They also had an Eddie Bauer and a Gap outlet right next door which were wonderful as well. I've bought several winter coats at the Eddie Bauer outlet for under $50.

We used to have a Spiegel Outlet in Naperville. I loooooved that place. It was a good source for jeans and shoes. I miss it.

I love shopping at outlet malls! Sometimes you can find a good bargain, and some chains (like the Bombay Co.) have items that are only offered at outlet stores.

Arundel Mills is only about 10 miles from me and I used to frequent the Carters outlet there when the girls were younger. Great prices, there. The other stores aren't all that impressive except for Saks Off Fifth and H&M.

Honey, you always have a place to stay if you'd like to check out Arundel Mills! The only downside is that we have tax on clothing in Maryland so the prices are automatically 5% higher than in Pennsylvania :(

I've never had a good experience with an outlet mall.

The Cookstown Outlet Mall in Cookstown, ON. (which is near me) is a waste of an hours drive and gas. They have a Nike outlet store, but the prices are exactly the same as the Nike Store in downtown Toronto.

I think it's a hit and miss...I'll go into outlet malls (and we have lots of them within a 1-hour drive from us!) and sometimes I'll find great deals...other times, the deals aren't really "deals" but the price represents what you're paying for...

I like to compare them to the buying process to Ebay...if you know what you want and you know the quality/price of what it's worth, then you can determine if you're getting a good deal..you need to go in with your eyes open...

I'm a big fan of outlet malls. Some are hit-and-miss, but if there's something you want, and you know it's less than what it would cost retail, then it's a good deal.

There's a premium outlet, Silver Sands Factory Stores, near my hometown. Some of the stores, like J.Crew, Nike, and Reebok, are picked over and you'll never really find a great deal. The GAP, Banana Republic, and Off Fifth Stores are really good. If you are an uncommon shoe, bra, or dress size, you'll find excellent deals in premium outlets. Many of the home fashion stores are excellent---I found 1,000 thread count sheet sets for $39.99.

I'm planning to make a pilgrimage to Woodbury Commons (NYC-area outlet) in the near future.

Grove City's the bestest. The prices are comparable to a coupon sale at Kaufmann's and I can find stuff there I can't in the regular stores - especially Gap & Banana Republic.

I was at one of the outlet malls in Lancaster (this is many years ago) and I was apalled - yes the merchandise was cheap, but everything was really shoddily made and kind of dirty. that's when people would buy anyhting that said "outlet" on it and thought it was TEH BARGAIN.

We registered for our china and everyday dishes from the Mikasa & Pfaltzgraff outlets. Prices are at least 10% cheaper (if not more) and they have a better selection than most stores.

A lot of the other stores in the same outlet center don't really have good deals, though. I've seen some shoe outlets where prices are cheaper in the regular stores :eek:

The JCrew outlet is in my town since the distribution center is here. I get good deals there a lot.

I do almost all of my shopping online, but if I do go to a store, I want to have a really nice experience, so I don't go to outlet malls. I'd rather go to, say, Anthropologie or some other cute little store, or Field's, when I still lived where they have them.

Unfortunately, I am not a bargain shopper. :(

there is a large outlet mall about 20 min. from where I live. I go to the Banana Republic and Gap outlet often. The BR carries their own line of outlet clothes, top quality but not in the stores. Its nothing for me to run down there one friday after I get off work to find something to wear out if I am having one of those "i have nothing to wear" days. I get a lot of my PE teaching clothes from the Nike outlet there. Bombay and Co. has a good outlet store also. Mom does a lot of shopping in the Liz Calborne outlet and we both get deals at the Yankee Candle outlet. Shirts and shirt dresses from the Polo outlet are another staple that I pick up. I have visited some good outlets in SC. In the older outlets on 501 I have founds some deals on the Off 5th Ave. outlet and Coach outlet. Ann Taylor has a store further down the road at the new outlet center. I made a deal with the ex bf who lived there...if you are going to Bass Pro Shops, I get to go to the outlets across the street! :D

Hey, I was in that store today, too. I got something cute for my cousin's high school graduation gift. I also scored a really nice tube top/skirt outfit at BCBG and a swing pack at Coach. I had high hopes for the Le Crueset store, but couldn't find the pot in the color I wanted.

Thanks, everyone!!

I'm going to Grove City tomorrow (33girl, I think the Lancaster one is shoddy, too!), mostly because I LOVE Coldwater Creek's clothes, and they have an outlet there. I will duly report any savings, etc. Did I mention that CC was silly enough to send me a $25 gift card (if I spend $100 - VERY easy to do!)? I tried to copy & paste a copy of the dresses I'm interested in for a wedding I'm attending, but CC wouldn't let me. :(

The best action I've had at an outlet mall was when I had won $100 in gift cards - talk about bargains!! Like valkyrie, I rather do my shopping online or via catalog, so I have to be inspired to go. I got my china at Grove City's Mikasa outlet, and basically got 2 place settings free.

Since I take an odd bra size, I always check Vanity Fair, but have only come up with one prize there; same with Reebok. I'm psyched that there's a Bombay Store there now - I could easily live in a completely Bombay-style house! :)

Honeykiss, you mentioned an outlet store in Kansas - is it near Kansas City? I think I went to one in Olanthe? (?) There was an awesome quilt store there that I still kick myself for not taking seriously! I'm going to a convention there in August, so if you know if that mall still exists, please let me know if there's a quilt store there. If there is, I'm bringing an empty suitcase!!

Anyone near DC, is the outlet mall just south of the Beltway, somewhat near Quantico any good? Are all Spiegel Outlets bankrupt?

You're thinking of Potomac Mills, which is part of a chain of outlet malls (The Mills Corporation), and it's a pretty good mall but is always overrun by busloads of people on shopping pilgrimages.

I'm not Honeykiss but I live near this outlet mall. Unfortunately,there isn't much there anymore. All the big stores like Old Navy and Dillards are long gone. They advertised it as an outlet mall but the prices are comparable to the regular mall. Since the regular mall has better stores and is just much nicer all around,that is where people go.

I would suggest instead of outlet shopping,maybe hitting some of the antique shops in Greenwood or the Branson area. I know some of the little Ozark towns thrive on the tourist industry and it is only a few hours drive.. You may also find some interesting things at the City Market. Its always a fun place to go. It has all sorts of unique homemade items and its a great place to people watch.

Well, due to circumstances beyond my control, I wasn't able to spend as much time at the outlet as I would have liked, but here's the scoop on Coldwater Creek: mostly winter clothing, all the dresses were 50% off, but many of the "sale" prices of items I've seen in the catalog were actually the same price as in the catalog. The purses & belts were $14.98/$9.98, but as I don't plan on attending a country western party in the near future, they weren't for me. The 25 pairs (yes, I counted) of shoes I saw were only $15 each, but in odd sizes. If you wear an eight or ten, you're in fine shape - otherwise, it was catch as catch can.

I ended up with four multi-season sweaters (two of which I had lusted after, and were originally $69.98 each) for $101.

The Reebok outlet had some great sales, but not the shoes I wanted, and Jones New York was SOO packed, I didn't even get in the door!

I remain convinced that outlets are wonderful for housewares and similar things (about which you know the price), but not to count on the clothing stores for your dream dress!

midwesterngirl, thank you SOO much for the info on that KS mall! I was trying to figure out a way to get a quilt back home, but I think I'll just wait until my next trip to Grove City and hit Volante Mills (a lot of Amish/Mennonite items) for a quilt!

Now, that's just depressing! I just may take you up on Arundel Mills, though, now that I've given up on finding "the" dress at an outlet! Watch, you just KNOW I'll find it in a state with sales tax on clothing!!

Thanks midwesterngirl. At first, I thought honeychile was talking about The Great Plains mall and I was going to cry! Its been a while since been to it, but I loved going to Off Fifth and DSW there.

The Dillards outlet closed? :( *le sigh*


Oh, I bet that is an awesome place to shop. ;) One day....

I like outlet malls--I have been to a bunch all over the country and have found that sometimes you can get a great deal, other times not--it's basically hit or miss. The one place I always stop is Harry & David's--their prices are much better than the store and I am addicted to their pepper and onion relish--such a great dip. I always stop in the Nike outlets as well as they usually have decent deals on sports bras and running gear.

Wilson's Leather outlets are fantastic!

I got a $250 all leather heavy winter coat for $40.

Of couse now I live in Carolina and have no use for it, but that's not the point.

Harry & David's?! ACK!!! I wanted to go there, and decided that it would be a waste of time! :(

honeychile, the Coldwater Creek prices are usually best on their website - my mom buys a lot from there.

I think I am going to go to the Aurora outlets soon with one of my sorority sisters and will report on those.

I have gotten some good deals at outlets. Both mine and my husband's winter coats came from the Brooke's Bros. outlet. I think they were both about $400 retail and we got them for about $150 - 200. I also bought a $700 Emanuel Ungaro suit for $150 a few years ago. Mikasa and Lenox are also great outlets if those are the patterns you choose. If you sign up for their mailing list, Mikasa is constantly running buy one get one half off or some other kind of sale.