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Advantages and Disadvantages of Outlet Shopping

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Do you worry more about the price of clothes than where they're in season? If so, perhaps outlet shopping is for you. Outlet shopping allows you to spend less but you also get to try on the clothes. For instant gratification, no shipping costs, the chance to inspect your clothing before buying, and no worrying about items lost in the mail, outlet shopping wins over online retailers. But are you really getting a bargain when you visit outlet shops?

Big Business

Outlet retailers across the US total close to 13 thousand at this time. The 12,796 outlet stores combine to bring $31 to $42 billion in annual sales. Do outlet stores still exist to take the out of season items and other hard to sell clothes off the shelves of profitable high street store? The answer appears to be "no" because designers like Ralph Lauren and Liz Claiborne are making clothing that's only ever sold in outlet stores. In that scenario is the customer getting a raw deal or great quality clothing at low prices?

Average Discounts

Customers normally get a discount when they shop at an outlet store but according to statistics from Value Retail News, the discount is an average of 38% off the retail price. That's great if you're buying an Armani suit but it's not enough off a t-shirt to make the journey out of town worthwhile. A separate study by Consumer Reports in which they compared like for like items bought in outlet and high street stores showed that discounts range from three percent to 72 percent. Some items were actually more expensive in the outlet store, especially if the high street shop was running a sale.

Quality

Today, damaged goods no longer account for the majority of the outlet store's stock so quality is not an issue. The fact that top line brands make clothing especially for outlet stores means the quality will be good but those items may be produced using materials and methods that lack a little of the brand's normal care and attention so you might find clothing that doesn't last as well. Consider footwear made from synthetic material over shoes made with real leather and you'll understand how the similar looking shoes can be sold at two very different price points – one in the main store, the other in the outlet shop.

How to Save Money

As the prices are so low it's easy to spend more than you really want to when you visit an outlet shop but bear in mind the following advice and you won't get carried away. Don't impulse buy. Don't buy something because the price is low. Bring cash to set yourself a reasonable spending limit. Make a list of what you really need to buy and stick to that. Pick up those items first and then spend the rest of the money on other things or keep the cash for your next trip.

Future of Outlet Shopping

Outlet shopping might have reached its peak now because anyone who's visited this type of store regularly over the years will have noticed a change in the way they look. Outlet stores are no longer massive warehouses stocked with clothing. The new breed of brand-name merchants that run outlet stores have improved the experience to the point that prices have begun to increase in order to cover the renovation costs and the higher operating expenses. If that trend continues, perhaps consumers will have to go online to get the sort of deals they expect now from outlet shops.