I’m writing about Going Out of Business Sales and close-out, liquidation and other special sales. I’m looking for Arizona Daily Star readers’ experiences with these increasingly familiar sales.
Write reporter Dan Sorenson dsorenson@azstarnet.com
I’ve been going to going out of business sales since I was a kid. You can get some really great buys but keep in mind the following:
1. If the chain is keeping other stores open, the higher value merchandise will be shifted there.
2. Likewise, the store may bring in merchandsie from stores in other areas so don’t be surprised to see stuff that they didn’t sell before.
3. Know your prices, sometimes the price tags are artificially inflated (at least in the beginning weeks)so your % off may be pretty close to the regular selling price.
4. The prices will steadily drop as the merchandise gets sold off but selection will thin out.
5. All sales are final.Don’t buy on impulse, if you need to measure something at home, do it first and come back another time to buy it.
6. These sales are always sad as people lose their jobs, communities lose a business and America loses another piece of its collective heritage.
My first real experience with a going out of business sale was the big sell-off of CompUSA down by Tucson Mall. Despite big signs that said “40-60% off!!” the prices certainly didn’t seem to reflect that. I did talk to one employee who told me that they were allowed to negotiate discounts above what was listed, but of course they couldn’t give the merchandise away.
I’ve been tempted to check out the big clearance at Shoe Pavilion up at Oracle Crossings, but I get the feeling that I’ll be disappointed there as well.
I got some killer deals when Montgomery Wards went out of business. I wasn’t able to cash in on some of the appliances because they, of course, didn’t offer delivery, but I’m sure there were some happy homeowners during the last two weeks before the final closure.
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I went to linen n things – sorry but at 70% off I’ll keep my $$ in my pocket.
we’ll see if circuit city really has anything either.
70% off is a good start but at the prices I see starting from maybe 90% off is better before I’ll part with my hard earned $$$
— fred f 11/11/2008 03:12 PM #
I’ve been going to going out of business sales since I was a kid. You can get some really great buys but keep in mind the following:
1. If the chain is keeping other stores open, the higher value merchandise will be shifted there.
2. Likewise, the store may bring in merchandsie from stores in other areas so don’t be surprised to see stuff that they didn’t sell before.
3. Know your prices, sometimes the price tags are artificially inflated (at least in the beginning weeks)so your % off may be pretty close to the regular selling price.
4. The prices will steadily drop as the merchandise gets sold off but selection will thin out.
5. All sales are final.Don’t buy on impulse, if you need to measure something at home, do it first and come back another time to buy it.
6. These sales are always sad as people lose their jobs, communities lose a business and America loses another piece of its collective heritage.
— Wendy Blume 11/12/2008 09:18 AM #
My first real experience with a going out of business sale was the big sell-off of CompUSA down by Tucson Mall. Despite big signs that said “40-60% off!!” the prices certainly didn’t seem to reflect that. I did talk to one employee who told me that they were allowed to negotiate discounts above what was listed, but of course they couldn’t give the merchandise away.
I’ve been tempted to check out the big clearance at Shoe Pavilion up at Oracle Crossings, but I get the feeling that I’ll be disappointed there as well.
— voyage 11/12/2008 11:18 AM #
There is virtually nothing left at Shoe Pavilion, voyage. I’d save the gas for another sale.
— WanderingMex 11/12/2008 12:17 PM #
I got some killer deals when Montgomery Wards went out of business. I wasn’t able to cash in on some of the appliances because they, of course, didn’t offer delivery, but I’m sure there were some happy homeowners during the last two weeks before the final closure.
— Sharon 11/12/2008 01:07 PM #