The Biggest Danger of Shopping Clearance/Specials/Going Out of Business Sales

The “it’ll be gone next time” dilemma.

I recently bought a couple of things, not huge ticket items but between it all I had spent a little over $100, I had found some items on clearance, and wanted to make sure I got them.

I quickly returned most of it, I still have a few items sitting around to decide on, but I realized the deal was half the reason I was buying them.

Now don’t get me wrong clearance is still valuable, and I would’ve used the stuff, but what I (and my Mother) remind myself of is that there will always be more deals. They’re will always be another dress, another electronic device (or a new update for your older one on the other hand).

Online shopping is even more interesting because if you pay for shipping you do not want to pay for the return. That said I usually don’t pay for shipping or I know I need the items, or they’ll be gifts, or they’re store pickups so I can literally just take them back to the store, or they’re Amazon and Kohl’s will take the returns.

Then there’s “going out of business” sales. These ones maaaay be by far the hardest, especially if the brand is unique because you know you won’t get a better deal on this brand, like ever again…literally. That and usually everything is already on the sales floor, especially the deepest clearance. My trick is to shop it early scope out limited items – get your brain churning, unless you were already looking for it seriously don’t buy it. The second trip is for picking up things that are still well in the budget but cheap. If you think you nee it then do a third trip if you keep seeing a cheaper option of something you were thinking of getting down the road I’d go for it. These aren’t hard and fast rules (even for myself) obviously but it worked well in the latest case.

So what is this latest case?

Wilson’s leather is going-out-of-business. Yup, the real leather store with sometimes decent discounts. On my first trip to the outlet mall I saw the sale and took a peek – saw gloves on sale, mostly jackets out of my price range, but thought about making an investment purchase. On the second round, bought my boyfriend and I beautiful leather gloves $11.70 a pair, couldn’t really go wrong. Third trip: after my family, all decided it was the perfect time to replace decades old jackets (and for my sister and I get our first real ones) we made the trip back and found jackets for under $200 for each of them. Since I don’t mind faux leather as much and I already had two faux coats (but paid under $50 for both (one black and one light brown) I realized I didn’t think I could justify spending as much. I found a jack for $54 on sale and decided to go for it it was one of only 3 that I found under a hundred, and the only one I at least liked and fit. I figured I probably can’t find a real leather jacket again easily for under $100. It’s a deep brown and the tag lists and original price of $450. I think it looks nice and looked great against the wall of my apartment building as seen in the cover photo.

So if you find yourself shopping for non-full-price items. First and foremost consider the return policy, then consider if you were planning to get similar items, and if it could be a stock up opportunity. Second, make sure it’s still in budget, or something you’ve saved up for, and see if you can find the cheapest still version of the item to to the job (as in the case of my new leather jacket).

Happy Shopping!