Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

Every month I get an e-mail from some under educated, self righteous, discount shopper who is under the impression that price is what makes something a bargain. This person complains a store I have recommended is not a bargain because of the pricing.

Wrong!  A bargain has to do with value, quality and what the real worth of an item is. It is not a cheap item for cheap.

A new 2007 Lexus ES 350 at $20,000 is a steal, unheard of and should make any buyer cautious. That’s cause you know Lexus construction and quality put it up in the $30,000 plus range. So you can’t compare it to a Hyundai. But if you could get a Lexus ES350 for $27,000 when the MSRP was $33,400, you’d know you had a good deal.

Anyone can buy cheap. There are 99 Cent Only Stores, Walmart’s and Targets everywhere. You don’t have to do your homework, know the market place, understand construction or content to shop at these places. These kinds of stores have a range of goods from okay quality to super cheap. They have a place in our culture and yes I do shop them (except Walmart).

You can’t compare the goods theses stores sell to the rest of the retail world. I wouldn’t expect Chanel quality and design inside a discount store. I wouldn’t expect to find designer showroom furniture inside a Macy’s.

If you see an item “all over town” and then see a similar item at an outlet for a designer furniture showroom… it is not the same item. Real designer showroom furniture is not all over town. It is not mass produced. The copies are massed produced and all over town.

If you think the Vera Wang dress that you can now find at Kohls is the same quality Vera Wang dress you’d get at an upscale boutique… then you are not thinking. It is a lower quality dress with less attention to detail, lower quality fabric and construction. It may still be a cute, well designed dress but, it is not the same in quality.

If you are looking at high-end designer furniture and comparing it to furniture found at Pottery Barn, you are looking at two completely different items. The quality is different, design and construction are different.

You pay for quality.

The old adage, “You do get what you pay for” is true. I don’t consider price until I know about the product I am looking at. When I research a store and review it, I always tell you how or why the product is there and where it originally came from.

If you haven’t shopped high-end showrooms, boutiques or stores, you should; even if the product is out of your range. Ask the sales help questions. Learn why it is priced the way it is priced…the quality, design and construction.

Otherwise you’ll end up comparing apples to bananas and being an under educated shopper. Knowing the market place will help you get the best quality and save you money.

I have been doing a lot more than bargain shopping and researching this last week. Hubby’s British cousins are in town visiting and we’ve been hanging out with them. It’s been pretty cool hanging with family with a completely different view of the world. Lots of laughing, chatting, drinking more tea than usual and such.

Somewhere in the many conversations we had they asked if I knew about some of the great bargain shopping / sample sales in the UK. “Heck no!” But then my curiosity got the better of me and I started snooping around the net to see what I could dig up.

In North West England….

Tel: 01282 420333
M65 J8, A6068

A thriving mill store, Barden Mill has over 25,000 sq ft of retail, men’s, ladies and children’s wear, as well as home furnishing, bedding, towels, fabric, gifts and books at up to 50% off RRP ( Regular Retail Price).

Tel: 01282 865229
Burnley Road, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 8LS

One of the largest clearance stores in Britain, this branch of Boundary Mill Stores covers more than 100,000 square feet with over 300 quality brands. Alexon, Windsmoor, Jaeger, Austin Reed, Eastex, Planet, Kaliko, Jacques Vert and Liz Claiborne. Men’s labels include: Austin Reed, Centaur, Haggar, Farah, Jaeger, Pierre Cardin and John Smedley.
French Connection, Ben Sherman, Elle and Mexx, Clarks , Hush Puppies and Pavers, amongst others. A Marks & Spencer outlet is also located in this building. Everything is 30%-70% less than regular stores.

The home store sells brand name home furnishings, glass & china including Dorma, Christy, Yves Delorme, Denby, Dartington Crystal, Portmeirion, Royal Worcester, Villeroy & Boch and Wedgwood

Tel: 01282 612193
Park Mill, Halstead Lane, Barrowford, Nelson, Lancs, BB9 6HJ

The East Lancs Towel Company Ltd manufacture high quality, luxury Cotton, Bamboo and Linen and Roller towels. Buying factory direct gives customers premium shop quality at affordable prices… about 30%-50% off. They offer an embroidery services.

Tel: 01253 877377
Freeport Outlet Village, Anchorage Road,Fleetwood
J3 of the M55, then the A585 to Fleetwood

Over 45 outlet shops to choose from offering up to 60% OFF rrp on a host of famous brands.

In London….
If you’re traveling to London, it has more than it’s fair share of bargain shopping hot spots. I found decent listings and information at:

http://www.londononline.co.uk/local/Shopping/Discount_Shops/
http://www.talkingcities.co.uk/london_pages/shopping_main.htm
http://www.visitlondon.com/attractions/shopping/whats-new-shop

If you’re into Sample sales (and who isn’t?) try book marking or signing up for emails at the following websites:

http://www.dailycandy.com/london/
http://www.stylebible.com/
http://www.myfashionlife.com/tag/sample-sales
http://www.orlakiely.com/shopping/?subcat=samplesales
http://www.fuk.co.uk/

Since I am a Southern California gal, thousands of miles away from the British Isles, consider these links a starting point. I would love to get more inside scoop so if you know of more bargain shopping /sample sale sources in the UK, send them along.

Cheerio!

I needed new hiking boots for our trip last week to Yosemite and waited till the very last minute to buy them. Waiting to the last minute to buy anything is usually stupid.

However, when I am headed out to the wilds, buying quality product outweighs price every time. I don’t mess around with cheap quality tents, shoes or gear. You won’t find me in Target or Walmart for these kinds of goods. When you’re buying hiking boots you gotta try them on with correct socks and use a slant board or climbing rock to check them out. They’ve got to fit really well. This isn’t like buying a pair of Manola Blahniks.

Sports Chalet was a first stop. After asking for help on hiking boots, I got brushed off by the help. What the?? The place was swamped. Plus the women’s hiking boot selection was incredibly small. Only 4 different pairs. What happened to this place? It used to be great. Too bad this used to be the stop for outdoor gear.

On to Big 5… Okay I didn’t expect much here, but I became near gleeful when one of my favorite brands, Hi-Tec was on sale for $29.99. The fit wasn’t quite right and there was no slant board or experienced help in sight. Dozens of shoes were strewn on the floor and the store was a chaotic mess. Low price without service is a huge mistake and this retailer will pay the price in loss revenue. Boo!

Then there’s Adventure-16. This really is a great store for outdoor enthusiasts with lots of high quality product and an incredibly knowledgeable staff. They have lots of outdoor programs and a great selection.  But ya need to be an investment banker to shop here. They do have annual sales … but of course I missed that.

So I decided to head over to REI in Arcadia. Membership is a one time $15 and at the end of every year you get 8%-10% back. They have a sharp experienced staff, a great selection with high quality gear.

I tried on several pairs of shoes, worked with a very experienced hiker/ salesman who took into consideration both my level of experience and my battered dancers feet and knees. I walked out with new Merrell light hikers at $99 plus some new wool socks at $8.50 each. Not exactly a bargain. But they had a climbing rock for me to try the shoes out on and having an expert help you out makes all the difference. I got a great pair of shoes.

I then sent my hubby the next day in to get our daughter shoes and the experience help really knew how to fit hiking shoes for kids and helped us find a pair on sale as well. At the end of the year I’ll get some money credited back. It wasn’t a bargain per se. But shopping at REI does have real value. We got exactly what we needed…. Good hiking shoes that fit.

My new Merrell’s were near lifesavers with plenty of grip and cushion on the Mist Trail and in the high country of Yosemite. Though my legs ached and I was sweating bullets, my feet were super comfy.