Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

Through most of the rest of this summer, my daughter is home… Yep, home and somewhat bored. So on days when she has no one to hang with or nothing to do, I try to take her interesting places.

Today I had very little time available, so a walk in the morining with me to get coffee and a run out to Highland Park in the afternoon was all I could muster. Specifically to hit famous pop and candy market, Galco’s.

I was craving a real, or as close to real as I could get, bottled Coca Cola and Shae wanted a crème soda. This place is soda heaven. Row upon row of dozens of types of cola, rootbeers, ales. Crème sodas, and even Sasparilla. So many different names and labels. Some from out of the country and some boutique (hard to find) USA brands.

But it was the candy selection that held my daughters focus. I had told her about old time candies that I had had when I was a kid, and here she could try one … anyone for just $.99

I showed her Look bars, Big Hunks, but it was the cigarette shaped gum that she wanted. So feeling totally politically incorrect, I told her she could have three boxes. After seeing Grandma suffer from Emphsyma, I am not worried about her ever smoking. We both smacked some around on the drive home… funny, it wasn’t as good as I remember.

As I write this I am sipping on a sugar cane sweetened Coca Cola in a bottle. It was as good as I remember. Regardless of how they market it, Coca Cola is better in a glass bottle. Cans be damned! I got Kevin a Saparilla and some Dads rootbeer and myself 4 bottles of sugar cane Coca Cola, Sasparilla and cream soda.

Most bottled sodas here run $1.50-$2, so this wasn’t a bargain run. But if you really want the best soda and are particular, this is the place to visit. This place is a serious throw back to the 1960’s. It’s totally refreshing from the outrageous soda and candy selections down to the conveyor belt at check out.

Galcos Soda Pop Stop
5702 York Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90042
323.255.7115

www.sodapopstop.com

Since we’re on the west coast and the Rebecca & Drew boutique is in New York, I can’t say you should hit the in store sample sale…. Unless of course your are planning on being there anyways. But us west coasters, who are fans of this designer line can peruse the online sample sale going on right now tru 8/3 at www.rebeccaanddrew.com

Known for their fitted dress shirts and dresses, lovers of classic designs will appreciate both the look and savings. This classic shirt dress retails at $250 but is now on sale at $55.

This neat top retails at $205 and is now $45 at their sale…

If you’re headed to New York, the in store sample sale is on August 5th-16th from 11am-7pm

Rebecca & Drew
344 West 13th Street
between 8th Ave and Hudson
212.647.8901

You can’t deny the fact that sitting in front of a computer saves gas and time. Here’s an online sale and  a sample sale site worth perusing:

Online Sale

Comfy tee and cool top line, C & C California http://www.candccalifornia.com/
is having a Summer Sale with 33%-75% savings. Grab some comfy summer clothes while it’s still sunny!

More Sample Sale Sites

More websites are dedicated to sample sales than ever before.
We have another one to peruse. TheTopSecret.com

Discounts are up to 75% off retail and each designer sale runs 1-3 days.
That’s all I was able to get for the Top Secret. You have to join and I am already tired of all the e-mails I get from the other online sample site sales I already get.

The problem with online sales is not being able to feel and touch the item you want to purchase. If you’re not familiar with the line it can be a problem. Several Sample Sites I am a member of consistently run out of product before I ever get to see it.

Then there’s the return issue. Sometimes mixed in with the perfect product are the seconds and irregulars. These are sometimes sub-standard enough to change the fit and effect the wear of the product. Some sites don’t do returns and if you can, you lose shipping costs. No savings there.

You can bag a deal at these sites. But shop with care for labels and product you know very well.