Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

Ebay Fashion Vault

Oh Boy… Ebay has gotten into the online Sample Sale biz!
Ebay has enlisted some of their most trusted sellers and designers to work closely with eBay to bring you Fashion Vault sales events. For a limited time, 48 to 72 hours, exclusive online events will have selected designers on sale by brand authorized Ebay sellers who sell these higher end garment at substantial savings to Ebay members..

The current sale when I cruised the site was Hugo Boss with savings of 60% on tops, jeans, suits, blazers, belts, dress shirts and more. All NWT using Hugo Boss catalog pictures, but from only one seller. These designs come directly from sellers who are authorized by the brand to sell their merchandise. And to make these deals even better, shipping is free.

The discounts seem to be limited to “up to 60% off” and like all online Sample Sales, quantities are limited. But that’s a enough savings along with the Free shipping to more than capture my interest. Do sign up for notifications of the Vault Sales.

If you’re a fashion or Ebay junkie, now you have something new to quench your interest… Ebays Fashion Vault. OY!

Beyond The Rack

Yep, This is the year of the online Sample Sale. There seem to be a new one every month. Some stand out… some don’t.

One stand out is BeyondtheRack.com. The set up is similar to Rue La La and Gilt, and they have sweet discounts. 40%-70%, on both men’s, women’s and kids designer clothing and accessories.

This week Bed Head PJ were featured, most priced at $49. The last online sample sale I saw them at they were $59. They also had J Brand at $99-$149 instead of $150-$225. Over 24 different styles of Marc Jacob sunglasses were $59-$89 instead of $135- $185.

Upcoming sales include La Coste, Miss Sixty, Superga, Thro, Adrianne, James Jeans, Linea Pelle and more.

This one ya need an invite to sign up for, otherwise you have to wait… can’t have that.
BeyondTheRack

TheOutnet.com

Usually when I shop online sample sales I have to be ready right at the top of the sale or I could lose out on my size. Sometimes I am just not available to sit like a jockey at the starting gate to go shopping.

I have discovered a new site that offers many of these sought after designer names at seriously steep discounts that are on sale all the time. The Outnet.com.
Savings here are 40%-80% off with the bulk of goods priced at 50% off. original retail. The designers tend to be higher end/ couture lines, so while the savings are steep, the items can still be pricey.

Recent arrivals include Marc Jacobs concrete jungle print dress for $138 instead of the original $460. A Narcsio Rodiguez satin dress at $855 instead of $2850. A T-Bags graphic print dress at $82 instead of $165 and Mathew Williamson stunning lace embroidered dress at $413 instead of $1375. An Anna Sui lace cocktail dress was $100 instead of $249 and Burberry quilted jacket was $298 instead of $595.

You’ll also find shoes, handbags and other accessories here. I like the red Mulberry shoulder bag for $597 instead of $997 and totally flipped for the Roberto Cavalli Zebra messenger bag at $1295 instead of $2500.

A fun site to cruise for fashion,  even if a $1200 handbag or dress is not a normal purchase for you.

ECrater

When rents are high, foot traffic is slow, where do retailers and small business start ups go? Ecrater.com

Ecrater.com a 100% free online marketplace and a free ecommerce website builder. Sellers receive customizable free online stores. In addition, all products get listed in their free online marketplace. So like Etsey.com, they have smaller creative start up businesses using it to get their online business going and some of these offer some outstanding deals.

Here you’ll find a wide variety of small online stores. From designer clothing to magazines, and art to antiques. Kind of like an online swap meet but better.

Some stores are tiny with great deals. One shop on ECrater I liked was My Designer Closet http://www.mydesignercloset.ecrater.com/product.php?pid=3514877

This online women’s resale boutique had a new Marc Meredith Sweater dress at just $70 instead of $160.

Another bigger store, Tillie’s Tidbits had a wide variety of women’s & men’s fashion accessories. http://tilliestidbits.ecrater.com/ Featured was a pair of Ed Hardy deck shoes for $47. And a NWT Kate Spade women’s hot pink straw purse for $125…Retail is $265.

The jewelry, vintage and collectibles sections had the most dealers listed with a full range of pricing from bargain $5 pins to pieces in the hundreds of dollars.

E Crater.com is good online site to cruise for hard to find items as well as for fun..

GomattaGirls

At www.GomattaGirls.com they sell one or several items every days. Not hundreds of different items just a few,  usually rather special women’ s clothing item at a discount. It’ s like sample sale shopping…. One steal at a time.

You go by every day and they have one new product on their home page for you to peruse at a discounted price. They sometimes carry multiples of that one item but that’s it. It’ s easy to make a decision and fun.

GomattaGirls carries women’s fashion items. Dresses, tops, jackets, jewelry, accessories etc. The discounts are terrific. This week they had Samantha Jane earrings and matching necklace.Earrings are $19 instead of $75 and the necklace is $29 instead of $150. Great for yourself or a gift.

A couple of weeks ago they had Meg strapless floral dress for $36 instead of $170 and a few weeks before that a Jenny Han Chiffon drop waste dress for $37.50 that originally retailed at $225. Wished I had pounced on that one. A Wendy Katlen Cotton Strapless Dress was featured a couple weeks before that for $59 instead of the retail of $308. Most clothing items come in several sizes.

You should register if you want to be notified when something is posted. They also have a refer a friend program where any time you refer a friend, you are awarded 20% of the money they spend on their initial purchase as Store Credit. They don’t need to make a purchase immediately - as long as you’re the original referrer, they just have to make a purchase within 12 months for you to get your reward.

Finding just a few, rather cool items at a time,  that are really discounted somehow seem more special that sorting thru racks at a sample sale. Very cool!

You’re gonna love it.

BagBorroworSteal

As some of you have noticed, I like nice handbags. Not the Louis Vuitton or the Gucci, but good designers who make interesting quality handbags.

I never got the concept of the website Bag Borrow or Steal. Here you can basically rent a bag for week, a month or as long as you like and when you’ve had your fun, you return it.
What I didn’t know is that you can also borrow jewelry and designer sunglasses at far less than paying retail.

Membership includes 20% discount on borrowing rates, priority access to new arrivals, member only private outlet sales, and you can earn rewards. Rates run from $9.95 a month to a year for $59.95. Good savings if you love to change handbags all the time.

However, if I love a handbag, I want it for keeps, not just for a couple of weeks or one night affair..

On this site they have a page where you can buy new or gently worn bags at around 30%-50% off the original retail.

They have Tylie Malibu, Chloe, Marc Jacobs, Isabella Fiore, Kooba, Prada, Hermes, The Sak, Donald Pliner, Maxx, Yves St Laurent, Fendi, Lorelei, Perlina, LaMarthe, Bottega Veneta, Bulga, Gusto, Pollini, Gucci, Cynthia Rowley, Coach, Celine, Betsy Johnson, and so much more.

A couple stellar buys include a gently carried Lulu Guinness frame bag at $335 that retailed at $1125… a 70% savings. An Emilio Pucci bag is $195 instead of $370.and a BCBG Max Azira leather bag at $180 instead of $362.

If you have a bag you’ve been coveting but couldn’t get this is a great site to either Borrow the bag or Steal it.

Etsy

It’s wedding, graduation, and Mothers Day gift giving season. If you’re tired of the standard faire at the mall and are looking for something completely original, than start your search at www.Esty.com.

This site carries a wide variety of handcrafted jewelry, handbags, clothing, furniture, artwork, prints, home décor items and more from independent artists, vendors and craftsman. Sort like an online arts and crafts show but with delightful extras.

You can search by description or category. Trying the time Machine is fun. It shows you the most current additions to the site and you can go backwards to re-look at them.
Most items are reasonably price and since you are buying from individuals you contact them directly.

I found a neat original Ranunculus Print by seller Tara Hogan for $30. A pair of Peruvian Opal, Rose Quartz and Sterling Silver Earrings for $24 in the Mothers Day Showcase section. I was smitten with the wall mounted Pink Polka Dot Earring Holder for $34.

The vastness of the selection here is mind boggling. But it’s so much fun to look through that you’ll find the time flying by. The pricing is very reasonable and you’re dealing direct with the artist. No mark up from reps, retailers or showrooms. So watch out you’ll be buying something unique and wonderful before ya know it.

SaleGrab

Okay if you are a die hard bargain shopper, have I got a site for you.  www.SaleGrab.com lists the deepest discounted prices on sale merchandise on dozens of different websites. Mostly fashion and accessories. Although I did spot several digital cameras and a few other electronics.

The savings on average 50%-95% off the original retail. 

The site organizes by steepest discounts first and some of these are so steep…. it’s stupid!

Some women’s Prada pants were $50 instead of $544. A men’s LS silk shirt by Nautica is $10 instead of $70. A stunner was a pair of Marc Jacobs Sunglasses. They say they list for $2500. No wonder no one bought them. Here they’re $120, a much more sane price.

The items at the deepest discounts had a very small size selection, often one of a kind. When you got into the 60% off range you got a bit of a better selection with more current merchandise. A Charles David Oxford pump retailed for $144 and it’s on sale at $44 in all sizes. But you have to remember these items are severely discounted for a reason.
Every item is sold off a different website, this is just a referral or affiliated website. The sites are pretty well known. Amazon, Macy’s and the like.

You can cruise the site by type of clothing and a few designer names. But the fun is starting at the deepest discounts and going from there.

Curl up with a cup of Hot Chocolate and spend a little time. You may come across the one item you’ve always wanted for a super cheap price.

GypsyTrunk

Most bargainistas have penchant for expensive stylish items but have learned how to get these coveted items for less. Sample sales, trunk shows, outlet malls are our favorite haunts. But for those of us fast working fingers, we can now shop an ongoing sample sale online without ever sharing a dressing room with strangers again.

www.GypsyTrunk.com is a new website that carries dozens of your favorite designer labels at sample sale prices. With a bit of something here for guys, gals and wee ones, you’ll find Bloom Love, Velvet, Trina Turks, Vince, Chip & Pepper, C&C California, Ella Moss, Mint, Joe Bush and more at 30%-60% below original retail. Though the selection in each designer label is minimal, overall there’s enough here to keep you cruising the site for more than a few minutes.

There is a seven-day exchange policy.

15DollarStore

Though I had reviewed this cool online site over a year ago, I return visit this last week yielded so much more.

Everything on the www.15dollarstore.com website is $15 or less. Most of the inventory is women’s hip junior lines with values mostly up to $100, but all at $15 or less. Since our last visit the inventory has more than doubled and they added a section for kids.

Now those of us, with persnickety mini fashionistas can take them shopping in the privacy of our own homes and get a great deal minus the public cajoling and whining that usually accompanies a normal retail outing.

A kids Roco wear denim skirt retails at $35-$40 here it’s $15. A girls Hype chiffon dress was also just $15 instead of the original $56. A My Michelle cotton/ denim boho skirt was another good deal at $15.

If your mini fashionistas is nearer an adult size there is plenty here to choose from. A Rampage sheer Victorian blouse is here at $15 instead of $46.
Other junior labels here include: Yank, Fifi, Romeo and Juliet Couture, Andrew & Co., Girl Krazy, Tramp, Topsy Turvy , Trixxi, Hot Kiss, Kali Girl, Paris Blues, Sweet Romeo and more.

Lots of fun for a mere $15 bucks!

EmergencyCafe

As a native Californian I have lived through 3 good sized earthquakes. The Sylmar quake from 1971 is one of my earliest scary memories. Most of us who have been here awhile take earthquakes seriously even though we live with it with the attitude “it goes with the territory”. But many of you new to Southern a California don’t know what you need or how to put together an emergency kit. Everyone in California should have one.

This is where Emergency Café comes in. Operated by Cari Butler, this entrepreneurial mom Emergency Preparedness began when her daughter started pre-school and was required to have a personal emergency kit. It occurred to her that everyone should have their own personal emergency kit at an affordable price. She now provides consultation services for families and businesses, as well as offering the Emergency Café line of kits.

For do it yourselfers you’ll find a check list of supplies to take to the store. For those of us with less time, you can purchase kits starting at $55 for a one person kit up to $205 for a five person kit. There are backpack kits for your car, pet kits, under the bed kits, tools, ladders… the basics all reasonably priced, all in one place.

Stop by www.emergencycafe.com for your emergency supplies.

Come on, get on it, it’s been 12 years since the last big quake! Some might say we’re over due for a good shake!

FragranceNet

Valentine’s Day is so close. If you have a loved one some where other than here, you’d better get on it.

One of the classic presents for Valentines Day is perfume. www.FragranceNet.com has been a long time favorite for fragrance purchases online. Their consistently good selection, fast shipping and savings of 5%-55% have shoppers saving on their favorite scents.

Everything from standards of Oscar De La Renta 1oz EDT spray for $19.80 instead of $38 to sexy bottle of Jean Paul Gautier 1.7 EDT for $55.89 instead of $60. There’s any easy alphabetically search available in either men’s or women’s fragrances.

A new surprise for me was the skin care products carried on the site. Some of these were at substantial discounts and others at retail. Products from Clarins, Dermalogica , Estee Lauder, La Prairie, Murad, Mac and more.

Another plus here is the free shipping in the USA for purchases of $60 or more. It’s a great way to give or get a lovely Valentines Day gift. Orders to be delivered by Valentines Day must be ordered by 2/7.Valentine’s Day is so close. If you have a loved one some where other than here, you’d better get on it.

One of the classic presents for Valentines Day is perfume. Fragrance Net has been a long time favorite for fragrance purchases online. Their consistently good selection, fast shipping and savings of 5%-55% have shoppers saving on their favorite scents.

Everything from standards of Oscar De La Renta 1oz EDT spray for $19.80 instead of $38 to sexy bottle of Jean Paul Gautier 1.7 EDT for $55.89 instead of $60. There’s any easy alphabetically search available in either men’s or women’s fragrances.

A new surprise for me was the skin care products carried on the site. Some of these were at substantial discounts and others at retail. Products from Clarins, Dermalogica , Estee Lauder, La Prairie, Murad, Mac and more.

Another plus here is the free shipping in the USA for purchases of $60 or more. It’s a great way to give or get a lovely Valentines Day gift. Orders to be delivered by Valentines Day must be ordered by 2/7.

BargainOutfitters

Sleepless nights usually find me surfing the net. On one of these lunar surfing expeditions I stumbled across a site that infused me with bargain glee…. BargainOutfitters.com

This site is filled with lots of guy stuff like cameras, radios, camping supplies and government surplus items at prices that were more than reasonable if not down right bargain basement. I couldn’t pin point what got me so energetic. It probably was the deals in their Super Email Bargains like a Seth Thomas retro styled Alarm Clock for $9.97 instead of $39.99 ( 75% savings) or the portable Conair Back massager for $11.97 instead of $50. Perhaps it was the Pulsar women’s watch at $24.97 instead of $125 or the feather and down feather bed at $39 instead of $120.

As I scanned the site, the disappointment of missing the Night Owl specials from 12am-3am (CST) was overwhelming. Doesn’t 4:30 in the morning count? It was way too early for the lunchtime specials that run from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm CST, but at least, I could plan ahead. Both of these super buying times have already discounted merchandise marked down even more.

My gleefulness at this new find must have come from the ease of surfing the site along with the promise of a bargain on something I never thought I would have wanted. Like all good e-commerce sites, there is a phone number so you can call in your order or check on your orders status. I signed up for their e-mails so I wouldn’t miss any exceptional deals.
This site is more fun… and has better deals than hitting an outlet mall.

Amazon Outlet

With the holidays just around the corner and all of us trying to keep our information secure during online purchases, I thought I’d check into the outlets at a tried and true, major online store.

Amazon.com is a fairly priced website. The Amazon Outlet is an extension of the regular site with additional discounts of 10%-50% on a variety of items usually found on their site. This outlet section includes deals from the independent sellers that Amazon partners up with.

There is a ton of product here, from computers (both new and refurbished) to sundries, bedding, toys, electronics, books, apparel and so much more. If you shop Amazon, you’ll want to start your bargain search here.

A quick cruise around the site yielded deals in every section. I found a Phillips DVD recorder for $200 instead of $399. A Panasonic 5.8 Ghz cordless phone was well priced at $54. An Audiovox portable personal video recorder w/ 2.5 LCD was $74.99 instead of $219.

The apparel section was quite large with dozens of name and designer labels. A bit of something for anyone (guys and girls) from plus size to infant. The bedding section had a good selection of higher end bedding. No poly junk here. The toy section was huge and you can browse by age appropriate toys. Books and music were overflowing with choices. This on line outlet is huge!

With all the goodies available, you may never leave your home to shop again. Simply put…lots of tempting deals

SheFinds

The boutiques and designers of New York are always at the top of fashion divas shopping list. But us hip West Coasters, Southerners and equally savvy Mid-Westerners can’t always hop on a plane to shop these designer digs. Enter www.SheFinds.com.

Owner Michelle Madhok, knows the trends and where to find them. Her expertise and knowledge give consumers everywhere the insight they need to get the latest styles and products that fit everyone and every budget. She reads all the fashion publications, scopes out the streets of New York and scouts the stores to find out what’s worth your while. Then she surfs the web for the best style finds and put them at your fingertips in her free weekly newsletter.

Like BargainsLA.com, SheFinds.com is packed with great ideas and sources. You’ll find out about new trends, products, designers and shopping boutiques before the masses and where the sources are for those items. But the area that She Finds has that Bargainsla.com does not offer (or I’d lose my mind) are leads to some of the best online sales in “Deal Alerts”. She Finds digs around, scopes ‘em out and saves you time and money by helping you find the best the web has to offer. As all savvy shoppers know, the best bargain shoppers are armed with up to date information. Here’s a great place to get that along with the goodies.

If you’re a shopping fashion diva or just a “wanna be”, She Finds.com is the place to visit to get in the know.

SilverJewelryClub

The old adage, “You get what you pay for” doesn’t always ring true, particularly if you’re a savvy bargain hunter. My adage is “To get more than what you pay for” … I like mine better and usually it’s true.

So I get an e-mail from a website that will send you FREE jewelry. It sounded too good to be true, but curiosity over came me and I went for a peek to www.SilverJewelryClub.com

What they do is list a new piece of a sterling silver jewelry on their site that you can have for free, except that you have to pay shipping and handling of $5.99. They’ll only send one per customer… so you can’t keep going back and get more. Here’s how they explain why they’re doing this.

“Giving away our jewelry for free is our way of introducing our products. We know the competition is fierce, and we want you to experience our jewelry. Wear it yourself or give it as a gift!”

The day I logged on they had a garnet earring set as a freebie. A nice sized garnet set in sterling silver. I plopped down my credit card and sent away for my almost free jewelry. My hubby thought I had lost my mind… possibly.

It arrived in less than a week and was much nicer and a bit bigger than I imagined. This could retail anywhere from $19-$29 and I paid $5.99, a definite deal! Not quite free but a definite deal. They guarantee their jewelry and buying is secure with encryption with a SSL certificate from Verisign.

As I write this they have a matching garnet pendant that retails at $39. Phooey- I’ve already ordered mine. Go get yours!