Suzanne O’Connor’s Bargains LA

Bargainist.com

Bargain hunting has always been in and right now getting a great deal is super hot. The new trend in 2010 is coupon use, freebies and discount codes. Looks like a lot of folks are jumping on the band wagon helping us find deals in town and on the web.

The Bargainist is a national website with coupons, discount codes and deals listed on everything from designer boots to electronics. Recent leads to online deals include a Guess boots at 40% off, a Nike Coupon, a 70% off at ShopBop, and a 25% off a $30 purchase at Pro Flowers and a Nikon Coolpix L20 camera for $90 instead of $120.

They cover a lot of goods at discount websites but they also get and post links and info on less common savings like a 20% off coupon for Kenmore kitchen appliances at the Great Indoors and a 62% savings at at the Watchery on a Movada Junior Sports Chronograph watch.

You’ll also find a section with “How to” and “Money Saving” tips. Always useful for getting the best deal.

Bookmark this one. Visit it often. It’s fun and packed full of info and savings!

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

Bad Joan

Do you have a need to be bad?
A visit to Bad Joan.com may make you feel like your being bad, but you’re really being good by shopping a website that will save you serious money on fun cutting edge women’s fashions.

This online 24/7 Sample sale carries goods by Purp7e, Colin Robertson Footwear, Desanke, Eco Skin, Farron Elizabeth, Kaj Ani, Karmel & Alden, Kate & Kass, Jenny Han, Nu Collective, Object of Desire, Wilen and more…. All at 50%-85% below original retail.

A Purp7e belted poncho pullover sweater is $36 instead of $140, A Zovo robe was $170- but Bad Joan has it for $45. A totally cute Jenny Han U Neck dress would normally set ya back $225. But Bad Joan has it at $45 and a Tricky Threads Frankie dress in Lavender is $25 instead of $275!

Like all sample sales, sizing can be limited and you should pounce when you find something. The savings here are steep, real and oh so sweet. Bad Joan should be visited a least once a week to pounce on the best deals.

Now who said being bad wasn’t good? At Bad Joan it is!

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.

RedTagCrazy

By now many of you know what a fan I am of Gomatta Girls.com. The concept of one deal at a time is a hit with me. It makes shopping easy and fun.

Another site that has taken that idea and run with it is Redtagcrazy.com

They sell a hot item from a known, sought-after label, one at a time. From casual to better women’s designer clothing at serious savings of 50-80%. Here you pounce fast as quantities are limited, and time limited.

The last few items for sale included a Paige Premium racer back baby doll top for $29 instead of $68. A LinQ zip up top at $22 instead of $48 and a Lush, dragon embellished tank top for $7 instead of $34… an 80% savings.

But it’s not just about the deals. This is a social shopping model as well having a variety of ways for you to connect to other shoppers on their site by hooking into popular social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Another fun shopping site for fashion hipsters who love saving money…. One item at a time.

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..

TheMiniSocial

Now that my daughter is old enough to shop in the junior sections I often take her to sample sales with me. But I didn’t have the luxury of shopping children’s higher end clothes sample sales when she was smaller. They just weren’t around.

Well all that’s changed with www.TheMiniSocial.com. Set up like other online sample sales this sale caters to moms who want the best for their kids… but for less.

The Mini Social is a private members only on-line boutique, featuring designer clothing and accessories for mom, baby and child. You now have access to the most hip and modern designer brands for mom, baby and child, all at 30%- 60% off.

I am sure that beats the hassle of shopping the downtown mart showrooms.

Right now they are offering up cute, boutique brands Childish, Eliza Gran, Knuckleheads and Hula Mula at some serious discounts.

A Tough Guy Knuckleheads tee was $15 instead of $30. An infant burglar stripped romper was $20 instead of $42.

An OM Gosh cute girls stripped jumper by Hula Mula was $52 now is $25. And a stripped tunic dress was $62 but is now $30

These aren’t Target prices, but if you love the designer clothing scene but can’t normally afford it, this site brings the pricing down to earth

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.

ShopItToMe

“Wow” flew out of my mouth the second I figured out how cool this website is. If you’re into online sales but rarely find your size or designers you adore, then www.ShopItToMe.com could well be your ticket.

The concept is simple and the service is FREE. Simply select your favorite designer apparel brands (Armani, Prada, Bebe, Betsy Johnson, Theory, Tahari, Juicy Couture, Seven Jeans, BCBG, etc…) and your size. They’ll cruise the websites of leading online retailers and then email a daily or weekly summary of the items that go on sale in your size. Clothes you love, in your size, emailed to you on sale. How cool is that?

You can specify if you want to receive daily, weekly, or semi-weekly emails. But, you’ll only get an email if a new item appears on sale in your size. They work with online stores for Saks Fifth Ave, Macy’s Gap, Nordstrom’s, Pink, Brooks Brothers, Overstock, Zappos, E-Luxury, Ann Taylor on Bluefly. So you won’t be shopping untried , unknown online stores.

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!

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.