10 Outlet Mall Secrets0

I bet more than half of my wardrobe came from an outlet mall.  When we lived in Chicago, Sarah and I lived within driving distance of an awesome mall that had a number of stores that most other outlet malls don’t have.  We loved it.  The choice was simple:  spend a lot of money or spend a little.

Outlet malls can be great.  Don’t get me wrong.  However, this list from Smart Money magazine has really opened my eyes to what’s going on at these outlet outposts.  For example, have you ever wondered why outlet malls are typically found in remote locations?  It’s not by coincidence!  Apparently distance spent traveling equates to a greater amount spent.  Once you’ve made that commitment to drive to a far off place to visit an outlet mall, chances are you’re going to spend more than if you had just gone to the neighborhood mall.  For most, it’s a daylong affair.  It’s not the kind of trip where you go to just pick up a thing or two…and the retailers know it!

There used to be a time where outlet stores would receive slightly damaged goods.  However, those days are over.  Because so many products are created overseas, quality control inspectors work to ensure that damaged goods are never shipped to the states in the first place.  Doing so, this helps save on shipping costs.

Today, many retailers are making made-for-outlet store items that aren’t always on par with their regular-store equivalents.  For example, they could be made with cotton instead of wool or lack details like reinforced buttonholes. One expert recommends inspecting tags for the letter F (for factory outlet) and checking the model number of small appliances online (a product modified for the outlet may have a different model number).

For the complete run-down on the Top 10 Things Outlet Malls Won’t Tell You, click here.