Outlet Stores and "Compare At" Pricing (2024)

Many bargains at outlet malls, outlet stores, and factory stores aren't what they seem. You might be surprised to learn that outlets mostly sell a separate line of lower-quality, made-for-outlet products. Price tags also might mislead you into thinking that you are getting a better bargain than you really are. Outlet shopping can be fun, but you may not be buying the top-of-the-line items at bargain prices that you think.

You might assume that you are buying the same name-brand products without the big price tag, but this usually is not true. That's right: modern-day outlet stores primarily sell different, lower-quality products than the regular retail stores, made specifically for the outlet to be sold at lower prices. While outlet stores used to sell overstock or past-season items at discount prices, today's outlets instead mostly sell products made or bought specifically for the outlet—with the designers and vendors creating familiar-looking items at a lower cost and quality.

Rarely do today's outlet stores sell the same brand-name products you see at the retail stores.

For example, clothes may be made of less-expensive material, manufactured in different countries with less-expensive labor costs, and have lower quality buttons or zippers, to bring the manufacturing cost down.

Price tags also may be misleading. Everything at outlet stores seems to be on sale or clearance—but you may not really be getting a bargain. "Compare at" and other sales prices may be designed to mislead you into believing that you are getting a big markdown when in reality you are not. For example:

  • Tags often have "compare at" prices telling customers what the item would cost at "full price." But the item might have never actually been sold at a retail store or at that higher price, and it might be the price for a higher-quality version of the product.
  • Signs saying "25% off," "50% off," or even bigger markdowns off of the "ticketed" price are common, but the items may have never actually been sold at the ticketed price. In other words, the ticketed price could be made up, the products are always "on sale," and the markdowns are fake.

Consumers looking for a lower price who are not concerned about differences in quality may find good deals. And whether or not you think a made-for-outlet product is good for you depends on what you are looking for.

But if you are looking for top-quality name-brand products on clearance, do some research and ask a store employee if the product is the same as at the regular retail store. Check the quality, and check the label to see what materials are used and where the product is made. Also check prices at retail stores or online. If you know what you are buying, you may be able to find some good deals.

Also, be sure to check the store's return policy. You usually are not allowed to return outlet store items at the chain's regular store.

The Federal Trade Commission provides information about Outlet Shopping: What the pros know and FTC Advice: How to Shop Wisely at Outlet Malls. Consumer Reports details: The inside dope on outlet malls.

You may file a complaint about deceptive practices by outlet stores with our office using our online complaint form.

Outlet Stores and "Compare At" Pricing (2024)

FAQs

Outlet Stores and "Compare At" Pricing? ›

While outlet stores used to sell overstock or past-season items at discount prices, today's outlets instead mostly sell products made or bought specifically for the outlet—with the designers and vendors creating familiar-looking items at a lower cost and quality.

Is it cheaper to buy from outlet? ›

While outlet stores used to sell overstock or past-season items at discount prices, today's outlets instead mostly sell products made or bought specifically for the outlet—with the designers and vendors creating familiar-looking items at a lower cost and quality.

Why are prices usually lower at factory outlet stores? ›

In other words, the same stuff you'd find at full-price retail stores. But the truth is, many outlet stores sell their items cheaper than their retail counterparts because their quality is cheaper, too. Say hello to a dirty little industry secret: made-for-outlet products.

What is the difference between outlet stores and factory stores? ›

Difference between outlet and regular stores

A majority of the products sold by clothing and accessory manufacturers at outlet stores are specifically manufactured for outlets using lower-quality materials and manufacturing processes than their higher-priced products sold in regular stores.

What are the advantages of outlet stores? ›

Retail outlets allow customers to see what they are buying up close and, as opposed to online stores, they provide instant gratification, because the customer walks away with their purchases immediately. A friendly and helpful staff also helps to build customer loyalty, ensuring that customers return again and again.

Why are Nike outlets so cheap? ›

When Nike Retail stores need to make room for new merchandise, they ship their older inventory to Nike Clearance stores. These stores are where you'll find past-season premium Nike products for up to 30% off retail prices.

Why is Coach outlet cheaper? ›

About 90% of what you'll find at Coach Factory Outlets are made-for-outlet bags, which means lower quality but a lower price. Expect made-for-outlet bags and accessories to be 30 – 50% cheaper than the real thing.

Who are the biggest off-price retailers? ›

Who is the largest off-price retailer? In the US, the highest low-price retail market share is owned by TJX Companies, accumulating approximately 70% of sales. It is followed by two other rivals, the Burlington and Ross stores. In addition, TJX owns TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Marshalls, Sierra, Trading Post, and Homesense.

What is the off-price strategy? ›

The off-price retail model relies on the purchase of over-produced, or excess, branded goods at a lower price, thus being able to sell to consumers at a discount compared to other stores which purchased an initial run.

Why are prices different at different stores for the same product? ›

Why? The price you pay for a particular item is a combination of the price the store paid for it, plus whatever markup the store has to add to make a profit. The store has to consider the cost to stock the item, the marketing involved to help sell it, and the money they'll need to pay the staff that helps you buy it.

Is Coach outlet legit? ›

Authentic Coach products are sold by Coach retail and outlet stores and online at www.coach.com, www.coachoutlet.com or at authorized department stores and specialty stores. To find a store near you, visit www.coach.com/stores. We do not respond to requests to authenticate product or identify authorized distributors.

What is a premium outlet? ›

Premium Outlets is a portfolio of outlet shopping centers that brings together the finest brands in a unique outdoor setting and offers impressive savings of up to 65% off every day. Each center is a shopping attraction and destination in its own right offering: Factory-direct savings up to 65% off every day.

Is Banana Republic factory the same as Banana Republic? ›

Banana Republic is their mainstream brand, marketed as a low-end luxury retailer, while Factory is the less expensive version. And their Factory store is NOT an outlet. Just like J. Crew Factory, the clothing is specifically designed and manufactured for the store.

What is an authentic factory outlet? ›

a store that sells goods that come directly from the factory more cheaply than those sold in retail stores.

Why are outlet malls in the middle of nowhere? ›

Manufacturers' suggested retail prices are a joke, often wholly fabricated to give consumers the impression that they are getting bargains. Outlet malls are based in the middle of nowhere not only because the real estate is cheaper but as part of their marketing strategy.

What is the purpose of retail outlets? ›

Retail Provides an Important Service to The Public

Retail stores play a very important role in connecting manufactures of goods to the end consumer. They create a convenient environment for the customer to compare and choose between different manufacturers and choose the best price and offering they need.

Why are stores discontinuing Nike? ›

Nike has been reducing the number of traditional retailers it sells to over the past few years. Instead, Nike has shifted sales to its own shops, websites and mobile apps, along with select stores, to take more of a direct-to-consumer business approach.

Can you return Nike stuff at the outlet? ›

Can I return items I purchased at a Nike Clearance store? No, items purchased at a Nike Clearance store cannot be returned or exchanged unless they're defective or flawed. What about defective or flawed items? We stand behind all of our shoes and gear.

Can I return Nike items to outlet? ›

What is the Nike Outlet return policy? If you made your purchase at a Nike Factory store, you can return it to a Nike Factory store within 60 days. Bring your receipt and make sure all items have the tags attached. Keep in mind: You can't return Nike Factory purchases to a regular Nike store and vice versa.

Is Coach better than Michael Kors? ›

If classic and durability is your main priority, then Coach handbags are worth buying, as well as their shoe collection. On the other hand, if you need a high-quality bag that is well-designed, has a beautiful aesthetic, and is affordable, Michael Kors might be the best option for you.

What is similar to Coach outlet? ›

coachoutlet.com's top 5 competitors in May 2023 are: coach.com, katespade.com, toryburch.com, macys.com, and more.

Is Coach outlet a luxury brand? ›

Coach New York, commonly known as Coach, is an American luxury fashion house specializing in leather handbags, luggage, and accessories, as well as ready-to-wear. Coach licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear and Paris-based Interparfums for fragrances.

Who is the number 1 trusted retailer? ›

Most trusted brands in the retail and e-commerce category in the U.S. 2022. CVS Pharmacy ranked first as the most trusted retail and e-commerce brand in the United States in 2022, with a net trust rating of 53.21 points. Amazon secured the fifth position in the ranking, having scored 48.7 points.

Who is the number 1 retail store? ›

Walmart

Who is the largest discount retailer in the US? ›

Top Discount Stores Companies in the World as of Jan. 01, 2023
RankingCompanyCountry
1Walmart Inc.United States
2Costco Wholesale CorporationUnited States
3Target CorporationUnited States
4Wal-Mart de Mexico SAB de CVMexico
26 more rows

What are the 4 pricing strategy? ›

What are the 4 major pricing strategies? Value-based, competition-based, cost-plus, and dynamic pricing are all models that are used frequently, depending on the industry and business model in question.

What are the three major pricing strategies? ›

In this short guide we approach the three major and most common pricing strategies:
  • Cost-Based Pricing.
  • Value-Based Pricing.
  • Competition-Based Pricing.
Sep 19, 2017

What are off-price stores? ›

Definition: Off-price retailers are retailers who provide high quality goods at cheap prices. They usually sell second-hand goods, off-the-season items etc. Description: These retailers offer inconsistent assortment of brand name and fashion-oriented soft goods at low prices.

What are the 3 types of price discrimination? ›

Types of Price Discrimination

These degrees of price discrimination are also known as personalized pricing (1st-degree pricing), product versioning or menu pricing (2nd-degree pricing), and group pricing (3rd-degree pricing).

Are CVS prices same everywhere? ›

Unfortunately, CVS does not price match competitors or offer price adjustments. CVS can set prices a tad higher than other stores because of the “convenience factor.” If they lowered their prices to match others, CVS would lose their competitive edge.

Where a firm sells the same product at different prices? ›

Price discrimination is a sales strategy of selling the same product or service to different customers for different prices.

Is Coach owned by Louis Vuitton? ›

Is Coach owned by Louis Vuitton? No, Coach is owned by Tapestry, which is an American luxury conglomerate competing with LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE and Kering SA.

Is Coach outlet cheaper online or in store? ›

Coach does not permit its retail stores and online products to be deeply discounted. This leaves bargain hunters with the option of driving to the nearest factory outlet. When you purchase a bag from an outlet, you'll typically pay 30 to 60 percent less than you would at a standard retailer.

What is the biggest premium outlet in the US? ›

Sawgrass Mills, Florida

With a massive 350 stores to explore, Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet, retail and entertainment destination in the United States. Stores include Coach, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren and Prada. One of the highlights of Sawgrass Mills is the life-size Barbie House.

Is shop premium outlets safe? ›

Shop Premium Outlets processes payments with a secure PCI level compliant service provider. We never touch your payment information or hold any sensitive information. For more information about our security and privacy policies, please refer to our Privacy Notice. Was this article helpful?

What does outlet quality mean? ›

Retail Quality. Another difference between outlet and store is related to the quality of the products sold. Many major retailers use outlet stores to sell overstock items and out-of-season items at a cheaper price. The products are of good quality, but retailers lack the room to stock these items.

Is Banana Republic the same as Old Navy? ›

While being owned by the same company, GAP, Old Navy, and Banana Republic are very different brands. Old Navy is the cheap discount brand. GAP is the middle of the road clothing staples brand. And Banana Republic is the high end, fashion forward brand.

Who is Banana Republic's biggest competitor? ›

Banana Republic competitors include Nordstrom, Gap Inc., ANN INC., Old Navy and J. Crew. Banana Republic ranks 2nd in Customer Net Promoter Score on Comparably vs its competitors.

Why is Banana Republic so expensive? ›

What's behind these high prices? One reason is that many of the items in a Banana Republic clothing store are made with high-quality materials. For example, a shirt made from cotton will wear better and be less likely to shrink in the wash than a shirt made from synthetic fabric.

Why are brand outlets cheaper? ›

While outlet stores used to sell overstock or past-season items at discount prices, today's outlets instead mostly sell products made or bought specifically for the outlet—with the designers and vendors creating familiar-looking items at a lower cost and quality.

How do I know if an item is made for an outlet? ›

Wheeler's tip is to do a quick online search. "You can just Google before you head into the store. Ask it what does the 'insert the store name,' mean and then the factory or the outlet tag look like."

Which outlet has the the largest collection of designer outlet stores in the world? ›

San Francisco Premium Outlets

A member of the Simon Center chain, this mall is easy to find and has more than 180 brands to discover! It's one of the biggest outlets in California.

Is Tumi outlet the same quality? ›

But when shopping for Tumi luggage, many shoppers are wondering if the products found in Tumi outlets are of the same quality as those found in full-price stores. The answer is yes, Tumi outlets offer the same quality as full-price stores.

Do outlet malls save you money? ›

Pro: Usually, consumers do score a discount at outlet stores. (Cha-ching.) It's sometimes right there on the tag—a retail price and then the satisfying slash through and sale price. So, if you don't want to pay top retail price on items, then the outlets might be worth it.

What clothes go to an outlet? ›

Clothing and apparel is often of lesser quality. Popular factory stores include Coach, Nike, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Calvin Klein, GAP, Banana Republic, Burlington Coat, and Tommy Hilfiger. Actual Outlet Stores – These stores sell items that were originally in the conventional retail location.

What are the advantages of shopping outlets? ›

Consumers enjoy huge markdowns as a result of eliminating intermediaries. Since brands directly sell their goods to consumers, it costs less for them to bring in these items. Usually, products sold in clothing outlets cost 10-20% cheaper than buying from retail outlets or regular shopping malls.

Why is it better to shop in a store than online? ›

In some cases, online shoppers have to leave their page to remove an item from their cart. In-store shopping alleviates this hassle by allowing the shopper to physically remove the item. It's also easier for customers to interact with your return policy when they make returns in store.

Does it matter what outlet to buy? ›

It is important to choose the right outlets for each room because they are used daily to power your home's various devices and appliances. Menards® offers a wide selection of outlets for many different uses. This buying guide will help you choose the best options for every room in your home.

What's a fair price to charge per outlet for replacement? ›

Expect to pay around $125 to $175 to replace or install a standard outlet. The national average can run anywhere from $100 to $500 per outlet depending on the complexity of the job.

Why are outlet stores so far away? ›

Outlets are typically built in inconvenient locations that require prospective customers to travel outside of their local area. The reason outlets are located in far-flung places is because real estate and rent are cheaper further away from populated areas.

Is it worth upgrading outlets? ›

Upgrading old outlets can be a great safety precaution as older outlets are prone to damage from debris or regular usage. Plastic casings tend to wear down over the years due to metal prongs scratching components, and eventually, this damage can lead to malfunctions in the outlet.

Is the top or bottom outlet better? ›

Technically, it is considered safer to have the ground slot on top. With this orientation, if a cord plug is partially pulled out of the outlet to expose the plug's prongs, an object falling onto the plug is blocked by the grounding prong before it can short-circuit across the hot and neutral prongs.

What are the grades of outlets? ›

Depending on who you ask, there are four or five grades: residential, commercial, industrial, specification and hospital. Some manufacturers consider the hospital-grade to be an optional feature of their industrial-grade receptacle.

How do I know what outlet to get? ›

Standard household electricity uses 120-volt 20-amp service, commonly called 110-volt. You can tell the type of electrical service to any receptacle outlet by the holes for a plug. A standard 110-volt plug has two rectangular holes, the left one slightly larger, with a hole below that has a rounded top.

How much is too much for an outlet? ›

As a rule of thumb, it's safest to stick to a maximum load of 1,500 watts per outlet or circuit. The number of things you can plug into one outlet depends on the wattage of each device or appliance you want to plug in.

Can one bad outlet affect others? ›

While one bad outlet doesn't always affect other outlets, a bad outlet can sometimes cause circuit breakers to trip, resulting in the other outlets not working as well.

How much should I pay to install an outlet? ›

The cost to install a replacement outlet typically ranges from $65-$125. Making a change to your home's wiring, such as adding a new circuit or moving an outlet to a new location, could cost $200 or more. How long does outlet installation take? It can take less than 30 minutes to replace an existing electrical outlet.

Where is the biggest outlet in USA? ›

Sawgrass Mills, Florida

With a massive 350 stores to explore, Sawgrass Mills is the largest outlet, retail and entertainment destination in the United States. Stores include Coach, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Polo Ralph Lauren and Prada. One of the highlights of Sawgrass Mills is the life-size Barbie House.

What state has the most outlet stores? ›

Number of Grocery Outlet stores in the United States in 2023

The state with the most number of Grocery Outlet locations in the US is California, with 260 stores, which is about 58% of all Grocery Outlet stores in the US.

Are outlet stores knockoffs? ›

Most outlet stores sell mostly — or entirely — made-for-outlet wares. Many brands sell cheaper, imitation versions of their own products under the pretense of offering steep discounts on main store items.

How often should outlets be replaced? ›

Most outlets last for 15 to 25 years, but some can fail in as little as a few years after installation. Signs of failure include: Frequent tripping of outlets. Damage, discoloration or cracks on the outlet.

Should old outlets be replaced? ›

If your electrical outlets are old, warped, damaged, or malfunctioning, it may be time to replace them. Old outlets wear out over time, diminishing their effectiveness or even putting you in danger. Upgraded outlets prevent that danger and make your home's electricity more effective at the same time.

Are all electrical outlets the same quality? ›

If not all electrical outlets in your home look the same, it's because there are many different types of electrical outlets. Each type has unique characteristics and features. What works for the bedroom may not be the best for your bathroom counters and vice versa.

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