I grew up working in a retail entity that most readers don’t even remember: the bargain basement.
Yes, these were basements. And, yes, they were stocked full of bargains. While large chains had bargain basements at certain store locations, I was lucky enough to work in a family retail store. Upstairs, we sold the best in men’s suits, ladies shoes and career clothing. Half of my high school classmates bought their prom dresses upstairs.
During college and high school, though, I was slaving away downstairs. One week, we’d have a shipment of Fiesta ware at unbelievable prices. The next week? Our new shipment might be bathroom supplies…bath sheets for as low as $1.50 and washclothes 10/$1. (No, this wasn’t pre-depression. I worked in this store from 1980-1986). And boy, did we have clothes. When Calvin Klein jeans were hot, I was lucky enough to find them for $9.99 when the first-quality brands upstairs were selling for $40. The catch: I had to shop fast and I had to look carefully. Sometimes, you would find a zipper that wasn’t quite working properly or an entire collection was sized wrong. (For example, a garment saying it was a size 10 was actually a size 8). But, for taking a closer look, you could buy your whole winter wardrobe for less than $100. When I left the bargain basement and entered my first “real job,” I was able to stock up on suits and shoes for about $150.
The good thing about my bargain basement experience? I was a very well dressed teen considering I was making $3 an hour. The bad thing? I was spoiled rotten. It was several years before I shopped for clothes again. When I did, I was shocked to see the prices people expected me to pay. By that time, the bargain basements had long since been replaced by mass retailers. While the prices might come close, the quality never matched.
Lately, though, I’ve been indulging once again in my bargain basement habits. I just placed an order for 14 items, ranging from a special event dress to a swimming suit, for less than $200 at a major retailer. The store? J.C. Penney. The key? Hit the outlet key at the bottom of the departments listed on the far right of the Web site. For even more savings, click on the $9.99 and less option.
No, it’s not billed as a bargain basement. But the merchandise is first quality (not always the case with a true bargain basement). The buyer can’t try the clothes on in advance, but returns are very easy. Sometimes returns are even free. The bad side of J.C. Penney’s outlets: very rarely will coupon codes apply and you’ll almost never find a free shipping deal.
JC Penney is just one of many “bargain basement” places I’ve found on the Internet. Of course, eBay comes to mind immediately. I don’t consider this a true Bargain basement, though. Quantities and choice are limited. You may or may not know the buyer’s reputation and, unlike a major retail store, you may get soem very unwelcome surprises when the package arrives.
Chawicks.com is a great bargain basement store. Just hit “Clearance.” I’ve bought a dress here for $4 before, a dress that’s entering its fourth season. Chadwicks has very easy return policies and very good brands. The sizing is also fairly consistent, meaning that a size 14 in one line will fit the same as a size 14 in another. Another plus about Chadwicks…if an item doesn’t sell out pre-season, it will hit the clearance section before the season is over. The range is spectacular. You’ll find jeans and cute baby doll shirts for your daughter and professional clothes for yourself, or sweat pants for yourself.
Chadwicks also has a very distinct advantage. Items in their clearance bin still qualify for free specials. You can find these deals on coupon code sites or in the catalogs you get. You may be able to choose your most expensive item for 50 percent off or you may get a free purse with your purchase. Free shipping deals are often available.
Overstock.com also has a great bargain basement. Just click on the “last chance” button. Overstock is the most expensive store mentioned in this article, but you can find shoes and jackets here in the “last chance” area for $20 and less. The big drawback is that you’ll probably have to wait until next season to wear it. Coats, for example, don’t hit this area until springtime. But, come fall, you can be wearing one of a designer coat knowing you paid little of nothing for it.
