Be Aware of Off-Priced Malls

How many of you have ever shopped in those so called "off-price" shopping malls that now dot every interstate in the USA? You go to the "name brand" stores and expect to find bargains, right? Wrong!

As a former consumer investigative reporter for Post Newsweek TV, I can assure you that in most cases this is one of the biggest scams pulled on the American public! In fact, some of my consumer investigative reporter colleagues have exposed this scam on national TV. They sent one of the producers into one of these malls with the new amazing small cameras that can be hidden even in handbags. She shopped for a diamond ring if I'm not mistaken in one of the "name brand" jewelry stores. She purchased the diamond ring and returned to New York City. Then she took the diamond ring to one of the top appraisers. He told her that she had way over paid for the ring. She also had purchased several clothing items from another "name brand" store to return to New York and find them lower priced in the regular stores. Were they "seconds" she had purchased at the mall? Not according to the mall sales clerk. However, the clerk in the New York City store assured her they were seconds and that she had paid more for these items than she would have paid in New York!

Does this continue to happen? Absolutely. So what can you do to avoid being scammed?

First, be assured that items purchased in the majority of these "name brand" off-price mall stores are "seconds"! As a former salesperson for a major men's clothing chain, I can tell you that with most items it is hard to tell the difference. One particular, clothing designer that I like, Alexander Julian, claims they have more stitches per inch than other designer clothes. How many people are really going to know how to check this out? Not many.

However, there are ways to check for "seconds" in clothing since I do know something about this area. First, check to see if the seams on the clothing are sewn in a straight line. Most of the "seconds" in designer jeans have crooked seams. Might not be too noticeable to the average consumer. Second, check to see if one arm or leg length is longer or shorter than the other. Third, check to see how well the buttons are sewn on the garment. Also check to see all the buttons are on the garment! Fourth, check to make sure the zipper works. Fifth, check the patterns and stripes to see they are correctly designed. I have seen garments where the stripes were not evenly spaced or where the stripes were not the same width.

If you're considering purchasing a high ticket item like a diamond ring from one of these "brand name" stores make sure you have an ABSOLUTE WRITTEN guarantee that you can return the ring within say 24 to 48 hours. Then do like the reporter did: have it appraised by a qualified licensed appraiser. I would avoid taking it to another jewelry store if possible. They just might tell you it was overpriced in order to get you to buy their ring instead. Find an independent appraiser in your Yellow Pages. If he/she says that it is overpriced, then immediately return it to the store! They should honor the return policy especially if you have it in WRITING.

If the store will not comply with this request, shop in another place. Your own home town jeweler might be the first place to shop. Again ask for the written guarantee and have the item appraised independently.

Where are some alternatives to shopping for bargain items? Tried Ebay? So far, I have had great luck with Ebay. Of course, I also tell them that I'm a former consumer investigative reporter. In another article, I will share tips for shopping on Ebay from Ebay expert Jason James whom I have interviewed.

Try consignment shops in your local town. If you look carefully you will find some great "recycled" designer clothing like I'm wearing as I write this article. I regularly pick up Calvin Klein, Alexander Julian, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, etc. for pennies on the dollar even in my little mountain town. I know of a high ticket clothing consignment store in Atlanta where one can buy "recycled" Armani suits for less than $200 in excellent shape!

Be careful shopping for jewelry in pawn shops! Most likely they will not give you a written guarantee of return. What you buy is what you keep in pawn shops!

Believe it or not even Wal-Mart and K-Mart have good buys in the jewelry department and also will let you bring the item back. Recently I was in Wal-Mart after Christmas looking in the jewelry section. I spotted a watch that I had read about in Popular Science from Fossil. When I had read about this "complete PDA on your wrist" watch it had been offered for close to $200. That was not a priority at that price and I knew that eventually I would find one at a lower price. As I looked at the box I could not believe the price - $28.95! More than $170 off the original price! Now that watch is on my arm.

Remember the old saying: Buyer Be Aware!

Hugh Simpson, is a former consumer investigative reporter for Post Newsweek TV and currently co-founder of http://www.usprepared.com an emergency preparedness consulting company. You can download his FR** Ebook Emergency Preparedness Guide for the Third Millennium at the site. He can also be contacted at hugh@usprepared.com.