Don’t Buy These 6 Items From a Shopping Mall
When you need to stock up on household essentials or are hunting for the perfect gift, the shopping mall may seem like a one-stop shop. However, experts warn that some purchases are best avoided at the mall if you want to save money.
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GOBankingRates spoke to shopping experts about some items to skip buying at the mall and where to get them for less instead.
Specialty Foods
“Don’t buy specialty foods, particularly around the winter holidays,” said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews.com. “Many shopping malls will likely have kiosks set up for specialty foods like candies or gourmet items that make good gifts, but often these have such a limited selection it’s not worth shopping. Even if it’s a high-quality brand like See’s Candies, you’re better off shopping online and just paying shipping in order to get exactly what you or your recipient wants rather than having to stick with whatever is available in the temporary store.”
Cookware
Another mall purchase to avoid, according to Ramhold, is cookware from retailers like Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table.
“Whether it’s Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, or another similar retailer, the cookware at malls tends to be more about looks than functionality. You may be able to find a hidden gem but a lot of what you see may be specialty pieces like holiday-themed baking pans or enameled cast iron casserole dishes, so it may be harder to find everyday basics, especially at a good price.”
Her advice is to “take stock of what you have and what you need and then do your research to determine which brand you want to purchase. From there you’ll likely want to shop online, especially if that means finding an outlet that could offer deep savings on things like factory-seconds. By taking this route you’re more likely to find pieces that will truly last and aren’t relying on a gimmick.”
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Business Clothing
When restocking your work wardrobe, the mall may seem convenient with its many clothing stores. However, Ramhold cautioned against this approach.
“If you need to refresh your office wardrobe, the mall might seem like a good place to go. After all, there are probably a ton of clothing retailers plus department stores to shop at but the truth is that unless you know a specific brand to look for, the whole thing can be overwhelming. The last thing you want to do is spend $100 or more on a pair of black pants only to have them become threadbare or rip within the year.”
Instead, she recommended “figur[ing] out your favorite brands and then shop[ping] online. Sites like Untucked have great button-up shirts, and Target has a decent selection of business casual clothing at reasonable prices as well. Rather than having to physically go to multiple stores trying to find what you need, shopping online is a much better strategy as long as you know your size and can return the items if need be.”
Office Supplies
For office essentials you go through quickly, Trae Bodge, a smart shopping expert at TrueTrae.com, suggested, “If you’re buying essentials that you will go through quickly, like printer paper and ink and you have a wholesale club membership, buy them in bulk the next time you visit the wholesale club. You can save significantly in buying in quantity.”
Gift Cards
While malls often have gift card displays, Bodge shared that you can save by purchasing them online instead.
“Some stores have gift cards near the cash register, but you can often save a little on retailer gift cards when you buy them online. For example, at GiftCardGranny.com, you can get up to $2.50 back on Staples, Nordstrom, and Kohl’s gift cards. Better yet, give a Visa card so your recipients can shop wherever they want! The visa cards can be personalized with a photo and message so they feel really special.”
Photography Equipment
For cameras and videography gear, Bodge recommended, “It’s good to visit the mall to see items in person and receive expert advice. However, it’s easier to save money when ordering online, using coupon codes and cash-back offers from deal sites. Better yet, see if you can find your desired items used. On a site like MPB.com buy used photography and videography equipment at affordable prices. Every item on the site is inspected carefully and comes with a six-month warranty to give customers peace of mind that buying used doesn’t mean sacrificing reliability.”
Shopping at the mall can be fun (and nostalgic!), but it’s not always the right place for the best deal. For better prices and selection, look to buy many household, clothing, and tech items online or from other retailers instead.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Don’t Buy These 6 Items From a Shopping Mall
