Bargain Shopping Secrets

Summary

Podcast Summary: Am I Doing It Wrong? – Episode: Bargain Shopping Secrets

Release Date: December 12, 2024
Host: Raj Panjabi Johnson & Noah Michaelson
Guest: Emily Ruane, Managing Editor of Commerce at HuffPost and author of Bargain Superstar

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Introduction to Bargain Shopping

In this episode of Am I Doing It Wrong?, hosts Raj Panjabi Johnson and Noah Michaelson delve into the world of bargain shopping, addressing common anxieties and strategies associated with finding the best deals, especially during the bustling holiday season.

Noah Michelson (02:19):
"Okay, Raj, I feel like I've been shopping for weeks now that the holidays are here. How good of a bargain shopper are you?"

Raj Panjabi Johnson (02:27):
"You know what? I like to consider myself a certified Maxinista. So I think I'm good... but I have a feeling that I'm so lost in the sauce at this point that I don't actually know if I'm getting good deals..."

Understanding Off-Price Stores

The hosts introduce their guest, Emily Ruane, who provides an in-depth explanation of off-price retail stores. These stores, such as TJ Maxx, Home Goods, and Ross, offer overstock, canceled merchandise, and sometimes manufacturer-specific lines at discounted prices.

Emily Ruane (03:45):
"Historically, any off-price retailer is a larger sort of department type store... they couldn't sell, etc."

She elaborates on how off-price stores have evolved from merely selling surplus items to creating their own private labels, ensuring a more predictable inventory and consistent sales.

Emily Ruane (05:12):
"The off price store has like kind of gone the way of the outlet store. They are totally manufacturing their own product and working with their own suppliers to fully create their own labels..."

Regional Variations and the Thrill of the Hunt

Emily discusses how merchandise varies by location, catering to the tastes of the local clientele. For instance, some TJ Maxx stores have exclusive sections like the "Runway," offering higher-end designer pieces not found in other locations.

Raj Panjabi Johnson (07:14):
"Are there certain locations of these stores, like TJ Maxx or Marshalls that have better stuff than others?"

Emily Ruane (07:49):
"The Hamptons TJ Maxx is apparently lit... applies to like the TJ Maxx in the fancy part of Miami."

Noah adds that the ever-changing inventory adds to the excitement, making each visit unique and often prompting shoppers to explore outlets even when traveling.

Noah Michelson (08:46):
"The Runway is literally a section at some TJ Maxx... people love these stores because every time they go, there's something different there."

Optimal Shopping Times and Strategies

The discussion shifts to the best times to shop at off-price stores. While opinions vary, Emily advises becoming a regular at local stores to understand their specific inventory cycles and seeking advice from store associates for optimal shopping times.

Emily Ruane (09:53):
"Get to know your local TJ Maxx, get to know like your local Ross or Marshalls... ask the associates or the manager what good days to shop would be."

Noah shares insights from online forums, highlighting that mid-week visits often yield better markdowns and fresher merchandise compared to weekends.

Noah Michelson (11:10):
"People are saying like the middle of the week seems to have more often there are going to be markdowns, new merchandise."

Cautions: False Reference Pricing and Product Authenticity

A significant part of the conversation focuses on the pitfalls of off-price shopping, notably false reference pricing where original prices are inflated to make discounts appear more substantial than they truly are.

Noah Michelson (16:58):
"They always do that... you can't always think that you're getting $200 off something because they inflate those original prices."

Emily emphasizes the importance of research, suggesting techniques like reverse image searches to verify the authenticity and true value of products.

Emily Ruane (15:28):
"Do a reverse image search of either, like, the tag for the item or even the item itself... see how ubiquitous it is."

Best Buys at Off-Price Stores

The hosts and Emily discuss categories that offer the best value, such as pet products, kitchen accessories, and trusted brands. However, they caution against ambiguous items like niche food products and beauty items, which may have questionable expiration dates or manufacturing practices.

Noah Michelson (20:29):
"Most of the stuff you can get a great deal on is never going to be like, that."

Emily Ruane (21:04):
"The best things to look for are just, like, brands that you trust... things that have reputations behind them."

Navigating Outlet Stores

The conversation extends to outlet malls, distinguishing between items carried over from mainline stores and those specifically produced for outlets. Emily notes that while some merchandise originates from surplus stock, much of it is now tailored exclusively for outlet customers.

Emily Ruane (35:42):
"The outlet stores were kind of the first ones to be like, yeah, this is all marked down from us... creating private labels."

Raj raises questions about specific outlet brands like Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth, seeking clarity on their relationship with parent brands.

Raj Panjabi Johnson (38:03):
"I am curious to know Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth. I don't totally understand what those are."

Emily clarifies that these outlets often carry both surplus items from their main stores and exclusive outlet-only merchandise, while also addressing concerns about transparency in manufacturing practices.

Final Takeaways and Best Practices

As the episode wraps up, the hosts summarize key strategies for effective bargain shopping:

1. Local Variation Awareness:
   "Every off-price store is slightly different and the merchandise usually reflects where it's located and the shoppers' taste there." (Raj Panjabi Johnson, 42:51)

2. Inventory Composition:
   "Most stores feature a combination of overstocked items and products made specifically for the off-price store." (Noah Michelson, 42:58)

3. Brand Trust and Research:
   "Buy trusted brands and do your research." (Emily Ruane, 43:13)

4. Cautious Purchasing of Consumables:
   "You can find great deals on unusual food and in-demand beauty products. But make sure you check the expiration date on both of them." (Noah Michelson, 43:22)

5. Beware of False Pricing:
   "Beware of false reference pricing because you could be tricked into thinking you're getting something at a great deal when you're not." (Raj Panjabi Johnson, 43:22)

Noah Michelson (43:38):
"What about you? Did you learn stuff today?"

Raj Panjabi Johnson (44:09):
"I did and I'm really trying to transition into a more conscious shopper so I can have nice things and not more things."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with the hosts encouraging listeners to embrace informed and strategic shopping habits, balancing the thrill of finding bargains with mindful consumption. They emphasize the importance of understanding store-specific nuances, verifying product authenticity, and prioritizing quality over quantity to make the most out of off-price shopping experiences.

Noah Michelson (44:32):
"As long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better."

---

Key Quotes with Timestamps:

• Emily Ruane (03:45):
  "Historically, any off-price retailer is a larger sort of department type store... they couldn't sell, etc."

• Emily Ruane (05:12):
  "The off price store has like kind of gone the way of the outlet store..."

• Noah Michelson (16:58):
  "You can't always think that you're getting $200 off something because they inflate those original prices."

• Raj Panjabi Johnson (42:51):
  "Every off-price store is slightly different and the merchandise usually reflects where it's located and the shoppers' taste there."

• Noah Michelson (43:22):
  "Beware of false reference pricing because you could be tricked into thinking you're getting something at a great deal when you're not."

---

This comprehensive overview captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners with valuable insights into bargain shopping strategies, the dynamics of off-price retail stores, and the importance of informed purchasing decisions.

Transcript

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[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Hi, I'm Raj Panjabi Johnson, Head of identity content at HuffPost.

[Noah Michaelson]

And I'm Noah Michaelson, head of HuffPost Personal.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Welcome to Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[Noah Michaelson]

Okay, Raj, I feel like I've been shopping for weeks now that the holidays are here. How good of a bargain shopper are you?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

You know what? I like to consider myself a certified Maxinista. So I think I'm good. You know, I'm up in there, you know, in the racks, taking my time, and I. It's, it's, it's a fun time for me, but I have a feeling that I'm so lost in the sauce at this point that I don't actually know if I'm getting good deals on things and if I'm shopping in the smartest way. What about you?

[Noah Michaelson]

I have no strategy. I like going and sometimes I'm overwhelmed because there's just so many people there, but I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm seeing there's so many TikToks now of people, right? Like, they're so popular stores like TJ Maxx, Home Goods, all those. So I'm wondering, is there a strategy? Are there things that I should be doing?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I think there are. And for that, today, we have our wonderful guest, Emily Ruane. She's a managing editor of Commerce at HuffPost. And Bargain Superstar.

[Noah Michaelson]

Get me a deal, Emily.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Okay, Emily, thank you so much for being here. We're so excited to have you back.

[Emily Ruane]

Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

All right, let's start with IRL shopping and let's talk about what are called off price stores. I am a certified Maxinista. You all know this. And a home goods anista. What are off price stores and what ends up here?

[Emily Ruane]

So I would say like in the classic sense of the word, historically, any off price retailer is a larger sort of department type store, although they have many different iterations that sells overstock, canceled merchandise, maybe even slightly defective, but not in like an ostentatious way. You know, just stuff that they couldn't sell, et cetera. That kind of merchandise that comes from full price retailers or brands. You know, the stores that we think of, I think that all come to mind are like the big ones like TJ Maxx and Home Goods and Ross. Those are the big ones. And then there's like, you know, I think all these kind of like local ones that maybe have like brick and mortar presence but not like an online presence. Like, if you ever heard of like Jomar, there's a burgeoning crop of like indie ones. There's a really cool one called Off Market that works exclusively with just indie brands. So. And that's something that you don't really see, you know, at like the TJ Maxx's and like the Rosses of the world. It's usually more like kind of household name.

[Noah Michaelson]

Emily. I think one of the things people always wonder though is like, is all of the stuff in these stores actually coming from a bigger department store? Are they actually like surplus or are they, like, created? Yeah, I hear that sometimes items are actually made for those stores.

[Emily Ruane]

What I've learned through just talking to different people in the industry is that the off price store has like kind of gone the way of the outlet store. And they are totally manufacturing their own product and they are working with like, maybe their own suppliers to just like fully create their own labels. Or they're working with brands that they do sell the canceled merchandise of, but maybe X canceled piece, the stonewashed jeans from last season, that there were truly only five of them, like, oh my God, they sold out in an instant. So then the buyer is going back to the brand, whatever sort of mass market brand that has really big manufacturing capabilities. And they're like, oh, we actually, like, want you to now make this stuff for us, you know, because, like, to go on a tangent about this, like, they. These stores are just like any other brands or retailers that need to have like a predictable amount of inventory. They need to sort of like plan, you know, are they going to have like, however many, like, knits they're going to have or like shoes or whatever, you know, and they need to be because they know what sold last season and they want to replicate that so that they can have similar sales or like, better sales. So relying only on like someone's overstock is. It's like so unpredictable. It's like so chaotic, you know, and I think, you know, for a long time. And I mean, that's also like the fun of shopping at a place like that. But like, you know, I think if you want to, like, as they say, like, grow a business, if you want to like, scale, you have to kind of like get organized. And that's like a way for a lot of these stores to do that, you know, Like, I think I was reading online that TJ Maxx started out in the 70s and it was really just selling like canceled merchandise. But as they grew, you know, now it's like this enormous chain. And I mean, I'm using TJ Maxx as an example, but I think this probably applies to like, a lot of them.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And like, yeah, are there certain locations of these stores, like TJ Maxx, for example, or Marshalls that have, you Know, quote unquote, better shit than, than others. I know there's like a Runway section in some of these locations that have higher end. And I asked because like, I'm not a, for a name brand, but I do believe that some of these brands make really beautiful, thick, substantial clothes that I love high quality. So I want to know where to get right.

[Noah Michaelson]

The Runway is literally a section at some TJ Maxx.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

And they have designer label pieces that you couldn't find at other TJ Maxx and certain stores. Right?

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah. A friend told me that there's like the legend of like the Hamptons TJ Maxx, which I personally have not been to. And I think that anyone who is like a thrifter, which like, I, I, I'm sure you guys are out there, the sort of like, like thrift store logic applies or it's like the logic really of any sort of like retail presence that if you go to like a fancier place, you're gonna like, find fancier stuff, you know, and there are so many, all these off price stores have so many locations and they, they know what their customer wants and so they're tailoring their buy and their deliveries for each of these locations. So yeah, I mean, the Hamptons TJ Maxx is apparently like lit. And I think, I think you could probably apply that logic to like the TJ Maxx in like the fancy part of Miami. I mean, I'm completely making that up. I don't know if there's a. I.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Get what you're saying. That makes sense.

[Noah Michaelson]

I also think this is why people love these. Because one, every time they go, there's something different there. So you do have the thrill of the hunt. But also I know people who will literally go to TJ Maxx when they're on vacation in a different city to see what the merchandise is like there. Because it's gonna be different than when they're at home.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, yeah. You're gonna like, it's like just like anything about going on vacation, you're just gonna like encounter new stuff.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I just got back from San Juan, and in old San Juan, like the most beautiful historical neighborhood, there's a giant Marshalls.

[Emily Ruane]

Really?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Of course I went. Are you kidding?

[Emily Ruane]

We spent hours.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

The problem is we didn't bring enough bags to bring dumb back. Like they had the best candles, the best Christmas novelty T shirts, stuff that I haven't seen on, you know, the mainland. So I was like, I need to return to the Marshalls and sen. That's really fun.

[Noah Michaelson]

Like I always think about, I have friends too who will go to the McDonald's when they're in Japan or other place and see like what's on the menu there. So it's the same idea. Like just pop in there, see what's there. You might find something super cool.

[Emily Ruane]

It's going to be like the same but different.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

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[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

I love that.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Okay, so what's the best day or time to shop at these stores? I heard that they do markdowns on particular days. I'm sure it's not a weekend because everybody's out, right?

[Emily Ruane]

Yes. These stores, as we've learned, are getting their merchandise from so many different places. Like they are getting canceled stuff from an actual like high end store or brand. They're getting enormous shipments of maybe more like mass market stuff, stuff from like a cheaper department store. They're like buying huge, lots of things. They're buying like five of things and they're just buying it all the time. And I think also with the insane, insane pace of the fashion industry right now, there are just like new clothes coming in all the time. And I think it's hard to say across the board that like, if you go into any TJ Maxx on like a Monday, that's when like their new deliveries are going to come. Like, my advice would really be to like get to know your local TJ Maxx, get to know like your local Ross or Marshalls. Like be a regular. It's fun shopping there. It's like everyone's favorite pastime. So like get to know the stores. Like, you know, ask the associates or the manager, like what good days to, to shop would be. And I mean, I would assume it's in their best interest to, to tell you, you know, and as like customer service, it's really just gonna vary so much store to store.

[Noah Michaelson]

I think I was reading online again, take this with a grain of sal. One person said Monday mornings are good. Someone else said that actually Mondays are catch up days from the busy weekend. So actually Wednesday, Thursday, Friday are your best bet. Other people are saying to swing by the beauty and fashion clearance on Wednesday afternoon for the best selection since Weekly markdowns started 7am on Tuesday and end at noon on Wednesday. So again, like you said, I think you have to check out your own store. Yeah, but people are saying like the middle of the week seems to have more often there are going to be markdowns, new merchandise. Like you said, Raj, don't go on the weekend expecting the best new merchandise then. But I mean, I Go to the Marshalls over here. It's over in Brooklyn. It is never not busy.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

There's always a line. You have to wait for 20 minutes no matter what time you go. And so I think they're always putting out more merchandise. They're always going to have new stuff. And that's what they want, too. They want you there two, three times a week. You know, they want to make that a habit for you.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

And if you're in there, you're probably going to buy something. So it works for them, it works for us.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

It's this relationship that we can't, you know, we love, we hate.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I just want to say that I'm not condoning, like, hoarding stuff and, like, why in, like, fast fashion and all of that stuff. I just want to go on record and say, like, actively trying to fight that. But this world is complicated and really, like, just looking for stuff and looking at things and touching things. Like, the home goods ritual for me is me and my girls go, we pick something up, say, oh, my God, isn't this cute? And then we put it down. You know, like, it's just serotonin and, like, dopamine. Like, it's just fun to escape to that world for me. And I feel like a lot of people.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

You know.

[Noah Michaelson]

No, I agree. You were talking earlier, Emily, about the difference between something, a designer piece we might find versus a designer piece that maybe the brand actually asked the designer to make for them? So how can we tell the difference between, you know, a designer piece and actually a designer piece licensed by TJ Maxx in the store?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And I have to add to this. Like, I just recently learned about this. Like, my partner told me that Costco will, like, quote, unquote, commission things from, like, Calvin Klein or whatever. Because I'm like, this looks very Costco Y. Why is it dk?

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, Right, right.

[Noah Michaelson]

And they did. They asked them to make it for that.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, they, like, totally did. And it's like, there are definitely, like, some Reddit threads that you could, like, dive so deep, like, on and spend a lot of time trying to figure it out. Some guidance that I do have. This was, like, a amazing nugget of advice that a friend of mine told me to do a reverse Google image search of either, like, the tag for the item or even the item itself. And, like, where else is it popping up? You know, like, you'd have to, like, find the item online and then do the search for it. But, like, are you seeing the exact same thing on, like, the on Poshmark, you know, or like through like a third party reseller at like Amazon or at Walmart or like on maybe the Sam's Club website or something. Like again, these are all very hypothetical examples, like no shade to any of these people, but you know, any of these like retailers. But just, you know, does it seem like it's this identical item exists in like a lot of other places then? You know, Cause I'm sure like certainly there's some things at TJ Maxx that are probably like exclusive to TJ Maxx. But then also, you know, they're probably buying these like items from, from their suppliers that maybe their suppliers are then selling to other off price retailers or maybe their suppliers are like selling that stuff themselves on Amazon. So kind of like do a reverse image search and see how kind of like ubiquitous it is. And then you can also do the same thing with the actual merchandise tag. Yeah. And I know that there are. This is like something that I would encourage everyone to like do a Reddit deep dive on their own time. But like, because there are different like barcodes and different like item codes for like the legit Ralph Lauren thing versus like the Polo Times 7 yellow label. You know, like they'll have different barcodes depending on like who they were designed for. So there are ways to tell I think with both quick research and like intense research. Okay.

[Noah Michaelson]

I was seeing too. Even some TJ Maxx items will have a label that says TJX on it, which is so like TJ Maxx by Polo or Buy Gucci or whatever. And if the item doesn't have that then it's probably, I mean, I don't know if you can find Gucci.

[Emily Ruane]

That sounds like a Balenciaga. Like. Yeah, like Balenciaga for.

[Noah Michaelson]

Look at the tags. I love the idea of doing the reverse search. You can also do this too if something's, if you're trying to figure out how good of a deal it is. I read, I guess Amazon actually has a barcode scanner built into it so you can scan something and it'll pop up on Amazon and tell you how much it is.

[Emily Ruane]

Yes.

[Noah Michaelson]

So you can see if it's like $14 at TJ Maxx and it's $14 at Amazon. You're not getting a great deal. Yeah, you can instantly know, which I think is cool.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. And we joke about like Balenciaga for Walmart or whatever. But like I love when Target, I don't know if they still do this, but they like work with bigger designers. Like they'll have a line one season for. And it's like, clearly between the designer and Target. That's such a cool way for, like, people who are not bazillionaires to, like, get a taste of something really beautiful immediately.

[Noah Michaelson]

It's so H and M will do the same thing too. And it's like, there are people be around the block for these collaborations.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

And they're really cool.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I get it. I love a fun drop.

[Noah Michaelson]

I was reading this is crazy. Some of these stores actually had a class action lawsuit against them because they were inflating the price on it. And so the actual pricing, like, a huge bargain compared to the price it was like, it originally goes for $200.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Right. They always do that.

[Noah Michaelson]

And we're selling it for $24.

[Emily Ruane]

Yes. It's called false reference pricing. And there have been many lawsuits. Yes, but.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And so, like, they're saying, that is so messed up.

[Noah Michaelson]

You can't always think that you're getting 200 off something because they inflate those original prices. So again, check. Check it versus Amazon. Check it.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Is everything a lie?

[Noah Michaelson]

Everything is a lie.

[Emily Ruane]

Kind of. Everything is a lie. But that's okay. There's a silver lining.

[Noah Michaelson]

But I also think, you know, in any of these, you can get a really good deal on stuff. But it's that old adage, like, you never get something for nothing, and if something seems too good to be true, it might be.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

You know, especially in these stores, thrift stores, you can find that golden goose egg where it's like, oh, my God, they didn't even know what they had. These. For the most part, you can get a great deal, but it's never going to be like, that.

[Emily Ruane]

Crazy.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Right? Let's take a quick break, and we'll be right back. This podcast is brought to you by eHarmony, the dating app to find someone you can be yourself with.

[Noah Michaelson]

Okay, let's be honest and talk about doing dating. Wrong. So, Raj, have you ever pretended to be into something that you're not actually into when you're on a date just so you keep the person's attention?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Oh, absolutely. I once was on a date, and I am a Knicks fan, but I was pretending to be this, like, hardcore sports girly because that's what the dude was into, and I am not a sports girly.

[Noah Michaelson]

Right. So I bet even despite doing all of that, the date didn't go anywhere.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

It certainly did not.

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That's because I'd imagine the best dates we've had were the ones where we Were totally and completely ourselves. Not trying to jam square pegs into round holes, but enjoying a natural flow and chemistry with our date.

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[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Welcome back to Am I doing it Wrong? Okay, what are the best things to buy at these off price stores? Noah loves to buy pet products.

[Noah Michaelson]

I heard the pet products are so cheap. Yeah, and this is the thing, because I know the brands. I get Jumi Chew toys that he destroys immediately. Yeah, and on Amazon they'll be like $30 exact same toy. And at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, it's $13.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

They have great pet stuff.

[Noah Michaelson]

They have so much stuff. They really do.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And another thing is I like little kitchen accessories and stuff. I feel like they're high quality and good prices. What you tell us, though?

[Emily Ruane]

Well, you know, my friend that I chatted with was saying that categories like luggage and bedding can be, like, big offenders in the false reference pricing, like, game.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Sure.

[Emily Ruane]

So this is sort of like a tangent, but there is, like, a lot of misinformation in, like, the betting category about stuff like thread count. Like, I. You guys have probably seen this because it's, like, sort of around on the Internet, but, like, a high thread count is actually not necessary, necessarily the best thing. And, like, sometimes manufacturers will, like, actually use a lower quality, like fiber to cram more threads into the fabric so that they can advertise a higher thread count. But I think my answer to this question is that I think the best things to look for at these stores, like, not even sort of, like, category wise, but are just, like, brands that you trust. You know, brands that you, like, know things that you've maybe, like, seen in a store already or that you've, like, seen online at, like, a trusted website already. Like, something that, you know, was maybe part of someone's, like, fall collection and that now maybe a year later, you've, like, spotted it at Marshalls, and you're like, I know what this is. Like, the. I think just, like, the best things to buy are just, like, the things that you. That you can kind of, like, know and, like, vouch for and, like, have, like, reputations behind them. I would say that kind of in any category.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Okay, so not like a giant gnome candle.

[Emily Ruane]

I mean, that is kind of the best thing to buy.

[Noah Michaelson]

But you know what? That's a good point, Raj, because I think there are two different categories of shoppers here. And there are people who are going into these stores really looking for designer stuff, looking for bargains, and they have something in mind. And then there are people like me where I just go in and think, this is cute or this is stupid, or, I want to try those peanuts, or. You know what I mean? And it's just a fun adventure.

[Emily Ruane]

Yes.

[Noah Michaelson]

And so it's going to depend on what you're going in there for.

[Emily Ruane]

Yes.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Speaking of peanuts, can you tell us if it's, like, what the deal is with the food that they sell? It's the one thing I don't buy. Cause I'm so weirded out by, like, the candles and stuff next to, like, a whole bunch of food. And I'm like, this has been, to me, this has been sitting there for a while. I worry it's stale. Like, what's the deal?

[Noah Michaelson]

It's always very weird. It's like wasabi cotton candy cocktail sausages. You know what I mean? It's like stuff you would never see anywhere else.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Also kind of delicious sounding when you're high. I'm just saying. Yes, yes.

[Emily Ruane]

I mean, I think the food is kind of like anything else that exists in these stores, which is like some of it is someone's cancellation jar of weed flavored pasta sauce that just didn't sell at Whole Foods or whatever. And then some of it is being manufactured for the retailer because the habanero papaya popcorn, like ice cubes or whatever did really well in the last drop. So now the. They're like, we need more of these flavored ice cubes.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

But I think the same logic with the food. We haven't really talked about this so much yet, but apply the same logic to the food as you would to any of the beauty products and just like check those expiration dates, my friends. Just because especially with the stuff that is the more like, in that regard, I would assume that the stuff that's manufactured for the off price retailer is actually a little bit more trustworthy because they're getting it in season, made for them and shipped to them. Whereas like the cancellation of whole food stuff, like, who knows how old that is? You know, so just, yeah, check your expiration dates, check your ingredients. Like, put the blindfold on, do the taste test.

[Noah Michaelson]

I want to go back to the beauty stuff in a second. But again, I feel like this is the same thing. Someone was telling me this too. They were, they were telling me they do buy food at these places and they were saying, I don't go grocery shopping there. Like, I'm not going there to get, you know, to buy my ketchup and.

[Emily Ruane]

To buy my pantry items, but I'm.

[Noah Michaelson]

Going there to find something crazy that I think could be fun on, you know, game night with my friends.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

They have truffle oil. I have bought truffle oil. Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

So I think, yeah, like, I love your idea. Check the expirations. But also it's an adventure. And if you spend six bucks on something and it's nasty, who cares?

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, you know, yeah, just like, yeah, go for the ride. Right? It's the home goods ride, you know.

[Noah Michaelson]

But the beauty stuff. So I have heard that that is one that you have to be really careful because it can be expired.

[Emily Ruane]

So, yeah, that's, I think A lot of the stuff that does get like unloaded, you know, like, whereas like a clothing product might be like, didn't have like the right buttons on it or like it got returned and it had like a like stain on it or something like that. The issue with, with beauty products is that they can just be, you know, they just lose their like shelf life at some point. And Sephora or like a bigger name store can't sell it anymore. And the legality of selling products past their expiration date would probably be like a topic for another podcast. You know, I sort of like wonder how people are able to sell products that are past their expiration date. But you know, I think there's just some sort of like gray area at play. And you know, the expiration date is not like a death sentence for a product necessarily, but it is important to just keep your eyes peeled for that because that is, I think, a big reason that stuff ends up in those stores. And I see that even on Amazon, if you read reviews for certain products, you'll see the periodic Amazon review that's like, you know, I got like, I got an expired product or, you know, or like, or like a product. And I think this applies for off price stuff too. Like a product that was in like weird packaging, like the old packaging or something like that. There's all kinds of reasons that like a more sort of like traditional retailer has to part with that stuff.

[Noah Michaelson]

My friend Chrissy very recently got a lip gloss from a major pop star. I won't name the brand, but it was moldy and she like was putting it on. There was like mold on it.

[Emily Ruane]

Oh my God.

[Noah Michaelson]

And I think she's gotten it at one of those stores, at one of those. And it was like an amazing deal.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

Until you find the mold.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

One of the things we have to talk about because this is all over TikTok now. I would say someone sends me one of these like at least once a week. It's videos of people in home goods or Marshalls and they are like pretending to be salespeople and they're like, hi, how much is this? And it's like a frog doing the splits and it's like a candle holder. And it also like tells the time. There's all this crazy merchandise.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

So weird.

[Noah Michaelson]

Or like, or like coffee tables that are shaped like tacos.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

You know, random core.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

What the hell is that? Why do they have such crazy shit there?

[Emily Ruane]

Why like one of everything? You were the first person to like show that to me on Slack the other day. And like, I can't even like cop to the amount of time that I spent watching those TikToks. Cause like, they're everywhere. There are people at my workplace probably listening to this, but I was just like, oh, this is so funny. And they're everywhere.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

And that stuff, you know, I talked to some friends about this and like, it's so wacky. And it's really coming from the same sort of like, mix of, you know, actual kind of cancellation stuff. And then the stuff that the retailers are, you know, like that half Christmas tree, half women's bust did like so well last Christmas. Well, one thing that my friend was saying, as much as you might think that it's all just stuff that was made for those stores because, like, it's so kooky. How could it not be? Like, I mean, just think of all those kind of like small, like lesser known, like the Christmas tree shop or something like that. You know, think about all of the half bust, half Christmas tree, like things that they like, didn't sell last year. And I think that it's also just this kind of like snowball effect where home goods is like becoming now known for this as this like destination for nonsensical and I mean, like, that is the best decor ever. Right, right, right.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yes.

[Emily Ruane]

I do not speak of this in a negative way whatsoever. I mean, like, it is a source of great entertainment.

[Noah Michaelson]

I think it's funny though, because we were talking earlier and you were saying, number one, like, there is a theory that maybe home goods is behind this movement, these TikToks, because everyone is watching them. And now people are actually going into the stores to look for this shit too. Yeah, but I also love what you said, Raj. You were like, is anyone actually buying the cats in tutus playing blackjack? You know what I mean?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Like, it's so funny and it really amuses me.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah, like, like, is anyone actually buying it? And I would guess they probably are.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

I could see like a hamburger stool in someone's like kids playroom, you know what I mean? Or things like that. Because otherwise they're not going to keep it in stock.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

They're not.

[Noah Michaelson]

No.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And I never see it there. So like where someone bought it, like it got turned over. Like there's no way they have it in the back.

[Noah Michaelson]

Right?

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, yeah. And if you, you know, if you see just one of something, that's like a really good indication that it was actually, like it did have a home somewhere.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yes.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Oh my gosh.

[Emily Ruane]

In a full price store.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I have A request that's going to make bring me as much joy as people get from buying these things. If you, my lovely listeners, have bought something weird like this, can you send us a picture?

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

Yes.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

Am I doing it [e-mail] please.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I need. We need to see these. Yeah. I will put them on my Instagram for sure.

[Noah Michaelson]

Totally. I'll put it in my stories.

[Emily Ruane]

I'm dying to. To see. Because every TikTok is different.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

Like everything is. So I'm sure everyone out there has like these one off like gems.

[Noah Michaelson]

But this is another good point too, in general. And I've. I've heard this time and time again. If you see something at one of these stores and it is the only one there, or even if there's only a couple, buy it.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

If you are even thinking about it because it will not be there tomorrow and you probably won't be able to find it again.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

And so it is the kind of thing where like, it's almost like vintage or thrift in that way where if you really like it, get it because you're going to regret it.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

I will also say really quickly, I was, I went down such a rabbit hole when I was researching for this episode. People were saying if you see duplicates of things. So there's five leather jackets, look at every single price. Because if they got that leather jacket from a different vendor, one of them, it could be cheaper when they were pricing it than the other ones. So there's no guarantee that all five of those leather jackets are the same damn price.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Damn.

[Noah Michaelson]

And you can go up to them and say, you know, can I get this one? Or take the one that's cheaper.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

If it came in later than another one, they might have, you know, not marked it down yet. So always check all the prices because they can be different from the exact same item.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah. Yeah. Because there's going to be ones coming from like this one store that, that only had one of them and then maybe one other store has like, like 10.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

You know, so. And then they pool all of those and they're like. Then they have sort of like an actual size run of something.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

But.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, that's, that's.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

That's like such a good tip.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

These stores are really the wild, wild west.

[Noah Michaelson]

They are. Which is fun.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

Or crazy making.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

No, it depends on what mood you are in that day.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Let's take a quick break and we'll be right back. This episode is sponsored by Herz.

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[Emily Ruane]

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[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Welcome back to Am I Doing It Wrong? Can we talk a little bit about outlets? Yeah, Because I feel like, I don't know, outlets were, like, a huge thing in the 90s. I still go to them. Like, we have a fun once a year trip. We go to Woodbury. Like, they have the best outlets. Do these outlet stores have things that are from, like, last season from the brand, or are they just made for the outlet? And it's like.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, I think it's like a mix of both. You know, I think, like, it. The outlet stores were kind of like the first ones to be like, yeah, this is all, like, marked down from us. And then they started making their own inventory for the same reason that, like, I was kind of talking about before. And then. And then it sort of became like, more common knowledge that there are just, like, things created for the outlet stores. And then even, like, there is. I think, Raj, you had mentioned the example of, like, Gap, where now, you know, now like, Gap Factory or like, Gap Outlet or whatever is, like, fully.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Not even what's in the original.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, like, they have. They consider it just like a. Like its own brand.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah. I had never heard of Gap Factory until recently. It's a totally different store.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

Like, you can't even return Gap items to Gap Factory because. Completely different. But that is all its own merchandise that they're creating just for that store, right?

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah. And they're pretty transparent about it. Like, there's information on the website about, like, yeah, this is. This is like a separate brand, you know, Whereas if you walk into, like, a brick and mortar outlet store, my educated guess is that it's like a mix of both of those things, depending on the size of the brand, like, and the scale of the brand.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And you can also kind of tell from the prices, like, for example, at a YSL outlet, which. They're beautiful. Like, I feel like certain shoes and things are, like, really heavily discounted. And I'm like, I haven't seen this maybe in, like, a YSL boutique or whatever. Not that I'm, like, hanging out in One. But, but yeah, but the purses that they have there are not very discounted. They're maybe like a couple hundred dollars off. And I'm like, these are, these are from last season. These are like real made for the YSL boutique. So I think it's just like if you care about that stuff, it's important to know.

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, that's like another just big tip that I would have for this world in general is just to like. And I feel like I said this on the last episode too about like shopping sales. Like just really do your research about like this stuff. If you, if again if you're going into the experience wanting like a great deal and like a great like find, just kind of like know your brand and like know what they make so that you can identify like oh yeah, that bag I saw like on the website last season versus like these shoes. Don't know what they are.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah, I was seeing one guy was talking about buying shoes and he always got this brand, like the five 12s from this brand and then he went to the outlet and they had like the 5 10s and it wasn't the same. Yeah, quality was a little less. Same thing. Some guy bought a like a jacket from an outdoor store and he had it for 10 years. It was amazing. And then he got one from the outlet and it lasted like two years.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

See, quality is super important. Like we can talk about name brands all day and night, but like the reason why people invest in certain brands is because like you're going to have it for a very long time. Like I understand that.

[Noah Michaelson]

Right.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I am curious to know Nordstrom Rack and Saks off fifth. I don't totally understand what those are. I like see them around or whatever and they have good stuff. But like is that kind of overstock from Saks and Nordstrom? What is? Or is it a separate thing?

[Emily Ruane]

Yeah, well, it's, I don't know, totally like the timeline of it. But I, I would imagine that when off price retail became this like thing, like if we're gonna go like way back in time when mass manufacturing got to a point where like stores had to produce so much that they had overstocked that they had to sell, you know, et cetera. Like, you know, because there was obviously a point in fashion history where like none of this stuff even existed because everything was like made to order.

[Noah Michaelson]

Right.

[Emily Ruane]

So. But that's, that's going like way too far back. But you know, I think the success of these stores 15ish years ago, everyone wanted to be on the off price bandwagon that part of the brand was doing like so well and it was considered like so hot and you know, but yeah, I, I think it, you know, certain retailers just kind of in the way that like a lot of retailers are trying to like own their like resale and their secondhand products right now. At a certain point they were just like, well, all of our stuff is like showing up at a TJ Maxx or like a Ross. So let's just like take this back in house and yeah, so like, yeah, like a Nordstrom racks or a Saks off fifth. Like they are off price stores but with like the promise that everything is coming from like the parent brand.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

Which like it is. But in my research as with everything, they are totally doing the same mix of. I mean a Nordstrom Rack is awesome because a lot of that stuff does come from Nordstrom. You know, I was doing some like digging on Reddit and saw that, you know, someone anonymously didn't say what brand they worked for, but you know, they were like, I worked for a brand we sold at Nordstrom and I can tell you that anything from our brand that you saw from Nordstrom Rack was like stuff that didn't sell at Nordstrom and like, you know, so. And I would speculate that that's probably like a higher end brand that doesn't have the manufacturing capabilities to like produce private label. But certainly there's also stuff at Nordstrom Rack is like totally made for Nordstrom Rack, like private label that. I don't know if we want to talk about this, but I did read a few articles about how especially with like the off price, like private label stuff, there is like a real lack of transparency there that is can kind of shield some sort of like questionable manufacturing practices. So, you know, I don't want to deter anyone that's like out there to have fun from buying like a lesser known label. But I think that's kind of just like another argument for like buying like the more, some like more trusted brands that you, you do kind of have a better idea of where that stuff is coming from, you know, and like if, if like a TJ Maxx or like a Marshalls is like getting some cancellation order from like a jobber or like a middleman and like reselling it and maybe that middleman had bought it from someone else, there's like the stuff gets like laundered kind of.

[Noah Michaelson]

You know, it's hard to trace the.

[Emily Ruane]

Origins and the origins and you sort of like don't know like how it was made or where it was made.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Or it's becoming more important to people, especially, you know.

[Noah Michaelson]

Yeah. How those people were treated, the people who were making it and. Yeah, yeah, I think that is important.

[Emily Ruane]

It is super sort of like a good thing to keep in mind. I came across like a few articles that were just, just a little bit like, whoa.

[Noah Michaelson]

And we just wanna have a good time when we're shopping at T.J. maxx.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

We do. We don't wanna support war or exploitation. Yeah.

[Emily Ruane]

But it's good to just like, you know, just to go into it informed. Yeah. About like what you're getting and what, like what you want out of the experience.

[Noah Michaelson]

Love that, Emily. Thank you. This was so good.

[Emily Ruane]

This is the most fun ever.

[Noah Michaelson]

I feel like there could be an entire podcast just about these things.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I know. And I can't wait till we actually talk about thrifting. Cause I feel like that that's gonna be its own thing.

[Emily Ruane]

Oh, my God.

[Noah Michaelson]

We'll have you back.

[Emily Ruane]

I've literally been waiting my whole life for the thrifting episode, guys. Like 12 year old Emily is like really so great.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

And I want to get better at it because I really do want to like, I want to buy less new stuff.

[Noah Michaelson]

All right, stay tuned everyone. It's coming up.

[Sarah Gibson Tuttle]

Yes.

[Noah Michaelson]

It'S time for Better in Five. These are your top five takeaways from this episode.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Number one, every off price store is slightly different and the merchandise usually reflects where it's located and the shoppers taste there.

[Noah Michaelson]

Number two, most stores feature a combination of overstocked items and products made specifically for the off price store.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Number three, because of that, Emily's biggest takeaway is to buy trusted brands and do your research.

[Noah Michaelson]

Number four, you can find great deals on unusual food and in demand beauty products. But make sure you check the expiration date on both of them.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Lord, please. And number five, it can feel great to get something on sale, but beware of false reference pricing because you could be tricked into thinking you're getting something at a great deal when you're not. Okay. Noah, do you now have some kind of strategy for bargain shopping so I.

[Noah Michaelson]

Can get the max for the minimum price as they say. You know what? No. I feel like I learned so much from Emily from the research I was doing, but I don't know that these stores are ever gonna be the kind of thing where I'm going in there, like hunting for something.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I don't see that for you.

[Noah Michaelson]

No, I just enjoy them. I love the crazy stuff in them. I love the pet products. I'm gonna keep getting these chew toys that Jumi will destroy in three minutes and I'm gonna save 70% on them and that's gonna make me really happy, as it should. What about you? Did you learn stuff today?

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

I did and I'm really trying to transition into a more conscious shopper so I can have nice things and not more things. So I think this was super helpful in that vein.

[Noah Michaelson]

Right. Because we all have so much stuff as it is. Nobody needs more unless it's amazing.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Yeah.

[Noah Michaelson]

Anyway, until next time. As long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Love you guys.

[Noah Michaelson]

Do you have something you think you're doing wrong? Email us at amidoing it wronguffpost.com and let us know. Foreign.

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[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

My dad works in B2B marketing. He came by my school for Career day and said he was a big roas man.

[Emily Ruane]

Then he told everyone how much he.

[Raj Panjabi Johnson]

Loved calculating his return on ad spend. My friends still laugh at me to this day.

[Noah Michaelson]

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[Emily Ruane]

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