The first time it happened, I thought I was crazy. While flipping through so-called sale merchandise at a going-out-of-business sale for a department store, I thought the prices looked insane or maybe -- I wondered -- there was something wrong with my inner calculator. Had someone doubled the original prices before marking everything down just a tad bit? Are the prices real; are the discounts genuine? That was during the 1980s in Pittsburgh, when I had rushed to a final sale with hopes of scoring great deals. Instead, I left the store feeling as if I had narrowly avoided a scam.
More recently, I have carted around those same feelings of disbelief as I have sampled other going-out-business sales. Are some final sales just one more money-grab before a store or company closes its doors for good?
As a shopping skeptic, I am not alone. In the last several weeks, I've received validation from other shoppers and the media, who have expressed doubt about the true value of final sales.
So shoppers beware: We have to do our homework; know our prices before walking into a going-out-of-business sale. Here's a roundup of articles and posts related to going-out-of-business sales.
How to Shop a Going Out of Business Sale
Going Out of Business Sales
Researcher: Be wary of going-out-of-business sales
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