Looking for Post-Holiday Deals at the Mall? Try These 4 Clever Tricks to Save Money
Ready to take advantage of those post-holiday deals? Malls are the perfect place to shop mid-winter because they're so warm and cozy. However, they're also designed to make you spend more money. (Ever wonder why you'll never find a window or a clock in a mall? The absence of them keeps you from thinking about how much time has passed.) To avoid those impulsive purchases and nab the best markdowns, check out these money-saving mall tips. They'll help you quickly find the bargains and save your hard-earned cash.
To find unadvertised deals, head to guest services.
Virtually every mall has a guest services kiosk, where you’ll find a person ready to hand out maps and inform you of store hours. Plus, if you ask, they may also tell you about new or unadvertised deals at mall stores and restaurants, or they may give you valuable coupons available only at the kiosk. Some are handed out for free; others are sold in bulk. For example, at the Mall of America in Minnesota, you can buy a coupon book loaded with 250 offers (worth $2,000 in savings) for mall stores, eateries, and attractions — all for $9.95. Tip: Some malls give discounts if you belong to certain organizations, such as AAA or the military (military families count, too).
To build a game plan before you go, check the deals page.
Mall stores are eager to get in-person shoppers again, so they’re offering ways to save when you visit. And great news: You can find deals, like limited-time sales, insider coupons, and promo codes in one convenient place: the “deals” page of your mall’s website. For example, the deals page of Pennsylvania’s King of Prussia mall recently posted about 50-percent-off sales at Fabletics, Sur La Table, and Express. And Florida’s Sawgrass Mills Mall’s page posted a promotional code good for 70 percent off Stuart Weitzman shoes — storewide.
To get alerts before sales are gone, sign up for newsletters.
If you’re like most of us, you’ve subscribed to an email newsletter or created an online account for at least one store. Well, most malls offer their own e-newsletters and online customer accounts, too. When you sign up, you’ll get alerted to new sales from retailers, restaurants, and service providers inside the mall. Plus, many offer exclusive coupons and giveaways available only to subscribers and account holders. For example, when you sign up for a free account at Simon Center malls, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree. Simply check the mall’s site or customer service to find out more.
Follow on social media.
Malls use social media to promote product arrivals in their stores and menu items in their restaurants. But they also alert followers to short-term sales and coupons so you never miss a bargain. For instance, Arundel Mills mall in Maryland recently used Facebook to alert shoppers to a 50 percent-off sale on clearance items at Converse, and a sale of up to 70 percent off the entire store at Michael Kors. In addition, Woodfield Mall in Chicago recently used Twitter to announce 50 percent off lenses with the purchase of eyeglass frames at LensCrafters, and 50 percent off BOGO pillows at Tempur-Pedic.
Looking for other mall shopping tips? Check out these five additional money-saving tricks.
A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site and in our print magazine, Woman's World.
