Luggage and Cookware Outlets

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Outlet Suitcases and Cookware

Outlet Luggage.

At the Samsonite company store, a salesperson told us that outlet luggage is made specifically for the company store and is slightly higher quality than Samsonite luggage sold at retail.

For example, she said, the handle of a bag found at a department store might be attached with one bolt, whereas the same handle might be attached to an outlet bag with three bolts. The company store also carries Samsonite's Black Label, its highest-end pieces. These are not available in department stores and are typically more expensive than luggage sold at retail.

We found a family of lightweight, soft-side luggage at the Samsonite company store called the On Air collection, which the saleswoman said was a new line that probably wasn't carried at retail yet. It was made from Tricore nylon and featured three pieces: a 21-inch carry-on spinner for $199.95, a 25-inch for $229.95, and a 29-inch for $259.95.

Luggage from the Tumi outlet.

Indeed, we were unable to find the same line at Macy's, though we did find a similar family of soft-side, expandable, upright luggage called the Lift collection. It was crafted from Samsonite's Tricore polyester and had two wheels per bag, rather than the four spinner wheels of the On Air collection. The list prices were higher than those we saw at the Samsonite company store for nearly the same size pieces: a 21-inch upright was $300.00, a 24-inch was $360.00, and a 29-inch was $420.00. However, the Lift collection was on sale the day we were at Macy's for lower-than-outlet prices. The 21-inch upright was $149.99, the 24-inch was $179.99, and the 29-inch was $209.99.

Cookware Outlets.

Like many outlet stores, the Le Creuset outlet carries a mixed bag of merchandise. The colorful stoneware is the same as you'll find on retail shelves, and the prices aren't much different. We saw a 9-by-12-inch rectangular baker at the outlet for $50.00 and the same dish online at Macy's for $54.99. However, the Le Creuset outlet store offers a much larger selection of stoneware and far more colors to choose from.

Stoneware at the Le Creuset outlet.

In addition to stoneware, you'll find row upon row of the cast-iron cookware Le Creuset is famous for. Most of the cast-iron pieces sold at the outlet are "second quality," which means the integrity of the vessel is uncompromised, but there are cosmetic flaws. Often the glaze is uneven, the color is slightly off, or there are other small imperfections. We had the salesperson guide us through a stack of second-quality cookware, and what flaws we could see were minor and scarcely detectable. We likely never would have noticed them had someone not pointed them out.

A second-quality 5.5-quart round Dutch oven was $199.00 at the Le Creuset outlet and a 7.25-quart was $233.00. At Williams-Sonoma, a 5.5-quart round Dutch oven cost $245.00 and the 7.25-quart size cost $285.00. We also checked Macy's, where we found the 5.5-quart for $239.99 and the 7.25-quart for $279.99.

In addition to full-price stoneware and second-quality cast-iron cookware, discontinued colors can also be procured at the Le Creuset outlet. We found kiwi-colored stoneware and chestnut-tinted Dutch ovens marked down significantly.

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Over at the Calphalon outlet, much of the merchandise we saw was "open stock," meaning that it was sold individually, rather than as part of a set, and came without a box. One such item was a three-quart saute pan with a lid from the Contemporary line selling for $60.00; the same pan cost $100.00 more at Williams-Sonoma. On the other hand, a Unison open-stock 3-quart saucepan with a lid was $175.00 at the Calphalon outlet, the same price you'd pay for a boxed item at Williams-Sonoma. However, the Calphalon outlet offers an extra 20 percent off all open-stock items, which put the pan at $140.00, or $35.00 cheaper than retail.

The clearance section harbors dented and dinged pots and pans for 50 percent off or more (final sale), as well as boxed sets of overstock pots and pans for sharply discounted prices. A 10-piece set of Calphalon Contemporary non-stick pots and pans sold for $199.99 at the Calphalon outlet, while an 11-piece set cost $399.95 at Williams-Sonoma and $449.99 at Macy's, although it was marked down to $399.99 the day we shopped.

We were assured by salespeople at both cookware outlets that all merchandise carries the same limited lifetime warranty as full-price retail merchandise, even when items are sold without packaging.

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Clothes, Outlets vs. Retail, Shopping

Outlets vs. Retail

Outlet Shopping

Outlet malls offer discounts to shoppers looking for bargains on brand-name goods, though often not the rock-bottom prices consumers might expect. Most factory stores are well-run and organized, with a high-end feel and knowledgeable salespeople. Outlet merchandise is sometimes lesser quality than retail but lives up to each brand's standards. Shoppers warn that outlet malls can be crowded and chaotic, food choices are often subpar, and the common open-air format leaves customers exposed to the elements. Proponents deem outlet malls a great place to stock up on basics and find occasional hidden treasures.

Photo by prayitno

Retail Shopping

Retail malls offer the latest fashions, a wider selection, and a more convenient shopping experience. Of course, all that comes at a price. Full-cost retail goods are usually more expensive than what shoppers can find at outlets, partly because of the higher overhead associated with retail malls. Retail merchandise is frequently trendier and slightly higher quality than outlet stock. Some shoppers can't see paying full price for the same brands found at outlet malls. Others advise that buying retail offers greater choice and you can match or beat outlet prices by shopping the sales.

Photo by Joe Shlabotnik

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