Smart Shopping After Christmas

Shopping! Shopping Shopping! It appeals to all ages, and families flock to Myrtle Beach to take advantage of After-Christmas,Year-End, and Clearance sales.

Bargain Shop Smart!
Don't just grab the newspaper circular and drive to the nearest mall. Arm yourself with useful knowledge and tools to get the most from your dollar.

Watch for overstock Items where the consumer can get a good deal, depending on how desperate the store is to clear out shelf space. These items may not always be the best known name-brand models, but they can be an excellent value. They are usually the first to go in an after-Christmas sale, so get to the store early for the best chance of grabbing one of these products.

When it comes to returns and exchanges, stores want to turn these items around as quickly as possible, and you may be able to pick up a bargain! A great example is a $30 portable CD player. You wake up on Christmas Day to find that you got two $30 portable CD players! You take one back and exchange it for something else. When you arrive at the store you are in line with ten other people coming back to exchange the same CD player. Obviously, this presents a problem for the store. They don't mind you returning the CD player and exchanging it something else, but now they are getting stuck with something they thought they sold permanently. Now that item is beginning to take up precious shelf space. The answer, send it back to the department that sold it and turn it around at a significant discount. Once again, the consumer can find some great bargains!

Display Models Typically, display items at consumer electronics retailers are on display anywhere from 90-days to six months. Some products such as camcorders, digital cameras, and televisions may have been turned on and running non-stop for months. Smaller items have been handled and bounced around. Other display items, such as DVD players, and VCR's don't get quite the same abuse and may be just sitting on a shelf with no power. Taking all of these factors into consideration, you may get a great deal if you follow these rules:

Ask if you can return the item if it is found to be defective.
Is the manufacturer's warranty still valid?
Can you purchase an extended service plan for the unit?
Are all the accessories and owner's manual included?
If any accessories or owner's manual is missing from the unit - negotiate a lower price

Below are your links to Myrtle Beach shopping so you can plan ahead I hope you don't beat me to that portable CD player!

Coastal Grand Mall - The newest and largest mall in South Carolina opened on March 17th, 2004, just south of the intersection of Highway 17 Bypass and U.S. 501 near Myrtle Beach International Airport. The mall includes 20 retailers that are new to the Myrtle Beach market. They include Dillard's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Abercrombie & Fitch and Bed Bath & Beyond. The mall's design incorporates a coastal Carolina theme: shutters throughout the food court, floors that resemble boardwalks in certain areas and fish netting in what will be the restaurant area. The mall also features a 14-screen Cinemark Theater with stadium seating.

Two chain stores new to the Myrtle Beach area are located on the outparcels of Coastal Grand. Costco and Best Buy.

Inlet Square Mall, Murrells Inlet. at Hwy 17 Business and Hwy l7 Bypass offers many stores for your shopping pleasure, as well as sponsoring many events and programs.

Broadway at the Beach - Specialty shops and boutiques filled with delightful surprises you won’t find anywhere else in Myrtle Beach. All are nestled around a 23-acre lake. The recently-opened Margaritaville area includes lots of specialty shops.

Barefoot Landing - A unique shopping, dining and entertainment venue with over 100 specialty shops and 13 factory direct stores.

Tanger Outlet Mall South - From fashions to gifts to home accessories, there are over 100 factory stores with plenty of designer names and national brands to choose from, including Eddie Bauer, GAP Outlet, Nike Factory Store, Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Bahama.

Tanger Outlet North - With the nation's most popular brand name manufacturers and upscale designer outlet stores, Tanger delivers savings on first-quality merchandise direct from the manufacturer to you.

Pawleys Island Hammock Shops - This is the birthplace of the original rope hammock and home to two dozen Lowcountry cottage shops, with such treasures as fine handcrafts, jewelry, clothing, and furniture. (800-332-3490)

Hudson's Flea Market - Hudson's Flea Market has been voted Best of the Beach year after year. It is located in Surfside Beach, next door to Wild Water water park. 843-238-0372.