Designer Remix Collection by Charlotte Eskildren with labels like PonyRide, Spoom, Colcci and Muchacha had a sale on May 13th & 14th and are still looking to clear merchandise. So here we go again.

Location 225 Chabanel, suite 405
Phone: 514-937-5311
Date: May 27th
Time: 9-6

Miller is the “home of the world famous 100% cotton non iron shirt”. (I think that “non” is franglais).  It’s a semi-annual sale for Father’s Day (and  Christmas)  where you can also buy men’s sport shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, ties, jeans, golf shirts and samples at 60% off. Brands you will find there: Miller Performance, Hechter Paris, M. I Miller, Cotton Reel, Bistro, Enro, Daniel  and Apostrophe.

Location: 150 Montee de Liesse, side entrance
Corner:  Cote de Liesse est
Phone: 514-383-5759 X 192 or 888-477-4478
Dates and times: Thurs May 27: 12-6, Fri May 28: 12-6, Sat May 29: 9-1
http://imiller.com

On Wednesday morning on CJAD 800AM, you can listen to  me  on the radio (or Internet) on the Tommy Schnurmacher Show. This is a call-in show for an entire hour. We’ll be talking about Spring shopping and more. Those of you with those important shopping questions, this is your chance to have me answer them.  If you miss the show you can always write to me here at my website.

Location: CJAD 800AM
Time: 11-12 noon
Date: Wed May 26th

On the show I’ll be giving  away a glow-in-the-dark T- shirt  (size large) with a ying-yang design, and one doggie shirt (size large) with a ying-yang design.

These are Scotchlite shirts by canucme.com, and they reflect light to make walking at night safer. They have been donated by Les Textiles Bon-Mar at 8448 boul. St-Laurent (Tel: 514-382-2275).

All you have to do is add a comment here, stating whether you’re interested in the human or dog version of the shirt, and leave your email address (or those of friends who might want to win one). Winners will be picked by a random computer program, and they will be notified by email.

Dalia warehouse sales always offer great prices. Juice up your Spring  wardrobe with their pretty blouses, tops, sweaters, jackets which are made under the monikers of: Dalia, Katherine Barclay and Renuar. For this invitation only sale the prices are only $10 & $20.

Location: 225 Chabanel, Suite 315
Corner: Meunier
Dates: May 27-29, June 3-5
www.daliacollection.com
www.renuar.com
www.katherinebarclay.com

Leatherly-like things like purses, wallets, bags, luggage, belts can be picked up a this summer warehouse sale for brands: Tignanello, Kathy Van Zeeland and B. Makowsky.  The clearance event is cash only and it’s up in the Marche Centrale area.

Location: 1400 Antonio Barbeau, suite 102
Phone: 514-332-2555
Dates and times: Wed-Fri May 26-May 28: 12-6, Sat May 29: 9-12

Every May and November France Mode has a line-up-at-the-door clearance event, where all women’s and men’s clothing and accessories in the store clear out for mostly 50% off and more – and we’re still right in the midst of the season – you can wear them through the summer.

Labels that you love: Tommy Hilfiger, Point Zero, Steilmann, Spanner, Simon Chang, Louben, Lucien Daunois, Eric Alexandre, Vex,  Bandolera, Esprit, D’Oraz, Jeanne Pierre, Mac Jac,  Swiss Army, Ango, Matinique, Buffalo, Stones, Kapalua, Bianca, Tribal, Adorable, Frank Lyman, Olsen, Horst, etc. are there.

This is the way the sale works:  May 22-May 24 prices go down 40%. Starting May 25-May 29 , everything is slashed 50%  This year the  sale will go on until Sat June 26 when (if you have a coupon) everything will be reduced a further 30% off.  Get on their mailing list and you can get a flyer sent to your door.

Location: 90 de la Concorde est
corner: Jubinville
Phone: 450-629-8421
Dates: May 22-June 26
Time: Mon – Wed 10 -6, Thurs & Fri 10 – 9,  Sat 10-5, Sun 12 – 5
www.francemodeimport.com

Q1: Well, we have the sunshine outside so many of us will also want some wheels. Any ideas on how to save money on buying cars?

Buying a three or four year old car makes the most sense financially because it has lost 50% of its value and still has 70% of its life left and even your insurance costs are lower. These days with improved engineering and tighter quality control the average life span of an automobile is more than ten years.

George Iny, President of the Automobile Protection Association, says “Don’t be a price junkie. In buying homes the saying is “Location, location,  location”, but for cars it is condition, condition, condition.” He explained that, “you want to pay top dollar for a car in good condition, because the cost of repairs for an average or poorly maintained vehicle will usually be much higher than the price difference.”

If one vehicle is $9,500 and a similar make and model is $10,500, look seriously at the second one. And remember to budget about $1,000 for repairs you may have within the first 3 to 6 months for regular upkeep like the timing belt change at 100,000 km., tires and brakes

Q2: Where do you find a car?

There are some benefits to buying privately or and others through a dealer. Privately, the price is usually less and on top of that, you only pay one tax. You can also assess the condition of the car more accurately without it having been “prettied up”. Through the dealer, you have more consumer legislation covering you but you may not be able to find out who owned the car before and how well they took care of it.

Join the APA Automobile Protection Association. For buying new cars, they have a list of selected dealers who follow a code of ethics and have good prices. For buying a used car, they can recommend honest used car dealers or even offer a car finder to help you find a car. Members can also call them to determine the cost of any new or used vehicle.

To check for approximate prices on cars, buy the Auto Hebdo Guide d’Evaluation des Automobiles or look online at www.hebdo.net or www.autotrader.ca. This gives you an approximate book value, but many factors, including the mechanical condition of the car, the mileage and the appearance, will affect this.

Remember that prices of cars will go up in the Spring (April to July) perhaps by $1,000-$1,500, because the demand is greatest now. However, selection is always greatest now too. It is best to buy used cars in March and October. If you are buying a convertible, prices will be highest now too, and will go way down in the Autumn. Four wheel drive prices will go up in the Fall.

Q3:  How do you know if it’s a good car?

Mr. Iny made it quite imperative that “The MOST important thing to do is to get the car properly inspected.” This should be an independent inspection. The APA has a fabulous roadside inspector named Andrew Bleakley who will take his inspection vehicle right to the automobile that needs to be checked out.

He will do a thorough inspection, including an ultrasound of the body , mechanical inspection and a road test. He can tell you if the car has been accidented or is two vehicles welded together, and he even knows how to check to see if the odometer has been tampered with and set back.

Also, CAA Quebec has 2 inspection garages.

Q4: What are some of the steps to take when going to look at a car?

Here is an idea of the process to go through:
– Keep track of the details for each car, including phone number, where you saw the ad, price listed, etc.
– Do not negotiate on the phone about price. Wait until after you see it and have had it inspected, so that you know what repairs it might need, in order use this to negotiate with. Expect dealers to take $500 or more off easily.
– When you are looking for a car, limit yourself to only about 2 or 3 three models, so it will allow you to become more expert on them and be able to make a good comparison study as you check each one. You will also become familiar with the price range and know when you’ve found the right one.
– If  it is a private individual, ask how long they’ve owned the car. A real quick turnaround might be a negative indication. Either it is a lemon, they might be a curbside dealer, or maybe it’s even stolen.
– What is the mileage? It should be about 20,000 km. per year. Much less can be suspicious. And you must consider a rolled back odometer. Don’t let high mileage scare you off, though, because if it was all highway driving or used by a busy company rep whose company took proper care of it, it still might be a good buy. Andrew can reliably compare an odometer to the condition of a car.
– Instead of putting them on the defensive and asking about accidents, ask if it has the original paint and then what body repairs have been done in the past. (It`s hard to get a dealer to answer this question honestly)
– When can you see it? Daylight is important so that you can assess its physical condition.
– In a private sale, ask why they want to sell it. There is no right answer, but you can get a feeling if they might be hedging around some uncomfortable information.
– On the phone, ask them for a cosmetic description. If they say there is a little dent on one side and you find the whole door is pushed in, then you may wonder what else they are minimizing.
– At the site, check the house and garden to see how neat and tidy they are in general. If they take care of those things, it is most likely they also took good care of their car. Are there any oil spots in the driveway? Look in the trunk of the car; if it has cans of brake fluid or oil there may be problems
– Is the name the same on the registration and the insurance form, and is this the same individual that you are dealing with?
– If  there is a transfer paper on the back window, an X-plate, a dealer plate, or more than one car for sale on the driveway, you are probably not looking at a private sale.
– Has it been serviced lately? Ask to see a full service record, not just oil changes. Note the mileage at each inspection. Follow the numbers along and make sure they increase at a consistent rate and add up to what you see on the odometer.
– How much should you offer?- at least $500 off the asking price. Before the end of the negotiations, ask if they have some snow tires to throw in or other useful extras that belong to that car (like a roof rack).

Q5: What if you wanted to spiff up your car with a spoiler, where could you go?

Kit Motion, around since 1989, has been providing high quality car spoilers throughout Canada.
With more than 300 different models, they can quickly meet spoiler needs for North American or foreign cars – and also those for used vehicles. The company has a team of professionals including accredited painters and trained technicians who ensure the quality of the spoilers.

Most of the spoilers are made of ABS, the same material used in original OEM products. Most models come with easy-to-use hardware kits making installation easy.With their excellent service and high quality products, they have been the leader in car spoilers for over 21 years.

Kit Motion, 8180 Montview St, Mount Royal at Royalmount  Phone: 514-736-0800 www.kitmotion.ca

Automobile Protection Association (APA), Phone: APA-5555. www.apa.ca. By joining the APA ($65), not only do you get access to their vast knowledge of everything that’s happening with new or old cars, you get listings of all their recommended garages and access to their expert car inspector (see below for his details). For buying new cars, they have a list of selected dealers who follow a code of ethics and have good prices.

The APA also has group auto and home insurance. Before you buy a car, refer to their Lemon-Aid magazine, which comes free to members, and then call them to find out the true cost of any new (4 quotes per year) or used vehicle ). Their web site has warranty info – secret ones and extensions, tire recommendations and ratings of local garages.   www.apa.ca.

Andrew Bleakley, curbside car inspector, Phone: 514-890-5000. The inspection price for APA members is $80 and for non-members it is $90 for a thorough curbside inspection in the greater Montreal area. Take advantage of one of the best deals in town.

CAA, Phone: 514-861-7111. Besides the most popular reason for joining the CAA – their emergency road service – they have other deals. Car Inspection centers which charge $175-192 (non-members), or $131-145 (members) for a 160-point check-up, including a road test, are located at 2380 Notre-Dame o. (514-937-5341) or 550 boul. des Sources (514-636-1309), and are open by appointment Mon-Fri 8-5.

For general car repairs, they have a list of qualified service stations. The CAA also offers free trip planning, free travellers’ cheques and more. Other offices: Brossard, 3 Place du Commerce; Pointe Claire, 1000 boul. St-Jean ; Laval, 3131 boul. St-Martin o; St-Leonard, 7360 boul. Langelier.  www.caaquebec.com

I’ve seen it coming for a couple of years so I can’t say I am surprised but Classy, the men’s formal wear company has gone bankrupt. Any male from young to old that wants to own a tuxedo, this is an opportunity to stock up. Tuxedos don’t change all that much over the years so you could pick a classic style and wear it a long time.

Men are lucky that way. When women are invited to formal events, we have to constantly look for new special occasion dresses and gowns plus all the accouterments that go with it. It takes a lot of time and effort. While we run around in circles each time, men are just relaxing at home.

These suits have been rented out so they call them “previously enjoyed”. It didn’t bother you when you rented it so it shouldn’t bother you when you own it. A tuxedo with a jacket and pants is only $39.99 and a full outfit with suit, shirt, tie, vest, suspenders, cuff-links, shirt studs, handkerchief, pants, cummerbund, socks and shoes is only $69.99. Boy’s suits with a tuxedo, shirt, tie and handkerchief is $29.99 and if you want to add a vest or shoes they are $5 each. Oversize suits are there too.

Wholesale volume sales are possible for anyone including: retailers, hotels, reception halls, restaurants, caterers, waiters, schools, churches, weddings,  or proms.

Locations: St-Michel (main warehouse), 8211 17th Ave at Jarry;Decarie, 6100 Boul. Decarie at Van Horne; Hochelaga, 6945 Hochelaga at Haig;
Phone: 514-344-4456
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-9, Sat & Sun 9-5
Bancrupty auctioneers: www.mgmartin.com

Guerlain has resurfaced at a new address with a warehouse sale of surplus inventory, perfumes and skin care products that have broken boxes or discontinued items. Be warned, there may be long line-ups and no baby carriages are allowed. The maximum one person can buy is $800 – wow that’s a lot of smelly stuff.

Location: 2515 rue Léger, Lasalle
Dates: May 14: 3-8, May 15: 9-6

You may know JRC Toys as it usually opens to the public only before Christmas, between October and December. Recently, they have started to do a quick Spring sale too with their popular deals of up to 70% off.

Name brands from Step 2,  Melissa & Doug, Barbie, Crayola, Fisher-Price, Hasbro, Hot Wheels, Little Tikes, Mattel, Mega Bloks, Hegstrom  Spinmaster, Alex, and VTech have been found. Books are only $1 & up and you find everything including the kitchen sink.

Corporations, day cares or anyone holding big events can buy in bulk and have them wrapped; They help you choose  age and sex appropriate toys and if you spend over $1000, there’s delivery too. So this place is the real deal.

Location: 5589 Royalmount
corner: Devonshire
Tel: 514-342-6979
Dates: May 20-May 30
Hours: 10-5
www.jrctoys.com