Q 1: After shopping for us for 24 years, you must be so jaded by now. Do things really change that much?
For each edition of the book, I visit about 1,000 of stores that were in the book and then about 3-400 new shops. Old businesses sometimes reinvent themselves – like Caplan Duval changing from crystal and china to linens and bedding or Shreters adding women’s clothing and then becoming a destination shoe or Simons who just went from bricks and mortar stores to on-line shopping. I have to keep re-visiting to make sure my info is always correct. So yes retail changes all the time.
Q 2: What kind of differences have you seen over the years?
When I first started writing my book bargain was a dirty word – shoppers thought that it meant something was wrong with the item. Then in the recession of the 80’s people who had less income to spend still wanted to buy the quality name brands they always did so they became willing to go to stores a little off their beaten path to find a brand name discounted.
Then Club Price, now Costco, came in and I wasn’t sure how Montrealers would take to shopping in a warehouse but it caught on and others emulated that model. Warehouse shopping is now huge. I shlog about them all the time.
When Walmart arrived and made sure we got the lowest prices all the time, we got used to having that option.
And speaking about low prices, every year as I do my research I still have my “oh-my-god moments”.
Q: 3: Okay I’ll bite, what are oh-my-god moments?
Sometimes I walk into a place that has either a new twist on deals, or sells things you didn’t know you could buy retail or has been hidden for years and now is open to the public. I get so excited about them I talk about them for weeks.
Q: 4 – What are some of the ones you’ve found lately?
I had never thought about this idea at all. Hotels like Sheraton, Hilton, Holiday Inn constantly refresh their rooms and have to get rid of the old furnishings somewhere. Mega Vente Surplus d’hôtel buys entire floors and sells them all off at ridiculous prices. They have 4 crammed warehouses in the east end piled to the ceiling with household furnishings with more than 10 000 items for sale. You need to make an appointment and delivery service is available.
Some of the furniture you might find: 5-pc. oak bedroom sets (originally 1500$) $75, king mattress sets $145, doubles $115, commodes with 3 drawers & 2 doors $49, oak TV armoires $175, couches $50- 135, sofas-beds $100-175, tub chairs $25-$45, bedcovers $15-$25, draperies $15-37, feather pillows $4, lamps $15-25, old TV’s $29-$60
But you might also score: lithographs, fancy white chair covers, folding tables, luggage carts, blackout curtains and ironing boards. You need to make an appointment and delivery service is available.
Phone: 514-946-7002
e-mail surplusdhotel@gmail.com
Q: 5 Any other wow moments?
Wow. Double Wow. Liquidation Sim is a clearance center for a huge un-nameable low Cost warehouse store, with a further 30% or more off on the price.
Returned items (phones, toys, clothing, furniture, auto, bedding, etc.) and stuff in broken boxes from their huge aisles (except fresh food) are sent to this little store every Saturday, so on Sunday there are sometimes line-ups to get in the door.
All items are checked to make sure they work. The friendly proprietors even keep a reservation book and will call you if an item you are looking for shows up.
Location: 341 Ave. Ranger, Vaudreuil – Dorion
Phone: 450-424-0998
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Other location: 850 des Laurentides Blvd, St-Jérôme
Phone: 450-438-8631
www.simcentredeliquidation.com
Mega Vente was a secret clothing warehouse for a long time but now it’s very open to the public. Prices here just blew me away for first quality clothing from balances of inventory from the current season.The huge neat space has something for everyone at 75%-90%. Perfect right now are the suit/tie/shirt combos for graduations or weddings at $99 (34-60 short, reg, tall) including a salesman to help you out. Large guys can find shirts to 5XL.
Kids 2 or 3-piece shorts sets (3 mos.-16) are only $5. Spring jackets for the family start at $7 and there’s Oxygen tops for ladies (reg. $25-$30) for $7.
There are always $1, $3, $5 kids racks (0-16). The females (XS-4XL) and males (S-4XL) might find: sweat shirts, dress shirts ($8), jackets ($39), t-shirts ($3), jeans, cotton fleece, nylon pants, capri pants, pajamas, dresses, blouses, sandals, swimsuits, shorts and even kid’s snowsuits all year round.
Location: 120 boul. St-Joseph, Lachine
Phone: 514-637-1116
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-5, Thurs & Fri 9-8, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Other location: 6090 Metropolitian est
Phone: 514-223-0510
www.5dollardeals.com
