As a self-proclaimed shopping diva, I will tell you I have my own rituals. Yes, Tanger Outlets is one of them, but there are things you gotta know before you go! Like any typical retailer, the who, what, when and where need to be answered before I go.
Thankfully our Tanger Outlets is not too far from me, because of highway driving. Next, there is a lot of parking. Knowing this is half the battle of shopping. Proximity, parking and of course multiple retailers in ONE place truly are perfect for anyone shopping.
What I have to admit is that I shop because I travel a lot. I never need the same clothes at any destination because every trip I take is different. From horseback riding to amusement parks, to concerts, barhops, etc., it’s all different, all the time. No matter what trip I am on when I see Tanger Outlets I stop.
Use these 10 tips for shopping Tanger Outlets to shop like a pro. You will save money and time, but there’s so much more you are going to love about these tips. ~ Dana XO
10 Tips For Shopping Tanger Outlets
Updated August 2019 **
Once upon a time, years ago, I was offered sponsored shopping at Tanger Outlets. This post is NOT sponsored, but it is based on my intense passion for shopping. I’ll never know why Tanger Outlets has not collaborated with me again, but I do know I will always tell you, that I love it here and you should shop here too!
I shop at Tanger Outlets everywhere I go for trips and in Pittsburgh. No doubt about how much I can save, because I’ve ‘been there done it’.
My insider’s tips come from years of shopping their outlets. In fact, I was outlet shopping before it was even trendy. Now, it is more trendy and chic to go here, but the financial difference in shopping here rather than the traditional stores has changed.
You really have to know before you go and have your game together in order to save money. With so many stores online that offer Free Shipping and 24/7 shopping, choose how you prefer to shop.
Really what I want to share with you is how to make your money work for you while you are at Tanger Outlets. What I am sharing with you will work EVERY Time as I have used every tip here. Times change, so make sure to keep checking on the Tanger Website for more values and advice. Now let us shop!
Look. Decipher. Donate – Tips for Shopping Tanger Outlets
A few things happen before I shop, and it starts inside of my house. No one should shop before they take stock of what they have, and that includes ME. I look for things I have worn, that have shrunk or those items that are totally outdated.
Next, I make a pile of ‘give-aways’ and donate to either the Vietnam Vets or the closest local ‘clothing donation dumpster.’ This is the cardinal rule of shopping. As a shopping diva, I admittedly spend a great deal of time finding things I love and NEED.
The big difference between a shop-a-holic and a diva, in this case, is buying what you need, and need what you buy, not buying just to buy (shop-a-holic)!
Know Your Prices – Tips for Shopping Tanger Outlets
Just because you are going to the outlets, does not mean they will have the best prices on everything. The stores are still retailers and retailers need to pay their manufacturers, employees, and rent.
Generally, outlet shopping is about convenience, seconds, imperfections, overstock and multiple brand name stores in ONE destination. Shop before you go, online or in the store brands you love. Get an idea of the pricing and then shop.
Preparation before the Shopping Begins – tips for shopping Tanger Outlets AT the Outlets
I bet you never thought you would start prep before you start? Go loaded, and I don’t mean with Credit Cards and Cash. Instead, this is all about the insider’s tips. Make sure to take your AAA card as well as Student ID’s, they will help you score discounts.
Show Me The Savings – Tips for Shopping Tanger Outlets
Savings are easy if you know about the TangerClub. Join online or at the service desk at Tanger Outlets. Get ready for things like, Platinum status when you spend $2500 annually (it is easy to do with large families and multiple trips), Little Red Book of Big Savings, and tracking receipts to unlock great rewards.
Coupons & Savings Digital or Old School Printed
Did I mention that the Little Red Book of Savings is Digital? Yes, for all of those who love a great deal, increased savings on some of your purchases at some of the stores, then read on. If you want this book, you can use it through your Tanger App. Nothing more to tote around or Rip out. Ole!
Just pay $5 and get 90 days of UNLIMITED ACCESS to that digital coupon book. That means no lines waiting for your coupons, just get shopping. However, if you are old school and want those printed books, you can purchase them a Shopper Services.
Location, Location, Location
Where Can You Park? Well, if you are a faithful shopper, pay the $10 fee to belong to the TangerClub, you will reap some serious benefits, that fit the bill of ‘location.’ In other words, if you shop here enough, and have the membership, you get the VIP Club Parking.
Shop, return to your car, that is parked closer in the VIP Parking. Unload your arms, and get back to it! Love this feature.
Sale Racks First – The Golden Rule
The Store Set Up Maybe ma be my most helpful tip and it is one that I have just glazed over. The racks at the back of each and every outlet store are where you score the biggest deals.
Also, you can OFTEN add those 20% coupons offers on that will end up creating a MEGA BARGAIN. I must urge you Shop at the back of the store First! Join me. Wait till you see the deals, look at the pictures of these walls.
In the event that the sale/clearance racks don’t have what you need, then consider how to best use the coupon on your APP. You will still find a decent deal, no doubt in my shopping mind!
Wear Your Over-Priced And Buy Your Bargain
Here’s to the Doubting Thomas’s out there that don’t like Outlet clothing. It’s first quality and it is delivered right to the store from the manufacturer and guess what the employees know the products in the store quite well as it is all they sell.
Department stores employees don’t always know the details and background about the items they are selling because one day they are in bedding one day and the next in clothing—- GIVE ME THE EXPERT, please!
If you have your favorite shirt on that you already have bought by that brand, touch it, feel it, then find it in the Outlet Store. Look at the price tag, and feel sick in your stomach for what you paid and get ready to save like crazy here!
The styles are what the season is, and you can buy 2 for the price of 1. See things are better now and you actually validated the feel and look of your shirt without saying, “is it really the same as the one I own already?” You did not have to think about it or imagine it because you had it on.
Want to see our trip? Here is an inside view of some of the deals we found!
Oh My Gosh— How small Where Niko Travels was when we did this video.
OUTLET Exclusive ONLY Specials
You are shopping in an outlet and Tanger Outlets will offer you some of the best OUTLET Only specials, look at what we found at 60% OFF the marked price making these shorts just about $5!
There were more exclusives like this in many stores, so open your eyes and find a real deal, spend less, grab more and have one heck of a shopping day getting your shopping maven on! Bring on the Outlet Exclusive Prices and treat me to the best there is for so much less!
Did You Mall Shop Recently?
There were rainy days, so don’t pretend like you did not head to the mall, because we all do it, but then reality sets in because we get something known as a price tag heart attack. Suddenly the trip you might have thought could wait(heading to the Outlets) looms in your very near schedule to save yourself from having a full-blown price tag attack.
Face facts, that even with coupons in the mall, it is rare to bring those prices down, and then there is the other problem: you have to basically sort your way through to your favorite brand unless of course, you go to a Brand Store in a mall.
IF you are headed to a Major Department Store Retailer, you have to go through 100 racks to find the rack you are looking for and I bet you end up spending more on things you did not go in for, than if you would have just headed right to the brand you wanted and bought the things in their store, with the use of the Tanger App.
The Tanger App – Save. Shop. Repat.
So my iPhone and this App are completely fabulous together they are suddenly new besties and you have to get the APP. Some stores, like Under Armour, did not want a coupon in any other form, except the APP. There I was rewarded with 20% off my purchase.
App shopping provided less cash out of pocket. Also, after the retail therapy, my APP pins where I park. The excitement of shopping tends to make me forget about that VIP stuff!
The Tanger APP is cool because you have so many fantastic services you can use on it. You will be able to calculate how to save money on your ‘cost per wear’ on the app.
Don’t Just Buy To Buy AND Be smart and use your smartphone. Not sure about a price look it up. Compare apples to apples, shoes to shoes, and anything else in between. I am a brand girl, so I know what I should be paying and when it is too much but even my brain goes into overload.
When Something Can’t Be Decided On Right Then And There
Use your shopping intuition to buy what you love, and leave the rest there. If something tempted you in an Outlet Store, but you did not buy it, leave it!
Trust me, you can use this a simple excuse to come back and shop again. Stock changes and my guess is you will find something else you like! Tanger Outlets has a lot of great items and debating is your inner-self letting you know it is not the right thing to buy!
Shop Off-Season and WOWZA
My fabulous saying, ” Off Season is Not Off Reason.” I do try to explain to my kids that it’s not all about the season we are in, but the season we are headed to. That said, we have already left the season we are headed to but there are plenty of racks of clothing from the season passed.
So what does a shopping diva turn a few good clearance racks into? Key pieces of clothing for other seasons as prices that beat any thrift store- used clothing store or mall sale you will find. Not even online shopping will be incredible.
Basic pieces go a lot further than a singular wild piece of clothing. Going out at night, a basic black tee will work, but that funky tie-died won’t work well. Think neutral, and basic pieces.
The Time To Shop
Every day is a shopping day, but I always recommend early in the morning or later in the afternoon to really get your game on. There is plenty of parking and so many stores. Tanger Outlets pretty much swallows the crowds, however, there are exceptions.
Back-to-school and other big holidays. Also the weekends. No thank you for shopping then. Which brings up another key piece of information. Read on.
The Outlet Handbags – Weekdays NEVER Weekends.
For anyone shopping Michael Kors, Coach, Kate Spade, etc. do it during the week. I have been there at least 4x during the week and they might as well have PAID Me to take the bag for the peanut pricing.
Bags during the week, seem to be MUCH cheaper. In fact, I have walked into Coach (most specifically) and the signs read 50% off. Then I am handed a card that is an additional percentage off. Working the clearance section over allowed me to walk out with a $300 marked bag, clearance to half and then almost half again and I still have the handbag years later!
This is something I repeated on other trips too. From wallets to small hand strap bags for cruises, nightlife, etc. Pennies on the dollar. In fact, I have a Michael Kors Gold hand strap bag that is convertible to day and night that I paid less than $30 for after coupons, discounts, etc. I have never seen it cheaper, not in the department stores or in TJ Maxx, etc.
Don’t Forget To Smell The Roses Along The Way
Have Fun. We had so much fun in Bath & Body Works. We sprayed, tested, put on hand cream, washed it off and then we went on with our day, remember, shopping is not a job, but a fun time to test the great scents out!
I love to shop at the outlet malls!! I had no idea that Tanger had special coupon books like this or an app!! I need to remember that the next time we go! Looks like a great haul!
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I love shopping at outlet malls. I don’t have a Tanger near me, but I wish I did! I like the pink purse the best.
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These are great tips! I love how you use strategy to get the job done and make sure everyone gets what’s on their list!
i like the red purse better, both are cute tho. looks like you had a great trip!
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These are great tips to think about when going to the outlet mall. I love to shop and get good bargains!
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