Thread: Full price or clearance?

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Originally Posted by innerseek

I'm an all clearance kinda guy. With the way the economy is, it allows me to indulge in my favorite holiday without going to the poor house! This was my first year of really buying stuff to "haunt my home" after we bought our house and I went for the after Halloween sales. I am officially hooked.

Congrats!

Did you get any good scores?

I'm cheap and love shopping for the deals and steals. Early season shopping I average paying only .25 cents on the dollar and November sales I average paying only .10 cents on the dollar. JMO......but I have not seen a prop yet, full size, animated or whatever that was worth full price or even 50% in most cases because the mark-ups are so high. I've been know to pass on stuff I want at 50% off most of the time with foggers being the exception.My score of the season was my Bat Bar regular $149 and got it for $15 and was willing to pay much more for such a cool one of a kind item. Still can't believe my good fortune on that one.

Clearance, because It's alot of fun running around after Halloween and finding good deals!!
We only buy at full price if it's something that we really want for the Haunt!
We started saving now for a SPFX Mask for next year ( $600.00 ) we really want one!!

I always plan to buy one new mask before Halloween. Most of my costumes and clothing I buy at thrift stores throughout the year as I find things I might need. I have found other good stuff at thrift stores to use too, including masks, party trays, and lighting. Also I have to buy the supplies like PVC, duct tape, etc before Halloween if we are running low. Other than that I only buy things that I see that I really want to use this year or things I know I am going to need and that probably wont go on sale. I prefer to stock up after Halloween with clearance items. Then next year as your pulling stuff out its like Christmas, seeing all the new stuff you didn't get to use last year.

I have learned to buy mostly on sale However the one thing I will pay money for are the vintage halloween items I like that never go on sale because i get them from usually specialty stores. Or the Dept 56 line if I really want something from that Ill spend the money. Otherwise I try to wait til things go on sale or I have a coupon for

Neither?

I don't buy much at full price. I search out coupons, buy during sales and also get a 10% off bonus card with my credit card (it's linked to my spending, but I hit the bonus pretty often ) that I hold onto until I see stuff I really want.

I used to go crazy at the clearance sales, but I've got so much stuff... half of which I don't even display in any given year due to figuring out my display/style and time constraints. Unless it's something I instantly envision using in a specific way, I don't buy.

We always try to buy and the clearance sales for the next year. That way, its like we have new items, but only paid a fraction of the cost. Over the years, I have bought things just because they are cheap, but do not end up using them. Now I have become more selective, and only buy if I am sure I can use it somewhere in my haunt. This year we did buy a few things new-Michael from Spirit with the 20% off coupon, a fogger ghoul (covers the fog maching and fog comes through the mouth), a flying animated ghost, a ground fogger with fog juice, costumes, webbing, Gemmy Fogging Witch with Cauldron from Wal Mart, the Treater Greeter Witch, and nsome other itmes. Its just so hard to see things early in the stores and not buy! Some of these items were on sale at Halloween USA, but only a few. I did buy two large lots of items off Craigs List as well. Bought all kinds of fun stuff from Walgreens 75% off...will post pics later!

I have a question for you guys that buy on clearance for the next year......

Do you already have an idea for a haunt in mind and buy for that idea, or do you just buy stuff and figure "I'll use it some where"?

Originally Posted by propmistress

Congrats!

Did you get any good scores?

I think so I actually posted some of what I got on this other thread I started

Beginner ideas

Originally Posted by Scott N.

I have a question for you guys that buy on clearance for the next year......

Do you already have an idea for a haunt in mind and buy for that idea, or do you just buy stuff and figure "I'll use it some where"?

I have a list of ideas for things I want to create both creatures and all over scenes. Then there is other stuff that needs a good upgrade. Like dummie clothing. I can never justify paying $60 for a costume sitting on a PVC frame, but when its $6 who could possibly pass that up?

I did buy a fogger on clearance with the intent of making a mad scientist room with a mini skit next year. Was also looking for a good strobe light, but never bit on one.

But with all that said, I can honestly say that what I plan right now is not necessarily what I come up with in 11 months. Last year I had plans to make an alien autopsy scene. The alien I created with greatstuff, ductape, and cage wire is fairly sinister in the right light, but never good enough for the scene. So the alien became a side prop and all the white lighting I picked up after christmas stayed in the box.

So I guess in short.. When the stuff is cheap plan the best you can and just roll with how it really unfolds.