Yesterday for date day we decided to check out the Crate and Barrel outlet store in Kittery, Maine.
Our living room at the new place is super tiny and the furniture that came with the place was a wee bit oversized {and worn} so we’re currently on the hunt for some new stuff.
Before we got to the outlet store though I spotted the When Pigs Fly Pizzeria and Bakery so we decided to pop in for a look around.
When Pigs Fly is a popular local bread {I’ve even seen it sold in Costco!} and their loves tend to be on the heavy {and somewhat flattened} side. But by the looks of them, loaded with all sorts of goodness.
There were SO MANY choices!
After spotting their sign about using the apple cinnamon bread for French toast, I decided to buy a loaf. I’ll let you know how the French toast turns out. 😉
Yesterday the temps were in the upper 80’s {yuck!} so the thought of being able to sit in an air conditioned room to eat was pretty appealing {we don’t have a/c}.
We ended up ordering their Hawaiian pizza. And left wishing there would have been a few more toppings on there for the $26 price tag. 🙁
But the waters were nice and cold. So that was a plus.
After the pit stop for pizza, it was on to the Crate and Barrel Outlet store.
Maybe it’s just me, but I think outlet stores have changed a LOT since they first popped up. It seems like in the old days, the stores were filled with all sorts of discounted items and leftovers from the clearance racks.
And those things were priced to sell.
These days though, if you’re hoping to score a deal on furniture, you have to settle for scratch and dent and delivery rejects and hope that they are running a really, really good sale.
I don’t know about you, but I would just like to walk into a store, see a great price and be like WOW… Yes! I like that!
I don’t want to have to “like” you on Instagram to get an extra 15% off. I don’t want to haggle with the store manager, and I don’t want to spend good money on stained or torn upholstered furniture.
Drew Small Swivel Chair $999 online {or in store} $1099 at the Outlet Store.
I also don’t want to see something MARKED UP 10% from what it’s being sold for in a regular store {or online} only to see it be “discounted” at an outlet store.
Date days. Some of them are winners and some of them leave you wishing you had just stayed home.
But hey! It’s the weekend. I hope you have a good one,
~Mavis
Sluggy says
This is what you get when you go to a store in a tourist destination during the season. I bet their prices are lower after all the tourists go home in Winter.
And who buys a white sofa? People without kids or pets and don’t plan on actually sitting on it I bet.
Mel says
A store near us advertised a going out of business sale, so I popped in to find that everything was…10% off. And still more expensive than online.
I think I know why they’re going out of business.
Annette says
I don’t want to have to load an app to get a special price.
Sue S. says
Ditto. I don’t do apps, except the Merlin one to identify birds. What a gip trip huh?
Annette says
Apps are just another way to track you and gather all your information.
Carla Nagel says
We used to do a “Ladies’ shopping trip” with my sisters and sisters-in-law to an outlet mall and could find great deals on clothing. Yes, you had to look for small holes or stains, but many were just last years’ styles. We loved it and had a friendly competition to see who got the best deal on what by the end of the day. I remember my niece scoring a nice white blouse, retailing for $60, but she got it off the clearance rack for $1.49. Now our gatherings are all about the fellowship, and not at all about the deals because the deals are just not there anymore. Can only find deals at the thrift stores these days.
Beccah's figuring it out says
We needed to get furniture when we bought our first home almost 10 years ago. We were house poor, so we were definitely bargain shopping. We stopped at a store that had a huge GOING OUT OF BUSINESS banner across the front. Went in. Everything was waaaay overpriced. Fast forward a decade… the store is still open! And the banner changes every few months advertising a rock bottom sale. We giggle every time we drive past.
Patti says
Our Crate and Barrel Outlet Store and our West Elm Outlet Store only have huge discounts on furniture that has been returned for a reason, ie: there is something wrong with it to begin with or it has not held up well. Otherwise their “outlet” prices are ridiculous. As we were shopping, the sales clerk mentioned they had a sofa in the back room for a good price because it was half of a sectional. We took it because it was a steal! It was for my son’s first apartment and he needed a small one and it fit right up to the wall so he never missed it lacking one arm on the end. Later he found another one that goes the other way and he has that in his house now. Mostly I shop consignment furniture stores. The old furniture is build the best.
Katherine says
I know you want something nice, but have you considered Ikea? Most of their furniture is for apartment/condo folks. I love my Ektorp sofa and chair, they have held up extremely well for nearly 10 years and are used daily. I love that you can buy slip covers for most of their sofa and chairs to change things up a bit. Even better they can ship most things to your home now.
Lana says
When shopping for IKEA furniture get down on the floor and look underneath. Many furniture items are made with plastic frames. Look for the sturdy wood framed pieces.
christina says
I have an Ektorp too and it’s white. yes, I have 6 cats and this couch lived through 2 kids and still looks great. I love it and it’s over 10 years old. I wash the covers 4 x a year and it still looks great. They dont make the Ektorp any more but there is a new version. I love all things Ikea and they do hold up.
sandy says
I have a 1915 house-so we have purchased most of our furniture at antique auctions over the years. With the exception of beds ( Costco) we usually get sofas at IKEA. We have had good luck with quality and that we can wash the slipcovers ( dogs)
We love flea markets ( even traveled to Brimfield MA flea markets 3 times. Now that is fun. Brimfield is worth the adventure.
I even brought goodies home on the plane from Maine, back in the days when flying was fun and more forgiving. My friends have found amazing new furniture on Facebook market place, but not my cup of tea. Good luck and wait for the right piece…it will find it’s way to you.
Arbie Goodfellow says
Yes I remember ” those days”…Pottery Barn outlet prices are so HIGH that I just walked out without anything at all. Just totally not worth it. To be honest I don’t even think I would have purchased anything even at 1/2 the outlet price… I feel like prices went crazy because of covid…like why??
Karin says
$20,- for a Margherita pizza? That is outrageous. It’s only dough, passata and mozzarella. How can you charge $20,- for that?
Rebecca says
I echo the Ikea idea. We currently have 3 Ektorp sofas in our house- two are ten years old, one is eight- but all three are going strong. The washable slipcovers, with relatively inexpensive replacements, makes them a win. We aren’t especially easy on furniture, but teenagers/ big dogs haven’t been a problem. The new version of Ektorp is Uppland, with deeper seats and higher backs, but still offers smaller lengths for tight spaces. Might be worth checking with the Swedes!
Sue says
Mavis, I suggest another date—this time to Endicott Home Furnishings in Scarborough, ME. They SPECIALIZE in small-scale furniture. They have many different style lines and lots of floor models to do “sit tests” on.
I also suggest Ethan Allen. They do have a few small-scale lines, with endless fabric choices. I bought a small-scale sofa that has worn like iron.
Mavis Butterfield says
Sue thank you for letting me know about Endicott Home Furnishings. I see something on there that might work!!
Gigi says
In Greece, the bakeries run all day long making sweet and savory dishes. It’s pretty common in the summer for someone to drop off their dish to be baked at the bakery oven. For 2€, they’ll put it in their oven and cook it for you so you don’t have to heat your house.
Ashley Bananas says
$26 for a pizza is high but if you were in season and at a tourist destination that’s probably half of it. I went to cape cod recently and ordered a small cheese pizza and a chicken breast as take out, $35……the pizza wasn’t even that good. I love cooking at home. I can cook better typically and for a significantly better price.
Furniture, oi oi oi, the prices have gone up so much. At least you have a small space. Be creative, dont hand over all your hard earned cash for furniture.
Side note, 4 of the pineapple tops from the Maui gold pineapples I was sent from you as a giveaway winner are growing in my yard. Thank you!!