Sears SHLD, +1.82% updated its list of Sears and Kmart locations closing next month but you should still walk, not run, to the stores for deals.
Last week, the company added 10 more stores to the list of stores closing in September, which include some in California, Florida, Michigan, Montana, New York, Oklahoma, Virginia and Wisconsin. Click here for the full list of 78 stores closing.
The 126-year-old department store announced in May it had identified non-profitable stores and almost three-quarters of them would be closed in the “near future.”
Does that mean shoppers should try to jump on deals immediately? Not necessarily. Consumers should typically wait before shopping for good bargains.
“Find out when the final closure date is and plan your shopping trip accordingly,” said Andrea Woroch, a money-saving expert. “Sears can always use inventory to fulfill online orders,” she added. The stores may take months to unload all leftover items and release their steepest discounts.
Consumers should also ask managers if there will be further price reductions, and ask if the store will pay the difference should the price fall again after purchase. (Sears did not respond to a request for comment.)
Also see: How Nordstrom is changing the department store game
Don’t miss: America has a billion-dollar drunk shopping problem .
Here are a few ways to get the best deals:
• Look for coupons or better prices from other retailers. Apps like Ranktracer.com, ShopSavvy.com and PriceGrabber look for the lowest price for the same or similar products.
• Ask Sears to match the price if good are cheaper elsewhere, and make a note of today’s prices so you can calculate your own discount when the goods go on sale.
• Don’t buy products with poor reviews. It’s more difficult to get a product repaired if the store has closed. Review return policies before you buy anything.
• Use gift cards or rewards before they go to waste. Use discounted gift cards: GiftCardGranny.com, for instance, has 7% off Sears gift cards.
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