The Chaos that is TK Maxx

[kiwidreamer]

Today was my second TK Maxx visit ever during my 10yrs in the UK, I went to one in my first week 'fresh off the boat' from NZ and it scared the heck out of me and I've never been back. However ten years and two babies later I'm really trying to get myself out of a HUGE style black hole so after hearing TK Maxx mentioned a few times on here I thought I'd take another look today.

Same story tho, utter CHAOS, how does anyone find anything nice????? Is it kinda like the Poundshop (I'm all class LOL) where you just accept it for what it is and take a punt you might or might not find something brilliant on any given day (spiderman socks and stickers today whoop!).

Any tips??

I walked in the door of TK Maxx in Southport today, turned around and walked straight out again.

Try online instead.

I agree. I have a friend who gets great bargains (not that she needs them) but I really couldn't be bothered. How true Euphemia...it is like a charity shop, but then again so is Marks and Sparks these days.

I did recognise a few premium brands but honestly they were all UGLY and I wouldnt be surprised if the items were from 10 / 20 yrs ago :-/

I have found some bargains but they really make you work for it. If you don't have the time or patience for a good rummage it's not worth it. If buying stuff for children make sure they're with you - IME the sizing is pretty random.

I love TKMaxx, but agree you have to be in a certain frame of mind to tackle it. A friend of mine who is always fantastically dressed, and 8 times out of 10 when asked where lovely dress/top/jacket is from will say TKMaxx, taught me how to shop there.

You walk in and start rifling through the rails immediately, give it 3 minutes and if you haven't found anything you like leave and give it a month before you try again. It seems that if they have one thing you like there will probably be another 50 bargains lurking waiting for you to discover them, but if you haven't found anything in the first three minutes chances are you won't.

Its a great method but has cost me a lot of money in 'bargains' which when bought by the basket load do still add up!

I am a TKMaxx warrior

My tips for success (approved by a Ralph Lauren buyer, btw):

• get there early, as soon as it opens. The later you leave it, the more crazy/jumbled up it gets. Even I find TKMaxx scary at 3pm on a Saturday!
• you are looking for unique, stylish items you can't find anywhere else. TK is not the place to buy plain tops or eg what you'd get at Next. Look for pretty, flattering dresses, tops that are on-trend but different to what's in Zara, high-quality knits (eg angora, cashmere), nice jackets (eg my gorgeous red Michael Kors trench I bought 2 years ago from there, and still looks as good as new); nice boots/pretty high-quality ballet flats; handbags.
• know what you are looking for before you go in and make a list. Do you need some pretty tops, a new jacket, or maybe some well-cut trousers etc? Casual TK browsing comes with time and experience grasshopper
• take sustenance with you - a small bottle of water and a cereal bar. People think I'm crazy for doing this, but I never experience the TK crash-and-burn. Also wear clothes that are easy to take on and off in the changing room. Put your handbag at the bottom of the rolling basket as soon as you get there so you don't have to carry it around too.
• don't take the kids. Get DH to look after them for the morning. Kids + TKMaxx = fail.
• if you are on a clothes hunting mission, do not be temped to browse the kids', men's or homewares section. It will only sap your strength.
• research before you go what's on trend so you are not just flailing through the rails in despair. Telegraph fashion galleries are good starting points for this. Aside from that, classic good quality pieces are winners. Knowing what suits your shape (get DH to do an honest appraisal) helps too.
• when you are trying on items, stop and think whether you can come up with 3-4 other outfits you can wear this item with. Also only buy something if you are 100% sure you'd regret not buying it the next day. This stops you buying crap. If there is a quiver of hesitation in your mind, ditch it and move on. Yes TK has a 14-day refund policy but it's annoying going back to get refunds.
• not all TK Maxx stores are created equal. I am blessed to have an outstanding one 15 mins from my place, but the other one in my city is diabolical. Do a quick google to see if anyone has posted on a forum to say a different one close by to you is better.

If you take anything out of that, the most essential tips are get there early (as soon as it opens), and take at least a bottle of water with you.

Come on, bring out your inner Kiwi bargain-hunting drive!!! I am a NZer too and I take all my friends and rellies to TK when they visit, they love it. It's a pure wonderland compared to the overpriced shitness that are NZ clothing stores!

Good luck!

Agree with heffalumps that if you're not spotting nice stuff shortly after you walk in, leave it for another day. I got chatting to the staff once and they said the big stores get new stock daily, so in a few weeks you will go back and it's completely different!

i would also add to shop for one or two items only begin with eg just go for sheets or cardis to build up your stamina

Zara1984 I love TK too! I am in awe of your TK wisdom.

I would also add to Zara's thorough tips....

1. Research some of the brands that you've not heard of.
2. If you are a fan of certain designers try and familirise yourself with the type of label on the garment so that you can spot things quicker.

Definitely try online, I can't be arsed to rummage in the shops either.

TK Maxx is a kind of designer jumble sale. When you find something you like you really feel that you've found it, and achieved something.

I'm not a big fan of the place but I've some OK things from there over the years (there's a branch close to where I work and it passes a few minutes at lunchtime).

If you're after a more straightforward shopping experience, stick to the high street.

I hate TK Maxx too - all the time I read on here that people find Cath Kidston bed linen, Blochs and Hunters etc. Not in a million years in my local one

I love TK Maxx and have found some great bargains. Recently a Michael Kors black leather jacket, 7 for all mankind jeans, Clements Ribeiro top and a 7 for all mankind jacket. I have also bought some great things in their household department - Le Creuset stuff and a fantastic picture. I love finding something hugely discounted that I would never be able to buy normally.

Le Creuset! I can only dream...

It looks like "Paddy's Market" to me. A load of old tat with bumped up prices "reduced". Where's the pleasure in having to rummage, like that? 80% of it looks like crap.

Another tk maxx lover here. Most recent purchases include, Le Creuset jug and dish, Moschino sunglasses (also spotted Chloe, Calvin Klein), Steve Madden sandals, and 2 lovely scarves that should have been £69 each and instead were £12.99.

Eliza22 - Thats how it is in my crappy Lincs branch.

I suspect only the bigger city branches get the decent stuff.

I tried on a Herve Leger dress in TK the other day. They also had Acne jeans for a fiver!

I think the TK closest to me is a decent one and I planned on going for a mooch next week, but how do I know what labels/designers to be looking for? As someone only really getting interested in clothes in the last few months I'm at a loss, but would love to have one or two 'high end' items in my wardrobe.

Cake, try the one in Newark. I have bought some fabulous bargains from there

Never used to have the patience for it, but am now a convert. Found a lovely coat in there a couple of weeks ago, similar to the Merrill Wakefield one I was hankering after, for £50, rather than £200!

You do have to be in the right frame of mind for it though and be prepared to have a rummage.

Clothes aside, the house stuff is often full of very good bargains - it's my first choice for photo frames etc anf that dept is quieter than the women's clothes one.

Home stuff is good and the handbag sections are normally neat and tidy

agree that the different branches differ massively. The Clapham one is particularly hellish; it always looked picked through and messy (probably because it is picked through by ruthless re-eBayers); the ones nearest me out in the sticks are much nicer, despite being smaller, mainly because the staff keep up with the tidying, and there aren't as many beady-eyed fashionistas grabbing the bargains as soon as they're put out.

Other things that have occurred to me over years of TK stalking:

• I have a theory that sometimes items are in there because they've got the wrong labels sewn in. If something looks like it might fit, try it.

• the kitchenware is great and definitely worth a look for wedding presents, cough I get all my heavy-duty bakeware there now.

• it's very good for coats. Zara I've got that Michael Kors trench too - it gets loads of compliments!

• I've had some amazing US cosmetics bargains. I sometimes check out makeupalley on my phone if it's something I haven't heard of that looks good. Look out for (ex-QVC?) stock like Philip Kingsley, Nails Inc sets, OPI sets, Sebastien, Gatineau, Decleor.

• it's best for buying into one-season trends cheaply (eg, print scarves, yellow nail varnish) or for buying expensive things that don't date at a decent price because they're 'last season' (eg, sunglasses - my last season Missoni ones, £29.99 instead of £230, saucepans, classic trenches, sofa throws, etc)