TK Maxx 'bargains'

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Does anyone have a really good experience of buying stuff from TK Maxx? What am I doing wrong as I seem to always end up with substandard stuff? Most recently, I just bought a silver chain (£49.99) online to give to someone as a present. It arrived this morning. Just unpacked it, unclasped it to take the labels off. Went to do it up again and the whole clasp structure came apart on the table! WTF!

And if I’m honest, I can’t be bothered with it anymore! If I’m passing one, I might go in to look for a few items I know I like and that I can get at a good price, for example a specific brand of candle, or some cookware, but that’s about it.

i don’t think we are getting that lovely European stock any more...
Used to go in January for all the previous summer German posh swimwear, and early spring for nicely detailed continental fashions - not seen for a couple of years now.

The Polish glassware display jars, the silk scarves, German coats, linen, beach hats, beach bags, kitchenware...

I think the best things I have had are
Merrell knee length grey wool coat - I'm very hourglass and it fits my waist and boobs and was about £30
Shalimar EDP, giant bottle. About £25 (my mum was VERY happy!)
Lots of grown alchemist and elemental herbology products

I bought a coat online once from there only because it was some unheard of brand and I tried the size up in store. Otherwise I don't bother with their online shopping.

Otherwise, I've a leather Osprey bag I've had years from there. All my sunglasses which I've bought in store precovid when you could try them on and I love the candles. I don't tend to check the rrp. I just look for things I like.

@Tryingtogetitright just to let you know it's the opposite that you think- yellow labels are 'final clearance' and will get reduced and reduced until they sell or they are 10p. Yellow ticket sales happen a couple of times a year.

Red labels are where the store is 'scamped' (think that's the name), a different section gets it every week and anything over 6 weeks old (I think,) gets marked down by 10%. That won't go down again until the next scamp of that area, so 4-6 weeks.

My sister worked there until very recently

I can't be arsed to rifle through the clothes at my local TKMaxx - it's all a bit random, but the website is fantastic if you already know your size in a particular brand, and like I said before, it's so easy to return to the store, it's never a problem.

I also bought some of the Blundstones last year and wore them all winter. At the moment, they have some brilliant lingerie by Lejaby which usually costs an arm and a leg, so I am buying loads of their bras. They definitely aren't made for TK Maxx, nor are they seconds or anything like that. If you're looking for great bras I really recommend them!

Ah, thank you KnobJockey! Good to know... I would be lethal if I worked there - I'd spend so much more than I earned!.

@faustina

I can't be arsed to rifle through the clothes at my local TKMaxx - it's all a bit random, but the website is fantastic if you already know your size in a particular brand, and like I said before, it's so easy to return to the store, it's never a problem.

I also bought some of the Blundstones last year and wore them all winter. At the moment, they have some brilliant lingerie by Lejaby which usually costs an arm and a leg, so I am buying loads of their bras. They definitely aren't made for TK Maxx, nor are they seconds or anything like that. If you're looking for great bras I really recommend them!

Funnily enough I find their shoes and general ladies clothes a jumble sale, but I think their bras/knickers and PJ/dressing gown selection really organised and neat, easy to navigate etc

Not sure why that is

I still own most of what I bought in there 10 years ago. Off the top of my head I remember some bottle green real suede leather chunky boots for £20, the softest Ralph Lauren t-shirt with subtle sequins that hangs beautifully for £12 and black yoga trousers in good quality smart looking fabric which I wore to death as my work trousers for years £8.

My usual level of quality around that time would have been plastic boots for the same price that would have only lasted 3 winters max if I'd worn them until they fell apart or 2 if I'd binned them when tatty, plain unbranded t-shirt for slightly less that would have faded in colour long before it got holes (I wear things until they are holey) and Primark leggings that would have been baggy after six months and unsuitable for work even when new.

So I do feel tkmaxx was a bargain. It's similar to charity shops though in the sense that I spent an hour or two in there searching through random items, not looking for anything in particular, before coming out with my small haul of bargains.

I agree it can be like a jumble sale at times (or was that just our local branch?). I've always bought my Guess footwear (trainers/sandals) from there and it's our first port of call if we want new luggage.

@lovesthosebeeps - you're right! My local shop also has their lingerie well organised, but there's never anything there that I want sadly. it's quite a small branch

I absolutely love it but I am very particular about what I get- Huda palettes which are 2 thirds off, Fila trainers for £24 which are £80 new in other shops, I did get load of lovely Ivy Park stuff which was verrryyy pricey in Topshop at the same time.

Got beautiful Ugg Cardi boots for dirt cheap too once.

It's also great for active wear!!!

Love the DW candles and liquid hand soaps as well.

Interesting observation, BeeOnADandelion - it occurs to me that, pre-2020, TK Maxx had taken the place of vintage store browsing in my life. Years ago I used to spend ages in such places across all the major cities in the south of England - and had lately wondered why I stopped. But, yes - my attitude of wary but enthusiastic scepticism when I step onto the down escalator at my local TKM is exactly how at used to feel at that long disappeared American Vintage store in Covent Garden.

Makeup is great - you can great bargains. Picked up Misha B bb cream for a song. Skincare is hard to plough through so you have to have something in mind.
Bought great handbags, purses, pure wool jumpers and cardigans and shoes - particularly boots. And fantastic lawn nightdresses.

But it takes stamina to shop there. You need to dress appropriately - not too hot, put on comfy shoes, a crossover bag not to get in your way, mark two hours off your diary, and be methodical.

TK's gone downhill.

You used to be able to grab very posh brands at less than the cost of the high street dupe - not now. I got a Marni cashmere cape for 29.99 rather than the 1050 it cost on net a porter.

Now they start the decent stuff at 200 quid, which is too much to pay for a grimy sample. Most of TK's regular clothes are own brand and horribly overpriced for one-season wonders. A lot of the clothes are four or five years old, too.

But... good times at the moment for people who like Massimo Dutti - coats for 30 quid - and All Saints - coats 60.

I’ve not been to a TK Maxx for a couple of years but I used to get Ralph Laurent shirts and polo shirts for the teen DS’s and over the years have picked up le crueset stuff. Colours don’t match but 🤷‍♀️. Used to be good for Xmas decs as well.

I love T K Maxx and buy loads there, mostly in store. Don't understand why people have a problem with the website though - it's particularly great if you see something in store but not in your size that may be available online. Also, some items purchased online come boxed/more nicely packaged, eg shoes, if that matters to you.
I used to work for a company who sold a lot to T K Maxx and the product definitely wasn't made for them.

I’d love to know more about that, WaitinginVain - what is the process by which items are sold to TKM? Is it surplus stuff or deliberately allotted? And what’s in it for the companies?

@Edmontine It was surplus stock, end of lines, discontinued items, occasionally slight seconds. Excellent company to deal with, good way to dispose of old/excess stock to make way for new lines.

Oh, good. Nothing unexpected, then.

(Thanks!)

I got a Rita Ora double duvet cover for £26. Okay, it's overpriced anyway, but it was cheaper than the full price of other Rita Ora Home items, I have purchased. It definitely wasn't a second and is just as good quality as the other full priced items. Out of the matching pillow cases (not sold with the duvet cover), square cushion, bolster cushion and matching throw (£81 not from TK Maxx), it was the cheapest item!

Bought a backpack from there and as soon as I got it home the writing of the logo started peeling off, obv a fake..very rarely buy from it as hate the layout to be honest though I did get my DS a cracking denim jacket.

I love TKMaxx in-store and online. Rarely had a dudd purchase, it's easy to return online things to store, and they never quibble. So much on the high street is the same overpriced rubbish, and there's some of that in TKMaxx, but also lots of different more quirky things too. I've had American brand outdoor wear that I haven't heard of, but when Googled found out that it's quite good and pricey, Converse, stationery (though that's not as good at the moment, but did get a nice Leuchtturm sketch book last week). Used to always get my Birkenstocks there, but haven't seen any for a couple of years, though suprisingly the cheaper copies they sell are wearing just as well, if not better). Pure wool Fair Isle sweaters in winter, Calvin Klein roll top socks, and running leggings with useful thigh pockets.
Homeware can be good too, Bodum, Denby, Scion, Sigg bottles and our favourite lunch boxes came from there. Always buy plain white, pure cotton, hotel style bedding, although that's another thing that I haven't seen as much of lately.

Also, some items purchased online come boxed/more nicely packaged, eg shoes, if that matters to you.

Yes, bought DD some Converse a couple of months ago, they arrived in the original, immaculate box - that was a suprise.

*Suprise! For some reason my spell check is missing lots of words and I seem to have lost the ability to spell.