SmallBizResource Blog -- Business Know-How

Not-So-Hot Bargains

Posted by Janet Attard, Courtesy of Business Know-How Thursday, Dec 18, 2008, 10:02 AM ET

If you're in need of furniture, computers, printers, telephones, or office supplies for your business, don't assume you can get the best deal from a Circuit City or Office Depot store that is closing.

The reason: "Closing our doors" prices may be higher than the sale prices of the same or better merchandise at other chain stores. This is particularly true in the early weeks of a store closing, when there is plenty of merchandise in the store to choose from.

I stopped into an Office Depot that's closing in a nearby town, for instance, and was surprised to see that a printer I had seen advertised a week ago for $199 was now selling for $299. There was a store closing discount price, but the discounted price was still much higher than the price of the printer had been the previous week. The same was true with pretty much everything else in the store.

Around the corner at a Circuit City that's closing (PDF of all store closings), I didn't have much better luck. That closing sale had been going on a little longer, and there were bigger discounts, but very little in the way of electronics that I'd need for the office was left. I saw a couple of underwhelming laptops (not much memory in them), and some cameras, but the prices seemed no lower than similar or better products available at other chain stores in the area -- chain stores that haven't announced any closings.

Bottom line: If you're thinking about purchasing computers or office equipment and supplies before the end of the year, do your homework. Before you set foot inside a store that's closing, research prices and, for electronics, make a list of the features you want and need. Do all your comparison shopping ahead of time and bring your list of requirements and comparative prices with you when you do shop a store-closing sale. Doing so will help you find the real bargains and avoid buying goods you could have gotten cheaper elsewhere, or that don't live up to your expectations.

Business Know-How