Book 6. Shopping Guide
(Online Shopping, Product Reviews, Department Stores, Trade Shows, Closeout - Wholesale, Factory Outlets)
There is a book in this Family Superbook set about frugal living. I put the real frugal shopping options there like flea markets, garage sales and auctions because this book is big enough as it is.
I cover government seized products and surplus sales in my government book.
Volume 1. The Basics of Shopping
Shopping In General
In my opinion, unless you're a total introvert, agoraphobic, disabled or too lazy to leave the house, your best bet to buy most things you need is locally.
Go to the Yellow Pages, read your local newspapers, drive around the shopping areas, go to local freenet websites (craigslist.org, kijiji.ca) and talk to people you know about what you need.
I generally buy most of my stuff from the big department stores but if I need something like furniture, I'll check out the furniture stores on the poor side of the town because the prices for the same goods are often much cheaper than a store in the higher class part of town plus you can often haggle with the owner on a cash deal.
By shopping on the poor side of town at supermarkets for food, you can often save several dollars on a load of groceries.
Beyond that, I generally go to the thrift stores a few times a year to buy t-shirts, clothes and anything else that strikes my fancy as I look around.
If you feel embarrassed, just put on some old clothes and go on a rainy day. Nobody really cares, everybody's in the same boat, struggling to stretch out their money.
For deals on goods, check out the classified ads in the local newspapers and the internet ad websites for people selling things and check for things like estate sales, auctions, flea markets, yard sales, bargain sales by stores, trade shows, crafts fairs, etc.
Find your local newspapers, even the free ones usually found at supermarket entrances and check to see if there's a weekly or biweekly recycler type used goods newspaper for sale at your local newsstand or corner store. You can buy just about anything you need in used goods and sell it a few years later for what you paid for it.
Look for local bulletin boards, freenets or websites where people sell used goods in your area. Look for your city website. There might be a classified ad section on it.
Look in the phonebook for pawn shops, wholesalers and used goods shops. You can always haggle with individuals selling their wares as opposed to businesses with managers owned by somebody else.
Some radio stations and local cable TV stations have shows where people call in offering things for sale, leaving a phone number to call.
Factory outlets could be good but often the prices aren't much better than other places. It's just the perception that you're getting a better deal.
Look in the phone book Yellow Pages under Wholesalers and Manufacturers.
The cleaning supply wholesalers who supply commercial cleaning companies are often your best bet for cheaper and better quality cleaning supplies.
I'm generally not one for yard sales but in the town where I live, people have them all over the place on Saturday mornings. Just drive around and look. Some newspapers offer free ads for people holding garage sales.
In your local newspaper, in the classified ads section, look for such categories as Auctions, Foreclosure Sales, Estate Sales, Probate Sales and Close-Out/ Liquidation Sales. Keep an eye out for the local police auction where they sell off their seized property.
For fruits, vegetables, cheese, meat and nuts in bulk, drive out of the city limits to the farm areas and look around for a direct sales farm which will usually have a sign or a roadside stand. Look in your local phonebook for retail farms or farmers markets.
As for cosmetic medical and dental procedures, you must shop around to save a significant amount of money. The country plastic surgeon or dentist will often give you a better deal than the city one for a big job.
If you're interested in any particular types of products in any field, get magazines in that field. That will lead you to all the big players and newest products.
Go to consumer magazines and books like Consumer Reports, consumerreports.org. If you go to the Consumer Reports stack of magazines at your local library and start working back, within a year or two, you'll find a report on whatever product you're looking for. They also sell a buying guide of products in book form.
They are an objective organization. They take no advertising. They are one of the few organizations out there not subsidized by anyone. Try #640 at the library.
Books about shopping are at #381 at the library, HF5466 of the Library of Congress system. Consumer assistance books are at #640. Try #640.73 or TX356 at the library.
If you can't find what you're looking for, try the phonebooks of major cities at the library and on the internet as well as the AT&T Toll-free Directory which is a phonebook with 800/ 888 and 877 numbers in it.
The AT&T Toll-Free Directory is a phonebook you can buy through your local phone company which lists a lot of toll-free numbers more extensive than this book with listings for hotels, airlines, lawyers, etc.
Toll Free Information Operator
800-555-1212
tollfree.att.net/dir800/
Toll free directory assistance. Get the phone numbers of most major companies and organizations who have toll-free numbers. If you need assistance with a touch tone deaf phone, call 800-555-1155.
Look through company/ corporate directory websites for lists of virtually every business in the country. If you're really interested in a product and want more leads, simply go to the library and look through the Thomas Register, thomasregister.com.
Shopping Tips/ Savvy Shopper 1
You might find a few books on smart shopping at #640 at the library which is the household arts section. Try #640.73 or TX335 for specifically shopping books.
When buying any product, figure out the best way to buy it, either used or new, what type of store, etc. and what is the best off-season time to buy it. You don't have to buy it or buy a substitute that serves your purpose. Find a middle ground between quality and cheap price.
Cheapest isn't always the best if there's no warranty, it's used or it's low quality. Grey goods/ no name-generic goods are often just as good as the name brand stuff but some isn't, especially with computers where quality can vary widely.
Plan ahead. Anticipate what you'll need and look around for bargains.
Don't wait until the last minute to buy something you need. Haste makes a waste of money.
Be an educated shopper, especially for big purchases such as appliances and electronics. Co,parison shop. Use consumer magazines and the internet to research items.
Buy seasonal goods off-season. Furnaces and heaters are less expensive in the summer.
If something is marked as is, find the flaw before you buy.
If there's a nick, crack or bump, ask for a discount.
Don't look for the cheapest product. Look for a well-built product that will do the job you need.
Buying in bulk can be counter-productive. Check the shelf life of a product before you buy a lot of it.
Before buying expensive items, ask friends about their experiences.
Use catalogs and the internet to find your best quality products at the best prices.
Don't go shopping for frivolous social reasons. Shop only when you need something.
If you need an appliance, like, for example, a dishwasher, check some secondhand thrift shops and the ads in the newspaper then call an appliance repair shop or a used appliance shop and buy one there.
Many shops like carpet, tile and appliance shops often have some used/ discontinued, trade in stock laying around. Simply call and ask them about it. Or call an appliance shop and ask if they have a dented or display new model for sale at a discount price.
Buy things at thrift shops, pawn shops, secondhand shops, auctions, garage sales, flea markets, wholesalers, factory outlets, warehouse and close out stores. If you feel embarrassed about it, do it on the other side of town or at odd times of the day when your uppity "friends" won't see. When in secondhand/ pawn shops, always offer a few bucks less than the stated price. Dress like a generic, ordinary welfare case.
Go to thrift stores and buy anything you might like in there. You can buy a lot at yard sales too.
Check out surplus stores in the area. Sometimes placing a wanted ad can bring you what you want for a cheap price such as, "Wanted, air tight woodstove, will pay $50." A few people with old woodstoves will call you.
Before you go shopping, know exactly what you want. Don't be lured by the music and mood of the mall with all the glitz and idolatry there.
Don't buy anything on impulse. Just because you're shopping doesn't necessarily mean that you have to buy something. Take a day off when considering buying something, think about it then decide. Be patient. Everything eventually goes on sale. Check out secondhand stores.
Call stores and ask if they have any floor models or second hand appliances/ furniture/ components for sale. Check some mail order catalogs out. Look around for manufacturers in your area that you can buy direct from. Look in the phone book. Buy "assembly required" furniture.
A friend of mine bought one of these big screen TVs that spozed to give you that theater experience. We sat around one night watching it and my honest conclusion is that it's too big, it takes too much effort and probably too much electricity to watch it comfortably. Your visual field has to span a 5 foot square which is too much effort for your leisure TV time. A small 20 inch screen is a lot cheaper and a lot easier on the eyes.
Most retailers hold winter sales after the holidays.
Prices are reduced to bring consumers back into the store after the holiday spending period.
Go to comparison shopping websites. Try consumerreports.org.
For electronic-type products:
Read the information on the label.
Understand the maintenance requirements.
Pay attention to differences in quality.
Make a purchasing decision after you've researched the item.
Take a good, long look at your possessions with the mindset that materialistic things sometimes clutter up our lives both mentally and in the physical space they occupy.
Sometimes it's a good idea to let go for peace of mind sake. If you're still attached, put the "junk" into boxes and out in the garage or somewhere but remember that storing useless things cuts into your quality of life too.
To put your mind at ease, pack up the old junk and give it to a thrift shop or a church. At least you will feel like you did a good turn and it wasn't wasted in the trash.
Look in your phone book for wholesalers in all manner of consumer products. One of the biggest is for commercial cleaning products which are better and cheaper than the junk you buy at the supermarket.
Buy cleaning supplies at either warehouse stores or look in the phone book for a commercial cleaning products store. Or buy them from a department store rather than a supermarket.
Always look all your invoices over to see if they made a mistake because they do plenty of times usually in their favor and they won't tell you about it if they discover it so it's up to you.
Some of the large warehouse shopping clubs that charge an annual fee to shop there aren't necessarily all that good. Prices at the supermarket for many items are just as good if not better. Make sure you do some comparison shopping or looking before you join and if you're in a small family, it's probably not worth it to join.
If you want to buy new furniture, check out the do it yourself kits at Ikea or Sears.
Never ask anybody in business if you need a new anything all the way from braces to a furnace because a lot of them will lie to you, tell you that you need one just to make money for themselves.
Your best bet is to go to an independent appraiser and let them determine if you need a new furnace, transmission, etc. If one dentist tells you your kid needs braces, go to a few more and see what they say.
Scanner scams in all manner of stores is big business because whether intentional or accidental, the stores make a lot of money off it and they know that most people won't bother with small mark ups from the real price. Right after you buy something, check out your slip before you leave the parking lot.
As a parent, don't waste money on expensive new toys. Thrift stores and yard sales are full of them. Look in the newspaper for used swing sets or put a wanted ad in the Bargain Hunter local paper.
Babies can get by on cheap thrift store clothing just as well as the expensive stuff. They don't care. Cut kids' hair yourself. Take the tax child care credit. Start a baby sitting co-op where you help each other babysit each other's kids. Teach kids to respect money and material things. Give them jobs for money. If you travel, find hotels where children stay for free.
Buy things out of season for big savings, such as after Christmas.
An industry insider told me that college bookstores often sell computers cheap because the manufacturer wants to entice the student to start with their product and keep it for life. Give your local college bookstore a call and ask about their computers.
They sell to everybody not just students.
Stop shopping except for real needs.
The gourmet section in the supermarket will contain products very similar to the main section but priced much more expensive.
Don't go overboard on vanities, luxury, frivolous and entertainment items.
Don't buy household items you don't need like a juicer or expensive home improvement which rarely recoups its investment cost when you sell.
Buy quality goods over cheapies to save on headaches.
A way to bargain without sounding crass is simply to ask if he can do any better than that. Don't be afraid to walk away. That's when they often change their minds.
In general, extended warranties on home electronic components are a bad idea because by the time the component breaks down, it's obsolete and time for a newer high tech one.
New electronic components come out in spring so they try to ge trid of last year's models then.
Some electronic stores put a weaker cable signal on the cheap sets or adjust the controls of the cheaper TVs because they want you to buy the more expensive ones.
Don't buy more food than you can comfortably use in three months. Most people don't like older food even if it's canned or non-perishable.
The larger the size of food, generally the cheaper but not always. They sometimes charge more per unit for larger sizes of a product so always look at the price per ounce and compare.
The FTC (ftc.gov) Retail Food Store Advertising and Marketing Practices Rule says that grocers must give customers rain checks if they run out of advertised items unless they specify that they're limited quantities. A rain check is a coupon to buy the product at the sale price at a later time.
Shopping Tips/ Savvy Shopper 2
Avoid buyer's remorse by thinking for a few days before you make a big purchase. Never buy spontaneously, even if something is advertised as a good deal. I'll give you an example. I saw a sale for 500 GB hard drives for $100 so I bought one then I went home and a few days later I saw a flyer with a 1 terrabyte hard drive which is double for the same price. It doesn't hurt to compare the product among several local stores.
Don't just compare price. See what the objective experts say like Consumer Reports or somebody in the field like what does a car reporter say about the latest new batch of cars. What about car hobbyists? What do they say?
If you're extreme, go on bbb.org's or ripoffreport.com's forum and ask questions about a product.
Negotiate with small vendors by asking a general question, "Can you do better, give me a lower price?" If you're nice and the vendor likes you, you have a better chance to get a better deal. If you don't get the deal, walk out based on your pride. He might stop you and offer the deal. He might not.
Make a list to curve impulse buys.
If you go to the store with a friend but don't want to buy anything, leave your money at home.
The more preparation you have to do with food, the cheaper it will be. Buy less processed foods.
Places like Walmart and the mall tempt you to buy things you don't need.
Sign up for a customer loyalty card at the places you shop the most.
Buy stuff out of season but at the same time look for the start of season sales. I just look in the flyers that usually come with the Thursday newspaper. The best time to buy a computer for price is just before school starts. For the dollar or so a newspaper costs, you can find good deals in the ads.
Generic brands are usually cheaper and of equal quality with name brands but sometimes some name brand companies take their reputation of quality very seriously and stand behind their products.
Believe it or not, there was a case of a stereo manufacturer putting buttons on their stereos for functions that didn't even exist. The buttons were hooked to nothing. Beware of fancy-sounding "features."
The most common rip-off consumer goods are as follows because they're all the same. It's impossible to make one better than the other:
All anti-wrinkle, anti-aging creams.
Detergents, soaps, cleaning products.
Shampoos.
Haircare products, including hair color.
Cosmetics.
Cellulite cream.
Perfume.
Drugstore personal care products, buy the cheapest, avoid the hyped-up stuff.
Menstruation products.
All over-the-counter drugs.
Acne treatments.
Hard alcohol.
Watch packaging. Packaging is marketing. It has nothing to do with the quality of the product.
Be careful about who owns the website or who wrote the review when reading product information.
Don't buy a car without trying it out or looking at it in daylight.
Life is more than shopping, sales and material goods. Take it easy. Look for a bargain on a big item like a bike but sometimes shopping at three different supermarkets to get all the bargains costs more in time and gas than what you save.
Men are functional shoppers. They know what they want before they walk into a store. Women are recreational shoppers. They lounge around looking for something to buy. Train yourself to be more functional.
Shop at the cheapest stores. I shop at thrift stores and liquidation/ closeout/ dollar stores. I never go to "fashionable" boutiques and I got lots of money. It's the law of the Universe to me. Don't take more than you need.
Don't buy all that useless junk they're constantly advertising at you. Do women need hair color? Do guys need video games? How many pair of shoes are enough? There was a woman on the show The Housewives of Atlanta who said she owned a thousand pair of shoes. She was matter-of-fact about it, as though she didn't realize she was breaking every natural and moral law of the Universe, taking much more than you need, squandering it on extreme material excess while some people starve.
There was some female pop star on TV. The interviewer was shocked when she walked into her "closet" which was the size of an entire one-bedroom apartment full of clothes. The interviewer said something about the excess. The answer was, "A girl's gotta have fun" which shows how screwed up she was because you don't have fun with material things. You have fun by setting your spirit soaring on high through what you do.
I knew a girl about 15 years ago who seemed nice at first blush but the truth was that she thought she was Barbie, the doll and tried to be like her and live like her. It was ridiculous. Who is the real her? She had no identity beyond some pop culture caricature.
My point is don't get caught up with all this brand-name fashion bull goin' around about buying trendy stuff. Life is more than this superficial venture of looking trendy based on clothes, jewelry and make-up. I don't get it which is why I don't talk about it but the Shopping Bags do at theshoppingbags.com.
Shopping One-Liners
Experiment with different foods to find what you like then stick with it.
In my opinion, energy drinks and energy bars are overpriced hype full of sugar (corn syrup) with nothing "special" in them.
A way that a lot of manufacturers increase their price is to make the container smaller while keeping the price the same. I saw this with tuna and toilet paper.
Buying used things could save a lot of money.
The "Genuine Bonded Leather" tag on purses means plastic made to look like leather.
Don't buy useless software.
Most over-the counter sleeping aids (pills) are useless you take a bunch of them.
Teeth whiteners are more hype than real. Only the dentist can whiten teeth with hydogen peroxide which is acid.
Take advantage of seasonal bargains. Many stores begin their year-end sales during the holiday season.
Be alert for bargains.
Consider shopping by catalog. Shopping by catalog keeps you from impulse buying.
The American Dental Assn. Seal of Acceptance means a toothpaste is safe and effective.
Most zero interest, delayed payment offers have a dirty secret. If you miss one payment, all bets are off. They charge you interest for those months of zero interest.
All bottled water is not only a rip-off but it wastes resources and pollutes the planet.
Cats don't like scented kitty litter. Buy unscented.
A lot of antiques are fake.
If you buy something big like a mattress or furniture, see if they deliver it. If it's free delivery, that's great. If not and you don't have access to a truck, it would still probably be better to get them to deliver it for $20 or so than risk it in a car.
All artwork is a rip-off as far as I'm concerned beyond $25 for a print or poster.
Buy greeting cards in quantity.
Expensive sunglasses are no better than cheap ones.
Measure out what carpeting you need then call carpet stores and ask if they have any leftover stuff on sale.
Don't go to the barber or beauty shop as often. Find a beauty or barber school in your area and get your stuff done there.
Send packages by fourth class book rate at the USPS.
Top grain means the best leather. Split grain is lower quality from the bottom of the hide.
Don't buy TV-VCRs combinations. They're too hard to fix.
Beware of fake sales.
Buy food in season.
Rebate offers are a marketing ploy. You may get your refund after waiting a few months but if you don't, complain to the company and threaten to report them to consumer protection agencies.
In order to avoid losing photos at the photo developing place who aren't liable beyond replacement film, get a digital camera.
Despite the few cases of water contamination in the media, water utilities work very hard to provide safe water so water filtering systems are a waste of money.
If you sign for anything, you will be legally liable if the deal falls through like giving a down payment for something or giving a mechanic carte blanche to fix anything on your car.
Bulk food is not always a good deal.
Don't take the kids with you when you shop for groceries to avoid the impulse buying they will try to force on you.
The biggest rule of all is whenever you decide to buy something, call several places to find the lowest price.
When getting a prescription filled, ask either the doctor or the pharmacist for the generic equivalent of the drug to save money.
Instead of going to a new book store, go to a used one to buy your books or go to the library.
I checked out the electronic superstores and the department stores for things like VCRs and stereos and I found that the department stores are always cheaper.
Check the ads in the local papers for things for sale.
Use credit cards when shopping by mail or internet in case they don't deliver or if it's not what you want. Look over the features of your credit card and use whatever they offer like extended warranties, frequent flier miles, etc.
Outlet stores may not be that great a deal. Compare the prices with regular retail prices.
Coupons will save you money.
If you live close to other states, compare gas prices and sales taxes on things.
When you buy mail order goods out of your state, you don't pay sales tax on it.
Co-ops stores usually sell for cheaper than regular stores.
For new cars, shop at the end of the month near the end of the day near the end of the selling season (next year models start arriving in September then they want to clear out this year models but the resale value is immediately reduced) on a bad weather day then don't be afraid to haggle because it's a big ticket item.
When buying big-ticket items, learn all about them from consumer magazines and guides before you buy. You will be less apt to make a bad choice.
Purchase in quantity. Find a wholesale store near you that sells to the local convenience stores and restaurants.
When going out looking for a bargain, wear old clothes, act like poor, lost soul and whimper a little for pity sake.
Garage sales and flea markets are excellent for both selling and buying.
A wise consumer knows where to find the best deals, a good conserver learns to do without. Find alternatives or devise your own solutions.
Before you buy something, ask yourself the following questions:
Can I buy it cheaper later when it's out of season?
Do I really need it?
Can I buy it used either through the ads or at a thrift shop?
Can I rent it for cheaper?
Will I feel like a sucker after buy it?
Where will I put it?
Will I use it much?
Will I really get a lot of use or enjoyment out of it?
Extended warranties are only good on expensive items.
Get away from the supermarket processed foods and stock up at the vegetable stand.
Buy used, bargains, at yard sales, from ads, in newspapers, do without, do with less.
Keep a level head during the holidays. Don't confuse the price tags of gifts with your declaration of conditional love.
Buy a cheaper, smaller, used car.
Watch the money you spend daily on frivolous things.
Don't buy luxury items.
Be thrifty during holidays.
Use cash instead of credit cards.
Look for bargains when you buy anything.
Don't go crazy buying stupid things at Christmastime.
Don't be afraid to haggle with independent merchants. Haggle on the phone, make the deal then go buy your product.
Choose to buy less or not to buy at all.
Find the bargain stores and the bargains in stores.
Find merchants who will give you a deal.
Always buy out of season like a boat in the winter.
Don't necessarily buy at sales. You're still spending.
Many sales are fake. The Bargain sign is a psychological ploy.
Wearguard Corp.
141 Longwater Dr.
Norwell, Ma 02061
800-343-4406
800-388-3300
wearguard.com
Durable clothing.
Tipping Guidelines
Most people like cash tips over credit card tips. Don't give anything less than a buck. It gives off the impression that you're cheap.
Waiter, 15%.
Chef. 5%. If you write your tip on a credit card, specify that the chef gets 5% otherwise the waiter will keep it all.
Headwaiter, host or hostess who seats people, $1-$10.
Wine dude (sommelier), hatcheck, rest room attendant, doorman who gets you a cab or lets you in, $1.
Bartender, $1 to 15%.
Limousine, 15%.
Hotel service, room service, valet, bartender, $1.
Usher anywhere, $5 for good seats.
tipping.org
General Merchandise & Department Stores
target.com
kmart.com
walmart.com/storelocator/ca_storefinder.do
walmartstores.com/
walmart.com
aafes.com, army and air force exchange service.
acehardware.com
amesstores.com
bco.com, bear creek corp.
bestbuy.com, electronic components.
bloomingdales.com
bluelight.com, kmart.
cnstores.com, closeout stores.
coscoinc.com
costco.com, wholesale stores.
dillards.com
dollargeneral.com
ebay.com
factory2u.com
familydollar.com
fayettevillenc.com/belk
federated-fds.com
florenceeiseman.com
fredmeyer.com
growbiz.com
jcpenney.com, 800-2224161
jewelosco.com, retail food stores.
kennethcole.com
kmart.com
kohls.com
kohls.com
lordandtaylor.com
lovescountrystores.com
macys.com
mayco.com
maycompany.com
mward.com
navy-nex.com, navy exchange service command.
neimanmarcus.com
netmarket.com
ninewest.com
nordstrom.com
oshkoshbgosh.ccm
outletbound.com, 800-336-8853
pamida.com
peebles-stores.com
pricecostco.com
qvc.com
riteaid.com
saksincorporated.com
samsclub.com
sears.com
servicemerchandise.com
shopko.com
shoptheworld.com
spiegel.com
talbots.com, 800-543-7123
target.com
targetcorp.com
targetstores.com
tjx.com
vonmaur.com
walgreens.com
wal-mart.com
wards.com
younkers.com
zcmi.com, utah.
Adam York
800-752-5552
Aldens
500 West Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, Il 60607
800-435-6947
Department store, also have catalog for full figure.
Altman Co.
361 Fifth Ave.
Nyc 10016
212-689-7000
amazon.com
Pob 80387
Seattle, Wa 98108-0387
800-201-7575
American Eagle Co.
1130 East Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, Mi 48083
313-689-9458
General merchandise.
American Express Co.
American Express Plaza
Nyc 10004
800-528-8000
800-353-3000
americanexpress.com
General merchandise.
andysgarage.com
800-711-Andy
ashoppersdream.com
800-848-8853
Attitudes
800-241-1107
Bamberger's
131 Market St.
Newark, Nj 07101
800-631-4100
Bennett Brothers
Illinois
800-621-2626
bennettbros.com
Bergdorf Goodman
754 5th Ave.
Nyc 10019
800-662-5455
Best Products Co., Inc.
Pob 26527
Richmond, Va 23260
800-221-Best
800-950-2378
800-777-8220
Bloomingdale's
475 Knotter Dr.
Cheshire, Ct 06410
800-777-0000
bloomingdales.com
Brighter Life
Pob 3703
Hicksville, Ny 11855
516-396-7110
Cobra International
California
800-228-3871
Everything.
Cook Bros.
800-621-4245
Cumberland General Store
800-334-4640
Damark
800-729-9000
Decorative Novelty
800-526-3668
Filene's
426 Washington St.
Boston, Ma 02101
800-345-3637
maycompany.com
Fingerhut Corp.
11 Mcleland Rd.
St. Cloud, Mn 56372-2002
800-233-3588
fingerhut.com
Gokey's
84 S. Wabasha
St. Paul, Mn 55107
800-368-9374
Grand Finale
Pob 620049
Dallas, Tx 75262
800-955-9595
Gump's
250 Post St.
San Francisco, Ca 94108
800-227-3135
Jade, oriental supplies, european gifts.
Haband Co.
265 North 9th St.
Prospect Park, Nj 07530
800-942-9000
General merchandise.
Hawaiian Traders
Pob 558
Ventura, Ca 93002
800-429-8502
Heartland America
800-229-2901
800-966-1233
Hold Everything Catalog
California
800-421-2285
Impact 2000
One Lakewood Plaza
Lakewood, Nj 08701
201-370-4422
General merchandise.
Irvin Inc.
800-572-5437
Island Dreams
800-414-2752
Jafco Catalog Showrooms
17500 S. Center Pkwy.
Seattle, Wa 98124
206-575-2500
J.C. Penney
1301 Ave. of The Americas
Nyc 10019
212-957-4321
800-222-6161
jcpenney.com
J.S. & A. National Sales Group
235 Anthony Trail
Northbrook, Il 60062
800-323-6400
Lewis & Associates
800-293-6452
Computers, electronics, sporting goods.
Lifestyle Fascination
1935 Swathmore Rd.
Lakewood, Nj 08701
800-669-0987
Lord & Taylor
424 Fifth Ave.
Nyc 10018
212-391-3300
800-223-7440
Department store.
Krupp Mail Order
Pob 9090
Boulder, Co 80301
303-449-1172
Macy's Mail Order
Herald Sq.
Nyc 10001
800-622-9786
macys.com
Magi Investment Corp.
2971 Ne 27th Ave.
Lighthouse Point, Fl 33064
305-943-9996
General merchandise.
M & M General Merchandise
800-621-7140
Magnin, I.
Pob 2096
Oakland, Ca 94604
800-227-1125
Marshall Field
111 North State St.
Chicago, Il 60601
800-323-1717
Maryland Square
8300 Maryland Ave.
St Louis, Mo 63166
314-854-2220
Miller & Roads
Pob 27023
Richmond, Va 23261
804-648-3111
Monarch
Pob 608
Dayton, Oh 45401
800-543-6650
Montgomery Ward
Pob 6778
Montgomery Ward Plaza
Chicago, Il 60680
Nieman Marcus
Pob 2968
Dallas, Tx 75221
800-527-5800
800-825-8000
neimanmarcus.com
Nordstrom
800-285-5800
nordstrom-pta.com
Oriental Trading Co.
800-327-9678
Orvis
Blue Hills Dr.
Roanokee, Va 24022
800-541-3541
Pargh, B.A.
1283 Murfeeboro Rd.
Nashville, Tn 37217
800-Bap-1000
Consumer electronics, computers, housewares, etc.
J.C. Penney Co.
Catalog Division
Milwaukee, Wi 53263
800-222-6161
jcpenney.com/shopping
Popular Club Plan
22 Lincoln. Pl.
Garfield, Nj 07026-1983
973-471-1379
Fax: 973-472-0170
Preferred Living
800-543-8633
R.C. Steele
1989 Transit Way
Box 910
Brockport, Ny 14420-0910
800-872-3773
Saks
557 Tuckahoe Rd.
Yonkers, Ny 10710
800-345-3454
Sakowitz
1111 Main St.
Houston, Tx 77001
800-231-2332
Sally Party Decorations, etc.
800-472-5597
Savings On Gifts & Furnishings
Box 620047
Dallas, Tx 75262
214-888-9700
Scope At Home
8232 Nw 14th St.
Miami, Fl 33126
800-695-4848
Sears, Roebuck And Co.
Sears Tower
Chicago, Il 60684
312-875-2500
800-366-3000
sears.com
Service Merchandise Catalog
Pob 25130
Nashville, Tn 37202
800-251-1212
servicemerchandise.com
Sheldon Cord
800-621-7999
Shelley Inventories
1 East Superior
#304
Chicago, Il 60611
800-323-4207
Shop At Home
888-291-8572
Shopper's Advantage
Pob 1016
Turnbull, Ct 06611
800-835-7467
800-562-8888
Membership shopping club, annual fee.
Solutions
800-342-9988
Specialized Mail Order
Illinois
800-262-4535
Spiegel
Pob 6340
Chicago, Il 60680
800-345-4500
800-253-6109
spiegel.com
Sundance Catalog
Utah
800-422-2770
Value One
7101 Winnetka Ave.
Minneapolis, Mn 55440
800-522-3035
Ward International
Pob 2950
Key Largo, Fl 33037
305-451-5277
Whole Earth Access
822 Anthony St.
Berkeley, Ca 94710
800-829-6300
World Distributors
3420 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, Il 60641
800-251-0200
Free wholesale catalog.
How To Find Manufacturers & Wholesalers
First off, there is usually a separate business
section in the reference section and a general
section in every library. Check them both out.
Books about Business Information Resources
are at #016.65. Two good business resource
books are:
Gale Press
800-877-Gale
galegroup.com.
Business Information Sources.
Grey House Press
Pocket Knife Sq.
Pob 1866
Lakeville, Ct 06039
800-562-2139
860-435-0868
Fax: 860-435-0867
books@li.com
greyhouse.com
Directory of Business Information Resources.
These books are subdivided into product
categories and list magazines, newsletters and
trade associations that will enable you to learn
about any particular product line.
Go to the library and punch the following words
into the computer:
Manufacturers
Wholesalers
The key spots are #338.0-#338.767, #381.142 for wholesale and mail order books, #658.7-8 for sales and #670-689 for books on manufacturing.
670. Manufactures Processible.
671. Metal manufactures
672. Ferrous metals manufactures.
673. Nonferrous metals manufactures.
674. Lumber, cork, wood-using industries.
675. Leather and fur industries.
676. Pulp and paper industries.
677. Textiles.
678. Elastomers and their products.
679. Other products.
680. Assembled Products.
681. Precision instruments.
682. Small forge work.
683. Hardware, guns.
684. Furniture.
685. Leather goods.
687. Clothing.
688. Other products.
For corporate profiles, check out:
Dunn & Bradstreet,
Funk & Scott Index of Corporations &
Industries.
Hoover's, hoovers.com
Moody's Corporate Filings, moodys.com
Standard & Poor's Corporate Filings,
standardpoor.com
The Value Line Investment Survey,
valueline.com
Walker's
Ward's
To learn about a company, send them a letter
and ask them for a copy of their annual report
and their 10-K supplemental report.
The Thomas Register of American
Manufacturers lists the major American
manufacturers for all manner of consumer and
industrial product. It's a massive 29 volume
series made up of three parts:
The main register is made up of 29 books that
contain listings of all the manufacturing
companies in the United States in the category
Products & Services which go in alphabetical
order. For a Product Index, go to volume 23.
Volume 23 also contains a trademark index.
The Company Profiles is an index made up of
two books (vols. 24-26) that list all the
companies in the register by their names rather
than by the products they produce.
Beyond that, volumes 27-29 showcase some of
the catalogs of these companies.
Thomas Register
5 Penn Plaza
Nyc 10001
800-699-9822
212-695-0500
Fax: 212-290-7206
thomasregister.com
There's a book for trademarks called the
Trademark Register which lists all U.S.
Trademarks.
thomasnet.com, thomas register of american manufacturers
alibaba.com
asianproducts.com
b2b-bestof.com
cas.org, 800-848-6533, chemical abstracts
database.
catalogs.indiamart.com, india.
cme-mec.ca, canadian manufacturers and exporters assn.
findasalesagent.com
globalsources.com
happi.com, household and personal products industry buyer's guide.
harrisinfo.com, 800-888-5900, database of
manufacturers.
housewares.org, housewares manufacturers assn.
infousa.com, 800-555-5211, american manufacturer's directory.
lifetimetv.com
manaonline.org, 949 859 4040, manufacturers' agents.
manufacture.com
manufacture.com.tw, taiwan.
marketingsource.com
mfginfo.com
nrha.org, hardware retailers.
thebluebook.com, directory of manufacturers.
thomasregister.com, directory of manufacturers.
webstersonline.com
American Business Directories, Inc.
800-284-8353
800-808-1113
salesleadsusa.com
American Business Cd-Rom.
Business Reference Directory
Pob 800495
Dallas, Tx 75380
800-284-4671
American Business Yellow Pages.
Business Research Publications
65 Bleecker St.
Nyc 10012
800-622-7237
212-673-4700
Mcrae's Blue Book, Also State Industrial
Directories.
Dun & Bradstreet Directory For Manufacturers
299 Park Ave.
24th Fl.
Nyc 10171
212-285-7609
dnb.com
Gale Research, Inc.
835 Penobscot Bldg.
Detroit, Mi 48226-4094
800-877-Gale
galegroup.com
American Wholesaler's & Distributor's
Directory.
American Manufacturer's Directory
Manufacturing Usa.
Georgia State University Press
University Plaza
Atlanta, Ga 30303
404-651-4253
gsu.edu
Directory of Foreign Manufacturers In The
U.S.
Industrial Research Institute
1550 M St. Nw
Washington, Dc 20005
202-295-8811
Book Who's Who In The Industrial Research
Institute.
Industrial Safety Equipment Assn.
1901 N. Moore St.
# 808
Arlington, Va 22209
703-525-1695
Machinery Dealers National Assn.
1110 Spring St.
Silver Spring, Md 20910
301-585-9494
Have a membership directory and a Used
Machinery Buyer's Guide.
Manufacturers' News
1633 Central St.
Evanston, Il 60201
847-864-7000
Publish manufacturer directories for every state
and some countries.
National Assn. of Manufacturers
1331 Pennsylvania Ave. Nw
#1500 N.
Washington, Dc 20004
202-637-3000
Fax: 202-637-3182
nam.org
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