Guide to Simon’s Clearance Store Shopping

Guide to Simon’s Clearance Store Shopping

I’d been to Simon Premium Outlets plenty of times—Woodbury Common in New York, Orlando International, Desert Hills in California—but the clearance store concept is a different beast. The markdowns are deeper, the rules are a bit weirder, and if you know what you’re doing, you can walk out feeling like you robbed the place (legally).

This is the guide I wish I had before my first serious Simon clearance run.

What Exactly Is a Simon Clearance Store?

When I say “Simon’s clearance store,” I’m talking about the clearance-format shops found inside Simon-owned properties (especially Simon Premium Outlets and some malls). These are usually:

• Brand-run clearance outlets (think Nike Clearance Store, Saks OFF 5TH clearance formats, Gap Clearance, etc.)
• Or multi-brand clearance concepts that sit in Simon centers and move excess, past-season, or overstock inventory

Simon Property Group is one of the largest mall and outlet operators in the U.S. According to their 2023 annual report, they operate over 180 income‑producing properties across North America, including dozens of Premium Outlet centers where a lot of the heavy clearance action happens.[^simon]

In my experience, a clearance-format store in a Simon center is like the outlet version of an outlet: more aggressive markdowns, less curated presentation, and a higher ratio of “Why is this even here?” to “How is this this cheap?”

How Simon Clearance Stores Differ from Regular Outlet Stores

When I tested this across three different Simon centers in two states, a few patterns popped up.

1. Pricing Logic Is More Extreme

Outlet stores usually run a predictable cycle: 20–40% off MSRP, plus occasional promos. Clearance formats stack:

• Base markdowns of 40–70% off
• Colored sticker discounts (yellow tag extra 30% off, red tag final sale, etc.)
• Time-based promos — I’ve seen “extra 20% off lowest ticketed price until 1 p.m.”

I once picked up a pair of Nike running shoes at a Simon Nike Clearance Store for $29.97 that I knew had an original MSRP of $130. I cross-checked the model online while standing in the aisle—same colorway, same SKU.

2. Inventory Is More Chaotic (In a Good Way… Sometimes)

Regular outlets often carry made‑for‑outlet lines. Clearance stores are more like:

• End-of-line retail items from full-price stores
• Online returns
• Odd sizes and colorways
• Past-season stock that never sold through

When I dug into this, I found that past-season liquidation like this is standard practice across the retail industry.[^forbes-overstock] Simon centers just provide the physical space to move it.

That’s why you’ll see a $400 coat from two winters ago next to a random size 5.5 shoe and a single XXL hoodie.

3. Policies Are Stricter

From what I’ve personally seen:

• More final sale tags
• Shorter or no return windows
• Limited price adjustments

One associate at a Simon-based clearance apparel store told me flat out: “Treat everything like it’s final sale unless the tag clearly says otherwise.” That advice has saved me a few impulse regrets.

When to Go: Timing Matters More Than You Think

In my experience, Simon clearance shopping has three golden windows.

1. Morning on Weekdays

When I tested different times over a month, weekday mornings consistently had:

• Better selection (restocked from the night before)
• Fewer resellers grabbing all the good stuff
• Staff who actually had time to answer questions

Saturday afternoon, on the other hand, felt like a sample sale during a fire drill.

2. End-of-Season and Post-Holiday

Clearance stores live off seasonal liquidation. Major sweet spots:

• January: post-holiday returns and winter merchandise
• Late July–August: spring/summer clearance
• Right after long weekends (Memorial Day, Labor Day) when promo items get pushed out to clearance

A 2022 NRF (National Retail Federation) report noted that retailers are increasingly using off-price and outlet channels to clear excess seasonal inventory after big shopping events.[^nrf-overstock] You can absolutely feel this in Simon centers—especially the week after a major sale period.

3. During Unadvertised Promo Windows

Simon Premium Outlets will post general events and promos on their site and app, but individual clearance stores sometimes run quiet in‑store deals. At one Simon center, a clerk whispered, “Check back Wednesday mornings; that’s when we get our shipment and sometimes do extra markdowns.”

Moral of the story: build a relationship with staff. A casual “What days are usually best for markdowns?” can be worth more than any coupon.

How to Spot a True Deal (Not Just a Loud Sticker)

I’ve made dumb purchases in clearance stores because the sticker looked exciting. Over time, I built a quick mental checklist.

Step 1: Ignore the “Original Price” Drama

MSRP can be aspirational. Some outlet/clearance pieces have an “original” price they never actually sold at in full‑price channels. The Federal Trade Commission has literally called out deceptive reference pricing in retail.[^ftc-pricing]

So I do this instead:

• Quickly Google the exact model name/SKU on my phone
• Check what it actually sells for now (not just MSRP)
• Compare that to the clearance price + tax

If the gap isn’t at least 40–50% for fashion or 30–40% for sneakers, I usually pass unless it’s something I truly need.

Step 2: Look for Quality Tells

When I tested apparel from clearance outlets vs. full-price stores, I started noticing:

• Stitching: loose threads, uneven seams
• Fabric feel: pilling, thinness, cheap zippers
• Branding: older logo versions, outlet-only tags

Past-season full-price items are generally fine. But made‑for‑outlet goods can be built to a different spec. It’s not automatically bad, just worth a more skeptical eye.

Step 3: Check Return Policies Before the Register

I learned this one the hard way with a pair of pants that looked great under the store lighting and terrible in actual daylight.

Now I always:

• Ask: “Is this final sale?” even if it doesn’t say so
• Take a photo of any posted policy near the register
• Keep clearance receipts separate in my wallet so I remember what can’t go back

Advanced Strategies I Actually Use

These are the tactics that turned my “Let’s just walk around” visits into serious savings.

1. Stack Outlet + Clearance + Loyalty

Some clearance stores inside Simon centers still honor:

• Brand loyalty rewards (Nike, Adidas, Gap, etc.)
• Email sign-up coupons
• App-based offers

I once stacked a 20% Nike app coupon on already-clearance shoes in a Simon clearance-format store. The associate said, “We’re not supposed to always accept these, but it works today, so…” That’s the thing—systems vary by store. It’s worth asking nicely.

2. Use the “Per Wear” Rule

When I’m staring at a $70 jacket marked down from $300, it’s tempting to justify it just because the discount is huge.

So I do a quick mental math: estimated number of wears vs. price.

• If I’ll wear it 70 times over a couple of years, that’s $1 per wear: probably worth it.
• If it’s a one‑event outfit? I back away, no matter how spectacular the sticker looks.

This mindset is backed by consumer behavior research showing that perceived value is higher when cost-per-use is lower, not just when the initial discount is big.[^harvard-consumer]

3. Walk the Entire Store Once Before Grabbing a Cartload

I’ve tested both approaches: grabbing everything that looks promising vs. doing one full lap with hands empty.

When I walk first, I:

• See pricing patterns (maybe all the real deals are on the back wall)
• Notice damage racks
• Catch signage about extra promos

Only then do I commit to trying things on. It sounds minor, but it’s saved me from “first rack frenzy.”

Pros and Cons of Simon’s Clearance Store Scene

I love these stores, but they’re not magical money portals.

What’s Awesome

• Genuinely massive discounts on legit brands
• Chance finds: runway-adjacent pieces, past‑season designer, niche sneakers
• Great for basics: tees, hoodies, gym gear, kids’ clothes
• Fun treasure-hunt energy if you enjoy the search

What’s Not So Great

• Inconsistent sizing and inventory — If you’re a common size (M, 9–10 in shoes), the best stuff often disappears first
• More final sale traps — you can’t fix a bad impulse buy later
• Time sink — serious clearance hunting can eat hours
• Quality variance — some items feel… cheaply made for the outlet channel

In my experience, Simon’s clearance stores are worth it if you treat them like a strategic mission, not a casual stroll.

Quick Prep Checklist Before You Go

Here’s how I prep now before any big Simon clearance run:

1. List your needs: “Black work pants, neutral sneakers, light jacket” — so you don’t wander aimlessly.
2. Set a hard budget and keep a running total on your phone.
3. Wear try-on friendly clothes: slip‑on shoes, basic tee, leggings/shorts.
4. Charge your phone for price checking and loyalty apps.
5. Take a small backpack so you’re not juggling bags while flipping through racks.

When I follow that, I leave with things I actually wear, not just things that were cheap.

Final Thoughts from Someone Who’s Spent Too Many Hours in These Aisles

Simon’s clearance stores sit in that sweet (and dangerous) spot between “incredible value” and “how did I spend $200 on stuff I didn’t need?”

In my experience, they’re unbeatable for:

• Replacing worn-out basics
• Grabbing gym or loungewear
• Scoring last-season outerwear and sneakers for 60–80% off real market prices

But they work best when you go in with:

• A plan
• A budget
• A willingness to walk away from almost-great deals

If you treat Simon’s clearance stores like a game—with strategies, rules, and a clear definition of what “winning” looks like—you’ll walk out feeling like a pro, not a victim of the red sticker.

Sources

• Simon Property Group – Company Overview - Background on Simon’s properties and outlet portfolio
• Forbes – How Retailers Are Dealing With Excess Inventory - Insight into overstock and clearance strategies
• National Retail Federation – Retailers Lean On Discounts To Clear Inventory - Industry context on markdowns and liquidation
• Federal Trade Commission – Reference Pricing and Deceptive Pricing Practices - Rules and concerns around “original price” claims
• Harvard Business Review – The Psychology Behind Cost-Per-Use - Research and concepts related to value perception and pricing

[^simon]: Simon Property Group, Inc., Investor Overview, accessed January 2024.

[^forbes-overstock]: Pam Danziger, Forbes, "Too Much Inventory?" July 13, 2022.

[^nrf-overstock]: National Retail Federation, blog and research on inventory and markdown strategies, 2022.

[^ftc-pricing]: Federal Trade Commission, "Guides Against Deceptive Pricing."

[^harvard-consumer]: Harvard Business Review coverage on consumer price perception and value.