Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Comparision Shop When Shopping 'Sales'

Sales  "midnight," "sidewalk," "inventory reduction" or "going out of business"  may mean great bargains and money saved. It also can mean a few items left at not very reduced costs. Whether you love searching for the perfect item at half price or hate fighting crowds of bargain hunters, be cautious when shopping at sales.

Generally there are two kinds of sales: promotional and clearance. Clearance sales dispose of leftover seasonal merchandise, shopworn or damaged items or those that are one-of-a-kind. Close-out sales have items which a store will no longer carry or an item a manufacturer is discontinuing.

Promotional sales use price reductions to encourage customers to buy. The promotion may be store-wide or for a specific item or service. Promotional sales may be seasonal and focus on merchandise traditionally placed on sale at specific times during the year. For example, Christmas items in January, or summer clothing in August. One-day or holiday sales, anniversary sales, or private sales which are offered to regular customers several days before the sale is announced to the public, are other types of promotional sales.

Whether it is a clearance or promotional sale it pays to comparison shop, says Wanda Shelby, family resource management specialist with the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. An item at one store may cost more on sale than the regular price of the same item at another store. Ask yourself some questions. Why is this merchandise on sale? Was it overpriced and then marked down? Is it poorly constructed or designed? Is there a flaw or defect in the product? Will this affect the product? Would I buy this if it were not on sale? What is the return policy? Can items be serviced and repaired? What about exchanges and refunds? Often sale merchandise can't be returned or exchanged. Think about the answers. Great buys may not be so great after all.

Consider when to shop during a sale. Prices will not change during promotional sales. Price reductions usually are larger for clearance sales than for promotional sales. The best prices are in the last few days in clearance sales, but selection may be limited. In any type of sale selection will be better early in the sale.

Don't buy just because others are buying. Sales may be exciting, but a reduced price, even a drastic one, is not a bargain if you don't need the product. And when buying any item always carefully inspect for damage.

There are many forms of price reductions, some of them quite creative. Midnight madness sales are common, but some stores may open very early in the morning to attract customers. Coupons and refunds may be offered to entice consumers to purchase items.

Whether a sale is a clearance or promotion, midnight or morning, be sure to compare, inspect for damage and quality, and be sure the item is a part of your spending plan!

Increasing physical activity has many health benefits, and good nutrition is important for physical fitness and athletic performance. All athletes, whether competing or recreational, need a well-balanced diet from a variety of foods. The American and Canadian Dietetic Associations have made some recommendations for nutrition, fitness and athletic performance, according to Rossia Brown-Broughton, Extension Associate, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. A series of three weekly articles will cover these suggestions.

Ideal body weight for health or athletic performance varies from person to person. Some factors which affect the body weight of an individual include age, gender, physical activity level and family history. The importance of body weight goes beyond look and athletic performance. Being more than 20 percent over ideal weight is a confirmed risk for many diseases.

Body fat ranges of 15 percent to 18 percent for men and 20 to 25 percent for women are recommended. However, trained athletes have less body fat, ranging from 5 to 12 percent for men and 10 to 20 percent for women. Health risks increase with body fat levels greater than 25 percent for men and 29 percent for women. Body fat below 4 percent for men and below 10 percent for women also increases health risks.