Unsual, special things at normal, ordinary prices. Yay for TK Maxx! (TK Maxx)

Member Name: SapphireSunflowr

Product:	TK Maxx
Date:	06/02/09 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Often a bargain, lovely things you won't find elsewhere, Home, Kids, Clothing, Shoes, Kitchen....

Disadvantages: Its so easy to get over excited and over spend on things that aren't that good a bargain after all..

I have two favourite kinds of shopping: Vintage shop shopping and TK Maxx shopping. Although one usual involves sifting through slightly smelly second hand pieces in a chilly warehouse or teeny tiny shop and the other sorting through rows of shiny designer clothing, the thrill of finding something new and bargainous is the same with both. I wear vintage because I like pieces that no one has and the quality of vintage dressmaking, and I like TK Maxx for pieces that no one else I know will have and the quality of expensive frocks at more ordinary prices!

I took my other half to TK Maxx last week jeans shopping, as he keeps buying £30 pairs from H&M that last him no time at all. I've had two pairs of Seven jeans that have only just died on me after over three years, so I dragged him into town to get a pair for the same price but worth more, hopefully better quality. When it was my turn to look, he wisely went off to find some food, because a TK Maxx hunt is never a quick shop...

Now, I have a few coping strategies when searching for something specific in TK Maxx, as without one you could end up two hours later buried in jeans comforting a sobbing other half. First thing is to get into the right section for your size, and then just flick through the rails looking at the fabric. If it's the right material, check the style, then check the size. Don't look too much at each item until you've briefly assessed the fabric, as it's the quickest way to dismiss things - even if you found the perfect belted shirt dress, you won't be wearing it in mustard polyester with a metallic thread, will you?
So, item found, just chuck it in your basket to try on. You can take 6 items into the changing room, but they're good at letting you swap items over, and that's much quicker than only taking size 12s in and then wishing you'd taken the other sizes too... Being such a mix of brands, there's no way of predicting what your TK Maxx size will be (not to mention the fact that things are often mis-sized), so I find taking a mix of sizes to try on is a must.

Now that you're deciding what to buy, try and keep a rational head on the prices. In the TK Maxx bubble, everything seems so cheap, and I myself know I'm much more likely to buy a £12 top in TK Maxx than H&M, because it feels like I'm getting more for my money. While this is often true, remember than some brands TK Maxx sells are their own fashion lines rather than actual designer ones, so the quality and price pretty much are the same as high street ones. TK Maxx also do not allow refunds without a receipt, and only within 14 days, so you must keep hold of it if there's a risk of you changing your mind once the buyer's regret sets in!

Now that's not to say I haven't had some bargains. My very favourite party dress is from there - a ridiculous £20 for a blue and cream patterned floating dress, lined with v-neck and voluminous sleeves. And I've had some gorgeous Spanish shoes, some little patterned jackets, and a multitude of red kitchen gadgets... Fine, I'll admit it, I'm in love!

Summary: Always a good first stop for, well, pretty much anything...