By Arthur Vidro
The husky young man sat in a chair on the corner of Washington Avenue. He held a sign on a stick proclaiming something about 20% off at Big Lots.
As I drove by, I couldn’t read the small print on the sign. So I pulled into the Big Lots parking lot, pulled out my Press Card, and ambled over.
When I got within a couple yards, I was at last able to read the tiny words on the sign. They were: “Up to” as in “Up to 20% Off.”
Folks, there’s a world of difference between 20% off and “up to 20% off.”
I had never seen this man, named James, in Big Lots. Did he work there?
No. The only job at Big Lots that James has had is sitting there holding the sign, for which he says he’s being paid $15 an hour.
Big Lots is paying James roughly double the minimum wage to sit in the heat orrain and hold the sign upright. He earns it.
I ambled into the store, which an employee told me will shut for good at around October 17. But the date might change.
The Big Lots in Claremont is the only one of the chain’s six New Hampshire stores scheduled to be shuttered.
The shelves are gradually emptying. More people than usual are shopping there, perhaps driven by the 20% signage.
But this is NOT a 20% off sale of everything in the store. It’s an UP TO 20% off everything in the store.
Toys were indeed discounted by 20%. So were seasonal items, such as gardening supplies.
However, the electronics department was just 10% off.
The furniture department had no signage marking a discount, but the tags on each individual item suggested a 10% reduction.
Toaster ovens and luggage were a mere 5% off, as were cleaning supplies.
Food and beverages were 0% off. In other words, full price.
That was August 10th.
I returned on the 17th. James still sat at the same corner, but now the sign proclaiming 20% off had been replaced with one shouting 25% off.
But with the same UP TO caveat.
A visit inside the store revealed a sort of directory that hadn’t been there a week earlier. It announced that patio furniture and accent furniture were 25% off. Those were the only 25% off items.
Toys, summer items, and lawn/gardening supplies remained at 20% off.
Luggage, a week earlier at 5% off, was now 10% off.
Pet supplies also were tagged at 10% off.
Appliances and Personal Care items were 5% off.
Something called HBC (the sign didn’t say what that stands for) is 5% off.
Not making it onto the sign were food and beverages. A stop in those aisles suggests those items remain at full price, or 0% off.
Curiously, the directory showed Apparel at 30% off, even though the outdoor signage remained at UP TO 25%.
Folks, the percentage discount will continue to climb. Toward the end – in October – you’ll probably see 25% or 50% off everything in the store.
You might be saving some money by buying at today’s reduced rates. But you’ll save more if you buy later on at a greater reduced rate.
Unless, of course, the store sells out of what you want.
As with most stores closing for good, the Claremont branch of Big Lots is selling everything with a No Return policy. All sales are final.
So be certain before you buy.
