Dillard’s is often thought of as an upscale department store and for those on a budget, Dillard’s might not be the first place you shop for gifts or for a little bit of self-splurging. However, if done properly, Dillard’s has major deals to offer its customers. With brands like Gucci, Calvin Klein, DKNY and Kate Spade, a few tricks of the trade will have the most economically prudent shopper in upscale attire from Dillard’s. Here are a few simple strategies to snag your favorite designer brands at great prices.
Dillard’s has clearance centers throughout the country where they send items that aren’t selling at Dillard’s stores. The clearance centers have major markdowns on brand names. This is a great option for a young professional who needs to shop for interview or new job attire, or for someone who needs a nice outfit for an event. Like most other clearance centers and outlet stores, it may require some digging, but the pros do outweigh the cons. The clearance centers often have a wide variety of options and plenty of sizes in stock, so it’s definitely worth the modest additional effort.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but once on the Dillard’s website, it’s easy to get distracted. Always start with the price reductions section, especially if you know what you’re looking for. Once in this section, you can search by category (women’s apparel, children, men, home, etc.). Once you’ve picked the category, you can search sub-categories, or by brand, color, or size – which reduces your chances of finding something you love and then finding out your size is not in stock.
Many shoppers are unaware that Dillard’s often holds handbag and watch trade-in events. If you bring in any clean, used watch or handbag of any brand, you receive a discount on any regular-priced watch or handbag. The discount tiers are usually as follows:
$15 off handbags or watches valued $50-$75
$25 off handbags or watches valued $76-$125
$40 off handbags or watches valued $126-$199
$50 off handbags or watches valued $200 or more
The best part? Your old watch or handbag gets donated to charity – it’s a win-win! The event is usually once a year, so be sure to ask your local Dillard’s when the event takes place.
If you are a long-time Dillard’s shopper, you know that the store doesn’t have very many sales. And when there is a sale, you will rarely see advertising for it. So, how do you when to take advantage of a Dillard’s sale?
Some stores hold sales during the last weekend (Thursday-Sunday) of most months, but the best way is to call your local store before you visit or stop in whenever you are at the mall. This way, you’ll be able to catch a sale at its peak and get all savings you can! Be sure to keep an eye out for events during the holidays, as this is a popular time for sales.
Dillard’s has a New Year’s Day markdown sale every year. During this sale, they add an additional 50% discount to a wide selection of products, including Sperry and Ugg shoes, Coach purses, and more. Shoppers start lining up before the store opens, so get there early. If you arrive when or after the store opens, you’ll likely miss out on the good stuff.
Dillard’s offers two credit card options — a store card and an American Express credit card. Both cards come with program benefits, which you get by earning points through your purchases. Once you reach 1,500 points, you can choose between a 10% off shopping pass or a $10 rewards certificate applicable to all merchandise in any department. The program offers two reward points for every dollar spent at Dillard’s (including online, in-store, catalog, and even phone purchases).
If you sign up for Dillard’s American Express credit card, you get points for your Dillard’s purchases, plus additional points for purchases made elsewhere. You earn two reward points per dollar at select grocery stores and gas stations and one point for every dollar spent everywhere else American Express is accepted. Cardholders also receive special financing. For example, qualifying customers are offered 0% financing for 12 or 24 months on qualifying purchases. This could be a great option on large purchases – allowing you to pay it off over time without the purchase accruing interest.
Dillard’s offers special financing on:
Men’s tailored clothing (12-month payment plans on purchases of $200 or more)
Home furnishings (12-month payment plans on purchases of $200 or more)
Furniture (12-month payment plans on purchases of $200 or more, and 24-month payment plans on purchases of $2,500 or more).
Dillard’s also has a separate “Cardholder Preview Day,” where cardholders receive an additional 30%-40% off of the entire stock of reduced-price items. Be sure to check which days these sales are effective – it may be worth the wait.
If you charge more than $2,000 to your store or American Express card, you will achieve elite status. With this status, you will receive double points during in-store double rewards points events, standard shipping on Dillards.com purchases, in-store gift wrapping, and invitations to special shopping events. American Express cardholders will also get special benefits for National car rentals and complimentary amenities at luxury hotels around the world.
If you plan on going to the store to make a purchase and to apply for the Dillard’s card at the same time, check online for printable coupons. Dillard’s will often have promos where you get 10% off orders of $100 or more when you open a store card.
Dillard’s is currently utilizing social media on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram. Following Dillard’s accounts gives you access to daily sales, new inventory, inspiration, special deals, behind-the-scenes info, and seasonal trends.
Dillard’s is also on Wanelo, which is similar to an online mall where users curate the stores and brands. You can follow pages of products exclusive to Dillard’s, wedding style pages, or even specific categories like Americana. Remember, if you see an item that’s a must-have, check the Dillard’s price reductions section for that item or similar items.
Don’t forget to sign up for Dillard’s email list for special offers and events. Be sure to use the checkbox to the right while filling out your information – that way you only receive information about items that interest you.
When you shop through rebate websites such as Ebates, you get a percentage of your purchase back in cash. Currently, this rebate site is offering 3% cashback for purchases made at Dillard’s. Although 3% isn’t an outrageous discount, it does add up. Plus, it’s more than you would save without the rebate. You can also find current deals and sales available at the store on Ebates’ Dillard’s page.
Dillard’s often has gifts with purchase events, where you can score free stuff when you buy beauty products or clothes. Some of the brands that often participate are Clinique and Estee Lauder. Although you have to spend a minimum amount in order to receive the free gift, Dillard’s sometimes has promotions that include nine-piece makeup sets (up to $120 value). Other events allow you to score free handbags or gift cards when you purchase certain clothing brands.
The current gift with purchase promotion offers a seven-piece makeup set — with mascara, lipstick, cleanser, and more — with any $34.50 Elizabeth Arden purchase! Be sure to track these events on social media or ask at your local Dillard’s, especially before purchasing beauty products.
Finally, don’t forget to search for discounted gift cards. Sites like Cardpool.com or GiftCardGranny.com offer 11% off Dillard’s gift cards. Additionally, you can search for physical or online gift cards or filter based on gift card value. The cards often have odd values, but they offer decent savings if you plan on making a purchase at Dillard’s anyway.
Set alerts on discount gift card sites by selecting Dillard’s and creating an account with the website. You’ll get emails when the sites receive Dillard’s gift cards, so you can snatch them up before someone else does.
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