When the bright “store closing” signs go up outside of a store that’s being liquidated, that’s meant to attract shoppers in search of deals. The problem, though, is that liquidation sales mean first marking items up to their original retail price, then gradually lowering them, meaning that prices are higher than they were when the “liquidation” started.

Keep this in mind if you feel tempted to check out Sports Authority, Kmart, or Sears store closing sales in your area.

Shoppers in Connecticut found what sounded like great deals at a closing Kmart, (Warning: auto-play video at that link) but weren’t quite what they appeared to be. A TV, for example, was marked “20% off,” but the 20% off was from its original price of $240, making the sale price $194. Just before the store closing sale began, you could buy the same TV for $199.

It was the same with appliances: the price for a stove before the sale was marked as “25% off,” but a liquidation sale means that the price was hiked back up to 100% and then gradually lowered.

Kmart Liquidation Begins With Questionable Bargains [NBC Connecticut] (Warning: auto-play video)

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