Posted
by Lauren Gores
on Mon Jul 19, 2010
Last updated
Jul 19, 2010
Going back to school is all about saving big—and that means hitting the right stores at the right time.
ABC 17 News developed a must-have checklist with 20 items that covered kindergartners to college students. Deal-digging and bargain hunting allowed us to develop a way to save more than $300.
We did it through shopping at four Columbia retail stores: Staples, Office Depot, Best Buy and MC Sports. Some of the deals are running right now, while others will not be featured until later in the season.
First stop: Staples.
"Every week we'll have special hot buy deals that will run Sunday through Wednesday for as low as a penny," said John Rymarcsuk, store manager for Staples.
This week—that includes items like glue, on sale for just one cent. Other hot deals at Stales right now include discounts on flashcards and notebooks.
"People will be able to save anywhere from two to five dollars based on whether you go with one, three, or five subject notebooks," said Rymarcsuk.
ABC 17 News checked off eight items at Staples: Glue, scissors, markers, stapler, highlighters, sticky notes, notebooks and flashcards.
Next stop: Office Depot.
"From now, until when school actually starts, every back to school item will be on sale," said Ken Borzym, store manager for Office Depot. "Check your Sunday papers."
This week's deals feature the lowest prices on folders. Office Depot is offering five of them for a quarter. It is all part of the store's idea 'Going Back Smarter...' through saving big on weekly deals you can snag for change.
Three-ring binders are expected to go on sale for two dollars sometime within the next few weeks. And right now, graphing calculators are on sale for $10, while flash drives cost less than $20 off its value price.
Eight items were knocked-off at Office Depot, including: Folders, a graphing calculator, printing paper, lined paper, hand sanitizer, binders, pencils and a flash drive.
Third Stop: Best Buy
"The best deals will be on our clearance items," said Chris Vomound, of the Geek Squad.
That includes a 2010 Compaq computer on sale for $299 right now. The computer is valued at $450. Best Buy will also install a Microsoft Office Package on a new computer for $20 off its value price.
Final Stop: MC Sports
The sports-based retailer is will offer a major deal on its athletic shoes.
"Towards the end of the month we're going to have a buy one pair, get one pair half-off sale," said Brent Willenburg, store manager at MC Sports.
They will also offer sales on backpacks through the month of August. Staples and Office Deport will also offer various deals on backpacks, ranging from 25% to 50% off—which means someone could buy a bag for just $15.
The total saved: $318.
That's 318 more dollars in your pocket…. And 20 key back-to-school items.
Keep in mind deals will change weekly, and are only applicable under certain conditions.
Other retailers offering mega-sales for the back-to-school season include Walmart and Target. Walmart's already offering low deals on electronics and supplies.
And Target is going after the college Freshman this year.... Offering sales on dorm-room must-haves.
