Discover 9 insider tips to save money at Nike outlet stores, including how to find discounts, use gift cards, and take advantage of membership perks.
Shopping at Nike outlet stores is a great way to get crazy deals on your favorite sneaker styles if you know how to save money at Nike outlet stores. If you are lucky enough to have a Nike Outlet in your city, shopping there is the frugal sneaker heads dream. I’ve copped amazing deals—like Nike Dunks for under $60, Air Force Ones for $70, Air Jordans way below retail, and Nike Vandals for only $49. These stores provide a unique opportunity to find popular styles at steep discounts but it can be a treasure hunt at times. This guide will help you ensure you get the absolute best deals possible.
The Difference Between Nike Factory Stores and Nike Outlets
Understanding the distinction between Nike Factory Stores and Nike Outlets is key to maximizing your savings. Nike Factory Stores primarily offer overstock items or products directly from Nike, often at discounted rates. These stores are ideal if you’re looking for current or recent styles that didn’t sell out in traditional retail stores.
On the other hand, Nike Outlet Stores focus on selling last-season styles, discontinued models, and items with slight imperfections. This means you are in for even bigger discounts compared to factory stores. At outlets, you can find “factory seconds,” or refurbished shoes, which may have minor defects but still meet Nike’s quality standards. These items are available at significantly reduced prices and you won’t even notice the difference.
Using tools like the Nike Store Locator, you can easily find the nearest outlet or factory store to explore the latest deals. Whether you’re after essentials like Air Force Ones, Air max or looking for discounted Retro Air Jordans, Nike’s outlet and factory stores offer a range of savings opportunities on sought-after sneakers.
Now that you know where to shop and the types of deals you can find, let’s dive into specific strategies to help you save even more. From gift card discounts to taking advantage of Nike’s price match policy, here are 9 insider tips for maximizing your savings on Nike footwear at outlet stores.
1. How to Use Nike’s Friends & Family Pass to save money at Nike outlets
The Nike Friends & Family Pass is a seasonal perk that gives 30% off on purchases at Nike Factory and Clearance stores in the US and Canada. This pass offers one of the best ways to save on Nike products, as it allows you to apply a substantial discount on items already marked down from their original retail prices.
However, it’s not available to everyone. Nike selects certain members to receive the pass, although the exact criteria remain undisclosed. To be eligible, you need at least a Nike Membership, which is free to join. Being a member also provides access to other perks, like free shipping on online orders, exclusive discounts, and occasional early access to new releases.
How to Use the Friends & Family Pass
To use the pass, open your Nike App and display it to the store clerk at checkout. Note that these passes are only valid for a limited time and usually expire at the end of the promotional period. Nike typically releases the Friends & Family Pass once per season, so be sure to check your app and email notifications regularly to see if you’ve been selected.
Joining the Nike Membership program increases your chances of receiving this pass and lets you enjoy other benefits, even if you don’t receive the pass every season.
2. Ask Store Representatives About Returned Items to save money at Nike outlet stores
Nike outlets sometimes accept returns, and these items are often marked down even further, making them hidden gems for savvy shoppers. To take advantage of these deals, simply approach a store representative and ask where the recently returned items are displayed. Alternatively, if you have a specific sneaker model in mind, ask if they can check the back for any returned pairs of that model. You may find that returned items come with additional discounts, allowing you to score even bigger savings on popular styles.
3. Shop the Hash Wall for Extra Discounts to save money at Nike outlet stores
The hash wall at Nike outlets, typically located at the back of the store, is a section dedicated to last-inventory shoes often marked down at steeper discounts. These shoes usually come without box lids, which generally means a lower price. If you prefer having a complete box, you can ask a store representative if they have an extra lid in the back. Shopping the hash wall is a great way to find significant savings on high-quality Nike footwear.
4. Learn to Read Nike Outlet Store Tags to save money at Nike outlet stores
Nike outlet tags can help you spot the best deals on footwear if you know how to read them. Here’s a quick guide to decoding the clearance and regular pricing tags:
• Clearance Tags Ending in $0.97: These items are marked at their absolute lowest price, signaling that they’re on final clearance.
• Regular Prices Ending in $0.99: These items are discounted but may still qualify for additional markdowns.
If you find a price ending in $0.99, it’s a good idea to ask a store representative if there are any further discounts available. This simple knowledge can help you maximize savings on Nike footwear. For more tips, refer to steps 2, 3 and the next one on finding deals in-store.
5. Look for Damaged Shoes and Ask for a Discount
If you find a pair of shoes at a Nike outlet with minor damage, you may be able to get a discount. Look for small imperfections like stitching errors or slight marks that don’t affect the shoe’s functionality. Politely point out the defect to a store associate and request a 20% discount. It’s helpful to state your desired discount first, as they may counter with 15% or another offer. Any extra discount, even if it’s less than 20%, helps add up to significant savings over time.
6. Buy Discounted Nike Gift Cards
Using discounted gift cards is a smart way to save money on your sneaker purchases at Nike outlets. A great starting point is CardBear, a website that aggregates discounted gift card deals from various marketplaces to help you find the best prices available. CardBear scans sites like GCX, CardCash, Giftcard Outlet, GiftDeals, and Cardflip to find the deepest discounts. You can often find gift cards up to 20% off their face value.
Additionally, CardBear lets you set up notifications, so you’ll get an alert when a Nike gift card is on sale for a certain percentage off. I use this feature when I publish the weekly “Best Gift Card Deals” on my Reddit sub to help others save as well.
7. Know the Best Times to Shop at Nike Outlet stores
To score the best deals at Nike outlet stores, timing is everything. Resellers are aware that these stores restock daily, which makes high-demand items go quickly. Arriving 10-15 minutes before opening can give you a significant advantage, as you’ll be among the first to browse the freshly stocked items before the resellers and other shoppers get in. By showing up early, you increase your chances of finding rare styles, deep discounts, and high-quality shoes before they’re scooped up by others looking for deals.
8. Take Advantage of the 10% Military Discount
If you’re a member of the military, take advantage of the 10% discount at Nike outlets. Here’s how to use it. All you need to do is present a valid military ID to receive a 10% discount on top of already reduced outlet prices.
9. Use the Nike Outlet Store 14-Day Price Match
Did the price drop after you purchased your shoes? Nike outlet stores offer a 14-day price match guarantee, allowing you to get a refund on the difference if the price goes down shortly after your purchase. Here’s how you can take advantage of this policy:
How to Request a Price Adjustment at Nike Outlets
• Keep Your Receipt: Always hold onto your receipt, as you’ll need it for verification.
• Return Within 14 Days: Bring your receipt back to the store within 14 days if the item’s price has dropped.
• Ask for a Refund on the Difference: Simply show your receipt to a store associate, who can process a refund for the price difference.
This price match policy is a great way to ensure you’re getting the best deal on your Nike purchases, even if prices fluctuate.
Combine Strategies for Maximum Savings to save money at Nike outlet stores
By following these 9 insider tips, you can save significantly more at Nike outlet stores and get the best deals on your favorite sneakers. Using a mix of my frugal sneaker head strategies, like discounted gift cards, the hash wall, and exclusive membership perks, will maximize your savings and make each trip to the outlet worth it.
Recap of the steps to ensure you’re getting the best deals at Nike outlets.
1. Sign Up for a Nike Membership
2. Ask About Returned Items
3. Shop the Hash Wall
4. Learn to Read the Price Tags
5. Look for Damaged Shoes and Ask for a Discount
6. Buy Discounted Gift Cards
7. Arrive Early
8. Utilize the 10% Military Discount
9. Take Advantage of the 14-Day Price Match
By using these 9 insider tips, you can maximize your savings and snag amazing deals on Nike footwear at outlet stores. Whether you’re hunting for classic styles like Air Force Ones or scoring discounts on Jordans, combining these strategies ensures you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
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