Outlet for that energy

REMEMBER when outlet shopping meant pawing through clearance bins filled with three-sleeved, extra-small sweaters and other factory rejects? That's no longer the case at today's outlet centers, many of which are more like comprehensive shopping malls where in-season Gucci bags can be found for 40% off or hot teen fashion finds such as Puma's Impulse Cat sneakers have been reduced from $80 to $49.95 and basic Levi's jeans go for $19.99.

Centers such as Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon and Las Americas in San Diego are regular stops not just for tourists but also for Southern California shoppers looking for discounts on designer items and back-to-school basics.

"It used to be seconds and irregulars, but that is very hard to find today," says Randy Marks, publisher of Outletbound.com. "What you will find is a consistent depth of stock."

But by the time you've found a parking spot, walked to the center's entrance and dodged the baby strollers, your work is just beginning. What exactly do "original price" and "outlet price" mean anyway? How much of a discount are you really getting on that polo shirt? Is the $149 purse you bought a steal or from a secondary line created just for outlets?

The most important thing to know before you shop is that not all outlets are created equal. "Designers can use outlets as a showcase for their entire line or range of products, which a department store might not pick up," Marks says. "Other names use it for liquidating overstock. And still others such as Ann Taylor Loft and Brooks Brothers are pretty upfront about saying that the outlets do not carry the same stuff as the main stores."

(According to the company website, Ann Taylor Loft collections are designed specifically for the Loft stores. Ann Taylor Factory stores serve as clearance outlets for the full-price facilities, though they also stock clothing specifically designed to carry the Ann Taylor Factory label. Some of the merchandise in the Brooks Brothers outlets is manufactured only for the outlets -- usually basic items such as solid shirts, Brooks Stretch suiting and polo shirts -- and the rest consists of discontinued styles from the previous season, transferred from full-price stores, according to spokeswoman Kate Greisch.)