Shopping Tips

We asked our sellers to share some tips they might offer to first time shoppers. Below is what they shared. Please note that opening day does promise the best selection, but everyone wants first choice making this a very busy day. We will be using virtual checkout lines to allow you to shop while waiting to checkout. Please be patient as we are trying to check out shoppers as quickly as possible. Pre-sorting and selecting only the items you plan on purchasing BEFORE you come to checkout greatly helps with the speed of this process.

We are sorry but due to safety with crowd size on opening day, infants,carriers and kids will not be allowed in the building(s) until after 2pm or until no wait to enter (whichever is later) on opening day to the public.

Be sure to bring something to carry your bargains in and make sure it is large enough for everything! Think it’s big enough? GO BIGGER!!! It needs to be easy to pull when fully loaded to the top with items. We do not have shopping carts there for you to use.

Be prepared for a possible long wait for checkout but know we are doing our best to get you checked out as fast as we can! If you shop at the preview sale, opening day or final day please bring your patience and enter the virtual line to checkout while still shopping and have fun scoring more deals!
Bring patience when you come to shop. Try to eat before shopping. During many days during the event, we have a local favorite chicken sandwich place here but in case they are not, you might want to consider bringing a snack/drink with you.
Make sure to bring a list with you. (Click here to print your ultimate shopping guide!)
Bring a friend! It’s always more fun when you have someone to shop with! Make a day of it… go grab some breakfast, make a coffee run, and then shop shop shop and have fun!
Bring your photo ID. If you are paying with check or AMEX\MasterCard\Visa\Discover, bring your driver's license or photo id with you. We cannot accept either without a picture ID!
Be nice to the other shoppers and the helpers. We are all in this to benefit our kids and it can be really fun even during times when they are large crowds - especially when you enlist help from other shoppers! If you are looking for something special and can’t find it, ask someone! It’s most likely there!
Get there early! The line to get in to the buildings forms early on the popular shopping days and will be virtual this event! The faster you get in the door, the better chance you have to get those coveted 'must-have' items you came for!
Return unwanted items to the racks (in the proper size please!). Be sure to return your unwanted items to the proper racks when you are finished sorting. Think of the other shoppers and be considerate. The quicker you return unwanted items to the racks the quicker other shoppers can find their special bargain! If you do it for them, they will do it for you. Besides, if you change your mind and come rushing back to the fairgrounds hoping to find a outfit you almost bought but didn't, you'll want to be sure it’s back where it should be so you can find it. (But you should just be on the safe side and take it home to begin with!)

If you come across stains or items with holes or other damages that somehow ‘slipped through the cracks,' please let a helper know! We immediately remove all items that are stained or damaged from the sales floor. We DO make a note of sellers who submit stained clothing and if we come across a seller with a lot of defective items they will not be asked to sell with us in the future. Our helpers do their best to catch these at check-in, but they are human and can miss things from time to time.