Q 1: After shopping for us for 24 years, you must be so jaded by now. Do things really change that much?

For each edition of the book, I visit about 1,000 of stores that were in the book and then about 3-400 new shops. Old businesses sometimes reinvent themselves - like Caplan Duval changing from crystal and china to linens and bedding or Shreters adding women’s clothing and then becoming a destination shoe or Simons who just went from bricks and mortar stores to on-line shopping. I have to keep re-visiting to make sure my info is always correct. So yes retail changes all the time.

Q 2: What kind of differences have you seen over the years?

When I first started writing my book bargain was a dirty word - shoppers thought that it meant something was wrong with the item. Then in the recession of the 80’s people who had less income to spend still wanted to buy the quality name brands they always did so they became willing to go to stores a little off their beaten path to find a brand name discounted.

Then Club Price, now Costco, came in and I wasn’t sure how Montrealers would take to shopping in a warehouse but it caught on and others emulated that model. Warehouse shopping is now huge. I shlog about them all the time.

When Walmart arrived and made sure we got the lowest prices all the time, we got used to having that option.

And speaking about low prices, every year as I do my research I still have my “oh-my-god moments”.

Q: 3: Okay I’ll bite, what are oh-my-god moments?

Sometimes I walk into a place that has either a new twist on deals, or sells things you didn’t know you could buy retail or has been hidden for years and now is open to the public. I get so excited about them I talk about them for weeks.

Q: 4 - What are some of the ones you’ve found lately?

I had never thought about this idea at all. Hotels like Sheraton, Hilton, Holiday Inn constantly refresh their rooms and have to get rid of the old furnishings somewhere. Mega Vente Surplus d’hôtel buys entire floors and sells them all off at ridiculous prices. They have 4 crammed warehouses in the east end piled to the ceiling with household furnishings with more  than 10 000 items for sale. You need to make an appointment and delivery service is available.

Some of the furniture you might find: 5-pc. oak bedroom sets (originally 1500$) $75, king mattress sets $145, doubles $115, commodes with 3 drawers & 2 doors $49, oak TV armoires $175, couches $50- 135, sofas-beds $100-175, tub chairs $25-$45, bedcovers $15-$25, draperies $15-37, feather pillows $4, lamps $15-25, old TV’s $29-$60
But you might also score: lithographs, fancy white chair covers, folding tables, luggage carts, blackout curtains and ironing boards. You need to make an appointment and delivery service is available.

Phone: 514-946-7002
e-mail surplusdhotel@gmail.com

Q: 5 Any other wow moments?

Wow. Double Wow. Liquidation Sim is a clearance center for a huge un-nameable low Cost warehouse store, with a further 30% or more off on the price.

Returned items (phones, toys, clothing, furniture, auto, bedding, etc.) and stuff in broken boxes from their huge aisles (except fresh food) are sent to this little store every Saturday, so on Sunday there are sometimes line-ups to get in the door.

All items are checked to make sure they work. The friendly proprietors even keep a reservation book and will call you if an item you are looking for shows up.

Location: 341 Ave. Ranger, Vaudreuil - Dorion
Phone: 450-424-0998
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
Other location: 850 des Laurentides Blvd, St-Jérôme
Phone: 450-438-8631
www.simcentredeliquidation.com

Mega Vente was a secret clothing warehouse for a long time but now it’s very open to the public. Prices here just blew me away for first quality clothing from balances of inventory from the current season.The huge neat space has something for everyone at 75%-90%. Perfect right now are the suit/tie/shirt combos for graduations or weddings at $99 (34-60 short, reg, tall) including a salesman to help you out. Large guys can find shirts to 5XL.

Kids 2 or 3-piece shorts sets (3 mos.-16) are only $5. Spring jackets for the family start at $7 and there’s Oxygen tops for ladies (reg. $25-$30) for $7.

There are always $1, $3, $5 kids racks (0-16). The females (XS-4XL) and males (S-4XL) might find: sweat shirts, dress shirts ($8), jackets ($39), t-shirts ($3), jeans, cotton fleece, nylon pants, capri pants, pajamas, dresses, blouses, sandals, swimsuits, shorts and even kid’s snowsuits all year round.

Location: 120 boul. St-Joseph, Lachine
Phone: 514-637-1116
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-5, Thurs & Fri 9-8, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5
Other location: 6090 Metropolitian est
Phone: 514-223-0510
www.5dollardeals.com

Q1: With the Spring season upon us, the females out there are itching to get their hands on some new clothes, what kinds of styles are cool this Spring?

Look for soft comfortable, feminine, flowing fabrics, lots of prints - faces and flowery and bling: embellishments on clothes. Tunics with leggings are back and they hide a multitude of sins.

Q2: It sounds like, to be in fashion, you need to throw out everything and go for all the new stuff?

It’s always confusing as fashion shifts, but there is a way to get around this. There are women who run fashion businesses where the emphasis is one-on-one shopping. They know you, know what you like and what you look good in and even keep track of your wardrobe. So they may say, you can wear the long top from last year but buy jeggings to go with them.

Q3: What are jeggings?

Leggings made out of jeans fabric.

Q4: Let’s go through a couple of these shops to see what they have to offer:

You might have heard of  Fashionwear as a fashion service which held sales in the Ruby Foo’s Hotel during the Fall and again in the Spring. Now they have a permanent location at the Centre d’Achats Hudson. They stock a unique collection of about 2 dozen lines of women’s trendy clothes (even Lindsay Phillips’ switch flops ) and giftware and gadgets.
As you try on outfits, you are aided by Lisa or one of the consultants, who help you coordinate a wardrobe. They keep a computer database of what you buy each time and try to update your look based on what you already have at home. To find out dates of their Ruby Foo sales, get on their calling or e-mail list.

Location: Centre d’Achats Hudson at Exit 26 of the Transcanadienne.
Hours: Regular
Phone450 218-1955
www.fashionwearcanada.com

Another local Canadian company which used to be called Optionelle, now named EVEology clothing collection, is less about following trends and more about creating one’s own personal style rather than just jumping onto “what’s hot”.  You can view the clothing at www.eveology.com and then go in locally to try them on and buy (sizes mostly 4-2XL). Their clothing focuses on everyday glam looks which combine fashion, function and the attention to detail. Most interestingly, it is designed and sorted by body type so you can easily choose which pieces will make you look the best.
If you have no time to go out and shop, home presentations are possible; Gather some friends together and have a private fashion show and you can earn fashion dollars as a percentage of the sales. If you don’t have time or energy to clean your house and clear out your hubby and kids, Elisabeth will just host the party at her place. She’s been been selling this way for years and is great at helping you select a wardrobe to suit you.  Shopping here is like having your own personal dresser.

Tel: 514 684-0370
Hours: By appointment
fashionista@acn.net
www.eveology.com

Q5: What about the full-figured woman, how does she fit in to this, literally and figuratively?

Women with larger needs (sizes 14-24) can shop at Oppen’s where  they are lucky to get Beverly’s personal service with wardrobe coordination. The racks offer lots of mix and match possibilities in washable fabrics, and even jewelry to finish off the look. Well known labels such as Linda Lundstrom, Simon Chang, Conrad C, NYDJ - Tummy Tuck Jeans, Kokomarina, Tara Vao  Franck Anna, Alain Weiz, Spanner are there for you. They also carry Spanx to smooth you out, slinky knits and their own Beverly shirts and opera coats.

Location: 4828 boul. St-Laurent
Corner: Villeneuve
Phone: 514-844-9159
Hours: Tues-Fri 10:30-5, Sat 10:30-5

We have fully stocked terrific party stores in Montreal, and these are the shops that turn into Halloween Heaven. Also, every year a company opens up temporary locations for the month to offer you Halloween deals.

For the regular stores, go to Giggles in LaSalle or their temporary shop in Delson or to Party World’s new location which has an on site party room.

Giggles, 7143 Boul. Newman, LaSalle
Corner: Senkus
Phone: 514-363-9472
October Hours: Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat & Sun 10-5
Temporary location (until Nov 1): Delson Plaza, 35 boul. Georges Gagne
Phone: 450-638-6221
www.giggles.ca

Party World
New location: 188  St. Jacques, Ville St-Pierre
Phone 514-369-2221
Hours: Mon - Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-7, Sat 9-5

Each Halloween, temporary Halloween stores, open up to answer all of your Halloween needs with 10,000 items including costumes of course but also masks, wigs, make-up, decorations and accessories for adults and for the kiddies.

You could dress up as: Chinese take-out box, Darth Vadar, piratess, Batman, vampire, whoopie cushion, pumpkin and even a toilet. The stores are on the South Shore, Laval and the West Island. If you go to their web site, you can print a $6 coupon. You can hit “other” as you read it here.

Locations: Brossard, 5840 Taschereau  (across the street from last year’s store); Laval, 1990 boul. le Courbusier (corner Boul. Tessier); Longueuil, 2588 ch. Chambly((corner: Jacques Cartier);  Pierrefonds, 4800 boul. St-Jean (across the street from Loblaws); Mail Place Vertu; Repentigny Terrebonne, Carrefour Lachenaie, 250 Montee des Pionniers.

www.halloweenmegavente.com

Q 1: Some people are reluctant to refill ink cartridges for their computer printers, is there any kind of problem with doing this?

Nine years ago when I first wrote a column about refilling computer printer cartridges, it was like finding a secret underground society which was doing it. At that time, we were brainwashed into thinking if didn’t buy brand new cartridges, we would ruin our machines.

We’ve gotten smarter and more eco-friendly at the same time. Stores selling re-furbished cartridges (for both ink and laser printers) have popped up all over city. You can bring in your old one and get refilled, buy one that’s been re-filled, or buy the inks and learn how to refill them yourselves.

Q 2: What should we know about getting cartridges refilled?

If you replace your  ink cartridge with a spare one, don’t just stick it in a drawer until you have a  moment to get it replenished, as inks dry out. If you are waiting a day or two to buy another one, put the cartridge along with a moist paper towel into a sealed plastic bag and put it in the fridge (in  the bag).

Q 3: When the printer warning light indicates  that you are about to run out of ink, how long can you keep using your cartridge?

The low level warning is set at a different level for every printer. Sometimes there is still between 3%-5% of ink left (or more!); There is a little bit of wiggle room. The real test is to look at the  print coming out. When it starts to deteriorate, you know you must, at that point, stop using the cartridge.

Don’t keep going until the well runs dry. Many cartridges have their print head right on the cartridge. The ink acts as coolant for that head. If the ink runs out you can damage the head by burning out some of  little ink nozzles. If this happens, it is no longer refillable and you must buy a new one.

Q 4: In relation to the replacement of cartridges, what should we think about before purchasing an computer printer?

Not all printer cartridges can be refilled by after-market dealers. Ink companies spend lots time figuring out chemical recipes for each printer. Some printers are not worth the money to develop a particular ink, so after-market cartridges may not be available.

No matter how good a printer deal looks in a flyer, before you buy, find out if that machine’s cartridge is refillable, otherwise you are stuck buying at full price from manufacturer.

Check to find out the page yield of a cartridge. Do the math to see which one is a smarter buy.

Q 5: Where can we go to buy them?

- Cartouche Encore, 4808 Pierrefonds Blvd.  Phone: 514-626-3455.  Hours: Mon-Wed 9-6, Thurs & Fri 9-7, Sat 10-5. This shop is  run by a friendly husband and wife team. They sell new cartridges and refill old ink and laser ones. The company uses quality OCP inks from Germany, which come in about 170 different viscosities, in order to be able to match the needs of different printers. They test print them and replace broken cartridge components after performing a stress test.

- I-matek, 539 Lepine Ave. Dorval. This was the first store I found in the city re-filling cartridges. You can save 80% on the cost of  ink jet printer cartridges (Epson, Lexmark, Canon, HP, Brother) by learning how to fill them yourselves. Refilling costs less than $10. They will teach you how to do it and sell you kit. They can refill your ink or laser cartridges.  www.i-matek.ca

- Micro-Jet Technologies, 5484 Sherbrooke St. W. You can bring yours in or buy new already re-cycled laser & ink-jet cartridges (Brother, HP, Lexmark, Canon, Epson) or you can buy kits to do it yourself. They can special order any cartridge yo may need.

Gem Entrepot has moved and is re-opening in its new location on Sept. 10th. There are extended hours so many more of you can get a chance to come in and visit their new space. If you bring a copy of this invitation, you will receive $5 off any purchase of a purse or scarf.  This does not include pashminas which are already greatly reduced for this special day.

What do they sell? Some examples: pashminas $6.50 each or $72 per dozen; parchment and wax paper $2 roll or $20/500 sheets (buy 10 rolls get 1 free). You can also buy hair clips, coin purses, hand bags and costume jewelry. Wrapping paper is reduced along with bows, cellophane and cello bags.

NEW Location: 72F Boul. Brunswick, Dollard des Ormeaux
Corner: near Nautilus Plus
Phone: 514-653-6950
Re-opening sale date: Sept 10
Time: 10-8

Regular Hours: Mon-Thurs 10-3, Fri by appt

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$5.00 OFF COUPON
THIS COUPON ENTITLES YOU TO $5 OFF ANY PURSE OR SCARF.  NOT INCLUDING PASHMINAS WHICH ARE ALREADY REDUCED.
Offer Expires: September 11, 2009

—————————————————————————————————————————

Starting today, all inventory must be sold in preparation for their move.  Specials are up to 70% off so its a great time to pick up fund raising items at reduced prices.

Some examples: pashminas $6.50 each or $72 per dozen; parchment and wax paper $2 roll or $20/500 sheets (buy 10 rolls get 1 free). You can also buy hair clips, coin purses, hand bags and costume jewelry. Wrapping paper is reduced along with bows, cellophane and cello bags.

Location: 4732 Boul. Thimens, Ville-St-Laurent
Phone: 514-335-4422
Hours: Mon-Th 10-3

As of September 8, 2009, they will be relocating to 72E Brunswick in Dollard des Ormeaux. There will be opening specials too.

Adonis is a very complete Mid-eastern market (Lebanese origins), including a butcher shop and bakery. The butcher, besides cutting to order, has shish taouk and shwarma marinating and ready to cook or already done.

You can discover kasseri and kashkaval and twisted cheeses, frozen or canned stuffed grape leaves, pickled vegetables in bulk, fig and flower jam, pickled wild cucumber, dried apricot paste and almonds by the bushel, fresh dates and figs.

New location: Place Vertu
Phone: 514-904-6789
Other locations: 2001 Sauve Ouest (514-382-8606)
4601 boul. des Sources (514-685-5050);
705 Cure Labelle (450-978-2333);
www.adonisproducts.com

Fashionwear has always been a fashion service held in the Ruby Foo’s Hotel 4 times during the Fall and again in the Spring. Stock of about 28 lines of women’s trendy clothes (and SenGence, smudge and waterproof lipstick) are shown each time. As you try on outfits, you are aided by one of the consultants, who helps you coordinate a wardrobe. Remembering what you bought last time, they try to update your look based on what you already have at home.
Now Boutique FashionWear has opened a permanent location in Hudson. They still have the showings and you can find out dates  by getting on their calling or e-mail:

Location: Exit 26 off 40 West, 3100 Rte. Harwood,  Centre d’Achats Hudson
Tel: 450-218-1955
cell: 514-234-4707
Hours: Tues & Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat & Sun 10-5
www.fashionwearcanada.com

I just found a new outlet store near the Cosmodome on Pierre Peladeau in Laval. Very trendy Jacob and Jacob Connection fashions for young females that this chain normally sells in retail malls can be bought for less in their outlet shops. For this season’s looks, last season’s clearances and some sale items, prices were only $5-$19.99 for tops, 3/4 pants, jackets and dresses. Other locations: 4268 St-Denis (514-845-8383); Mega Centre Notre-Dame (450-969-5225).

New (to me) location: 1880 Pierre Peledeau
corner: boul. St-Martin
Tel: 450-682-0303

It is so easy these days to use cloth diapers. We have antiquated visions of women half a century ago slopping soaking diapers in pails or worrying about sticking squirming babies with pins. Wake up - this is a new world.  There are diapering “systems” to choose from, involving easy velcro pants with environmentally friendly cloth diapers using flushable liners (no muss, just flush).

There have been some complaints as to the energy costs of all this washing offsetting its environmentally friendly aspects. In 2006, Hydro Quebec came up with costs for home laundering: $.26 (cold water), $.41(warm), $.61 (hot) which would add up to $1.04, $1.64 or $2.44 per week based on four loads a week, versus about $20 for single use paper diapers. For two and half years, electric bills would only be increased  by about $317.

Compare that to the cost of throw-away diapers at between $2,500 and $3,000 per child. They still  make up the third largest source of solid waste in landfills; this will only increase significantly as the aging adult population begins to rely on incontinence products.

Really, it takes less time to dump a load of cloth diapers into the washing machine and transfer them to the dryer than it takes to get you and the kids dressed and into the car for a trip to the store when you run out of paper ones. However, there is a correct way to approach the cleaning of the diapers. First, it is important to have a higher energy efficient washing machine. Secondly, if you spin the diapers a second time, you reduce your drying time by about 25%. It’s also advisable to use biodegradable detergents and wash only every three days.

There are a few places in my Smart Shopping Montreal book to buy cloth diapers (you could do a search on this blog to find the others) but coming up, Le Baby Shop, a new location on the West Island, is offering to teach you how to use cloth diapers. You must call or e-mail to register.

Location:  Plaza Pointe Claire, 275-3 Boul. St- Jean (NOT at Le Baby Shop but at Fundomondo)
corner: Remembrance Highway
Tel: 514-671-0362
info@lebabyshop.com
Date: Thurs, Apr 2, 7pm