Find the best steals.

So you’ve planned, gotten there at the right time, and you’re inside. Now what? Obviously, you’re not going to just float around from rack to rack, casually checking stuff out. This isn’t Sephora; it’s a sample sale, so you need to strategize.

“Go in the opposite direction of other shoppers,” suggests Lila. “You will see shoppers herd to the designer’s most iconic pieces, usually a handbag or shoe. The problem is that these items are usually discounted the least. If you are really looking for a great deal, you are going to want to start your shopping in the least desirable section of the sale. Sometime this means digging through a bin of accessories or sorting through a rack of designer samples.” It’s just like the Hunger Games! Run away from the cornucopia.

Soo Hoo points out that some samples are sometimes also (or only) overstock sales–”You can tell if there are multiple sizes, then it’s overstock”– and suggests honing in on the samples, rather than the overstock. “Since the sample pieces are usually one-offs and/or never produced styles, the pricing tends to be rock bottom, like my Alexander Wang $10 mullet sweater, and the potential to find something amazing is fairly high, like a Vena Cava slouchy leather jacket for $40, seriously.”

However, not all samples are created equal “With samples, there’s a caveat—it’s kind of size-ist. But certain brands’ sample offerings are different—for instance, Vena Cava is a strict 0–2 (like, depending on my situation, I may or may not be able to raise my arms in that awesome jacket) and Club Monaco is a 6. Again, know your size.”