Most consumers assume outlet malls stock their shelves with overstock, end-of-season or slightly flawed inventory (think: a seam with a few errant stitches) — in other words, the same stuff you’d find at full-price retail stores. But the truth is, many outlet stores price their items cheaper than their retail counterparts because their quality is cheaper, too.

Outlet stores offer cheaper prices than retail because they are making clothing and goods at a cheaper price just to sell at a cheaper price. The majority of the items that you find in an outlet store was made specifically for that outlet store.