The only reason we’re mentioning Stupid Prices is because we love its irresistibly ridiculous name. But as long as we’re on the subject...
Stupid Prices is a local chain of liquidation outlets, selling all manner of merchandise dumped off by big retail stores. The first of its nine no-frills Western Washington stores -- including Woodinville’s Stupid Furniture -- opened in Federal Way in 2003. Stupid Prices has since become a favorite of thrift-minded bargain-hunters, with its ever-rotating, scattershot mix of discarded goods -- furniture, appliances, electronics, clothes, household products, non-perishable food and so on.
“More than 500 national retail chains and suppliers” send Stupid Prices such unsold stuff, be they discontinued items, out-of-season items, demo models, factory closeouts or customer returns. Everything is discounted 50-70% off their respective price tags, a practice which apparently inspired the store's name, i.e., “Holy cats! Those prices are stupid!!”
“Always No Tax” is the Stupid Prices slogan, but since sales tax is simply figured into the final selling price, this isn’t exactly true (except for the store in Tigard, Oregon, in a state with no sales tax; there’s also a Stupid Prices in Vacaville, California). Pretty much all sales are final -- “no returns on shoes, underwear, socks or bathing suits.”
Over the weekend we visited the store on Aurora, in the building formerly occupied by Chubby & Tubby. Among other oddities, we found a bizarre mishmash of football-shaped sofas, kitschy ceramic figurines, cases of toilet paper, plasma TVs, industrial-size cans of applesauce, and ballcaps that read “STUPID CUSTOMER.” Despite all this “stupid” business, there was nothing in there we actually wanted, save for an 89-cent bottle of salad dressing.
For a better Stupid Prices visuals, check out this TV commercial starring local radio guy Dori Monson.
The word “stupid” appears in this entry 13 times.
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I actually check out the Bremerton store. It was crappy and ghetto. After about five minutes I got claustrophobic and left. It is sort of like a hybrid of Wal-mart and thrift stores after the post oil apocalypse.
First most of the stuff is from costco. Broken, damaged, stained goods returned from unhappy costco customers. They mark up the retail price then drop it down so you think you are saving. The truth is your really not. That tv you see for $1,100 has problems that has been half assed fixed, used dirty sheets , if you want some you can get them at stupid prices. Out dated food, Super glued broken stuff. That coach and love seat, Good price if you don't know that it was taken apart and put back together in twenty minutes cause the frame was busted. Cheap stuff they call special buy's from china.