University of Texas at Austin

International Office

UT Family and Community Programs

Shopping

Malls

These are the major malls in Austin. A mall is a large, enclosed shopping complex containing various stores, businesses, and food stations accessible by common passageways. There will often be two or more department stores as well.

Outlet Malls

Outlets are stores that are directly connected to the manufacturer. The closest ones are located next to each other in San Marcos, about 30 minutes south of Austin on I-35. Prices are usually quite a bit lower than in department stores. The outlets are not located in an enclosed shopping center, so wear appropriate clothing.

If you go to their web sites, you can print out discount coupons. You can also go to the outlet visitor center and pick up coupons while you are there.

Prime Outlet Mall
3939 IH-35 South #300
San Marcos
(800) 628-9465
Mon. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sun.: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tanger Outlet Mall
4015 IH-35 South
San Marcos
(800) 408-8424
Mon. - Sat.: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m
Sun.: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m .
July 4th: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m .
Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Discount Stores: Wal-Mart and Target
You can find all kinds of things; clothing, food, household items, tools, toys, sport equipment, and much more for the lowest price around. Wal-Mart is famous for their everyday lowest price tags. Target has its own line of household products.

Full-Service Department Stores: Foley's, Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Sears
These stores carry many of the same items as the discount stores, with more emphasis on high-quality clothing, shoes, cosmetics. They do not have as much variety in school supplies and do not offer drugs and in-store photo developing; their school and office supply sections are much more limited. Like Wal-Mart, Sears has an auto repair shop. Sears is also well-known for its tools and hardware section.

Goodwill and Salvation Army
Stores are continuously stocked with fresh selections of family fashions, designer clothing, housewares, collectibles, books, small appliances, shoes, luggage, toys, sporting equipment, tools, records and tapes, jewelry and much, much, more. The stores feature both new and donated merchandise at a fraction of department store prices. All proceeds from store sales go to support Goodwill's employment and job training programs, serving persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

For store locations, go to:
Goodwill: www.austingoodwill.org
Salvation Army: www.satruck.com
Or look under the store names in the business pages of the telephone directory, Goodwill also has a store that sells used computers.

Flea Markets and Garage Sales

A flea market is usually held outdoors; antiques, used household goods, and curios are sold. They are normally inexpensive secondhand articles. They are oftentimes advertised in the local newspaper.

A garage sale is less formal, usually held outside in the driveway of a house or in the garage at the home of the seller. People are selling their used household belongings for very little money. Look for signs along the road or streets for location (sometimes in the classified section of the newspaper).

Electronic Stores

There are many stores that sell computers and other electronics in Austin. The biggest ones are Fry's, CompUSA, Circuit City and Best Buy. The largest assortment of hardware and software for computers is at Fry's, located on the north end of town at MoPac (Loop 1) and Parmer Lane. The other stores have various locations throughout the city.

Consumer Rights

When you buy something in a store, keep your receipt. Make sure you ask or read about the return policy. Most of the time you can get a full refund within 15 days of purchase on unused merchandise. You can usually receive an exchange or store credit for within 15 to 30 days of purchase if the product was defective.

Federal Trade Commission
www.ftc.gov
FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace.

Consumer Product Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov
This commission oversees the safety of over 15,000 consumer products.