HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Nowadays no one is truly upset with saving a couple of bucks, let alone a couple hundred— and at discount stores, that's the reality for shoppers!
High-ticket items go for a fraction of the price, whether it's iPhones, cool tech, or household items.
Bin stores tend to have a little bit of everything, which has caused them to trend both nationally and locally.
Price Break in Hot Springs is the latest discount store offering sliced prices, and Arkansans have been flocking to it.
"We're buying multiple truckloads of inventory, designing it in the back to make it the best available for the customer out front," said Jon Price a co-owner of Price Break. “The price falls from $15 on Friday all the way down to $1 on Wednesday. So, it gets very busy in here.”
Mike Castegnaro drove to Price Break from out of town to secure his spot in line at 6 a.m. on Friday morning, which is four hours before you can even get in!
"If you're not here early, you're taking the risk of not getting anything because the line wraps around the building,” explained Castegnaro. “We came in from Malvern, around 30 minutes away, so we’re hoping we get something."
Jon and Luke Price are the brothers and co-owners behind the huge store with a name that's proven to be a fitting choice.
The duo started in Russellville just over a year ago, success there led them to Hot Springs where hundreds of people line up daily to get to the best deals they can find.
“I love seeing that there's people in line because they're excited to come in,” Luke Price, co-owner of Price Break said. “We're able to give the customer the best product possible because we’re taking two or three trucks and mixing it all into one big giant store."
Success is already showing in the spa city and considering the deals inside it makes sense. Everyday Price Break’s clothing or shoes is set at $4; this is significant as most weeks they have shoe brands like Hoka, which is a normal $200 footwear.
Bin stores are a growing national trend,, as CBS News reports, as big U.S. retailers resell tons of returned merchandise to liquidators, amounting to roughly $743 billion.
Those liquidators then sell to bin stores and Arkansans have their pick of the litter.
Amber Sabbs is the manager of Discount Bins in Jacksonville. Even as the leader of the store, Sabbs said she wants people to get the best deals.
“Why not save some money because it's a true variety of what you can find in the store,” she said. “You don't have to pay $10 or $15; you can come and wait until $5 or $3 day to get it at a cheaper price."
Discount Bins in Jacksonville starts with $15 items on Friday and ends with $1 day on Wednesday. According to Sabbs, some bin store shoppers are in it for the fun while others need it for the savings.
“They either really enjoy the treasure hunt of it, but inflation is the biggest thing I hear people talk about," Sabbs said.
There is a touching side to retail that Sabbs said she never knew existed.
“This is their therapy,” Sabbs said. “I have one customer who lost her husband and when she comes here, we talk, walk, we shop and by the end, she feels much better because she's doing something that she loves to do."
Back at Price Break, Jon said the deals tend to extend past the prices and for whatever reason shoppers show up, the Price brothers are happy to see it.
"When a lady can come in and spend $200, but clothe all of her grandkids, nieces, and nephews for the year, it's a pretty good deal," Jon said. “It's neat that we've spent so many evenings on the phone and brainstorming and created something that people are so excited to come to.”
Sabbs encouraged more Arkansans to dig for their next find at a local bin or discount store.
"If you're not saving money, this isn't the place, but if you're looking to save money, beat inflation, really cut down costs, and really take your dollar longer, then is the place to come and shop at."
Here's a breakdown of both Price Break and Discount Bins's prices for each day of the week:
Price Break: Friday: $15, Saturday: $10, Sunday: $6, Monday: $4 Tuesday, $2, Wednesday: $1 Thursday: CLOSED for restocking.
Discount Bins: Friday: $15, Saturday: $10, Sunday: $5, Monday: $3, Tuesday: $2, Wednesday: $1 Thursday: CLOSED for restocking.