by Emilie Carrillo

Created on: May 21, 2008

I have always been a bargain shopper. As soon as I enter a clothing store, I head straight to the clearance. I rarely bother looking at other areas, unless they have a 50 percent off sale going.

So, imagine my joy the first time I entered a Ross clothing store. I have been in love ever since.

The store has a huge variety of clothing, shoes, accessories, dishes, furniture and dcor. I've found so many cute shirts, pants and skirts there for a fraction of the price I would have to pay at a department store.

For people who are insistent that they have a certain brand of jeans or a certain brand and color of shoes, this isn't the store for them. When shopping at a Ross, you have to enter knowing that you might not find exactly what you want, but you will be able to find great deals on things you definitely like.

I recently bought a couch cover at Ross. While my husband and I were not stuck on a color, we did know that we needed a large sofa size and preferred one without a design. There were only about 20 couch covers, but we managed to find the right size and a color we both liked. I went in knowing that the possibility of finding what we wanted was slim, but I was lucky that time.

We also recently took an international trip and we both needed some new shoes and some new clothes for the trip. We both found great walking shoes, some shorts and even a few new shirts for much less than we would have paid at any other store. And, we probably would have had to go to four or five stores to find the same clothing. I also found a great pair of sunglasses for about 75 percent of what I would have paid elsewhere.

The customer service at Ross has never been a problem for me. The lines can become long, but I go in knowing that I might have to wait. I figure that 10 extra minutes in line is worth the $30 or more dollars I saved on a few shirts.

I've been a frequent customer at several different Ross stores. When I lived in Washington state I had a favorite one that I would make sure to stop at when I was in the area. When I lived in Missouri I frequently went. The prices helped me stretch my college student's budget much further. And, I've found a new Ross since I moved to Idaho and have become a frequent shopper.

As a discount shopper already, Ross is definitely one of my favorite stores. For others like me, check it out. For those who prefer an immaculate store, displays and short lines, you should probably head to Nordstroms and pay three times more than I will.

Learn more about this author, Emilie Carrillo.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.