This past weekend I found myself in one of my favorite stores, Ross Dress For Less. I was just walking around aimlessly with my dad hoping to stumble upon a deal of a lifetime. I was about to tell my dad that I was ready to go when out of the corner of my eye I caught a box within a security box that had a bracelet and swoosh design on the front.

My favorite logo…
Intrigued I pick up the box and lo and behold, a Nike+ Fuelband. I noticed that this wasn’t the second generation band right from the start because it’s called the white ice edition, (which looks amazing). Excitement was building. I have always wanted a Fuelband and you guys know I just love Nike.
I’ll finish my story in a bit, but for right now let’s talk about some of the things to keep in mind when shopping at a Ross, Dress For Less store. I have a few shopping at Ross tips for teens that I think will make it much more likely for you to score the deal of your lifetime as well!

One of my favorite stores…
#1 – Do not come for a specific something.
The best way to shop at Ross is to come in ready to find a good deal on just about anything. Of course I’m not talking about buying something just for the sake of making a purchase. But it isn’t going to work for you to come in looking for a specific pair of jeans or athletic shoes or whatever. Come in ready to take advantage of any good deal you happen to find that day.
#2 – Have plenty of time.
Ross is not for sissies. Sometimes things are a mess. And when I say sometimes I mean all of the time. The employees do the best they can to keep things straightened up but it’s a battle they are clearly not winning. You are going to have to dig through things most of the time in order to find the best deals but it is worth it.
#3 – If you see a good deal, buy it right then.
If you happen to see a really good deal on anything you better buy it right away. Don’t even think about coming back for it a few days later because it will not be there. Ross doesn’t buy lots of the same thing like other stores. And keep in mind that just because one Ross store has something doesn’t mean that any of the other stores have that item. If you get it home and it doesn’t fit or doesn’t work just return the item for a refund. Just be sure to keep your receipt so you won’t have any trouble with the return.
#4 – Find out when your store does mark-downs.
Check with the manager or one of the other employees and find out when your store does all of their mark-downs. The day after would be your best day to shop in order to find the best selection of sale items. It would also be helpful for you to find out when the store gets in their new shipments. Most Ross stores get new items 2 or 3 times a week.
#5 – Shop the clearance section early.
When you go into the Ross, head for the clearance section first, and get there early in the morning if at all possible. All of the clearance items at Ross are marked with a red clearance tag so they are easy to spot.
So back to my story…
I had totally found a diamond deal as the Fuelband (which runs $80 online) was only $39.99 here at Ross. It was the white ice edition which is exactly the one I had wanted for the longest time. According to the initial sizing chart it was the perfect size. Now most of you know when it comes to technology I have to do my research first and let me just say I did some of the fastest web searching, price comparisons, and debating with myself ever.

Half price!!!
After I got everything figured out I asked to try it on and it fit like a glove right out of the box!
Here’s a quick little review on the Fuelband since getting it:
Pros: I just have to say from the start this Nike Fuelband looks crazy cool, feels great on the wrist and doesn’t feel cheap at all. My white ice edition is pretty unique for the brand itself and I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on how cool it looks. Another pro is the LED lights that give you informational feedback on steps, calories, Fuel (will explain in a later review), and time. Battery life seems pretty good and the screen is super bright with great viewing angles. You aren’t required to put a lot of information into the Fuelband and with their iOS app everything is very simple. The device can sync over Bluetooth (but only to the mobile versions like Android and iOS) and can be reset right from the wrist. The only button on the device is very clicky and feels nice and is slightly raised so finding it isn’t a problem.
Cons: This thing is expensive for most of us teens. I only paid $40 bucks for my Fuelband because I got it wholesale at Ross but the same Fuelband on Amazon runs you about $80 for a Medium/Large. This band also isn’t a “traditional” fitness band since it doesn’t have a way to get in depth tracking on sleep, food, and exercise like the Fitbit. It is larger than the Fitbit and supposedly battery life is worse than on the Fitbit (but if I got four days of heavy use out this Fuelband I call that argument moot). It isn’t waterproof only water resistant and that might be a deal breaker for some people.
It just occurred to me that I can get more Fuel points by going to Ross every week and shopping for deals! I still can’t believe that I got the exact Fuelband I have been wanting for half the regular price at Ross. They have great deals and the little extra shopping work is totally worth it!
What’s the best deal you have ever gotten at Ross?
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