Stores to Watch for Going-Out-of-Business Sales in 2009

I stumbled across this article from Forbes.com which is predicting hard times in the coming year for more major retailers. Circuit City, Linens-N-Things, and Mervyn's have already shut down (you can still shop online for 75% off in Linens-N-Things online store, though there's not much good stuff left.) Sharper Image will also be closing down but still licensing-out higher-end gadgets through other retailers.

The following list of retailers are those specifically mentioned in the article as being at risk in 2009:

• Starbucks
• GAP
• Eddie Bauer
• Pacific Sunwear
• Zales/ Piercing Pagoda
• Sears Holdings (Sears and Kmart)
  
• Sprint Nextel
• Charming Shoppes (Catherine's, Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug)
• Timberland
• Ann Taylor
• Pep Boys

While some of the stores mentioned are only expected to shut down a number of locations while still operating, an expert quoted in the article said he would "be surprised if Sears-Kmart makes it through the year."

The same is expected for Charming Shoppes, parent company of Catherine's, Lane Bryant, and Fashion Bug.

So these might be good places to keep an eye out for falling prices and liquidation sales. Some things to keep in mind...

If you're planning on buying a high-price appliance at Sears this year, I'd opt for something with a good manufacturer's warranty and skip paying for the store's warranty plan if one is offered, which wouldn't do you much good if they closed shop.


I would also avoid giving any gift cards to the Sears Holdings and Charming Shoppes' stores and hurry up and spend any you may have now (Linens-N-Things stopped honoring gift cards after it was announced they were going out of business.)


Unfortunately, if you have a store credit card, you'll probably still be expected to pay it off if they go under.