ConsumerWatch: Retail Employees Reveal Secret Freebies
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) -- They are little secrets giant retailers do not want you to know.
But when CBS 5 ConsumerWatch found a consumer website where employees revealed secret savings at their stores, we tested them out.
Our first stop for ConsumerWatch producer Jessica Ayala was Sam's Club. The website revealed when it comes to buying booze there's no membership required. Sure enough it worked. Not only did Jessica bypass the $40 membership fee, but she also received a discount on wine.
This deal is not exclusive only to Sam's Club; shoppers can also get into Costco without a membership when buying alcohol.
"Club stores in the state of California and some other states must allow the purchase of alcohol without a membership," said marketing expert Kathleen Kusek. In fact, Kusek adds this is one of the many perks consumers can enjoy if they know what to ask for.
"These are things that they don't necessarily want to be broadly known, but they are out there to the savvy consumer," she said.
Here is another secret for Sears shoppers. It's KidsVantage club offers a "Wear Out Warranty." If your kids' clothes wear out before they grow out of them, Sears will replace them for free.
Next on the list was Chipotle. The website revealed if you buy a burrito bowl, you can order up to four extra toppings on the side for free, enough for an extra meal. But when Jessica tried it out, the secret was only half true. She was charged for a side of beans and rice $3.90.
But you may be able to snag sweeter deals depending on who is serving you and how nice you are Kusek said. "I think the lesson is that you should ask," she said. "You know really let your imagination run wild with you in terms of what you might be able to get." Kusek also adds consumers should always check for senior, student or new parent discounts.
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