Ollie's Bargain Outlet is famous for weed killer and beach umbrellas, not wedding gowns.
But next to the carpets this weekend, shoppers are finding bargain gowns and prom dresses. We went inside the Florence, Kentucky, store to see if the deals are real.
Mom Lee Cole was like a kid in a candy store, and couldn't believe what she was finding.
"I'm here for a dress event for my two daughters," she said. "One for a formal dance and one for a wedding this summer, Easter dresses, there's tons of great dresses here."
Cindy Lockard, meantime, has a daughter getting married. "200 bucks for a wedding gown? That is unheard of, unheard of," she said.
Online dresses can often be disappointments
Trying to find a bargain on a wedding or formal dress is often an exercise in futility.
Women all the time report they ordered a beautiful dress online and what showed up was noting like what they expected.
Kathy Sigmond of Kenwood recently got stuck with a hot pink dress from a web retailer that turned out to be in China, that she was unable to return.
"It's nothing like the color swatch on the website," Sigmond said.
But this is no scam.
Real wedding gowns and formal dresses
Ollie's explains it took in a closeout of several thousand brand new wedding and formal dresses, and is selling them at its Florence, Forest Park and Western Hills stores in the Cincinnati area this weekend.
These are real wedding gowns, some with an original list price of close to $2,000. They are not used dresses, or cheapie $100 dresses you find advertised online.
Manager Matt Lang says you'll find all sizes, at least until they run out.
"I think they start at size 4 and go all the way up to 20," he said.
Candace and daughter Kirin Grinstadt were not leaving until they found something.
"She has an event coming up, and we came to see what kind of dresses they had maybe something special for the occasion," she said.
They found a deep blue prom dress for $39 bucks. At that price, how can you go wrong?
The sale runs at Cincinnati-area Ollie's stores (except for Beechmont) through Monday, but get there soon so you don't waste your money.
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