William Ashley Sale 2013:
William Ashley sale is a great opportunity to get several
things for the kitchen and home on sale.
The warehouse is densely stocked with lots of great items and a wide
variety of brands. Over the years we have had great success adding to our china
pattern with serving dishes, kitchen accessories, and household items. If you are willing to line up outside a 1/2
hour and fight the crowds than this can make for a successful shopping
trip. It is just like shopping on Boxing
Day.
The sale is a much different shopping experience than at WilliamAshley's downtown store at the Manulife Centre (Bloor and Bay.) Downtown you get a tasteful shop that is
neatly laid out, great lighting, and hands on salesperson with a clipboard
writing down your purchases. Your
shopping is either hand delivered to your car or delivered by the store to your
home. Warehouse sale can be crowded, densely stocked
shelves, you are given a 'office push cart' to put your purchases in (or a box
to carry), and there are salespeople to help.
We actually found that other customers would freely talk with us about
products they liked or disliked. Some
of them gave some great advice. The
checkout was also quick and they will wrap up your purchases to ensure your
goods get home safe.
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| William Ashley Sale |
For me it comes down to the savings. I think we were able to save 10% on our China
pattern as compared to William Ashley's downtown prices. We had larger saving on place mats about 50%, kitchen
accessories about 25%, cutting board 33%, and about 40% on a decorative
item. Would go into detail, but it is an
upcoming birthday present for our favorite friend in Waterdown. Overall, I think you could save between 10%
and 50% on items. A good sale at the Bay could also be as fruitful, especially
at the downtown location where they have the largest selection of household
items.
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| William Ashley Sale |
However, it's not all roses. The washrooms are outdoor
port-o-potties, all sales are final (so inspect closely before buying), and you may be walking around at a snail's pace
through the center of the warehouse. Also, I would stick clear of marinades,
spices, chocolate or other food stuffs. I'd looked at some items and none were
past their expiry date, but I would be nervous of products coming from
overseas and then spending time in a warehouse.
How fresh can it be? Watching
CBC's Marketplace has taught me to question prices when they are too good to be
true. Timing is also key when you go
shopping at the warehouse. Weekdays are
fine, but a Saturday or Sunday the place can be crowded and parking could be
difficult. You could also spend more
than an hour in line (in a heated tent) on the weekend. I would suggest going before noon if you
can.
In conclusion, if you need some things for the kitchen,
housewares or decorative items, than this sale is well worth it. Cranky ol' Mr. Shopaholic will gladly go again and guard Ms.
Shopaholic's purchases.
What they sell:
- China Place Settings and Serving Dishes
- Crystal Glasses and Decorative Pieces
- Small Kitchen Appliances
- Knives, Cutlery, Everyday Dishes and Glasses
- Pots, Pans, Cutting Boards and Kitchen Utensils
- Christmas Decorations, Cards and Wrapping Paper
- Bathroom Accessories, Shower Curtains and Soaps
Location and Details:
The warehouse is located on 62 Railside Rd, which is located South, off of Lawrence Ave East between the Don Valley Parkway and Victoria Park Ave. You can get there via transit by taking the Lawrence Ave East Bus #54 from Eglinton Subway Station.
This is the link to their website: http://www.williamashley.com/warehousesale/
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| William Ashley Sale - Details |
Tips for Success:
- Go in the morning when shelves are restocked and
before items are picked through. Also,
it is easier to find parking.
- Have a list of ideas before you go and think
about present ideas for Christmas, birthdays and other events.
- If you already have china, cutlery or crystal
pattern at home, write-down the brand and style name to help the salespeople
find what you are looking for. They have
a computer system and can locate stock not on the warehouse floor.
- Parking costs $5 for onsite parking or you can
try to find street parking on the East side of the street. Many other local businesses are sensitive of
where you park and parking enforcement officers can be seen trawling the area.
- Make sure you have a snack before you go in to
keep up your energy. You could easily
spend more than 2 hours on your feet.
Outside there is a chip wagon where you can get street meat, sausage,
fries or a cold drink. We didn't try the
wagon's food. So, eat at your own risk.
Key Notes:
- All sales are final. Make sure you inspect your purchases closely before buying.
- Warehouse Sale is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- They do not allow strollers or car seats in the store.
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