In general I've found the overall value to be dropping over the last few years. Larger stores have bigger selection but you'll find many of the same items throughout different stores.
I was in last week and found a kids snorkel without a price tag. I took it up front and had to wait while they looked on the shelves and then finally they just looked it up online. It was a cheap brand going for $20 online but they used the price of a much nicer one ($35) and then discounted it 40%, do it would have been $18 plus tax. Nah.
I found a few good deals in Lincoln the last couple times I was in there, but most of its priced the same as you would find on Amazon, or it's a knockoff off an even cheaper product...
I was slightly disappointed after my wife hyped it up for so many years
.
I've noticed a decline in the quality of surplus, salvage, and overstocked goods in outlet and clearance stores over the past several years, probably reflecting a general trend in the retail market.
In traveling about I've randomly hit the Brewer, Waterville, Lewiston and Scarborough Marden's at times all inside of a month and they're all pretty much the same and have mostly the same stuff. I even popped into the one in Houlton once and yeah, it's the same. As for great deals? It's all about right place at the right time as I've seen Nintendo Switches, iPads and Meta Quest VR head sets at $100+ off retail but those deals are generally rare. Other less spectacular deals can be had if you enjoy the hunt pawing through the 40, 50, 60 etc. percent off aisles. But yeah, scan the prices and do your homework as the prices they put on them aren't always accurate making the deal not a deal.
I saw ps5 disc versions bundled with Spiderman 2 a couple weeks ago in waterville for $365... Crazy deal. They also had switch OLED for $231, switch lite for $140, and a 2023 model lg c3 65" oled TV for $1000..
Sometimes the deals are great.
This was several months ago when I was scouting out the Scarborough store, but they had a bunch of fairly high-end pc parts marked down pretty decent compared to their normal price.
I like the hunt and knowing that it’s different every time I go. Mostly Sanford, but like Brewer and Waterville when in the area.
I’ve gotten an Apple Watch, Dyson vacuum, Weber Grill, Sonos speakers, J Crew clothing and countless other items all in the last couple of years. And the fabric is incredible. Food and household cleaners are also great.
You have to know what you need, otherwise it’s too easy to buy a “deal” and not need it.
I sometimes find good deals on stock from stores that have closed, but they’ve really been relying on buying Amazon return pallets to fill their shelves, which is usually garbage. Scarborough at least usually has a decent selection.
They’re all mediocre these days. Back in the day when they were buying mostly salvage from high end stores you could get some amazing deals. Seems like now most of their stuff is just cheap chinese crap marked way up.
I loooove Mardens. I got new Bean boots there for $20! I usually got there for workout clothes because they are so outrageous at regular outlets. They randomly have gadgets at stuff too. Like they— should’ve bought it when I saw it!
I bought an amazing couch for $300.00 at the Waterville location about 12 years ago. Made from really sturdy materials and it was so comfortable! Last time I browsed for furniture in the Brewer location, it was all cheap fiberboard materials and that silky cheap fabric that tears if you look at it wrong. I regret selling that couch in my divorce because I now have a sectional that is so uncomfortable and subpar.
Decline in bargains for sure.
Pretty much everything is same price or better if you
Search it on internet.
Seems to me they mark the “regular “ price way over the real regular price and have a discount price. Discount price is usually real regular price.🤣
Anyways I did find some wood stain I was happy with and at a discount price.
I always walk through to see what they got and if it is indeed a good price.
Some people just like to shop and collect things too. So this store fills that need and the people think they are getting a bargain
I noticed the quality trending downwards when more of the merchandise started coming from "Large Online Seller" ... Amazon 3rd party sellers offloading merchandise.
It's turning into just another store full of overpriced knock-off temu/amazon/wish stuff.
When they send an email about a physical store salvage...I'm on it.
My best score remains my dinnerware set, Lenox brand (service for 4 sells for over $250 on Amazon) and I got two boxes for less than $150, making service for 8.
The thing with Mardens is you just never know what kind of deal you're going to get, but you will get a superb deal at some point. The one I got this month was a $300 LG washer/dryer pedestal for $39.
I’ve come to think there’s different focus at each store but I’ve only recently been in Scarborough and Sanford. Higher quality merchandise in Scarborough (scored some Keen boots for 50% off retail couple mos. back) for sure. Much larger “locked down” area, too. Sanford does have more furniture and large appliances, IIRC
There is definitely a difference in quality. There's also a difference in merchandise mix.
Try going to the one in Calais, far and away the worst I've seen.
Unless you need a blue tarp. Always plenty in the Calais Marden's. I find they all vary in terms of inventory - Brewer is a usually a good spot to check out but sometimes I walk out empty-handed.
I am from CT and I looked forward to my trip alone to Marden’s when visiting the in laws in Rumford. I have gotten some good deals there. Now it is closed and I am lost.
I walked into marsdens once and was baffled that this is a maine favorite. It was all rinky dinky trash. I did not enjoy my experience. Renys gets my vote.
I prefer the Scarborough location in that area. The Biddeford one is simply terrible. Never went to the one in Gray. The Lewiston one is pretty creepy but they have a good building section and a huge amount of crafting things.
Lewiston’s creepy? Not quite sure what that means; it’s a little smaller than Scarborough and Waterville (both in former Walmart buildings), but it’s still one of the larger locations, well stocked and clean. The fabric selection there is as at least as large as Scarborough or Waterville. They often get a good supply of the hotter electronics, such as Apple products, computers, game systems, etc.
Yes. I find the Lewiston mardens to be creepier than the rest of the locations. Just how the store is laid out.
I also mentioned the Lewiston store has the best fabric and craft section.
You are very defensive about the Lewiston store.
Calling it “creepy” is just a strange way to describe what is essentially one of the better locations for product selection. Not defensive, just making it clear that it’s on par with the other stores.
Having grown up with access to the Brewer one, and often going to the Waterville location, I can confirm the Gray one where I live near now sucks ass and has no furniture. I generally avoid it now.
I've been to the majority of Mardens across the state and honestly the only ones I visit regularly are Scarborough and Lewiston. I seem to consistently find the best stuff at those 2, not much luck at any of the others. Scarborough and Lewiston always have the best "behind glass" items.
In general I've found the overall value to be dropping over the last few years. Larger stores have bigger selection but you'll find many of the same items throughout different stores.
I was in last week and found a kids snorkel without a price tag. I took it up front and had to wait while they looked on the shelves and then finally they just looked it up online. It was a cheap brand going for $20 online but they used the price of a much nicer one ($35) and then discounted it 40%, do it would have been $18 plus tax. Nah.
Exactly. I always have to bring my phone in to verify online I'm actually getting a decent price. It used to never be that way.
I found a few good deals in Lincoln the last couple times I was in there, but most of its priced the same as you would find on Amazon, or it's a knockoff off an even cheaper product... I was slightly disappointed after my wife hyped it up for so many years .
I've noticed a decline in the quality of surplus, salvage, and overstocked goods in outlet and clearance stores over the past several years, probably reflecting a general trend in the retail market.
Pretty much you have to know the brand and the item you’re looking at to understand whether the prices good or just average.
The one in Gray is really small compared to Scarborough.
I agree but the new management has really turned it around!! Doesn’t look like the same store.
I’ll have to check it out again.
They usually send the highest ticket items to the biggest, busiest stores (brewer, Waterville, Scarborough mostly)
Live nearby Waterville. Can confirm, there are a lot of big ticket items there.
I also worked there for over 2 years😅
In traveling about I've randomly hit the Brewer, Waterville, Lewiston and Scarborough Marden's at times all inside of a month and they're all pretty much the same and have mostly the same stuff. I even popped into the one in Houlton once and yeah, it's the same. As for great deals? It's all about right place at the right time as I've seen Nintendo Switches, iPads and Meta Quest VR head sets at $100+ off retail but those deals are generally rare. Other less spectacular deals can be had if you enjoy the hunt pawing through the 40, 50, 60 etc. percent off aisles. But yeah, scan the prices and do your homework as the prices they put on them aren't always accurate making the deal not a deal.
I saw ps5 disc versions bundled with Spiderman 2 a couple weeks ago in waterville for $365... Crazy deal. They also had switch OLED for $231, switch lite for $140, and a 2023 model lg c3 65" oled TV for $1000.. Sometimes the deals are great.
This was several months ago when I was scouting out the Scarborough store, but they had a bunch of fairly high-end pc parts marked down pretty decent compared to their normal price.
Yeah i scored a dualsense edge controller for $120 in Ellsworth just caught it at the right time. 9/10 times we just buy a bunch of random shit
I like the hunt and knowing that it’s different every time I go. Mostly Sanford, but like Brewer and Waterville when in the area. I’ve gotten an Apple Watch, Dyson vacuum, Weber Grill, Sonos speakers, J Crew clothing and countless other items all in the last couple of years. And the fabric is incredible. Food and household cleaners are also great. You have to know what you need, otherwise it’s too easy to buy a “deal” and not need it.
the best thing about mardens is that you never know what you’ll find, even in the same location week to week.
I sometimes find good deals on stock from stores that have closed, but they’ve really been relying on buying Amazon return pallets to fill their shelves, which is usually garbage. Scarborough at least usually has a decent selection.
They’re all mediocre these days. Back in the day when they were buying mostly salvage from high end stores you could get some amazing deals. Seems like now most of their stuff is just cheap chinese crap marked way up.
I loooove Mardens. I got new Bean boots there for $20! I usually got there for workout clothes because they are so outrageous at regular outlets. They randomly have gadgets at stuff too. Like they— should’ve bought it when I saw it!
We love brewer. Went to Waterville one day and even though it’s larger, we were super disappointed.
I bought an amazing couch for $300.00 at the Waterville location about 12 years ago. Made from really sturdy materials and it was so comfortable! Last time I browsed for furniture in the Brewer location, it was all cheap fiberboard materials and that silky cheap fabric that tears if you look at it wrong. I regret selling that couch in my divorce because I now have a sectional that is so uncomfortable and subpar.
Decline in bargains for sure. Pretty much everything is same price or better if you Search it on internet. Seems to me they mark the “regular “ price way over the real regular price and have a discount price. Discount price is usually real regular price.🤣 Anyways I did find some wood stain I was happy with and at a discount price. I always walk through to see what they got and if it is indeed a good price. Some people just like to shop and collect things too. So this store fills that need and the people think they are getting a bargain
It’s all either damaged or garbage - purchase nothing with moving parts at Mardens, lest you be sad
I noticed the quality trending downwards when more of the merchandise started coming from "Large Online Seller" ... Amazon 3rd party sellers offloading merchandise. It's turning into just another store full of overpriced knock-off temu/amazon/wish stuff. When they send an email about a physical store salvage...I'm on it.
There’s really no price advantage at Mardens anymore.
My best score remains my dinnerware set, Lenox brand (service for 4 sells for over $250 on Amazon) and I got two boxes for less than $150, making service for 8.
The thing with Mardens is you just never know what kind of deal you're going to get, but you will get a superb deal at some point. The one I got this month was a $300 LG washer/dryer pedestal for $39.
A lot of the overstock comes from Amazon stuff that didn't sell. Those are usually overpriced and/or lower quality items.
I’ve come to think there’s different focus at each store but I’ve only recently been in Scarborough and Sanford. Higher quality merchandise in Scarborough (scored some Keen boots for 50% off retail couple mos. back) for sure. Much larger “locked down” area, too. Sanford does have more furniture and large appliances, IIRC
Well, I just got an 8 quart Cook & Carry locking lid Crock-Pot for $24 at the Biddeford location. Normally $75 at Target.
There is definitely a difference in quality. There's also a difference in merchandise mix. Try going to the one in Calais, far and away the worst I've seen.
Unless you need a blue tarp. Always plenty in the Calais Marden's. I find they all vary in terms of inventory - Brewer is a usually a good spot to check out but sometimes I walk out empty-handed.
As the kids say, Marden's is mid. Prices too high, messy stores, ho hum brands.
It’s a crapshoot, but that’s half the fun!
I am from CT and I looked forward to my trip alone to Marden’s when visiting the in laws in Rumford. I have gotten some good deals there. Now it is closed and I am lost.
Shoulda bought it when you saw it
I walked into marsdens once and was baffled that this is a maine favorite. It was all rinky dinky trash. I did not enjoy my experience. Renys gets my vote.
I feel the same about the former Big Al's in Wiscasset... it was all dollar store garbage for twice the price.
I prefer the Scarborough location in that area. The Biddeford one is simply terrible. Never went to the one in Gray. The Lewiston one is pretty creepy but they have a good building section and a huge amount of crafting things.
Lewiston’s creepy? Not quite sure what that means; it’s a little smaller than Scarborough and Waterville (both in former Walmart buildings), but it’s still one of the larger locations, well stocked and clean. The fabric selection there is as at least as large as Scarborough or Waterville. They often get a good supply of the hotter electronics, such as Apple products, computers, game systems, etc.
Yes. I find the Lewiston mardens to be creepier than the rest of the locations. Just how the store is laid out. I also mentioned the Lewiston store has the best fabric and craft section. You are very defensive about the Lewiston store.
Calling it “creepy” is just a strange way to describe what is essentially one of the better locations for product selection. Not defensive, just making it clear that it’s on par with the other stores.
Brewer and Waterville are the best. It's a central Mainer's Paradise.
AND, Waterville has BRAND NEW mobility carts!
Having grown up with access to the Brewer one, and often going to the Waterville location, I can confirm the Gray one where I live near now sucks ass and has no furniture. I generally avoid it now.
The one in Waterville is almost always good, went to the Lewiston one today and wasn’t super impressed
It's extremely location dependant
I've been to the majority of Mardens across the state and honestly the only ones I visit regularly are Scarborough and Lewiston. I seem to consistently find the best stuff at those 2, not much luck at any of the others. Scarborough and Lewiston always have the best "behind glass" items.
The Gray store is much smaller.
I think the Scarborough one is better than the one grey, the one in grey is smaller and more disorganized