Michael Turner
Buy carry-ons and checked suitcases from outlet and online merchants offering 30–60% reductions: Amazon Warehouse and Prime Day deals (up to ~40% on popular models), eBay Certified Refurbished (25–50% on gently used premium brands), Macy’s and Kohl’s clearance events (30–60% on seasonal stock), Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off 5th (40–70% on designer items), factory outlets for Samsonite and Tumi (20–50% on last-season lines), REI Garage (25–50% on backpacks and soft cases). Typical price bands: budget $30–100, mid-range $100–300, premium $300–800+. Expect hard-shell polycarbonate pieces to last 3–10 years with normal use; soft-sided ballistic nylon performs better for flexible packing.
Timing and tactics that consistently reduce final cost: target Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Prime Day, end-of-season clearances in January and July, and holiday weekends (Memorial/Labor Day). Combine retailer promo codes, cash-back portals, and single-use email coupons for extra 10–20% off; use price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel and browser extensions such as Honey to capture temporary markdowns. Verify return windows, warranty terms and whether repairs are handled locally before checkout; inspect spinner wheels, telescoping handle action, zipper quality and TSA-approved lock type in product photos and reviews.
Choose features based on travel profile: four-wheel spinners for smooth airport transit, two-wheel rollers for uneven surfaces; inline skate wheels for longevity; expandable shells add 1–2″ but increase weight. Preferred materials: polycarbonate for impact resistance, aluminum for premium rigidity, ballistic nylon for abrasion resistance. Recommended brands by use case: Travelpro and Samsonite for frequent flyers, Delsey and American Tourister for budget-conscious buyers, Tumi and Rimowa for high-end durability, Osprey and eBags for backpacks. Check airline carry-on size (commonly 22 x 14 x 9 inches) and weight limits before purchase to avoid gate fees.
Where to Find Discounted Travel Bags and Suitcases
Buy from outlet sections of Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack and brand factory stores during Black Friday/Cyber Monday or end-of-season clearances: typical markdowns run 30–60%, which lowers quality carry-on models to roughly $60–180 and medium checked pieces to about $120–350.
Check online marketplaces for extra savings: Amazon Warehouse, eBags, Overstock, REI Garage, and brand clearance pages (Samsonite Outlet, Tumi Factory, Away clearance). Use price trackers CamelCamelCamel and Keepa, apply coupon extensions like Honey, and add Rakuten or card cashback to boost final discounts by an additional 5–15%.
Target concrete specs before purchasing: keep exterior dimensions at or below 22 x 14 x 9 in (56 x 36 x 23 cm) for US carry-on compliance; aim for under 8 lb (3.6 kg) for easier gate handling; choose four-spinner wheels for maneuverability; prefer polycarbonate shells for impact resistance or aluminum for long-term toughness; confirm removable battery rules for powered items.
Compare warranty and aftercare: seek at least a five-year manufacturer guarantee, explicit wheel-replacement terms and easy-return windows. Refurb units can save 40–70% but verify serial numbers and limited-warranty conditions before checkout.
Best timing windows: Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Amazon Prime Day (July), Memorial Day, Labor Day, back-to-school (July–August) and January clearance. Expect the deepest markdowns on discontinued colors and past-season lines; use store price-match policies and retailer credit-card promos to extract another 10–20% on marked prices.
Major retailers offering travel gear discounts right now
Macy’s – department promotions commonly lower Samsonite, American Tourister and Travelpro carry-ons by roughly 25–40%; combine app-only coupons, mobile promos and the Macy’s “Last Act” clearance page to reach deeper prices.
Nordstrom Rack and Saks OFF 5TH – designer checked cases and carry-ons marked down 30–70%; filter by brand and size, prioritize one- or two-season-old colors for the steepest reductions.
Amazon – use Amazon Warehouse for returned or open-box items (typical 20–50% off), monitor Today’s Deals and Lightning Deals, and set price alerts via Keepa or CamelCamelCamel to capture short-lived drops.
Target and Walmart – mainstream hard-shell and soft-sided travel sets fall 15–35% during seasonal clearances; check online clearance sections, buy-online-pickup-in-store to avoid shipping, and apply printable/onscreen coupons when available.
Kohl’s – stack brand discounts with sitewide promo codes and Kohl’s Cash; final effective prices on mid-range sets often land in the 30–60% range after coupons and rewards.
Costco and Sam’s Club – members can find bundled sets and name-brand carry-ons priced about 15–30% below typical retail; look for included warranties and bundled accessories that increase overall value.
REI – for soft-sided and adventure-oriented travel gear, use REI Garage and the used gear section for 20–50% reductions; REI members also access occasional additional member pricing.
Outlet and specialty channels (eBags Outlet, Tumi Outlet, Samsonite Outlet) – outlet inventory commonly lists one- to two-season-old models at 30–70% off; subscribe to outlet newsletters for extra first-purchase coupons and timed promos.
Actionable checklist: compare exact model numbers across retailers, enable email alerts and browser extensions (Honey, RetailMeNot) for coupon auto-applies, check return windows and warranty coverage before purchasing, and target end-of-season clearances or major retail events for the deepest markdowns.
Locate brand outlet and clearance pages for travel bag deals
Use focused Google operators right away: search site:brand.com inurl:outlet OR inurl:clearance OR intitle:clearance OR intitle:outlet, substitute the brand domain and save the query as a bookmark for weekly review.
Open brand.com/sitemap.xml and brand.com/robots.txt, then Ctrl+F for keywords clearan, outlet, discount, warehouse or offers; many manufacturers expose dedicated catalog URLs inside sitemaps that search engines index faster than category navigation.
Probe common URL patterns that retailers expose: /outlet, /clearance, /discounts, /offers, /warehouse, /reduced-prices; also try subdomains outlet.brand.com and clearance.brand.com – automated redirects often expose temporary markdown pages there.
Set up page-change monitors (Visualping, Distill.io, PageProbe) on those category URLs and on brand product pages; configure checks every 6–12 hours and trigger notifications only when the page contains keywords clearan, discounted, or markdown to reduce noise.
Subscribe to brand newsletters using a dedicated address and create mail filters that auto-label or forward messages with subject keywords clearan OR outlet OR discount; enable app push notifications and allow location-based promos if the app supports store-specific reductions.
Use price-tracking tools and history plugins (Keepa/CamelCamelCamel for marketplaces; Honey/PriceBlink for direct pages) and save the product URL to watch price drops. For periodic aggregation and cross-category promos check niche blogs and affiliate pages – for example, some unrelated category sites run timed promos: best cordless robotic lawn mower.
Monitor social channels and community listings: Instagram Stories, TikTok product-tag posts, and private Facebook groups frequently post short-window reductions and promo codes; use platform search for brand name + clearance/outlet keywords and enable keyword alerts where available.
Best calendar dates to buy travel bags at big discounts
Buy during late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday) and late January clearance windows for the deepest reductions – expect 40–70% off premium hardshell suitcases and 30–50% on soft-sided models.
Late January: post-holiday overstock and older-season inventory clearance produces steep markdowns on full suitcase sets and premium brands; target last-season colors and discontinued models for maximum savings.
Late May (Memorial Day) and early September (Labor Day): seasonal travel promotions and end-of-summer clearance yield consistent 20–45% discounts; these are good for mid-range carry-ons and checked bags.
Mid-July (Amazon Prime Day and competing retailer events): expect 20–40% off a wide range of brands, with the best offers on popular carry-ons and tech-friendly travel accessories; lightning deals can push specific models to 50%.
Late July–August (back-to-school): retailers clear out travel backpacks, wheeled backpacks, and entry-level suitcase lines with 25–45% reductions–use this window if you want functional pieces at mid-season prices.
March–April and August–September (model changeover periods): new collections arrive in spring and early fall, so older models drop 30–60% as stores clear inventory; check brand release schedules to time purchases.
End-of-year (after-Christmas to early January): retailers reduce display stock and last-year lines; combine store coupons and clearance tags to push effective discounts higher than sticker reductions.
| Time frame | Typical discount range | Best targets | Quick action tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday) | 40%–70% | Premium hardshells, full sets, travel systems | Watch doorbusters and early access deals; have cart pre-filled |
| Late January (post-holiday clearance) | 35%–60% | Last-season colors, discontinued lines | Search outlet/clearance sections and compare model numbers |
| Late May / Early September (Memorial/Labor Day) | 20%–45% | Mid-range checked bags, 2-piece sets | Use holiday promo codes and loyalty discounts |
| Mid-July (Prime Day and competitors) | 20%–50% | Carry-ons, tech-friendly pieces | Monitor flash deals; set price alerts for specific SKUs |
| Late July–August (Back-to-school) | 25%–45% | Backpacks, wheeled backpacks, budget suitcases | Bundle with accessories for extra coupons |
| Model changeovers (Mar–Apr, Aug–Sep) | 30%–60% | Older models being replaced | Track brand launch dates; buy last-year tech/features at a discount |
| After-Christmas to early January | 25%–55% | Display stock, overstocked items | Combine clearance pricing with store credit offers |
To maximize savings: set automated alerts for SKU price drops, compare historical pricing with a tracker extension, and time purchase to coincide with a holiday promo plus a manufacturer or store coupon; for clearance items confirm warranty coverage and return policy before checkout.
Verify price history and detect fake markdowns
Recommendation: Run a price-history check with at least two independent trackers (Keepa or CamelCamelCamel for marketplace listings; Google Shopping or PriceRunner for multi-retailer comparison) and confirm the advertised “original” price existed for at least 30 days before the discount date.
Step 1 – Historical baselines: Pull 30-, 90-, and 365-day averages. If the listed “was” price exceeds the 90-day average by more than 25%, treat the higher price as suspect. Example: listed original $300, 90-day average $200 → likely inflated.
Step 2 – Short-term spikes: Look for a price spike that lasted fewer than 7 days immediately prior to the markdown. Use Wayback Machine snapshots or Keepa charts; any brief peak used as the “compare at” amount is a red flag.
Step 3 – Cross-retailer verification: Compare the SKU/MPN across brand site, authorized dealers and marketplaces. If the only listing matching the high “compare at” price is the retailer offering the discount, the tag price is unreliable.
Step 4 – Marketplace seller checks: On third-party platforms, require seller creation date and inventory history. New accounts listing big discounts on branded items paired with low feedback are high risk; prefer items fulfilled by the marketplace or by verified brand stores.
Step 5 – Percent thresholds to act: Treat any advertised reduction over 40% as needing stronger proof: a year-long price trail or manufacturer MSRP confirmation. If reduction is 20–40%, verify using two independent trackers. If under 20%, accept but note margins for platform fees and shipping.
Step 6 – Visual and metadata cues: Check product page HTML for manipulated timestamps, identical SKU used across multiple colours with different “original” prices, or price-blocks that update dynamically on page load. Mobile and desktop prices should match; discrepancies indicate script-based markdowns.
Step 7 – Refund and price-match policy leverage: Keep screenshots or archived links before purchase. If a retailer refuses a confirmed price-match to an earlier listing, request escalation or use a card dispute only after exhausting vendor channels.
Practice examples: Apply the above checks to unrelated gear pages such as best packable travel beach umbrella uk and best travel duffel backpack instagram to build pattern recognition for fake markdowns.
Quick checklist: 1) two independent trackers, 2) 90-day average vs listed original, 3) absence of single-day spikes, 4) SKU match across authorized sellers, 5) verified seller/fulfilment channel, 6) saved archived evidence.
Stack coupons, promo codes and rewards for travel bags purchases
Use a cash-back portal + a store promo code + loyalty credits + a targeted card offer; verify the final total in-cart before completing checkout.
Activate a portal (Rakuten, TopCashback, Swagbucks) first – typical rates for department stores and specialty travel retailers run 2–8% base, spiking to 8–12% during site-wide promotions. Click through the portal before adding items to cart; screenshots of the portal confirmation help in disputes.
Run a coupon-extension (Honey, Capital One Shopping) to auto-find single-use and public codes. Try all codes the extension suggests and manual codes from retailer emails–percent-off codes often exclude clearance or outlet categories, while fixed-dollar codes usually require minimum subtotal.
Combine manufacturer rebates or printable coupons for in-store pickup with online promo codes when a retailer supports “in-store coupon” redemption; otherwise use manufacturer promos at register and apply store promos to the remaining balance. Keep barcodes or PDFs ready for checkout staff.
Buy discounted third-party gift cards (Raise, CardCash) while using a bonus-earn credit card for extra points. Example: a 5% discounted gift card plus a card that rewards 3x travel yields an extra layer of savings on top of store promos when gift cards are accepted at checkout.
Redeem loyalty points last if the program reduces taxable subtotal; some programs apply points pre-discount which lowers the effectiveness of percent-off codes. Test both redemption-on and redemption-off in your cart to see which produces a lower final charge.
Use card-linked merchant offers (AmEx Offers, Chase Offers) and in-app payment credits (PayPal, Apple Pay promos). AmEx Offers commonly return $10–$50 as a statement credit for a qualifying spend; apply those after activating the offer in your account and confirm the merchant ID matches the retailer’s checkout descriptor.
Watch coupon fine print: exclusions (brands, hard-sided items), minimums, one-code-per-order limits, and expiration timestamps. If a percent code excludes discounted categories, combine it with a fixed-dollar coupon that often has fewer exclusions.
Sample math: $300 suitcase – 20% promo = $60 off → $240; 5% portal cashback = $12 back; 2,000 loyalty points = $20 off → final $208 before tax. Add a $25 AmEx statement credit and the effective outlay becomes $183, equal to ~39% total reduction plus cashback.
Document everything: portal confirmation, coupon code screenshots, gift-card receipts and card-offer activation. If a discount fails at checkout, customer chat or phone with documentation often secures retroactive credit or manual adjustment. Test combinations in a live cart before payment to lock in the best stack.
Inspect warranty and return terms for discounted suitcases before checkout
Verify warranty length, exact coverage, and return timeframe on the product page and printed receipt prior to purchase.
- Warranty duration & scope: note whether the promise is 1, 2, 5 years, or “lifetime limited.” Expect common patterns: manufacturer defect coverage 2–10 years; “lifetime limited” typically excludes wear items (wheels, handles, fabric abrasion, cosmetic scratches).
- What is covered vs excluded: ask explicitly about wheels, handles, zippers, telescoping poles, corner scuffs, stitches, water damage, and airline mishandling. Get exclusions in writing or a link to the policy.
- Registration requirements: many brands require online registration within 30–60 days to activate warranty. If registration is required, save the confirmation email and screenshot the registration page.
- Proof of purchase: retain the receipt, order confirmation, and serial number. Store digital copies for at least the warranty term; suggested minimum: 24 months for short warranties, lifetime for lifetime-limited promises.
- Return window and condition rules: retailer return periods vary from 14 to 180 days. Typical marked-down items: 30–60 days. Check whether returns require original packaging, tags, and if used items are accepted. Look for “final clearance” or “final sale” language – items so labeled are frequently nonreturnable.
- Restocking and return shipping fees: confirm whether returns incur restocking fees (commonly 10–25%) or require buyer-paid return shipping. For warranty repairs, ask whether shipping to the repair center is covered or charged to you.
- Repair vs replacement policy: determine whether defective parts will be repaired or the entire product replaced, and whether replacement parts are new or refurbished. Ask for average turnaround times (e.g., 2–6 weeks).
- Transferability: check whether the warranty transfers to a new owner if you resell the case; transferable coverage increases resale value.
- International coverage: confirm if repairs or claims are honored overseas or only in the country of purchase. If you travel frequently, prefer brands with global service centers.
- Refurbished / open-box / clearance items: expect reduced or no warranty for “as-is” or refurbished inventory. Look for explicit statements: “30-day limited return, 90-day warranty,” or “no warranty.” If unclear, ask for written confirmation.
- Price-adjustment and false markdown policies: check retailer policy windows for price adjustments after purchase (commonly 7–30 days) and whether marked-down tags are final.
- Manufacturer vs retailer responsibility: determine whether the retailer handles returns and refunds or forwards claims to the manufacturer. Get contact details and the escalation path (retailer customer service → manufacturer claims department).
- How to file a claim: request step-by-step instructions: required photos, serial numbers, shipping addresses, typical response times, and whether an RMA number will be issued. Save all correspondence and tracking numbers.
- Consumer-protection and local law: in the EU and many countries statutory consumer rights can override commercial policy (e.g., 2-year legal guarantee). In the U.S., state laws differ; check local consumer protection agency for assistance if a claim is denied.
- Credit-card and third-party protections: check whether your card offers extended warranty, purchase protection, or return protection that complements or supplements the seller’s policy. Document the transaction to submit to the card issuer if needed.
- Red flags to avoid:
- Vague language like “limited coverage” without examples.
- No written policy on the product page for discounted items.
- Seller refuses to provide a written RMA process.
- Excessive restocking or processing fees listed only after purchase.
Immediate post-purchase actions: photograph the item and packaging on delivery, test wheels and handles within 7 days, register the product within the stated period, and request written confirmation of any warranty/return exceptions before initiating a return or repair.
FAQ:
Which retailers usually put luggage on sale?
Discounts appear across several types of sellers. Large department stores and chains (for example Macy’s, Kohl’s) run clearance events and holiday promotions. Big-box retailers and general merchandisers (such as Target and Walmart) reduce prices on both entry-level and mid-range brands. Specialist luggage brands and their outlet stores (for example Samsonite, Travelpro outlets) mark down past-season stock. Online marketplaces (Amazon, eBay) and flash-sale sites often list reduced items from multiple sellers. Outlet malls and factory stores also offer steady reductions, while off-price retailers (like Marshalls or TJ Maxx) add surprise finds. For used or nearly new luggage, local resale platforms and consignment shops can show strong discounts.
How can I tell if discounted luggage is still good quality?
Check construction details and seller information before buying. Inspect the shell material (polycarbonate and aluminum are durable; thin ABS is lighter but less impact resistant), look for branded zippers and reinforced stitching, and evaluate wheel type and mounting—double-spinner wheels usually last longer than single casters. Test the telescopic handle for wobble and smoothness. Read user reviews and examine photos for scuffs or dents when the item is used or open-box. Confirm the warranty terms and whether it transfers to a new owner. Finally, compare the sale price to typical street price for that model so you can judge whether the reduction reflects age or damage rather than a genuine deal.
