We shopped at TJ Maxx and Saks Off 5th to see which store is better for discount shopping

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

Shoppers these days are eager to score a good deal.
Saks Off 5th — the discount branch of Saks Fifth Avenue — has a huge selection of designer items, while TJ Maxx is known for its consistently low prices.
We shopped at both discount stores to see which is better for customers on a budget. TJ Maxx was the clear winner.
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Shoppers these days want a good deal. UBS analysts wrote in a recent note that a "cultural shift" is driving people to search for bargains over quality.

Luckily, the world of off-price shopping is a glorious place — especially if you’re on a budget. Within the discount-shopping sector, the options vary. Saks Off 5th, for example, has a huge selection of designer items for less. TJ Maxx is not as high-end but has consistently low prices.

The CEO of TJX Companies — the parent company of TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods — said in May that tariffs and subsequent price hikes could benefit discounters and foster more business from bargain-driven consumers.

We shopped at TJ Maxx and Saks Off 5th stores in New York City to see which had a better shopping experience and which was more likely to draw customers in search of a deal.

Here was our experience:

First, we stopped by Saks Off 5th (which was actually off Lexington Avenue).

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

The store advertised huge discounts, so we were excited to see the offerings.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

We were floored by the regal architecture of the store. The tall marble columns on the sides of the main room were magnificent. This may have been a discount store, but it sure didn’t look like one.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

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