LL Bean slashes prices hourly

If you’re an LL Bean fan, here’s an intriguing promotion. Beginning today, the Maine-based merchant will be offering discounts of as much as 50 percent off a revolving list of goods on an hourly basis. From now through Friday, new sale items will be revealed between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. While writing this post, for instance, I noticed deep savings on fleece slippers, bathrobes, and nightgowns.

Bean (one of our top-rated online clothing merchants) is just one of many chains desperate to unload existing inventories to make way for the spring arrivals. This is definitely a good time to buy. In the last couple of weeks, for example, tony retailer Brooks Brothers, which typically charges full sticker price for all its merchandise, advertised seasonal closeouts at up to 60 percent off — the chain’s lowest prices of the year. I picked up a camel hair sweater vest, which originally sold for $228, for $116, then got another $25 knocked off when I noticed further markdowns and phoned the company to insist upon a price adjustment. Pretty sweet. The clearance sale is still going on.

If you have a favorite retailer, visit the store’s Web site to see whether they’re liquidating at fire-sale prices. Chances are, you’ll be able to pick up some real bargains this time of year.