CLARK HOWARD: What to know about Toys R Us liquidation sales

Jacksonville, Fl. — Toy Company executive Isaac Larian of MGA Entertainment is leading the effort to help save up to 400 Toys R Us locations from liquidation.

As the group works to raise money for their efforts, liquidation sales are beginning at various locations across the nation.

But if you’re thinking about shopping, Consumer Warrior Clark Howard says you might want to think again because it’s possible you’re getting ripped off.

"The way this works is the liquidators pay cents on the dollar for the inventory in the failed stores' building. And they pay store by store or they buy a bulk of store inventory," Clark says.

Clark suggests being extra aware while shopping because the liquidators can be sneaky with the merchandise inside the stores. He says they will not only have the inventory they bought from the location they will be running the GOB (going out of business), they will also bring what he calls, “fake merchandise.”

"They'll bring in this third-party inventory that never resided in the Toys R Us or Babies R Us."

Clark says what happens is the liquidators will put fake discounts on these third-party items to make the customer believe the item is on sale when it was never in the store to begin with.

Whenever you shop at a store is closing, Clark says look up the item by using your smartphone to check the price.

"Put in the exact description of the item, as exact as you can be. It will comparison shop for you both online and in physical stores. Then you'll be able to see if an item you're looking at is a deal or not."

Another suggestion by Clark during this time is that if you have a gift card to Toys R Us or Babies R Us, you need to use it because in a rare move they are still being accepted.