There is a wide variety of stores and merchandise available in the Dallas area. Stores are operated under the private enterprise system and prices for goods and services are fixed. Clothing size and food quantities are marked on the item.
In general, store hours for most of the year are from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Malls are usually open until 9 p.m. except for Sunday, when they close at 6 p.m. Quite a few grocery stores are open until 11 p.m. and some stores are even open 24 hours. Stores usually have their hours posted on the outside doors.
GENERAL TIPS ABOUT SHOPPING
Prices are fixed, meaning we do not bargain for or trade goods except at garage sales or flea markets. Prices differ depending more on where you shop than what you buy.
Shopping around is the recommended practice of checking several stores for the price of an item before buying it.
Use a cart or shopping basket. Never put items in a purse or pocket. Salespersons, guards, and hidden cameras will regard this as shoplifting.
KEEP SALES RECEIPTS
It is important to keep your receipts so that you can return unused merchandise. It is best to try on shoes and clothes before you buy them, since the return of an item is inconvenient and sometimes not returnable if purchased "on sale".
CLASSIFIED ADS
In the newspaper under the listing of "Garage Sales" or "Household Items" contain information about used items for sale. The seller lists a telephone number so you can ask about the items being sold.
TYPES OF STORES
Supermarkets
Also called "grocery stores", these stores stock a variety of both food and nonfood items. They have fresh fruits and vegetables; canned goods; meats; bread and other baked goods; laundry and cleaning supplies; paper products such as facial tissue, napkins, toilet paper and paper towels; personal needs and nonprescription drugs; a limited supply of pots and pans for cooking; baby supplies; dish cloths and towels; and an extensive supply of frozen foods. The hours are usually from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; however, some remain open for 24 hours per day.
Frozen foods must be stored in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator (where ice cubes are kept). If frozen foods thaw, they should be cooked immediately or they may loose their flavor and spoil. Food should never be refrozen after it completely thaws. Package directions should be read for storing and cooking. Baked goods wrapped tightly in plastic or aluminum foil can stay fresh in a freezer for many weeks.
Every supermarket has a meat department where the meats are prepackaged and displayed. Customers who have questions about certain cuts of meat, how to prepare it or who want a cut of meat they don't see, can ring the bell by the meat counter and the butcher will help them.
Almost everything students will need during their first days in Dallas can be found in a supermarket except sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and curtains. Customers serve themselves in the supermarket (get a wheeled basket, push it around the store, and select what they need) and then pay the cashier before leaving the store. You may pay cash or write a check for purchases. Some stores will let you write a check for a small amount over the cost of your purchases in order to get cash back. Albertson's, Tom Thumb, Kroger's, Winn Dixie and Brookshire's are examples of grocery stores.
Convenience Stores
There are other small stores, called "convenience stores" that stock small quantities of necessary items and other items such as soda, cigarettes, candy and ice cream, but the prices are usually higher than regular supermarkets. Most open at 7 a.m. and close at 11 p.m., but some remain open 24 hours a day.
Drugstores
Also called "pharmacies",drugstores will "fill a prescription" or supply customers with medicine that a doctor has ordered for them. You can also find many other items such as magazines, cigarettes, candy, greeting cards, personal needs, and film. Often, there is a place to leave film for developing and printing. Most drugstores are open at 9 a.m. and close and 9 p.m. or 10 p.m. Eckerd's and Walgreens are the names of two well known drug stores.
Department Stores
This name comes from the fact that many different articles are sold in different departments within the same store. Department stores offer most things not found in grocery stores. Items include men's, women's, and children's clothing; some furniture, cooking and eating utensils; rugs; curtains; bed and bath items; jewelry; purses and wallets. They frequently sell refrigerators, stoves, washing machines, toys, and tools. Some examples of department stores in Dallas include Dillard's, Mervyn's, Montgomery Wards, Sears, and J.C. Penney. Department stores are always found in major malls, but not all malls have the same stores.
Variety Stores
These are like department or discount stores with a wide range of prices. Sometimes they are called "dollar"stores. They sell everything from toothbrushes to chairs, from clothing to canned or boxed foods.
Discount Stores
The discount store claims to sell the merchandise at a discount or lower price than other stores, and they usually are less expensive than department stores. They offer a wide variety of goods including shoes, clothing, pet supplies, toys, jewelry, some furniture, luggage, electronic appliances and personal needs. You can usually find most of what you need a discount store. Walmart, KMart and Target are examples of discount stores.
CLOTHING SIZES
Clothing sizes in the US are different from those in most other countries. You should always try on clothes to make sure they fit.
Women's sizes are in separate groups:
junior sizes: odd numbered 1 to 13,
regular sizes/misses: (even numbered 2 to 18), and
plus sizes/women's: are size 18 and larger.
petites are for women who are 5'4 or shorter.
Dresses
US 10 12 14 16 18 20
Europe 40 42 44 46 48 50
Latin Amer. Small Medium Large
Japan 10 12 14 16 18 20
Sweaters or Blouses
u.s. 32 34 36 38 40 42
Europe 40 42 44 46 48 50
Latin Amer. Small Medium Large
Japan 32 34 36 38 40 42
Men's sizes vary according to the garment. Suits range from 36 to 46 determined by the number of inches around the chest. They also run long, regular, or short depending on height.
Men's shirt sizes are determined by the number of inches around the neck and the length of the sleeve, such as 15 by 32 or 16 by 34. Jeans and slacks are determined by the waist measurement.
Men's Suits or Sweaters
u.s. 36 38 40 42 44 46
Europe 47 48 51 54 56 59
Latin Amer. Small Medium Large
Japan 46 48 50 52 54 56
Dresses or Suits
u.s. 2 4 6 8 10
Europe 1 3 5 7 9
Sizes for stockings and socks depend on shoe size; if you know your American shoe size, the salesperson can help determine the stockings and sock sizes.
Shoes
u.s. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 also in half-sizes
Europe 41 42 43 56 46
Latin Amer. 41 42 43 45 46
Japan 25 25.5 26.5 27.5 28