Rue La La sets up shop

What it is: The consumer website is a mecca for deals, with exclusive two-day long sales for boutiques, spas, restaurants and jewelers. They recently added Philadelphia to their list of featured cities, which means not only do members get to shop sales from designers like Miss Sixty and Betsey Johnson, but they can also find steals from local hot spots.

The gimmick: The site’s visible countdown ticking away the remaining time for each sale adds a slight bit of urgency and enhances the hunt. There’s also an air of elitism, since the process to join this shopping haven involves an invitation from a current member.

The deals
: Some of the closed sales showcased Denim Habit, AMS Salon & Lounge, and airbrush tanning from Sun Myst. If you missed them, fear not faithful shoppers: Upcoming bargains will include Brown Betty Dessert Boutique, Down 2 Earth Kids, and Bernard’s Salon & Spa in Cherry Hill.

The verdict: Most of the prices are roughly half the original, which is shown on the site so you know how much you’re saving. While this means you can get those pricey Calvin Klein boots without the nagging guilt that comes with paying ticket price, the current list of sellers (especially local) could be a little more extensive. Plus, now it’s hard to imagine paying full price at any of the companies in cahoots with Rue La La.