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Priced Right at Eleventh-Hour

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There are always last-minute Louies out there waiting for prices to go down, but, unless it’s a fire sale, gift prices won’t get much lower than these. These are my best suggestions for last-minute, quality, bargain-priced gifts. Remember, if it’s not quality it’s no bargain. For quality ornaments, try Aldiks. Victorian chinalike globes that were $6.75, are now $2.50, and the designs here are so charming. Every day new merchandise is placed on the outside tables and marked below wholesale. If you’re tired of pine needles all over the house, imitation trees range from $35 for a three-footer to $90 for one about five feet tall. Prices on silk plants and flowers don’t come much better than in the Silk Warehouse, adjacent to the main store. Prices here are slashed from 30% to 60%.

Aldiks, 7651 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys. Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. MasterCard/Visa. (818) 988-5970.

If only the real thing will do, Something Special, a full-service florist, has Wholesale Flower Market Day every Saturday. This is strictly by the bundle, which means no fillers and no wraps.

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Gladiolas, for instance, during the week sell for $2 a stem but are 80 cents on Saturdays. One stem of calla lily is $4 regularly, but you can get five for $7 Saturdays.

Long-stem Colombian roses, usually $55 a dozen, boxed, wrapped and filled are $15 for two dozen when you pay cash and accept them held together with a rubber band. Everything on the floor sells at these deeply discounted prices, and the quality of the flowers is excellent.

Something Special, 14303 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Cash only. (818) 905-8664.

Many women feel that Christmas isn’t Christmas without perfume, so good perfume (the cheap stuff won’t do) is always appropriate. Perfume City in Studio City is an unusual discounter because you can find the latest fragrances at less than almost anyone else’s prices. Prices are usually 15% to 60% below the department stores’.

Perfume City, 12215 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. MasterCard/Visa. (818) 763-1875.

Separates in unisex runaround clothes for all age groups, from Long John to Loubella, come in at wholesale and below at one of the best spots in the Valley to save big bucks. It may take some digging here, but if you’re sharp you’ll uncover some treasures. My best bargain gifts last year (like a $125 vest for $25 and $90 shirts for $15) came from HRD Distributors.

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HRD Distributors, 18318 Oxnard St., Unit 4, Tarzana. Open 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. MasterCard/Visa. (818) 708-1941.

For a luxury gift, regardless of gender, a series of facials, is a winner. Visage De Layla in Westwood is offering a smashing special. Layla’s oh-so-soothing and therapeutic facials are $50 each the rest of the year, but a package of six for $135 is offered for the holidays.

For a gift certificate, call Visage de Layla, (310) 475-1424. Cash or checks only.

Fur lovers who are not intimated by the animal activists should head for the absolute best source in town for deals in quality furs. Farmed furs sell at unbelievable prices at Beverly Hills Furs. New and used coats, jackets, flings and hats are tagged as low as it gets.

A new female mink stroller is $895, and a corduroy fox jacket is an excellent buy at $150. Beverly Hills Furs, 8586 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills . Open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. MasterCard/Visa, American Express, Discover. (310) 652-0441.

Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.

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