Retail Costs Wrung Out in Time for Mother’s Day

Looking for some quality Mother’s Day gifts at bargain prices? Look no further.

At H&M; Appliances you can cut the cost of a new Crosley washer and dryer with a 10-year warranty by $200. The regular retail on the pair is $799, but H&M;’s price is $599. The quiet Frigidaire dishwasher that sells for $340 is now $269.

H&M; Appliances, 18510 Sherman Way, Reseda. (818) 705-2240.

A Touch of Spring specializes in sterling marcasite jewelry, and the prices are just about half of retail. Earrings run $20, brooches $20 to $45. Mother would probably love the necklaces of marcasite and black onyx for $49 to $89 (figure double on retail). Lockets start at $60.

The inventory includes accessories such as hats, scarves and purses. Prices hover around wholesale.

A Touch of Spring, the Alley in the Valley behind 6000 Reseda Blvd., Tarzana. (818) 343-3053.

You’ll find a good selection of antique jewelry at Collectible Glitz-Miss La De Da’s (formerly Collector’s Eye), where prices are usually way below average.

An elegant English Wedgwood cameo pin and earrings, circa 1900-1910 and set in silver, are $134.66, including tax. The celluloid and Lucite-carved “Mother” brooches from the ‘40s sell for $25.55.

Collectible Glitz-Miss La De Da’s, 435 Sherman Way, Canoga Park. (818) 347-9343.

Duty Free Cosmetics has a new line of perfumes--Creed--usually available only through high-end specialty stores.

Duty Free carries 10 of the Creed fragrances. The 2 1/2-ounce eau de toilette that retails for $75 is $49. In the more familiar names, a 1.7-ounce spray of Versace’s Blonde that goes for $60 retail sells here for $35. The 3.3-ounce Ivoire by Balmain usually sells for $75, but here it’s $39. From Gres, the popular Cabochard 3.4-ounce spray is $39 instead of $65.

Duty Free, 15053 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. (818) 906-1234.

To accompany any of your gifts or to stand alone, Allen’s Wholesale Flowers probably offers the best prices in town.

If you buy them in large bunches, not in vases or arrangements, you can save big on lilacs, carnations and roses. For $10 you can get a good-size bunch of lilacs. Carnations are $8 for 25 stems. If only roses will do, you probably cannot beat $25 for 25 blossoms.

Allen’s Wholesale Flowers, 21702 Sherman Way, Canoga Park (818) 704-9900, and 18500 Sherman Way, Reseda (818) 996-2603.