Bottom line, don't get hooked by big discounts, know your retailer and compare, also don't get taken in on cheap look alike, compare apples to apples.
Seconds are the best buy around.
I had a lot of experience in selling blems which I purchased from a large factory who sold to all the major retailers. Over runs are also a great buy. They are usually brand new and are in limited quantity. Most major discounters offer these as their way of selling at such low prices. The same misconception comes from veneer which can be used on very high end furniture and is used by quality manufactures to keep consistency of color and grain.