BIG BARGAINS ARE TOUGHER TO FIND AS OUTLET BOOM SLOWS.(BUSINESS)

Byline: MARY BOYLE Associated Press

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. -- Kevin and Julie Davidson know better than to assume everything at an outlet center is a steal.

That's why the Davidsons examine each piece thoroughly for defects and comparison shop to make sure they are getting a legitimate discount.

``You can't come here and automatically think you're going to get the best deal,'' Julie Davidson said while doing some holiday shopping at the Castle Rock Factory Stores south of Denver. ``You have to know your prices.''

With the holidays nearing, millions of people are crowding into outlet centers to search for Christmas gifts, wooed by the idea of …