https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 16 May 2026 21:28:06 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts/page/2#post-1779557 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 22:23:41 +0000 JAileen 1779557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We have a Patagonia outlet store. I think it has "real" stuff. Until recently it shared a wall with one of the warehouses. Sometimes I would stalk something online, and eventually it would appear in the outlet, but only in XXS and XXL. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts/page/2#post-1779525 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 20:34:38 +0000 Jenni NZ 1779525@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I can see the truth of what you're saying here about the US. I'm interested regarding Australia also, as I went to one outlet mall in Melbourne on holiday. I only bought one pair of shoes, later saw them for the same price I had paid on Styletread online. So not sure that the price I paid was at all discounted. Was still happy with it/them.<br /> In NZ, we have very few outlet malls, only aware of 1 in Auckland, a city of 1 million people or so. The outlet STORES near me are quite genuine as they are the head offices of those brands and I see the regular priced stuff in retail stores nearby. I'm just really lucky I live within about 2 kilometres of 3 major fashion brands' head offices.<br /> Do any of the U.K. YLF readers know about places like Bicester Village, if the discounts are genuine? I've shopped there a few times on holiday as my only sister lives near Oxford. I was quite pleased with what we got there- Levis, Clark's shoes, Monsoon... But maybe we were tricked! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts/page/2#post-1779141 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:55:05 +0000 MsMary 1779141@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I knew this. Also knew it about the Rack, Ross, and so on.</p> <p>They do sometimes have "real" Nordstom merchandise at the Rack. You can tell by the tags. I bought my wedding gown at the Rack and it was a marked-down Tadashi Shoji from the "real" store -- I could tell because it had a regular Nordstrom tag with multiple reductions on the price. Made-for-the-Rack merch has "compare at" tags. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts/page/2#post-1779136 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 20:44:46 +0000 Caro in Oz 1779136@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The larger retailers in Australia have been doing this for years too. Not that some of their non-sale stuff is great quality either Some of our outlets used to have designer clothes at deep discount but I haven't been to them for some time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778957 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:30:30 +0000 Sisi 1778957@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I know for sure that clothes that you find on hard discount at the end of the season may be specifically made for this.&nbsp;As for outlets,&nbsp;I don't know. The rare times I went to an outlet (there is one very famous near where I live)&nbsp;I had&nbsp;the impression that the clothes &nbsp;were "regular" clothes (often designer or high-quality brands) that had remained unsold in the boutique.&nbsp; But&nbsp;after all I have not put my foot in an outlet since many years and things may have changed. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778908 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:47:02 +0000 Anonymous 1778908@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Neiman's was the last of the big stores to go to that model - and there was some serious OUTRAGE here in the Big D when that was announced. &nbsp;In fact, even though that happened at least 7 or 8 years ago, that very topic came up when I had a lunch with some friends last week. Yikes, could it be we have reached the age where we sit around talking about how things were better in the "good old days" &nbsp;</p> <p>Seriously, &nbsp;there probably are some great deals to be had at outlets, but the stores themselves are too hodge-podgey for me to be able to shop effectively. &nbsp;I'm not as savvy a shopper as <b>Echo</b>, <b>Penny </b>and&nbsp;<b>cynthiawalkersmith! &nbsp;<br /></b><br />I do, however, really like the websites of the discounters owned by the major department stores. &nbsp;I search only for a handful of brands that I know make only one line and usually fit me well. &nbsp;That kind of shopping allows me to buy a piece or two each season from lines like Vince or Theory that would other be beyond my budget. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778903 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:12:40 +0000 Gigi 1778903@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I knew about this, and that is one reason I rarely shop at outlet stores. There is a big outlet mall near me, and I have found the quality of a lot of the items to be substandard. I like to wear my clothes until they fall apart, so I generally steer clear of cheaply made items. I do feel it's a little disingenuous, as <b>Aziraphale</b> pointed out. I dislike seeing the supposed manufacturer's retail price and then "your price" and the amazing discount you're getting. The fact is, the retail price is just made up out of thin air, and then they take a percentage off to make you feel like you're getting the item on sale. But you're paying exactly what they want you to pay.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778887 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:21:59 +0000 Sal 1778887@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Interesting, I was aware of it in the US, I am not sure if it happens in our outlet stores here or not.</p> <p>I very very rarely go to outlet stores. &nbsp;I lack the imagination and the patience to do so. &nbsp;I am happy to buy on sale, either an in store end of season, or a storewide 25-30% off, or even a buy two, get one free etc. &nbsp;I am also happy to buy at full price and probably do so most of the time.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778885 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 03:12:52 +0000 Penny 1778885@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I tend not to view outlet stores not as places where I can find items at a better price, but rather as completely separate stores where I might find something I'm looking for. &nbsp;For example, although I'd happily pay more at Nordstrom for an item, sometimes I find a better dress for my needs at Nordstrom Rack. &nbsp;Quality can be so hard to judge, no matter where an item is from, that it's often worth a shot! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778877 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 02:53:32 +0000 Nebraskim 1778877@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I knew this. My husband's niece used to work as a buyer for Loft Outlet (which is a division of Ann, Inc., the corporate head for Ann Taylor and Loft.) There were also outlet divisions for Ann Taylor. She worked in NYC and would occ&nbsp;come to Nebraska to run in the Lincoln Marathon. We would go up to the outlet mall between Lincoln and Omaha and she would show me the good buys. She now works for Stitch Fix in SF after a short stint at Nike in Portland. She has an interesting job that takes her to India and China often. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778873 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 02:41:04 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1778873@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I did know this. There's an outlet mall in Merrimack, New Hampshire that I hit occasionally. I picked up a nice leopard print Coach tote there a while back. I was going back and forth between two leopard print bags and the sales person kindly pointed out to me the quality differences between an outlet-only bag and a bag that was a regular store bag. Guess which one I bought? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778839 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:28:20 +0000 Angie 1778839@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>YES, I knew this too.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778833 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:10:39 +0000 Echo 1778833@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, yes. I was well aware of this, which is why I often don't find outlet malls to be a bargain. I am familiar with the serial number of Coach bags, though, so when I shop an outlet I only buy pieces that came from a full price store originally (as a PP mentioned, there is often a section within the outlet store that has original store merchandise).&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778828 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 23:12:26 +0000 cindysmith 1778828@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've known this for a while. Outlets, Saks off 5th/Nordstrom rack/last call/tjmaxx/marshalls are all carrying made-for-off-price-retailer stuff. They do have some legit last season/overstocks, but you have to dig for it through all the lower quality stuff. </p> <p>Some brands have licensing agreements with tjmaxx and similar stores; the off price retailers get to make and sell branded stuff with the designers labels on them. I'm guessing Michael kors and Cynthia Rowley both have these licensing agreements with tjmaxx because there is so much Michael by Mk on the racks and it's all polyester and a little bit off, and how many basic t-shirts does Cynthia Rowley actually design and yet there are hundreds of them in the racks at tjmaxx every time I go in there. Same with the high-end department stores offprice outlets--licensed goods made of lesser materials that pretty much look like the real deal unless you really know that "brand x" hardly ever uses polyester in their garments or whatever.</p> <p>A quick way to tell is check the tags. All the labels sewn in the garments look different if they were made for outlet (BR/gap have diamonds on the labels for outlet made goods and etc). The licensed stuff at tjmaxx will have normal looking tags sewn in, but the hang tags will be different. If it's licensed, it generally won't have the MSRP on the hang tags. At the department store outlets, the legit overstock stuff will have the tags from the original department store (Saks 5th Avenue tags on a garment at off 5th) on it but the licensed stuff doesn't usually have them.</p> <p>I don't do a lot of actual outlet shopping anymore because of the inferior quality. I do still occasionally go to the high-end department store outlets, and I do shop tjmaxx/Marshall's but I'm pretty picky about it these days because I've been burned too many times on a "good deal". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778824 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:41:18 +0000 Carla 1778824@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Did NOT know this, however poor shopping experiences 10 or so years ago put me off outlet shopping. It isn't a destination or experience I enjoy.</p> <p>The only real outlet shopping I ever did regularly was during an annual summer vacation on the eastern seaboard. We would be at the beach, but take 1 day to visit the outlets. Oshkosh, Carter (for the kids) and bed and bath places for cotton bath towels and sheets. That was some 20 years ago. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778817 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:11:26 +0000 Anonymous 1778817@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This isn't new news &nbsp;- at least to me. &nbsp;Outlet stores are &nbsp;NOT a big deal here - yet - and the only ones I've shopped in have been in the US - oh, with the exception of Tommy Hifilger which &nbsp;has an outlet store here in Wpg. I wish I didn't sound like &nbsp;a complete snob - but I found the stuff in BR, Gap, Columbia, Nine West, etc etc outlet stores to be largely crap &nbsp;and not really related to the original brand in terms of style and quality of fabric and manufacture. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778814 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:08:18 +0000 Anonymous 1778814@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I did! &nbsp;I did know this. &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778791 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 20:06:35 +0000 rachylou 1778791@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes. The merchandise is different. You will notice if you check out both stores and outlets. There are some true outlets and sections *in* outlets. The Nordstrom Racks in my area will have a round rack or two of the last items of a garment, for example. One tip off is how close the 'real' store is to the outlet. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778763 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 18:05:14 +0000 Anonymous 1778763@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, very apparent in quality. &nbsp;I generally buy something that I know is just for casual, home wear, knowing it will pile or not last as long as regular merchandise. &nbsp;It is discouraging the word "outlet" implies we'll get a deal on a much loved top, say, at The Loft. &nbsp;Looking more closely, the outlet top reflects the design but it's short in length, doesn't have a slit at the side, and definitely fits differently than the medium at The Loft.&nbsp;</p> <p>buyer beware . . .&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778757 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:38:51 +0000 kkards 1778757@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>yes....and its been that way for a long time....and yes, much of what is offered at NAS is bought specifically for NAS....that doesn't mean its inferior, it just means it was bought for the sale. that's what they mean when they say Nordstrom's exclusive... </p> <p>I posted these about 6 months ago, but i'll post them again</p> <p><a href="http://www.thefashionlaw.com/home/burberry-misleading-price-lawsuit" rel="nofollow">http://www.thefashionlaw.com/h.....ce-lawsuit</a></p> <p><a href="https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/does-opening-an-outlet-store-hurt-existing-sales" rel="nofollow">https://insight.kellogg.northw.....ting-sales</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778752 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:06:21 +0000 always trying 1778752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I shop at Bass outlet, but I think they are outlet only.&nbsp; They have some great 100% cotton, and other nice stuff.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778741 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 16:07:44 +0000 Jules 1778741@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes. There are simply way too many outlets and TJMaxx/Winners-type stores for all of the contents to be unsold or flawed merchandise that was meant for regular retail. In other cases, at least at the Canadian "outlet" malls I've checked out, they do have regular brand kitchen merchandise of standard quality, for example, but the prices are no less than my local independent store paying downtown Toronto rent. Guess where I'd rather shop?<br />It's just another form of marketing or positioning. It has the opposite effect on me in that I get annoyed at misleading advertising and will walk away from stuff I want if I feel manipulated or misled. Same with BOGO 50% off type offers - I immediately discount the "worth" of the items to 75% of the listed price and get annoyed they are trying to make me buy two of said items when I only want one. </p> <p>I enjoy being prickly this way though, so there's that ;)</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778736 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:49:44 +0000 Author Linda 1778736@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I knew about this. I found out about it through business news while researching retail investments, and a little ping went off in my head. The only part of the outlet trend that bothers me is that buyers are led to believe they are getting the same merchandise as at the flagship stores. &nbsp;I didn't know what Catty said about the NA sale including items made specifically for the sale. That's interesting and, on second thought, not all that surprising. Hmmm. Definitely buyer beware!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778735 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:48:43 +0000 deb 1778735@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, when outlets first started they only carried the previous seasons clothing. But as shoppers came in droves (remember the bus tours to outlets?) the companies saw outlets as&nbsp; a way to increase their profits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778731 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:19:00 +0000 JAileen 1778731@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>i knew it. I pretty much don't shop at outlets. At the Rack I've bought some camisoles and socks, and that's it. Nothing else has appealed to me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778729 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:07:36 +0000 Aziraphale 1778729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes! I knew this. It was a young saleswoman in the Roots outlet herself who told me. I'd bought a sweater dress from Roots about fifteen years ago, and then a year or so later my best friend's hubby asked where I'd got it, so he could buy one for her. I doubted they still had them in regular Roots stores, because at least a year had passed, but I stopped by the outlet one day on my way home to see if any extras had made their way there. The saleswoman explained that the Roots outlet line of clothes are completely different than what is sold in regular stores, and only very occasionally do they get marked-down "regular" items. </p> <p>Ah, I thought privately, that explains why the two tee shirts I bought at the Roots outlet turned to dishrags after five wears. And why none of my favourite, go-to items are from any outlet store.</p> <p>And yes, this discovery influenced how I shop at outlets. I simply stopped going. I wasn't a big outlet shopper anyway, but I was so dismayed to hear that the outlet clothes were cheaper because they were made more cheaply -- using cheaper fabrics and cheap labour -- that it turned me right off. It also seemed disingenuous on the part of the companies. If I want a cheap tee shirt, I'd rather shop at a bargain store like Old Navy that's up-front about being a bargain store.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778725 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 15:02:24 +0000 Lisa 1778725@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes I knew this and there are certain items I shy away from at outlets, because my worn most often items from outlets can never handle being worn well, often! &nbsp;Instead I stick to the main brand and retail stores for my work horse pieces and shop the outlets for fun, not going to last too long, items instead. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778722 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 14:45:22 +0000 Anonymous 1778722@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm most familiar with J Crew Factory. Their 100% cotton stuff is actually really nice. I had a few boatneck tops with yarn-dyed stripes, where with many J Crew retail tops the stripes are printed on (!). I also love my chambray shirt from JCF and had a nice pair of cords from them as well.</p> <p>But the suiting, sweaters, shoes, and jewelry are palpable lower quality at JCF than the retail store, as you'd expect. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778720 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 14:37:42 +0000 RobinF 1778720@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I knew outlet malls did this but wasn't aware that Nordstrom Rack did. It doesn't bother me because I don't buy expensive stuff there but it is good to &nbsp;know. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/why-outlet-prices-arent-discounts#post-1778718 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 14:37:20 +0000 Traci 1778718@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I've been aware of this for quite some time. &nbsp;The difference in quality is pretty apparent in many of the outlets. &nbsp;Some, more so than others, but Old Navy, J Crew and Gap all definitely use lower quality fabrics in lower quality garments in their factory stores. &nbsp;It's palpable. </p>