Do You Ever Pay Full Price? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do You Ever Pay Full Price?

tarzy

Veteran

I rarely pay full price for anything, especially now when there are so many bargains around. One of my resolutions was to buy less, but better quality. I think part of that is buying only a few clothes that I really really love.

Right now there's a Ralph Lauren vest (waistcoat) at Macy's that I love. It's brown with thin white pin stripes, looks great on me, would go with white shirts, pink shirts, blue shirts, jeans - so many things. I really want it. But it's $149. I just can not pay that. I know it will eventually go on sale, but they only have one size 8 at my Macy's.

When I find something I love I always think "I HAVE TO HAVE THIS!!!" But I know that I'll probably get over it. And in this economy, with my budget, I just can't be spending money like that. And to be honest, there ALWAYS something I love, that I just HAVE to have, that I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT!!!! (Of course - I can.)

I'm curious what other people would do. Would you buy it and keep the tags on in the hopes that it'll go on sale soon (and then get the difference?) Would you keep stalking it, maybe call around to other stores to find the size? Or would you just tell yourself "Hey, you can't afford it. GET OVER IT." And if it goes on sale and they have your size, you think "It was meant to be." If not ... are you okay? Or do you pine after "the one that got away?"

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14 replies

Latest reply was from Louise

Maya

Veteran

I kind of don't have a choice but to just give up things I can't afford, so for me there is just no question.

If I end up buying it and hoping it goes on sale, but it doesn't, I know I would end up just keeping it. I don't have the discipline to just return it. It would be pretty heartbreaking. I stalk things occasionally, but by the time they go on sale, my size is always gone, so I'm never optimistic.

It also helps that I just don't bother trying on anything I can't afford, I guess. Going to a place like H&M is great because I know I can afford just about anything there. Department stores are trickier.

I couldn't afford the black moto jacket from Macys that I got at the YLF convention. I ended up returning the H&M jacket, that purple UO dress, and a pair of boots I won on ebay to make up the cost. I just sold a dress on ebay recently to get some summer shoes. Sometimes where there's a will, there's a way.

shiny

Veteran

This is a great question, and one I'm also struggling with. In the past, I never waited for sales because if I did my size would be long gone. I've been burnt way too many times. Even now, when I see items that I bought full price that are at rock-bottom prices, and still in my size, I don't have any reservations because I've enjoyed several months of wear already. (I'm only tempted by the thought of duplicating!)

More and more lately I do stop myself and think, "It'll go on sale soon and the economy is so slow, my size will be there, so hold off." And I do. I am tracking a handful of things.

I guess I would say this: if it's an investment item that will get years and years of use, it may be worth the full price. I wouldn't spend full price on knitwear or sweaters, they wear out too fast and need constant replacement. But I *might* pay full price for the absolute, most perfect black leather moto jacket. I didn't find one last season. I am very picky, but it's also the size factor. YOu want such a jacket to be form-fitting and hit just right; if it has zippers on the sleeves it can't be altered; this is not as easy as it sounds when you're my height. Now add into that I want one that is a nice quality leather.... it gets really difficult. I'm not about to pay $1358 for one, but I *might* part with as much as $500 for exactly the right one. Because it's something that I'll get use out of for years and years.

The other item in this category for me would be the perfect, classic trench coat in just the right white (probably cream for me). This is proving to be very difficult to find. I want one that is waterproof and preferably with a zip-out liner, so I can wear it in colder weather too. So I might pay full price for something like this.

Waistcoat? I dunno. Angie may disagree with me, but I fear that this is more of a trendy piece. Vests come in and out of style. I remember wearing them in preschool (okay I don't remember, but I've seen the pics of the cute outfits my mom dressed us up in), then in high school, then again in my early career. Then not again until recently. So I fear this is one of those items that is fun to wear now, but will go out of style and not come back in style again for a decade. And I will probably be heavier in a decade. So my strategy with vests is to buy low-priced. I only have one so far. I actually don't wear it that much. Not as much as I would a leather jacket or trench coat.

I would pay full price if I found the perfect chesnut boots (I'm still looking... scouring the sales racks lately!). The good thing with shoes is that you don't change sizes that dramatically over time.

Jewelry ... no, I have my best luck shopping the jewelry section when there's a sale on. I think it's because the lower prices mean I am more willing to experiment and take a risk.

I would also pay full price for upgraded denim clamdiggers that fit as well as my cheap ones (which will probably only last me one more summer, sad face). And a denim skirt that didn't make me look all goofy, like I have a huge pot belly. And maybe a perfect red wool pencil skirt, which has been on my wishlist forever.

Okay - do you see my trend here?? I would happily pay full price for the items on my wishlist, provided they fit well and were truly fulfilling my wish in every way I'd envisioned - not just a "close enough." Everything else? I will hold out for the sales instead!!!

shana

Veteran

I hardly ever pay full price for anything - even back when I wasn't in the financial straits that I am now. I usually limit myself to one full price (high price) item a season and it has to be something that I love and can't live without (haha). Everything else I buy on sale. I will often stalk items and have been even known to drive out of my way when a local store doesn't have my item. I usually find plenty of selection even at sale prices and honestly, my burning desire for something usually wanes after some time anyway.

I read this terrific article in one of my marketing classes called "Fire of Desire" about consumer passion. I wish I could find a link the whole article but here's an abstract:

http://ideas.repec.org/a/ucp/j.....26-51.html

It's a great read and kind of puts into perspective consumer passion & obsession.

Anyway, I think if you love it and can afford it at the current price, you should get it. Are there any online or other type of coupons floating around which would make it more appealing? Honestly, Macy's seems to have so many sales, you could probably score it on sale too.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I pay full price on items that are usually tricky for me, ie: pants. I have found very few pair that I actually love on me. So when I need some, I find one pair full price and wait for others in that same style to go on sale.
I don't have a ginormous clothing budget, so I have to make decisions month to month and item by item. Certain things sell out faster and rarely go on sale.
I prioritize things by need/want and use that list to make the decisions for me.
Right now I really want a nice leather/pleather jacket in cream or white. I'm saving up for one because I realize it will end up costing a pretty penny. But, this keeps me from "binge" shopping and just buying things because they're okay and cheap.

Lee Hovey

I don't think I have paid full price for anything in months. I have a fairly small budget, so I don't even go into stores I can't afford, and stick almost exclusively to the store I CAN afford, with a few stores that are half and half.

I stalk coupon sites to find coupons, always subscribe to a stores email list to receive coupons and sale info, subscribe to their shopper cards (like AE All Access pass), window shop frequently (several times a week) to catch the sales at the begining, and cruise ebay alot for particular brand names that may be out of my price range.

I pride myself on being a bargain shopper.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I am on such a low budget that I hardly ever buy full price, however I would (maybe) if I found either the perfect brown leather moto jacket or unbelievable jeans. That being said, even then I would really have to know that I couldn't find it again. I shop so much without buying anything, I have disciplined myself to wait on most things. I stick to a budget and am usually in debt to myself, have to be without a few months if I want to get something more pricey. That is why I go to thrift stores so much. I think it all depends on what you can afford. This sight helps me get feedback on what is really working. All ok items are never worth full price. I also know that nothing is worth being entirely obsessed over. I have done that and realize in time my urgent need was usually about something else. If you can afford it and it is full price, get it!
There is no sin in buying full price, might actually be helping the economy. I sometimes waste valuable time tracking down bargains.

judy

Veteran

Yes, I do sometimes pay full price...for perfectly fitting jeans! I have found that they are worth it because I wear them to so much. Most everything else, I do "scout" for sales...and have gotten great savings this year on very expensive jackets (one down, one leather) that were on sale for 40 to 60 percent off. Dresses are a rare item for me to wear, and often the ones that are age appropriate are expensive (it's hard to hit the right note and not look too young/ruffley or too dowdy/matronly!), so the few dresses I have I've gotten on sale as well, but maybe only one actually fits that category well. So I tend to invest more money (even at a sale price) for high quality/wear often pieces and less money on more seasonal/trendy/worn less often items. Oh, and I often pay full price for boots that I will wear a lot as well, because it's worth it not to wait...but I just got some very on sale the other day too, so I suppose it's both ways!...it's more based on need and how much I've already been spending, I guess.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

The only place I pay full price is at Target, because everything is already dirt cheap already. And even then, if I can hold out until it goes on sale or if I have a coupon, I use it. Except for the running pants I just picked up at Target for $12 tonight.

Otherwise I usually don't even shop unless there's a sale or if I have a coupon. I think I paid full-price for a gorgeous silk shirt from BR last fall, but that's about the last thing I did. I regretted it soon after, but then the shirt disappeared from the racks in that color and size almost immediately so I got over it.

Oh wait, SHOES. I pay full-price for good shoes without even hesitating.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Yes, I confess, I pay full price for some items, and they are the go-to items that will last for *at least* 3 years. Premium denim, for one. Boots, for another. But conversely, because sandals don't last as long as my boots, I try to buy those on sale.

I would have paid full price for my Bebe moto jacket. It's that fab and essential to my wardrobe, but luckily mine was on sale - but I almost blew it, because I had to run around to a couple of stores to get my size. Whew!

I paid full price for the dresses I bought at Macy's with Angie. That was a little painful. But how often do you get to have Angie pick out dresses for you??

Otherwise, really, everything I pick up is on sale. But I remember back in about 2000, during the dot-com bubble (before it burst), when nothing was ever on sale, and I had to buy much, much more at full price.

April

Veteran

This isn't exactly a clothing rule, but my general rule for making major purchases is, "If it's something you'll use every day, it's worth spending to get the best one." I use this for things like kitchen equipment -- it's worth having excellent knives, for example, if you cook every day.

For clothing, you could translate it to mean that if it's something classic that you'll use for years (a fine winter coat in a non-trendy silhouette; a pair of excellent boots that won't date), it's worth spending for it.

A vest that makes you drool... hmm. I think I'm agreeing with Shiny that its lifespan might not justify its cost per wear. There do seem to be a lot of vests around at the moment -- have you looked around to see if there's something close enough to the RL one, but at a lower price point?

Tanya

Veteran

It is extremely rare that I pay a full price, I only buy things that are on sale or I have a coupon or ( the best case) combination of both. I will stalk items for a long time and search all over the web. My favorite purchases (price wise) come from discount websites, when they have extra % off certain category, and then I have a coupon on the top of that.

The only things I buy at full price are inexpensive accessories or items from stores like H&M, that are already quite affordable and almost never go on sale.

marianne

I usually shop at mid-range stores and I was always willing to pay full price for pants, coats, and comfortable shoes. I have trouble paying a lot for tops. When I was working, I never had time to look for bargains. Even now I don't have much time or energy for it, so if I see some bargain alert on this site, I check it, but don't do much beyond that. I usually try to shop from the list and I don't buy that much - I actually have an opposite problem and very rarely find things that I love.

To your particular case - I did pay full price for a vest last fall (about $100). I wore it at least once a week while I was working. Unfortunately, I don't get to wear it as much now, but I still don't regret it, and I do wear it on every smart casual or even dress up occasion I get. I don't know about the whole going out of style aspect, I hope Angie will have something to say about it.

Lena

I don't remember the last time I paid full price for something. Right now I'm working from home, so I'm taking my time rebuilding my closet and can afford to wait for sales on some things (time wise). There are some downsides to this, however. First, my small size goes fast. Second, when I make myself wait until the end of the season I find that I lose interest in things. For example, I keep looking for a longer wool coat, but by the time big sales come around, I no longer want to shop for it and can't concentrate. And yet I know very well that NOW is the time to get a bargain and it would be silly to wait until next year and go through the whole thing again. So I don't wait for sales on well fitting pants and shoes because I know I'm going to get a lot of wear out of them.

My advice would be to research price adjustments policies for different stores. Some stores will adjust the price if you bought the item at full price and it went on sale within 7 or 14 days of purchase. I never tried to do it at Macy's, but remember reading somewhere they are not very nice about it.

There are two Lauren jackets I used to stalk at Macy's and they went on sale within a month or less. It's hard to predict what will happen with the vest, though.

Louise

Veteran

I do like a bargin but very often find the sales are like a jumble sale and can't find what i want!

I don't have a problem paying full price for things as a only buy what i love anyway and would be gutted if i waited for the sale and missed out on an item.

Don't shop in expensive places anyway love new look, store 21 and peacocks. though i do love love marks and spencer especially their trousers which fit great.