Final sale vs. regular sale (confusion) - YouLookFab Forum

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Final sale vs. regular sale (confusion)

Greenjeans

Veteran

Have you ever purchased an item online you believed was on regular sale and received a packing slip indicating "Final Sale?" Chiming in because this happened to me two times in the last few months when it never happened before.

I bought a pair of pants on sale from COS earlier this summer and felt taken aback when the packing slip arrived with Final Sale printed on it. Because no return necessary, I shrugged it off as my error and vowed to take more care with the fine print next time.

Later, I purchased four dresses on sale from Ann Taylor, two different styles in two different sizes. (Fab, by the way.) Absolutely, I checked the fine print before clicking because I knew I'd return at least two for fit. Nothing in the shopping cart, on my invoice, or in the fine print on the website indicated Final Sale.

Lo. Packing slip arrived with Final Sale printed on it. Long story short, because no bricks and mortar near me, I needed to process the return online. Website would not allow. Fortunately, I was able to get through to customer service by phone. An agent processed my return without fuss. While he said the system was showing Final Sale, he was unable to show me an invoice or anything else that I'd have seen at the time of purchase indicating Final Sale.

Hmm . . . thoughts?

Shopping

27 replies

Latest reply was from anchie

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It IS confusing! I wish I could offer more clarity on the situation.

FINAL sale has bitten me in the bottom this year. I had NO idea the item was final sale! I'd have returned it if I had known. It was from TRR. I have made it work though.

On the otherhand, I bought three items FINAL sale, but knew they were and was very confident about the items. They work beautifully, and I scored major discounts.

Greenjeans

Veteran

Wow, thanks for validating my story, Angie. So glad to know you got some great deals.

I'm wanting to give the retailers some benefit of the doubt here. I'd be lying, though, if I told you this hasn't given me pause.

Because COS has earned trust with me I'm willing to try them again, even on sale.

Ann Taylor, though! I've had less experience ordering from them. The dresses I ended up keeping are totally great. I'd love to try them again. However, having scoured my purchase record for anything indicating final sale and finding nothing, I'm feeling gaslit by the process. (I know the website is currently showing Final Sale. It didn't when I made my purchase.)

My fingers are crossed these were honest errors.

Linen Blend Midi Shirtdress

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Tie Waist Linen Blend Shirtdress

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Greenjeans, it does leave a bad taste in your mouth doesn't it. I get it! Let's boil it down to honest error for now - as you mentioned - since the world has been in a very heavy place the last few years - and still is.

GLAD the items at least worked! Gorgeous dresses!

My TRR skirt was a size big, which is why I wanted to return it. And couldn't. But I had it altered to fit so that part is okay!

The 2x Furlas and the Elie Tahari top were final sale, which I was aware of, and a slam dunk because I knew the items. So I took the risk on the deep discount. There is the happy ending

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kkards

Veteran

I just bought something from Athleta and it was very clearly marked ‘final sale’ both on line, in my cart and the email confirmation
like Angie, I had an issue with the realrea, but when I went back and looked, it was definitely on me. I missed that the return status had changed been the time I saved it to my wish list and when I bought it
If your email confirmation doesn’t say final sale, I would start a conversation with the brand and include the email confirmation. I will also add that I bought something final sale from jcrew and what I received was not the size that I bought, and they took it back.

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slim cat

Veteran

My experience with Final sale relates to Macy's "Last Act". It used to be returnable with 30 days ( shorter time than their regular returns ) and this summer it became Final sale/Sold as it is. It took time to register with a lot of unhappy customers that raged on-line in comments.
Sorry to hear about the total confusion with labeling of Final sale. I'm glad you were able to work it out!

unfrumped

Veteran

This has not happened to me, but I have had to make myself look VERY carefully, including when reviewing for checkout. If I see Final Sale I usually don’t order, because I don’t ever re-sell items to recoup some costs, unless I would find an item I’ve already tried on. Usually something that could be fabulous IF it fit, etc things aren’t cheap enough
I would be very disturbed if the Final Sale wording were not in any normal spot. Or if somehow it were “ in progress “ and being updated just as I was buying it. It’s also a disturbing feature of the online process that there isn’t a digital history one can see as to when prices or status were changed.
I also have to be careful about ordering something on my phone because is inherently harder to see/ read the fine print or get a full screenshot.

Helena

Veteran

This is very aggravating ... I understand maybe businesses are trying to reduce excessive returns (e.g. people buying 15 items and then returning 14) - but it shouldn't be done at the expense of transparency and proper communication! If it's final sale this should be very clearly indicated!

ophelia

Veteran

This happened to me w/ Loft-& it was *years* ago. Looks like a “glitch in the system” that they haven’t been inspired to fix.

Greenjeans

Veteran

Wow, wow, wow, years ago, ophelia? This is good information to have. Thank you.

Hey, that's a great insight about an update being "in progress", unfrumped. Sounds plausible if I'm giving the benefit of the doubt.

Thanks for the screenshots, kkards! That's exactly the type of info I'd expect to see if something's on final sale. (Cute suit, btw.)

slim cat. I've loved Macy's for their prices and quick turnaround. Definitely keeping an eye peeled going forward. Thanks for the heads up!

This was aggravating, indeed, though feeling fortunate I was able to sort it out without hassle. I wonder if this is kinda how AT rolls? Thanks again for the validation, Angie, and Helena

JAileen

Veteran

I usually do a screenshot of my purchase if I have any question about anything. It reminds me, but I’ve also read off info to CS if I ended up being “surprised.”

Greenjeans

Veteran

Smart idea, jAileen! Online ordering is funny. Sometimes I feel fine about it. Other times I wonder . . .

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

That's definitely an experience that would give me pause. I don't know that I'd order from them again. I am reluctant to order anything that is final sale, even if I think I know what I'm getting. Although sometimes I do it, if the price is low enough that I can feel okay donating it if it doesn't meet my expectations.

Greenjeans

Veteran

Hard same, Sharan! I don't recall ever ordering final sale before (at least not on purpose).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

In these days when we are needing to rely on online ordering more and more, this is infuriating. I’m glad you were able to get it resolved. I’d only buy a final sale item if it was a dupe of something I already owned, or I had already tried on the item in the size I was ordering to be sure of fit. I’m really careful about this, and your post is a good reminder to be super vigilant.

Sal

Veteran

I agree it should be transparent - to me Final Sale is often very discounted - but comes with a risk.

Return policies here are not as good in the US - often 1-2 weeks to return and sometimes only for credit. I am more likely to purchase Final Sale in store rather than online.

Bijou

Veteran

I have bought Final Sale but know it is a gamble.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

It is annoying but at least customer service was accommodating. A lot of what I order online ends up as final sale for me because it waits for me to see my sister to receive it. I think about its resale value before I buy, but I usually do that anyway.

rachylou

Veteran

This did strike me as a computer problem, automated updating between the time you start looking and the time you click thru. I mean, this is how I got my first covid shot appointment when the system was a mess and spots were in short supply: I got up at 4 am in the morning and started clicking and clicking repeatedly until I hit a system refresh…

Suz

(website)

Veteran

How upsetting. I'm really glad you were able to resolve it but I understand the frustration, confusion, and concern. I have rarely ordered anything "final sale" (knowingly, at least) and usually only do so if I am sure it will work, or, as others have said, if the price is so low that I will feel okay with donation should it not work out. I did get a sweater last fall that way that turned into a genuine workhorse. But I was fairly confident it would work for me in advance.

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Anonymous

I'd be mad! I'm ok with final sale if it's in store, and I know about it in advance, but not online and with no warning. That's shady :/

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I am of the impression that laws where I live now, maybe German, maybe EU, require stores to permit things purchased on-line to be returned, even if they are on clearance. I’m not sure about that that, hope someone who knows better than I will chime in.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

You know, in New Zealand most sale items are final sale. It is rare to be offered the opportunity to return a sale item. At least that’s what I think- other Kiwi Fabbers please chime in if I am wrong. It might be different for some online items. Last year in a Covid lockdown I collected a sale soft jacket from a store door because we were not allowed in to try on. When I had phoned the store about the jacket which I had seen online they said we don’t normally allow returns of sale items but given you cannot try this on in store we would allow it for you this time- which was good as I did end up finding it not as good as what I was trying to replace. I kept the old one.
I was really thrilled recently to buy a sale top which I was able to return unworn with tags- however within 10 days I see, just looking at the receipt! And it is already 11 days. I have not worn it yet because it is not warm enough yet. However I love it so all is well. But it makes me very jealous of you Statesiders with Nordstrom’s return policies!
I agree that it is a problem if you cannot return an online item. How can you know if it fits or looks good until you see it? Unless you have had the exact same before?

Sal

Veteran

I think the returns area is so interesting - because I do agree that with online shopping returns are needed...colours, fits, fabrications etc can be very different in the reality.

Free returns are a myth though - that is built into the price.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

This has happened to me this summer too! I thought “have I lost my mind? Why would I order two different sizes to try, with the intention of returning whatever doesn’t fit, if they were both final sale?” But I went and checked my order confirmation and it said nothing about final sale or nonreturnable.

I contacted customer service and they said I could return one item. But they were not apologetic. I felt like it was a sneaky trick and I will not be ordering from Universal Standard again.

VintageDawn

It's validating to read everyone's stories b/c this may have happened to me at Talbots last year with a denim jacket. I say " may" b/c honestly when I went back to the website after my order arrive the item was listed final sale, but I'm usually quite aware when something is final sale (and rarely purchase w/out being able to try it on). So I'm not sure if I missed it or it snuck in. I didn't pursue it, although now I'm wishing I had called customer service. Taking a screen shot is a great idea!

Greenjeans

Veteran

Hey, wow! Thanks for the commiseration, everyone. Super validating and good to know I'm not alone. FWIW, It's much hunch that this is a newish tactic. I'm still willing to give the benefit of the doubt but not for much longer.

Going forward, I'm going to want to support retailers I trust who are quick and professional with processing returns.

Speaking of . . . Ann Taylor finally finished processing my return last Thursday.

anchie

Veteran

Interesting. Here in Austria, Final Sales are possible only in bm stores. By law, anything bought online can be returned within 14 days, no questions asked. That is one of the reasons why I prefer online shopping. If you buy from the bm store here, returns are tricky even when it is not a final sale. Often you can only exchange or get store credit. And same store online - you can return without issues.