I Wish... - YouLookFab Forum

That stores would give the "sales" a break. They aren't fooling anyone by marking the price up just to mark it back down with one day sales, special coupons, value hours, or whatever gimmick they can concoct to make it sound like you are getting a deal.

This sales strategy is designed to increase profits, but it deters me from shopping with a retailer who employs it. I don't like the game of having wait to purchase an item if I find it on a non-sale day. Guessing what the best price will be among the ever-changing promotions, which combination of coupons and codes yields the greatest savings, and wondering if the price will be lower two days after my purchase is exhausting. Shopping is hard enough - why do retailers want to make it far more frustrating than necessary?

I prefer shopping with retailers that have consistent pricing and markdowns that occur permanently and in a predictable timeframe. I have a much better idea of the true price of an item and more secure with my purchase.

What are your thoughts? Do you enjoy the vatiety of seasonal sales or do you prefer clearance markdowns?

14 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I'm with you on original pricing that is too high just because they know they are going to put it on sale. I think Kohl's is very guilty of this, and also one of the thrift stores in my area. I do enjoy a good sale, but not those limited time special purchase ones. I always hated that about Toys R Us- their prices are super high, and then to get the sale price you have to practically stand on one leg and hop around the store backwards three times. Just charge decent prices in the first place! I love the clearance rack- especially when I have an extra coupon.

Kat

Seconded! So many items I fall in love with, found just after the "40% off this weekend only" which I know will happen again in a week or two. Do I wait? Will the next gimmick be in two days? Makes me feel like I have to take a chance and guess when or if I should purchase the item--I am too busy to get this frustrated and to feel like I've been taken advantage of. It isn't really a sale or a special price if it happens every other day...then it just feels like the regular price is a penalty price for not having the time or energy to spend hours daily tracking my finds. I agree, DressLover, it feels like a game and one I don't really want to play.

Make your regular prices regular and fair. Have a seasonal sale (end of season, beginning of season, and final clearance maybe?) Don't get me wrong. I love finding a great item on sale. But is it really a sale price if they can offer it 300 undpredictable days out of 365? What about the other days?

Sylvia

(website)

Active Member

Totally agree. Once you get to know a few shops you like, you start getting to know their pattern. There's a few shops I follow and they have consistent sales policies, first 30% then 50%. I noticed that this year there was only about 2 weeks difference between the 2 so for the next sale I'm going to try and risk what I want to by and wait until everything's 50%

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Great thoughts, Dresslover. Apart from the American NAS, I do prefer European sale strategies - twice a year and that's it. It prevents most people from succumbing to bargains and filling up their closets with mediocre stuff. It also prevents what I call the "return rut".

I am one of the few people I know who is not at all swayed by sale merchandise. I derive no extra enjoyment from an item knowing that I got it for less. That doesn't mean that I have a HUGE budget - I have a budget just like all of you! I do like the Rack though - only because I am there all the time with clients and it's the type of place that works when you frequent it often.

catgirl

I find it really irritating. especially Ann Taylor and ATL, who mark stuff down constantly but will not ship to Alaska for a reasonable amount. I don't even look anymore.

I so agree. I'm tired of wondering if I should have looked for a coupon online or waited a day before I go to buy something. I wish I could be more like Angie and not get that thrill that comes from paying just a little less for everything.

StacyJo

Totally agree with this...it's maddening! Lately I have been asking if an item is going on sale and 90% of the time, I will be told if yes or no. If yes, then I ask if I can come in/call in for a price adjustment...Nordie's is very good about this.

In relation to the unpredicability of sales, I find oftentimes that the etiquette of other shoppers at a sale is quite poor. Grabbing, shouting, leaving the dressing room a mess...argh!

goldenpig

Agree! Gap does this all the time. I actually bought a bunch of stuff at the recent Gap 50% off one-day sale (so I guess that strategy worked on me), but now I want to get a pair of Real Skinny pants and I don't want to pay full price because then I'll feel like a sucker. I don't have much time to shop so I wish pricing was more consistent. It makes me less likely to want to shop at a place if they have these huge sales all the time because I feel like I'm overpaying if there's no sale.

Sylvie

Tell me about it.

I found a top and cardigan I liked at ATL over Labor day weekend, one of which was on 30% sale. I bought them when there was a 40% sale two weeks ago. Both pieces were put on sale for 50% from 6pm last night till 8am this morning!

I rebought them and will return the earlier purchases since I haven't even worn them yet!

It's entirely possible to game the system and it's going to cost them more to deal with people who follow this strategy:

Buy the item when you see what you like. Don't take the tags off till the return period expires. If it goes on sale during that return period and your size is still in stock, rebuy it and return the older once. Rinse and repeat.

Most of us don't have the time to play this game, which is of course what they're counting on. I would honestly prefer they just charge a fair (if higher) price that's going to give them the same amount of revenue but takes the guesswork/stalking out of it for us.

Scarlet

I am not much of a sale shopper (currently live in Europe though, where the whole concept is much more limited). I love a good price but I don't like to be influenced by the thought of a "deal" over what the garment actually is to me. I also think that time is money, and I don't have a lot of time. I like to shop efficiently and don't like to stalk. Also my size is often gone quickly, and I have been burned by that often enough that I don't feel bad not waiting. Sometimes I see at the end of the season only my size is gone and I think why do people not see the glory of this piece? I asked a shop owner once and he said you'd be surprised--often there are several customers who all want something in the same size. It's like we are competitors

Makrame

I once went to Loft and purchased something there, only to return a day later and find an "in-store special", all items 40% off. I asked SA if I could get a price adjustment - she said no, not for an in-store special. Since I knew I was going to be in the same shopping center in a a few days, I bought the same item at 40% off, then returned the original purchase a few days later. Don't see how this can be good for the store or the customers... With Kohl's, I have learned long ago to ignore their "full price" - they seem to be running a perpetual sale. It is annoying, though.

Kappy

Yes, it is annoying. And I am not fooled (as mentioned ... anyone who pays full price for anything at Kohl's is a sucker!). Angie is completely right about it encouraging you to settle for mediocre stuff because it's a great deal. I'm even *trying* to buy the right things but always find myself thinking "well, it's only $XX.XX so I should just get it" even when it isn't the *perfect* thing. I am entirely too focused on the sale price.

I also place a "higher" value on an item that was originally $100 but is now only $60 than I do on an item that is $60 full price. I would be thrilled to buy the first, even if it wasn't perfect, but feel like a "sucker" to buy the second item, even if it was perfect. When I'm shopping online I always sort by price, low to high and begin looking at the low end. I am trying to be very conscious of this crazy habit but it's hard to break.

lyn67

Agree! So weird-and time waster! But we all know this is a wellthought marketing strategy, done for that only one purpose: bugging you to go on shopping each day, if possible!!

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