Sales - YouLookFab Forum

It concerns me when I see newly-introduced items on sale almost immediately after hitting the store. It implies to me that the original price was highly inflated so it could be sold on sale at the price the retailer really wanted. When I fall for this ploy I feel duped and I don't want to deal with that retailer any more.

Example. The original price of this cardigan was $98. I got it at 40 % off and was thrilled with my price. I was thinking I got a bargain. But this cardigan has been on sale since it hit Banana Republic. I am now thinking I paid "full price" after all. I am also starting to wonder if the quality is that of a $98 sweater or that of something much, much cheaper.

I remember when I bought tee shirts from Banana Republic and they all split at the shoulder seams. Poor, poor quality. I have refrained from buying any more tee shirts from them, but I hoped the cardigan would be a better buy.

Banana Republic

Marled Long Cardigan

$98.00 $69.98

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

9 years ago

Joyce B

Veteran

I have to agree with you. So much for the great sales that we find, right? That's why I never pay the stated full price for an item, that would be double jeopardy!
I think you will get a lot of use out of your cardigan, it looks like a piece that would easily match different ensembles.

crutcher

I always bookmark what I buy and check back to be sure it wasn't further reduced...I am not above calling CS to ask for a price adjustment..

merwoman

Agree with you Sterling. Retailers have trained me well to wait for the 40% discount..at a minimum. And here's my dirty secret - since often a retailer will not make a price adjustment, I will reorder and return the 'new' merchandise for a refund at the higher price.

lyn67

You lucky girls in the USA, it happened to me, but we cannot do that in Hungary -so no later price adjustments, and only few days for returns:-((.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

No need to be concerned about sale prices on brand new items. Retailers practice price discrimination - airlines too - which is good economics. They try to capture many segments of the market with the same item at different price points. And price has little to do with quality these days.

I have been very impressed with BR this year. Style sensibility and quality is greatly improved. Enjoy your fab new cardi.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

Yeah, the end of season clearance seems to be going the way of the dodo. Increasingly, I'm using the approach everywhere that I used to only use with eBay auctions - decide what the item is worth to me, buy or not buy (aka bid) based on that, and either get it or not. Once I buy something, I try to stop checking prices; it's just a recipe for anxiety.

Marilyn

I honestly don't think about it. It's a game but I play along to stretch my dollar as far as I can. I know that BR frequently has 40% off sales so I put items on my wish list and then wait for the sale. If it's a "BR Pick" I wait it out.
Like Merwoman, I occasionally will reorder an item if the sale price becomes even better and will return it with the older receipt.

My daughter works for the CEO of a company and he has actually been coaching her on how to acquire high ends clothes, evening gowns, etc. for a fraction of original cost.

kkards

honestly, the only thing that drives me crazy is when the on line price and the in store price are not the same! BR and Gap do this all the time. i understand the assorments on line being bigger than in store, i get that there will be more sizes available on line....but the same item should be the same price.

Personally, I think it's best to relax into it. If the item works in your budget and you need it - go for it. If it can wait until a discounted price - that's your other option.

I've found that the strategy very much depends on the item, your size and the retailer. The smallest sizes sell out first - the fashion buyers deliberately buy the size curve that way. So you have to weigh up the chances of the item selling out in your size by the time the discounted price comes around.

Gaylene

I agree with Angie and Laura--decide if you are willing to pay the price for that item, buy it (or not!), and then wear it happily (or move on). Personally, I think it's time to get off the price merry-go-round. My happiness with an item should be tied to the item itself, not to the price I paid for it.

High five Laura and Gaylene. Wear the item with joy and move on. In the end - what you lose on the swings you'll gain on the roundabouts.

I should rephrase my earlier statement: end of season clearance bargains still exist; it's just that there isn't a tidy progression of full-price, occasional event sales, then end of season markdowns, all in a tidy row like there used to be. The retail market is different, with the existence of the Internet, the ability of most consumers to price check online or with their phones, and just in time fast fashion that can go from idea to production to available on shelves in weeks. Not to mention what Angie said about price not correlating with quality, and low and high end brands being made in literally the same factories.

cobalt

Active Member

Good advice to figure out what you're willing to pay for a certain item and call it good, but tricky when sizing is inconsistent and retailers impose final sale restrictions on discounted items (looking at you, J. Crew). Not many B&M options in my area, so if there's something I think might be a good addition to my closet, I often order online at full price, return, and -- if the fit, color, etc, are good for me -- reorder when the item drops to a fair (IMO) price.

OK, I just had to add something funny that happened a few days ago. My husband and I were staying with close friends, and, when I saw the sweater my friend was wearing, I though she had raided my suitcase. Two IDENTICAL striped cotton sweaters (we checked--yup, exactly the same, right down to the insignia on the buttons!), except that hers was $14.99 from Costco (Dalia brand) and mine, purchased last spring, was $85 from Banana Republic.

She loves a bargain, so her sweater immediately rose in her estimation--while I reconciled myself with the thought that I had already had a full season of wear out of my sweater (it was a favourite last spring and summer) and was no longer as enamoured of the shape and style. Seems to me, we both ended up as winners.

Thistle

I hear ya on the "immediately on sale" issue. I have been seeing a lot of it lately. I honestly think BR, GAP, AT and the like's actual price is 40% off the sticker price. Sort of like with cars. No one actually pays full price for a car. It's sticker price less some amount.

So, at 40% off, at BR, that is really like paying full price.

While Angie says the smaller sizes sell out first, that is not the case in my area. The sales racks of brimming over with the very small sizes, whereas if you want the higher sizes, you better not even think about waiting for a sale. But that could be my area. Average size here may be on the higher end of the national average with my state known for beer, cheese, and sausage. *sigh*

Staysfit

Shopping online, my size in both shoes and clothes is almost uniformly the first one to sell out. If I like something, it's just like Angie said, I am inclined to make the purchase based on my heart not my wallet, and then I worry about the numbers. Yes I have a budget, but I don't wait for something to go on sale because if I do my size will be sold out.

I also don't spend too much time going back to see if something I purchased previously went on sale. I think this is more a product of my life being busy and my sense that the amount of savings isn't worth the amount of time/energy/effort it takes to obtain it.

Anonymous

So I read all of your responses and I thought about it some more. I love the cardigan I bought from Banana Republic. It is soft and I know I will wear it a lot. So no regrets.

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