When everyone is buying, must you buy too?

ironkurtin

Surprised by the folks feeling "left out" of NAS. It's just a sale, guys. Good things await you, I promise.

But do you feel a psychic pressure or need to purchase when you see the nice things other people are buying? I wonder why that is?

12 years ago

Shopping

46 replies

Latest reply was from CocoLion

Anonymous

Oh, I think it is just all in fun. I am not actually heartbroken.

I think most people are just responding to the cameraderie and "sharing" an experience together. I don't feel obligated to buy anything just because I see other people buying.

12 years ago

Beth

Veteran

I'm sorry to say I often do, especially for NAS. It's hard not to get caught up in such a fun sale, especially when it's such a shared experience here.

But I'm saving for some style splurges during our autumn trip to Paris, so I'm trying to be good.

12 years ago

Diana

Veteran

No, I don't feel the need to buy something just to not feel left out. But I do suffer from greed and lust when I see all the pretty things. =P So I'd say for me it's not psychological pressure, it's just pure and simple temptation.

That said, I made my one NAS purchase already (something I've been obsessing over for months). Yes I'm tempted by the pretty but I'm not interested in buying lots of fall things right now. So I'm putting things in my cart for stalking purposes.

ETA: But maybe I'm not the target audience for this question. Because I have no actual barriers (like import duties) preventing me from buying something else if I want to. So it's not like I can't.

12 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I tend to focus more on a single piece if I see it and love it, more than a sale to join in on. Like if a forum member acquires an awesome jacket, I might ask the brand so I can try it too.
But the recent trench coat scenarios I had zero interest in. It's out of season, for one thing, and I barely wear the trench I have!

12 years ago

Anonymous

"The lady doth protest too much methinks" Only joking!
I'm not heart broken or jealous. Actually I've just ordered some stuff from the new season from Next in UK.

12 years ago

Glory

Veteran

What Ceit said - lots of fun sharing the experiences.

12 years ago

ElleH

Veteran

I don't feel pressured by anyone's purchases but I feel like I miss out all the time not buying, whether a sale or not, when new stuff comes out & I don't know I need an item until it is sold out everywhere. So with returns being allowed I am buying a few things to mull over.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

In the past, I did tend to feel "left out" of NAS. First season here, I could not have afforded any purchases. Last year, I could perhaps have afforded something, but not with the duties/ taxes and not without knowing pretty much for sure whether it would fit and flatter.

Since my shopping opportunities and options are extremely limited where I live, I really like Angie's recommendations. Whenever I've been able to take advantage of her advice, it's been spot on. And NAS is a time of key recommendations. Many of the items are not available to me where I live, or if they are, they cost twice as much or more. So it was always disappointing. It was more than just lust for this or that particular thing. It was disappointment at knowing that I'd have to look long and hard to find a comparable item in my own location.

Also, there's so much sharing and fun around the sale, so even if I don't want to make an actual purchase, it's fun to participate in the looking and trying on.

This is the first year I will have bought anything from the sale. And so far, I am enjoying the ride. Even if I don't keep anything I've ordered, I'm liking the chance to compare notes with others.

12 years ago

jayne

Veteran

My difficulty is that I do have things on my fall list and the NAS catelog certainly had some options to my wants/needs. It is difficult to see the sales prices and not be able to participate because of the duties here Of course, I am lucky to have family that can take the purchases for me and return them....but still I guilt over the work it makes for them. I wish I Knew the items were perfect for me!

12 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I will admit to being a bit caught up in NAS. It is my first time going through, and it is fun to see things I would normally stalk for the 33% off on sale right now with my size still available. I confess to going a bit overboard when I ordered, but it is hard to know if I will love the pieces when I actually see and touch them.

I am also very swayed by Angie's recommendations. She has an experienced and trained eye for fab, flattering pieces that I have learned very much to listen to!

12 years ago

ramya

Veteran

No I am not. I have a tight budget. I buy things that fit them and I know I will use them a lot

12 years ago

Peri

Veteran

I think it's just human nature. You see something pretty and the first response is "me too!" Spend even a minute around little kids and you will see it is inborn.

We grow up, we learn control and rationality, we learn to share...but we aren't saints, it's always there in the background. As evidenced by all the studies that show viewing people's supposedly great lives on Facebook does not make us happier, it makes us feel there is something wrong with our own lives. We are supposed to happy for them, and we are, but there is always that "me too!".

And yes, I want to buy stuff!

12 years ago

Lisa

Veteran

I don't feel pressured to buy, but when others are shopping it does plant the seed for me and get me thinking of shopping, which turns into looking, which usually turns into buying.

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I too suffer from lust. And the NAS prices are good. They could make me lose my head. Although, this is somewhat counterbalanced by the fact that I can barely navigate a big department store.

12 years ago

Mona

Veteran

Due to budget constraints, I have never participated in NAS. (I live in Canada) but I really like seeing the goodies on other forum members and last year, I was able to pick up a couple of items on deep discount around Christmas time. Both Angie picks!
For an amateur shoppper like myself, I think Angie's recommendations work wonders.
I have never felt pressured to join in but I guess, that is different from person to person. I am generally not an impulsive shopper and always think hard before buying things so yeah, I don't feel left out during NAS.

12 years ago

amiable

Veteran

Hmm.. Good question. I do admit that all the sale fun and frenzy makes me a little wistful. I LOVE a good sale, and this one seems stellar. But it's way out of my price range, even with that. On the other hand, it's so much fun to see all the neat things coming out for fall - and see them on real people. I know I won't be able to duplicate many of the looks (because they won't be in thrift stores yet).

So, even though I feel a little like sighing, it's not bad enough to curb my impulsively checking the forum to see what others are buying up. It's definitely fun!

12 years ago

Anonymous

Dana, you start the best conversations. Who cares if you're wearing cut-offs and a tank top (though both are probably in a fine fabric, and designer)!

Somehow I'm able to have fun watching other people play on the playground while I have my nose smashed up against the chain link fence. It takes me a while to get used to the new things on offer, and at first, I'm not sure if I like them or not so it's a tremendous help to see others have a go at styling them. My trouble comes when I finally do see something I like and, given my budget, feel the panic to get in on the sale price, as I otherwise couldn't justify or afford the purchase. That's the hard part for me.

I felt this kind of compulsion with the BB trench. One look at it on Rae, and I knew I loved it and wanted to try it. There was a sale, but not for long, and the sizes were running out, oh no!

It's almost like the hyped up feeling you get when you're bidding on something on Ebay, you know? You weren't sure if you really wanted the item that badly, but if other people do and are bidding it up, it makes you want to "win" the bid.

12 years ago

Mochi

Veteran

To be perfectly honest, I do feel like I'm being emotionally manipulated by this basic sales psychology. But I'm at least aware that I'm being manipulated, so I am okay with it. And I can really use stuff, with a wardrobe that's more holes than actual clothes.

For me this is also the first year of participating in the sale.

12 years ago

missvee

Veteran

I'm happy to sit on the sidelines here in Canada and enjoy the wonderful " fashion shows" taking place on the forum. I'm getting some ideas for Fall though.

12 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

I have to wait, and the combo of impatience greed,and lust does get to me. Which is silly since I could technically get a cashmere sweater for less on ebay. I think I naturally rebel when given a limit like that.

It does help that I don't have many needs and also have something else I lust after more.

12 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

When *everyone* is buying a particular item, like the Burberry trench, Catherine boyfriends, Gap mesh sweater, and Gap Academy blazer, I will at least consider it -- and probably end up returning it as not quite fitting my body or my needs. I am still seeking my body double on YLF which would help me a lot!

For budget reasons, I really need to stop shopping. . .

12 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

Nope, no psychic pressure here. Like I said on Shannon's thread, I don't even look at the site. You can't be tempted if you don't even look!

12 years ago

Laurinda

Veteran

NAS is not on my radar at the moment (unless Stuart Weitzman has some nice taupe steel-toed work boots) but I enjoy living vicariously through YLF posts.

12 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Well as the "founder" of the Not NAS'ing Support Group (lol!), I guess I should reply to this!

No, I don't feel left out. Not at all. I was merely referring to the fact that it is hard NOT to get caught up in the excitement of seeing all the beautiful items in a short amount of time and having lovely Fabbers modelling their pretty new things. If you are at a time when you are not wanting to shop or keep to your budget, it can be difficult.

12 years ago

Carla

Veteran

Like ClearlyClaire, I'm good for popping the popcorn, and watching the show. There is lots to learn from the reports the NAS shoppers share. Sometimes I feel a compulsion, but it is usually more of a fixation around a particular fab item. Right now it is a leather moto for fall.

I have experienced that crazy shopping frenzy feeling though. When I travel to a big city and suddenly have this incredible range to choose from, I get a little crazy!

12 years ago

Isabel

Veteran

I have to agree with Ceit that for me it is a bit of a fun mentality. I loved getting the catalog a couple of days ago and then recycled it. I don't feel left out at all. I don't need or want anything right now ( except a leather jacket ) but I haven't seen any yet that I love. But I do love oooooing and ahhhhhhing over things and then sharing it with people on the site.

12 years ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I get a real kick out of seeing other people buy stuff at NAS and especially when people buy the same thing and I get to see how it works on totally different people. My true greed comes out when it comes to the free shipping/free return policies US residents enjoy (not just with NAS). I would love to know what would happen to me if I could just freely order to try and return for a refund (here it is store credit at best) anything that struck my fancy. Not good for my carbon footprint but that's another matter.

12 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Yeah, I am with Shevia. My real envy comes out around exactly that issue. It's not the stuff. It's the ability to try the stuff at low to no cost. That's what I really want.

12 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Suz - I wish I had that ability to play around with my clothes Americans are so lucky.

12 years ago

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