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Harry Rosen pricing/business model

alt.don

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Well I have dumped about $4.5K at the Harry Rosen store in Ottawa over the past several months and pretty all of it with one associate who I now deal with. My complaint is that when I asked for a taxes off discount of %13 on a $775 Armani coat I was given a flat no. One would think you would ask your store manager first in order to not possibly lose a sale. No such luck sadly. This is bearing in mind the steep discounts they are offering on their outgoing winter line. Makes no sense to me and seems a bad business model. Wish I were more comfortable buying clothing online but I am not. Holt Renfrew in Ottawa is pretty subpar as well so there is really no competition.
 

Marcellionheart

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Harry Rosen is great for trying things on which you can then purchase online.
 

Cant kill da Rooster

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They have a strict policy, no discounts. If he asked the manager, it would only be to make you feel better about asking. I do find that Harry's has good sales from time to time though.
 

alt.don

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Good to know that they have a no discounts policy. Thanks for the tip. The sales they have are excellent as long as you are fine with shopping at the end of the season. All that said, I quite like the store layout and how their collections are laid out. I find shopping for clothes is also about the experience of it and not only actually buying them. Anyhow, I picked up two nice new Allen Edmonds belts today. Quite like them.
 

Master-Classter

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it's not their business model. They focus on selection/availability (also consider the LACK of competition), and excellent quality service. Price is just what it costs to provide all that and they assume they're not catering to price conscious consumers.

If you want to get your discount, consider buying it, holding it for 29 days to wait for a price drop hopefully and then returning and rebuying it if it's dropped or not rebuying if it hasn't. Otherwise just go online.

Or, you're in Ottawa... can you get to Montreal or Toronto sometime for better selection/prices?
 

alt.don

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I have been considering going down to Montreal in search of better prices as I am quite happy with the selection at HR in Ottawa. Also I am happy with the sales associate that I deal with. Going to go to TO next fall to get my wife a bespoke coat made at Garrison. That should be fun.
 

Lord-Barrington

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Harry Rosen follows what I like to call the "Canadian Business Model" which is basically:

1. Bad prices
2. Bad service

It's pretty much the Air Canada of higher end menswear. It has a (relative) monopoly, poor service, and uncompetitive prices.

I love Canada, but most "Canadian" business, including Harry's, are terrible.
 

teenbrunellolover

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Props on the Air Canada joke. I think Harry's is a nice alternative to HR, but in the end why should they even offer discounts except on sales? If you can't really afford to buy those names at full price can you really afford them with a discount too?
 

Lord-Barrington

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Originally Posted by teenbrunellolover
Props on the Air Canada joke. I think Harry's is a nice alternative to HR, but in the end why should they even offer discounts except on sales? If you can't really afford to buy those names at full price can you really afford them with a discount too?

Harry Rosen's demographic isn't shoppers who are so rich that price isn't an option. It's people like me -- professionals who want quality at a fair price. 400$ for a pair of Allen Edmonds is not a fair price, nor is 140$ for a Duchamp tie. These are things that you can find for a fraction of the price online which is where many Canadians like myself are beginning to turn for a fairer and more realistic price.
 

SuitMyself

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Originally Posted by Cant kill da Rooster

They have a strict policy, no discounts. If he asked the manager, it would only be to make you feel better about asking. I do find that Harry's has good sales from time to time though.


Exactly!


Originally Posted by alt.don

Well I have dumped about $4.5K at the Harry Rosen store in Ottawa over the past several months and pretty all of it with one associate who I now deal with. My complaint is that when I asked for a taxes off discount of %13 on a $775 Armani coat I was given a flat no. One would think you would ask your store manager first in order to not possibly lose a sale. No such luck sadly. This is bearing in mind the steep discounts they are offering on their outgoing winter line. Makes no sense to me and seems a bad business model. Wish I were more comfortable buying clothing online but I am not. Holt Renfrew in Ottawa is pretty subpar as well so there is really no competition.


Would saving 13% on a $775 jacket make any long-term difference to you in comparison to the $45,000 you've already spent?


Originally Posted by Master-Classter

it's not their business model. They focus on selection/availability (also consider the LACK of competition), and excellent quality service. Price is just what it costs to provide all that and they assume they're not catering to price conscious consumers.

If you want to get your discount, consider buying it, holding it for 29 days to wait for a price drop hopefully and then returning and rebuying it if it's dropped or not rebuying if it hasn't. Otherwise just go online.

Or, you're in Ottawa... can you get to Montreal or Toronto sometime for better selection/prices?


That's just shameful, man.
 

Rugger

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Originally Posted by alt.don
Well I have dumped about $4.5K at the Harry Rosen store in Ottawa over the past several months and pretty all of it with one associate who I now deal with. My complaint is that when I asked for a taxes off discount of %13 on a $775 Armani coat I was given a flat no. One would think you would ask your store manager first in order to not possibly lose a sale. No such luck sadly. This is bearing in mind the steep discounts they are offering on their outgoing winter line. Makes no sense to me and seems a bad business model. Wish I were more comfortable buying clothing online but I am not. Holt Renfrew in Ottawa is pretty subpar as well so there is really no competition.

Are you still shopping there? If yes the model seems to be working just fine.
 

ktrp

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HR's main demographic doesn't shop online yet.

I've generally gotten helpful service there, the odd SA didn't know what they were doing, but the majority have always treated me well, whether or not I was well dressed, been helpful, etc. They are on commission and it shows, even if I just wanted to buy a pair of socks, they always wanted to be as helpful as possible and give me their card for the next time I needed something.

The prices are brutal compares to online from other countries.

I don't know that I'll buy anything their full price again.
 

Master-Classter

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Originally Posted by SuitMyself
That's just shameful, man.

Yep, I agree. The only reason I have done this is because often my size is simply sold out way before it ever goes to discount. Plus, as a clever shopper it's sort of within my bounds to use the 'rules' for what they're worth. if the store keeps dropping prices and I have a lower limit where i want to buy it but can't wait because it'll be gone, then yeah... I know it's a grey area for sure.
 

TRINI

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My friend at work has had good experiences with Harry's and has been a customer for a couple of years.

Last summer, he ordered a MTM suit during a trunk sale and when it ended up taking (much longer) than expected, his rep gave him 3 free Hilditch & Key MTM shirts. When the suit eventually did come in, it had the wrong lining so it had to be sent back.

Apparently, it got lost at the factory so they made him another suit in a different fabric. When the new suit came in, they found the old one and gave it to him free of charge.
 

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