Is it penny-wise but pound-foolish to buy things on sale?

[repressedm]

???

 

[sonz]

Depending on if it's an impulse buy

 

[constant struggle]

i buy 90% of my clothes on sale/through discount codes
if you are in no rush wait it out

 

[repressedm]

But won't you end up buying inferior things? Assuming that the people who do the pricing have superior information in the valuation of clothes, don't they know something that you don't about why the clothes should be cheap?

 

[rach2jlc]

^Do what? I don't get what you're saying about "superior" information and cheapness. It seems to me that you may end up not getting the most popular thing from a given season, but it hardly means inferiority. And, as for sales/cheapness, the sale price usually relates to what's left at the end of a season before the new season items come in. But, again, I may be misreading your question.

I think, if you have the cash, then buy exactly what you want when you want it, not on sale. That's really the best way to ensure you have a wardrobe of only stuff you like.

If you are on limited budget but like nice things, then there isn't much alternative but to wait for sales or use discounters/discounts. The problem comes when you buy something ONLY because it is on sale... as we've argued before around here, sometimes we end up with things we don't really want just because they are good values.

So, the problem has nothing to do with sales, as such, but with the buyer's mindset... if he sets out looking for a specific item or type of item, then sales can be fine. But, if he just goes in with no expectations and an open checkbook and a knowledge of "good brands and retail pricing," he might come out with something he really doesn't want.

 

[constant struggle]

i pick my items when the season starts and i pick them at full price
then i wait for a discount/sale and then i kop

 

[Serg]

most of my favorite items are bough at full price or on the buying selling form.

 

[erdawe]

Try mixing specific things that are very unique and you know will likely not last until salestime with those where a handful of things could substsitute between eachother and be happy with equally. Then go and wait for those items that aren't very specific to go on sale.

It's sucks really wanting something and realizing it's sold out come sale time. It's like a double whammy; not only did you not get the item, you will have to live with kicking yourself for passing it up. If you do this all the time though on a limited budget you'll go broke.... hence, only doing this on a few key items season/year/ every 5 years, ect.

 

[Get Smart]

I only buy stuff on sale that I would've bought at full price

I've found in the past that sale items bought "just because they were a good price for what it is" never got worn much. I'd rather have 1 or 2 items each season at full price that I REALLY want than 5+ on sale where I sort of settle for it

And if lucky I'll find what I wanted at full price but couldnt drop the coin on it back then, on sale

 

[PG2G]

The only way I'm ever waiting to buy an item on sale is if i don't REALLY want it. If I love an item and can afford it, that **** was likely picked up at retail.

As someone that wears fairly common sizes all around, it is very rare for me to find an item I was actually looking for on sale. It happened a couple times last season, probably had more to do with the crappy economy than anything else thought.

 

[Blog Marley]

thats why I love Polo, more likely than not whatever you want can be found on sale at the end of the season, hooray over-saturated over priced apparel!

 

[evilgeniusdan]

I'll echo the general sentiment - try only to buy things on sale that you know you really want and wouldn't really have a problem paying full price.

With this mindset however, sometimes I end up kicking myself for passing something up on sale saying "I won't really need it," only later realizing I should have been more impulsive and made the buy.

 

[garmentmerchant]

Being in the menswear industry. I attend most of the major trade shows and collectives i think many people pay way to much for there goods. Just because Barneys marks an item at $500 doesn't mean it really cost that much. I say shop around there are smaller retailers that you can get superior quality products for decent prices. Dont just hop on the band wagon and say it so expensive it must be good. Ive walked into barney's and saks alike and seen items that i know they paid less than $10 wholesale for marked up ten fold just because they know that people will pay it. Its a free market, Luxury goods are luxury goods but expensive doesn't always mean the best or better. Mind you I am partially biased because I deal in cheaper goods(its what my particular customer base wants and being in a blue collar town it is what can be afforded). I just hate to see people snubbing cheap goods because they think the quality is going to be crap. Sure you buy a polyester suit and that's what you get, but i am sure most will agree you don't have to wear a Brioni suit to look like a million bucks. I get the impression from posts throughout SF that some people wouldn't be caught dead in an item if it costs less than a certain dollar amount but that certainly doesn't make them any better then us common folk

 

[repressedm]

Originally Posted by rach2jlc

^Do what? I don't get what you're saying about "superior" information and cheapness. It seems to me that you may end up not getting the most popular thing from a given season, but it hardly means inferiority. And, as for sales/cheapness, the sale price usually relates to what's left at the end of a season before the new season items come in. But, again, I may be misreading your question.

I think, if you have the cash, then buy exactly what you want when you want it, not on sale. That's really the best way to ensure you have a wardrobe of only stuff you like.

If you are on limited budget but like nice things, then there isn't much alternative but to wait for sales or use discounters/discounts. The problem comes when you buy something ONLY because it is on sale... as we've argued before around here, sometimes we end up with things we don't really want just because they are good values.

So, the problem has nothing to do with sales, as such, but with the buyer's mindset... if he sets out looking for a specific item or type of item, then sales can be fine. But, if he just goes in with no expectations and an open checkbook and a knowledge of "good brands and retail pricing," he might come out with something he really doesn't want.

Thank you. You are truly a top poster.

 

[repressedm]

Originally Posted by constant struggle

i pick my items when the season starts and i pick them at full price
then i wait for a discount/sale and then i kop

Smart. What does kop mean, though? Is it an acronym?