Ralph Lauren retail prices in Europe

[CashmereLover]

I would like to know if anyone knows the reason of the extreme markup in R.L. retail stores here in Europe. The customs can't explain it all, can they?

Today I went into my local R.L. store in Sweden. I knew the classic $425 (or is it $397.50 these days)) Polo cashmere cable sweater would be expensive here, but it was even worse than I thought. The full retail price of this sweater is $815 here with today's currency.

Another example would be a pair of fine Polo flannel pants I saw, retailing for $465. Don't know the price of those pants in US.

After this shock I simply left the store, gently reminded why I have only purchased one single thing there since I discovered eBay in August 2009.

European fellows, please share info about prices in your countries. I'm curious.

 

[Nicola]

Originally Posted by CashmereLover

with today's currency.

You can't expect live currency adjustments. It would make things even crazier then they are. I doubt many shops adjust prices more then every season (F/W S/S)

The other thing different markets have different ideas of the placement of brands.

 

[CashmereLover]

Originally Posted by Nicola

You can't expect live currency adjustments. It would make things even crazier then they are. I doubt many shops adjust prices more then every season (F/W S/S)

Sure, the dollar is cheap now for us, but even at a "normal" level (whatever that is) the prices would be close to insane compared to the US prices.

Originally Posted by Nicola

The other thing different markets have different ideas of the placement of brands.

I've heard so, seems like Polo has a bit different status here.

 

[onix]

It's also because of the market. US customers have too many choices, hence the price stays low to be competitive. See this piece: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyl...320_277602.htm

 

[HHD]

Ralph Lauren UK now has an online store, so you can do a direct comparison GBP to SEK yourself.

Prices in the Paris shops are high but not outrageously so. There are flannel trousers for around €200, rising to Purple Label flannels are €420.

Purple Label prices are shocking, you could get a decent bespoke suit for the same price, though a cashmere tweed three-piece I saw a few weeks ago was one of the loveliest RTW suits I've ever seen.

 

[Germanicus]

In Germany the prices are about $=€. A cashmere cable knit sweater costs 400€, I bought one off e-bay that cost about 100€ including shpping and custom fees. Doesn't seem as bad as in Sweden though. The boutiges in Germany suck in my opinion so I don't know the prices for RLPL or RLBL.

 

[CashmereLover]

Interesting, then it seems it's significantly more expensive here in Sweden. They don't even carry Purple Label here so I can't compare prices for that line.

What's interesting about market positioning, in my opinion, is that it would make a lot more sense a decade or even longer ago, when there was less information on the Internet. Today it's different. I suppose globalization, Internet, and maybe eBay in particular affects the local image of a brand - at least for me, because now I know that e.g. a Polo cashmere cable sweater is very nice but it's certainly not $815-ish nice.

 

[MalfordOfLondon]

US RL Darlton: £500
UK RL Darlton: £595

 

[mr monty]

Originally Posted by CashmereLover

I would like to know if anyone knows the reason of the extreme markup in R.L. retail stores here in Europe. The customs can't explain it all, can they?

Today I went into my local R.L. store in Sweden. I knew the classic $425 (or is it $397.50 these days)) Polo cashmere cable sweater would be expensive here, but it was even worse than I thought. The full retail price of this sweater is $815 here with today's currency.

Another example would be a pair of fine Polo flannel pants I saw, retailing for $465. Don't know the price of those pants in US.

After this shock I simply left the store, gently reminded why I have only purchased one single thing there since I discovered eBay in August 2009.

European fellows, please share info about prices in your countries. I'm curious.

I'm more than willing to trade RL goods for shoes from England (e.g. EG, JL,etc.).

 

[makewayhomer]

Originally Posted by mr monty

I'm more than willing to trade RL goods for shoes from England (e.g. EG, JL,etc.).

you can order shoes from pediwear, I don't think Brits commonly get prices much cheaper than that

 

[onix]

Originally Posted by makewayhomer

you can order shoes from pediwear, I don't think Brits commonly get prices much cheaper than that

Wait, since when one can order EG/JL through pediwear?

 

[cioni2k]

I just brought over a bunch of RL Polo childrens' clothes for a colleague of mine over in Italy. Shhh. But yes I agree

 

[makewayhomer]

Originally Posted by onix

Wait, since when one can order EG/JL through pediwear?
my bad, I thought there was a C&J in there still, are the US prices for these really much different than the UK prices? if so I think you would have seen a very healthy trade in B&S

 

[takashi]

Not sure of Swedish import duty rate, but in UK it's 12% (if it's clothing), shipping charge, then the admin costs (must be more expensive in Sweden than States/UK? e.g. Minimum wages, rent, etc, etc). RLauren needs to charge even a bit more than, let's say in Germany, as there are less cosumers (I don't know how many people buy RL in Sweden though). It may be worth traveling to New York when there is sale... ?

 

[bellyhungry]

Sounds like I can start a business of buying PRL stuff in the US and sell to the European market privately for a tidy profit.

Just have to figure out a loop hole to bypass the custom/duty/etc...

Hmmm.....