Retail Price

[sho'nuff]

I wonder if there are actually people who pay retail price on these items that are usually at sale time, reduced so drastically.

I am not talking about the $250 Samurai Japanese selvege denim, Alden, Edward Green MTO shoes, and the like that you see on this forum that claim a certain exclusivity that you'll rarely find discounted, and prevalently purchased at retail anyways.


I'm referring to the stuff you see on Buying and selling recently, like the RLPL suit that retailed $5000, or the $6000 Kiton overcoat, Versace tie at $175, Hickey Freeman pants at $400, etc.

stuff you find at 50-70% during regular sales or even 90% off if you look hard enough.

Sometimes at the dept stores, you see brands like Perry Ellis, Alfani, Kenneth Cole, that almost immediately gets sold at a discount upon arriving to the store. Retails like $200 and stuff for their coats and pants.

Do these retail prices really get certain buyers ?, or, are these just marketing ploys to try to get us to psychologically perceive a certain value impression when there is that red marker slash through the retail price on the tag to half off?

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

Do these retail prices really get certain buyers ?
Yes. Me, for one.

 

[fredfred]

It sucks, but yes, sometimes I pay retail. I just bought a Varvatos sweater/shirt thing that is sort of like a really, really, really nice sweatshirt. I paid full retail for it, although I'm sure it'll show up marked down somewhere at some point - IF any are left.

It's a function of rarely finding something I love, combined with valuing my time. I might not make it back to the store. I might miss my size if I wait for the sale. I sort of have enough money to spend, so sometimes I just go ahead and buy it. If/when there is a major sale I'll buy a few things rather than just one. If I see it for sale in a few weeks then I'm ticked off. 6 months from now it would be minorly annoying, but not as bad.

The good news is I wore it today and the woman I was with was running her hands up and down my back saying "this feels good". So... was the mark up worth it?

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by fredfred

So... was the mark up worth it?

Only if you got laid.

 

[Cary Grant]

I pay retail most of the time. It gets me the exact item I want, when I want it. It supports the local business too. It comes with the sales support I want.

Retail for the most part is not some ungodly mark-up as many people here seem to think. The margins are pretty close (not talking about the highest-end luxury itemsof quality).

By the time you see things at Filene's or wherever at 80% off- that's more often than not even below wholesale. Often far below. If they charged that amount all the time, they'd be quickly broke.

 

[MadisonElite]

Spent money is spent money.

Why pay retail when it will be on sale sooner or later? But it goes on sale once it goes out of style.

So...

Who wins?

 

[Jacksdad]

I worked for a luxury retailer for a few years, so trust me people pay full retail the majority of the time. We used to have a name for sale shoppers.....we called them "feeders". I have to say they were looked down upon (even though I would consider myself a feeder too), simply because they were the biggest pain in the arses to deal with.

 

[fcuknu]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

I pay retail most of the time. It gets me the exact item I want, when I want it. It supports the local business too. It comes with the sales support I want.

Retail for the most part is not some ungodly mark-up as many people here seem to think. The margins are pretty close (not talking about the highest-end luxury itemsof quality).

By the time you see things at Filene's or wherever at 80% off- that's more often than not even below wholesale. Often far below. If they charged that amount all the time, they'd be quickly broke.

retail margins are generally anywhere from 2.3-3x generally. I wouldnt call that "close"

 

[sho'nuff]

Originally Posted by Jacksdad

I worked for a luxury retailer for a few years, so trust me people pay full retail the majority of the time. We used to have a name for sale shoppers.....we called them "feeders". I have to say they were looked down upon (even though I would consider myself a feeder too), simply because they were the biggest pain in the arses to deal with.

so you did see first hand people purchasing at full retail, but did you work at a place that sold exclusive stuff that did not get marked down alot , or items that did get on a regular schedule of sale?

im talking about the $2000 retail suit that most customers who frequent the establishment will know will be marked down to $999 at a certain date, and so forth.

you mean that there are actually customers who would come in and knowingly of the above, still purchase that at 2000 dollar retail?
interesting.

i agree with fredfred that there may be the trade off of time, availability of the item and availability of self, and current fashion status of it.

but let say, the Jos A Bank scenario, where they sell their perennial 'favorites' at a retail certain months and then have it on sale other months, and where the availability is everywhere, ubiquity of the item is prevalent, plentiful sizes, etc.

are there those who would still pay retail even at stores like these? ( i would think in these cases, it would be due to ignorance of the customer to sale phenomena)

 

[Nataku]

I know a few people who pay full retail and to them their time simply isn't worth waiting around for a sale and hoping they still have the color you want in your size.

That and if you're making $700,000+ a year, what does it matter?

 

[btinl]

Originally Posted by Jacksdad

I worked for a luxury retailer for a few years, so trust me people pay full retail the majority of the time. We used to have a name for sale shoppers.....we called them "feeders". I have to say they were looked down upon (even though I would consider myself a feeder too), simply because they were the biggest pain in the arses to deal with.

That's something I never understood. Why are sales people in "luxury retailers" so arrogant and snobby? What right do they have to look down on customers?

 

[JayJay]

I like a bargain, but every now and then there are items that for whatever reason I purchase at full retail. No regrets.

 

[anon]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

but let say, the Jos A Bank scenario, where they sell their perennial 'favorites' at a retail certain months and then have it on sale other months, and where the availability is everywhere, ubiquity of the item is prevalent, plentiful sizes, etc.

are there those who would still pay retail even at stores like these? ( i would think in these cases, it would be due to ignorance of the customer to sale phenomena)
yes, it happens, as even I have been guilty of it. My father in law shops at JAB regularly and almost always paid full retail. He bought me a shirt and tie from there at full price (minus the 20% discount they give to employees of some businesses). I then searched their website and found out that you can easily get shirts for $15-25 a few times a year and ties for $10-20. Neither of us have paid full retail there since.

 

[Jacksdad]

Originally Posted by btinl

That's something I never understood. Why are sales people in "luxury retailers" so arrogant and snobby? What right do they have to look down on customers?
I pretty much laugh at those people. They think that because they are around expensive goods they are soooo"fabulous". They can go screw as far as I am concerned. The best sales people know better and treat everyone equally. The customers that spent the most money with me came in wearing jeans and t-shirts not mink coats.

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

so you did see first hand people purchasing at full retail, but did you work at a place that sold exclusive stuff that did not get marked down alot , or items that did get on a regular schedule of sale? im talking about the $2000 retail suit that most customers who frequent the establishment will know will be marked down to $999 at a certain date, and so forth. you mean that there are actually customers who would come in and knowingly of the above, still purchase that at 2000 dollar retail? interesting. i agree with fredfred that there may be the trade off of time, availability of the item and availability of self, and current fashion status of it. but let say, the Jos A Bank scenario, where they sell their perennial 'favorites' at a retail certain months and then have it on sale other months, and where the availability is everywhere, ubiquity of the item is prevalent, plentiful sizes, etc. are there those who would still pay retail even at stores like these? ( i would think in these cases, it would be due to ignorance of the customer to sale phenomena)
I worked for a well established company that everyone on this forum loves. They were responsible for some of the greatest sales we saw this season...the one that people were going ga-ga over.

I think you underestimate how many wealthy people their are (or were) in America. People; 1. don't want to wait around for a sale, and 2. don't want to have to fight sale shoppers over finding their sizes. I hate to say it, but some feel that is beneath them. Also, keep in mind that when sale hits you are already half way through that season. When it comes to seasonal items like sweaters and coats those are things that can be considered needs, not wants, therefore people are more willing to pay full price for them. Hell...I ran into a lady last week that spent nearly $300K at this particular store this year alone.

 

[anon]

Originally Posted by Jacksdad

I worked for a well established company that everyone on this forum loves. They were responsible for some of the greatest sales we saw this season...the one that people were going ga-ga over.

I think you underestimate how many wealthy people their are (or were) in America. People; 1. don't want to wait around for a sale, and 2. don't want to have to fight sale shoppers over finding their sizes. I hate to say it, but some feel that is beneath them.
Also, keep in mind that when sale hits you are already half way through that season. When it comes to seasonal items like sweaters and coats those are things that can be considered needs, not wants, therefore people are more willing to pay full price for them. Hell...I ran into a lady last week that spent nearly $300K at this particular store this year alone.

I can understand why wealthy shoppers might not want to deal with sale shoppers, but why do sales associates feel the need to look down on customers?