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The Bargain Online...to Shop or Not to Shop
I think a lot of people have covered this, but I just wanted to put it out there...
As much as I like clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and what nots there is always a price on everything. For the 'normal' people who cannot afford to change your outfit gazillion times a day or have the 'only wear each item once' policy with the wallet to support it, we just stick to wearing something multiple times and changing out the outlook by combining different items to make it look unique. Sometimes if we are in a creative mood, one can 'alter' the item and customize it to their will but alas that takes time and I was not the world's greatest sewer last time I checked.
I personally if given the luxury would totally design my own clothing and have 'my' tailor make it for me. To claim to have "my own tailor" is a luxury in itself that I wish I had. Also wearing clothing that fits me perfectly for a change without it being altered to hell and back is a perk I have yet to experience *shakes fist* "o(@_@)o"
For those of us who buy items off the rack, we tend to wait for Sales in order to buy the expensive items. Unlike necessities (although one may argue that clothing is a necessity, unfortunately in most budgets necessities are more along the lines of food and shelter), we tend to just wait and shop for the best bargains. Again I do shop for cheap groceries whenever I can but the staple items are usually similar in price everywhere. Hence I just go to the closest store to buy my condiments or tissue papers, convenience and shorter distance to travel with items in hand.
Recently we see the trends of online Bargains. The members only sites that grant you access to sales that start at particular times. It is close to the sample sales that we all hunt for in major cities, just in the luxury of our homes. I recently came across several news paper topics covering this and it hit me that perhaps online is no longer the best place for a bargain. One can argue isn't it the same as going to an Outlet or buying off-season items, it is still a cheaper option to the full retails pricing.
Since the depression and the whole cut backs, department stores and specialty stores in general have been slashing prices and catering to the masses. We can hunt for bargains online in various sites, but perhaps it is time we took off to the streets and searched for our own bargains?! Ebay will always be a good spot to hunt for bargains (second hand or not) but we run the risk of fakes and imitations. There are several websites like Gilt and Hautelook that cater to a more bargain experience, but the downside is the bargains begin at a very inconvenient time for those living outside of the time zone (EST). Gilt does have a Japanese site Gilt (Japan) I have the feeling it is probably not the best bargain out there. It is cheaper in comparison to full retail, but at the same time I cannot forget the nagging feeling perhaps there are cheaper options out there. Also add to that these sites do not always carry what you are looking for. They are "timed" sales so they may not be carrying the brand you are looking for or the outfit you've been eyeing in the department stores. Mind you it is probably more like a sale to get rid of the overstocked items. and the kicker is it may not always be the cheapest option out there (FYI).
The Savvy is a site that lets you know the Sample Sales going on in LA or NY, but if you live outside those areas you are SOL. If you are lucky enough to get to the Sample Sale you are not always guaranteed to find something you may like. Although sample sales have gone on in NYC for as long as people remember, it is probably the initial starter for sites like Gilt and Hautelook and others which try to cater to the bargain hunting people online.
For Japanese people BuyMa is probably the site to go for buying designer goods. Although be warned these are not necessarily bargains...they are more like personal shoppers who will deliver the items via mail to your door. Handy - yes, but it may cost you an arm and a leg. They are based off Japanese prices so the mark up value is about 1.5 plus shipping and handling.
Yoox does a good job of letting you see the items and where they are selling, but again this is not a site for bargains. You get to see which website has what in stock. The Stylefeeder is the similar idea, but its a handy site if you are trying to make a wish list of items you find over the webspace or look up items perhaps you saw on some one's list (I am Lucibelle if interested!). Like I said before these sites offer a guidance and just peeks into where one may purchase an item not necessarily click and buy the cheapest price.
The one concept I liked about Best Buy and electronic stores is that THE PRICES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING. Which means they are more likely to have the policy 'if you find a cheaper price we will match it or go lower'. That puts me in a good mood for when I do find something I want to buy but find something cheaper on another site, then in order to get the points I just go back and see if the price can be matched. If clothing stores had that policy I would think it would be make it more competitive market and perhaps we can find luxury for cheap, but until then we are stuck on paying whatever prices they charge us or just simple waiting and praying that the items we want are on sale or available at a sample sale.
As much as I like clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry, and what nots there is always a price on everything. For the 'normal' people who cannot afford to change your outfit gazillion times a day or have the 'only wear each item once' policy with the wallet to support it, we just stick to wearing something multiple times and changing out the outlook by combining different items to make it look unique. Sometimes if we are in a creative mood, one can 'alter' the item and customize it to their will but alas that takes time and I was not the world's greatest sewer last time I checked.
I personally if given the luxury would totally design my own clothing and have 'my' tailor make it for me. To claim to have "my own tailor" is a luxury in itself that I wish I had. Also wearing clothing that fits me perfectly for a change without it being altered to hell and back is a perk I have yet to experience *shakes fist* "o(@_@)o"
For those of us who buy items off the rack, we tend to wait for Sales in order to buy the expensive items. Unlike necessities (although one may argue that clothing is a necessity, unfortunately in most budgets necessities are more along the lines of food and shelter), we tend to just wait and shop for the best bargains. Again I do shop for cheap groceries whenever I can but the staple items are usually similar in price everywhere. Hence I just go to the closest store to buy my condiments or tissue papers, convenience and shorter distance to travel with items in hand.
Recently we see the trends of online Bargains. The members only sites that grant you access to sales that start at particular times. It is close to the sample sales that we all hunt for in major cities, just in the luxury of our homes. I recently came across several news paper topics covering this and it hit me that perhaps online is no longer the best place for a bargain. One can argue isn't it the same as going to an Outlet or buying off-season items, it is still a cheaper option to the full retails pricing.
Since the depression and the whole cut backs, department stores and specialty stores in general have been slashing prices and catering to the masses. We can hunt for bargains online in various sites, but perhaps it is time we took off to the streets and searched for our own bargains?! Ebay will always be a good spot to hunt for bargains (second hand or not) but we run the risk of fakes and imitations. There are several websites like Gilt and Hautelook that cater to a more bargain experience, but the downside is the bargains begin at a very inconvenient time for those living outside of the time zone (EST). Gilt does have a Japanese site Gilt (Japan) I have the feeling it is probably not the best bargain out there. It is cheaper in comparison to full retail, but at the same time I cannot forget the nagging feeling perhaps there are cheaper options out there. Also add to that these sites do not always carry what you are looking for. They are "timed" sales so they may not be carrying the brand you are looking for or the outfit you've been eyeing in the department stores. Mind you it is probably more like a sale to get rid of the overstocked items. and the kicker is it may not always be the cheapest option out there (FYI).
The Savvy is a site that lets you know the Sample Sales going on in LA or NY, but if you live outside those areas you are SOL. If you are lucky enough to get to the Sample Sale you are not always guaranteed to find something you may like. Although sample sales have gone on in NYC for as long as people remember, it is probably the initial starter for sites like Gilt and Hautelook and others which try to cater to the bargain hunting people online.
For Japanese people BuyMa is probably the site to go for buying designer goods. Although be warned these are not necessarily bargains...they are more like personal shoppers who will deliver the items via mail to your door. Handy - yes, but it may cost you an arm and a leg. They are based off Japanese prices so the mark up value is about 1.5 plus shipping and handling.
Yoox does a good job of letting you see the items and where they are selling, but again this is not a site for bargains. You get to see which website has what in stock. The Stylefeeder is the similar idea, but its a handy site if you are trying to make a wish list of items you find over the webspace or look up items perhaps you saw on some one's list (I am Lucibelle if interested!). Like I said before these sites offer a guidance and just peeks into where one may purchase an item not necessarily click and buy the cheapest price.
The one concept I liked about Best Buy and electronic stores is that THE PRICES ARE ALWAYS CHANGING. Which means they are more likely to have the policy 'if you find a cheaper price we will match it or go lower'. That puts me in a good mood for when I do find something I want to buy but find something cheaper on another site, then in order to get the points I just go back and see if the price can be matched. If clothing stores had that policy I would think it would be make it more competitive market and perhaps we can find luxury for cheap, but until then we are stuck on paying whatever prices they charge us or just simple waiting and praying that the items we want are on sale or available at a sample sale.
For the normal people, bargain hunting is not only a sport but a past time. Perhaps we should go back to the old way and step out into the world to search for bargains on foot! And yes they are out there...
xoxo
Luci
P.S. KY is appalled at times by what I wear on my off time...she has seen me in my baggy XL sweat shirts and wearing over sized skater pants that make me look like I am swimming in my clothing...that is COMFORTABLE yes but I don't think anyone wants to see that unless they want a serious laughter. I will however put here that I would post pictures of me in cute outfits but unfortunately I am camera shy and I rather like taking pictures of other people than myself...perhaps I should go for the Satorialist approach and take snap shots of the PUNKISH culture of Japanese Fashion?!
