05-09-2003, 05:58 AM | #1 (permalink) | |
Loser
Location: who the fuck cares?
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Outlet malls - the truth
Factoring outlets
Outlet malls survive by offering value, new amenities By Andrea Coombes, CBS.MarketWatch.com Last Update: 12:03 AM ET May 8, 2003 Quote:
What are your feelings? Do you like shopping at these centers? Or are they a waste of time and space in your area? |
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05-09-2003, 06:13 AM | #3 (permalink) |
pinche vato
Location: backwater, Third World, land of cotton
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Pet peeve rant coming on here:::::
For many, many years, the Russell Mills manufacturing plant (they make sports clothing) in Alabama featured a small shop within the plant that offered sale items. It was always, always, always stuff that had minor defects and flaws, and could be bought dirt-cheap. Then, Russell Mills opened up several "outlet stores" around the Gulf Coast, and all of us guys were in heaven. We could browse through obscure jerseys and t-shirts at ridiculously cheap prices while our ladies went shopping. It was truly marvelous; where else could you get an official Slippery Rock baseball shirt for $3? And then the inevitable happened; the women got involved. They started going into the Russell Store to see what all the fuss was about, and the bottom dropped out of our fun. Suddenly, MATCHING COORDINATES began to appear, and we knew it was all over at that point. The Russell Mills Outlet Stores tried to cater to the women by offering full price crap and they phased out the defective merchandise (I guess it was unsightly). Soon, they all went out of business, and there are no more left. Whenever I see an outlet mall, I get connotations of a place offering dirt-cheap slightly defective stuff, but it never works out that way. It's all been feminized.
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05-09-2003, 06:17 AM | #4 (permalink) |
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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Having worked in the garment center for several years and learning the craft and trade, I have a different opinion about outlet malls. Yes, the article is accurate in stating that manufacturers would make lower quality goods just for outlets. That is still true.
But here is something else that is happening. When a store like Macy's/May Co/etc places an order for goods they can reject the order if it doesn't arrive at the scheduled time, even if it's 15 minutes late. Why? Because there is stiff competition in todays market place. From design to showroom floor has reduced from a couple of months to a couple of weeks to sometimes even a couple of days. The seller needs to respond to the buying public and what they want to buy now, not what they want to buy 2 weeks or even 2 hours from now. So now, the manufacturer's 3rd party didn't meet the deadline but the product has been cut, sewn, labels inserted, and tagged. It's ready to be sold, but now there is no buyer. So the manufacturer takes it and brings it to the outlet centers. Another scenario is that in order to keep the buyer happy, the manufacturer does a consignment deal, so that the buyer takes the least amount of risk. Whatever is not sold gets returned and the manufacturer has to get rid of the items. I am sorry to break this to all of you but making clothes is CHEAP. It costs around US$3 per piece to manufacture and that is including most fabrics and all labor. Markup is HUGE! One of the reasons why I try hard to not pay lots for clothing. Here's some tips. Look at the stitching, if ther is alot of material making up the seams, it's a good garment. Why? Because if you need to let it out, there is space. Most of the manufacturers can leave close to 1" of material in the seams, which if they were "saving money" they diminish that area as most people don't notice it missing. Also stripes, plaids, patterns. They should all match up. If the lines match up in stripes and plaids, there's alot of wasted material in the manufacturing process. The best women's plaid suits line up the ALL pieces on the body and skirt, so that the effect is EVEN all around. I have friends that swear by Gucci, Armani, DKNY, suits, costing them in the thousands. I however can find suits for around $100 each, italian designed and manufactured, and it looks just as good as theirs. As far as getting items tailor made. Well, that's always going to be expensive since you are getting a one off.
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05-09-2003, 06:26 AM | #5 (permalink) | |
Super Agitator
Location: Just SW of Nowhere!!! In the good old US of A
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05-09-2003, 08:34 AM | #6 (permalink) | |
I aim to misbehave!
Location: SW Oklahoma
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05-09-2003, 08:50 AM | #7 (permalink) |
Junkie
Location: Midwest
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I love the outlet malls near us. You shouldn't be duped, know what you are buying. In other words, pick something up, try it on, and make sure it fits you.
I get absolutely wonderful designer jeans for 19.99 (and I have a tough size), nice LL Bean sweatshirts, Ralph Lauren polos, shoes from Bass, etc. I'm not saying the stuff in the article is untrue. But if you look over what you are buying, even seconds are sometimes tough to spot why. Just cause something has a slight defect don't me you or anyone else will know. I like outlet malls. They are outside (I HATE being contained in malls), and I get HUGE props from the girlfriend just for spending the day there. She gets to shop, I sit outside and read the paper. And then, I get sex once we are home. Outlets are great. |
05-09-2003, 05:06 PM | #8 (permalink) |
Addict
Location: Northeast Ohio
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I rarely go to the outlet closest to me..It is in Grove City about 40 minutes away...I usually find deals of some sort there, but it is really not worth it...Except for they have a Pittsburgh Steelers store and I don't know of any others, so that is why I go!
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05-09-2003, 06:53 PM | #9 (permalink) |
ARRRRRRRRRR
Location: Stuart, Florida
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I love the outlets. The outlet mall is the only place i even think about getting cologne or vitamins/supplements and ive been getting all my clothes at the bealls outlet lately. How can you beat $5 polo shirts or $20 designer jeans
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05-09-2003, 11:52 PM | #11 (permalink) |
Cracking the Whip
Location: Sexymama's arms...
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Damn, Cynthetiq.
Thanks for the info. Can I go shopping with you? We have a 3 different outlet centers about an hour out of Denver, going north, south and west. As stated, you can get some great deals, but you have to pay attention. Just because a store is in the Outlet mall, doesn't mean it sells at a discount. (Nike comes to mind, as I didn't see a huge savings there.)
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05-09-2003, 11:59 PM | #12 (permalink) | |
Junkie
Location: Chicagoland
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05-10-2003, 05:05 AM | #14 (permalink) | |
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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Quote:
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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. |
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05-10-2003, 10:36 AM | #16 (permalink) | |
Here
Location: Denver City Denver
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Don't forget Colorado Mills Mall. The basterd child of the outlet malls.
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05-10-2003, 05:32 PM | #18 (permalink) | |
Loser
Location: who the fuck cares?
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Quote:
Ok.. back to the topic at hand... It's funny BoCo should mention (jokingly) this thread needing to be in the Ladies Lounge... Mostly men have responded to it. Some men shop just as much as some women do, and not all women shop. We have a ton of these outlets centers. Everywhere you look, they are building plazas and malls of nothing but outlets. Sometimes I find great buys. And I am not one who needs to wear today's fashions. I have my own style of dress. |
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05-11-2003, 08:31 AM | #19 (permalink) | |
Tilted Cat Head
Administrator
Location: Manhattan, NY
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Quote:
She always hates the fit, design, style of most clothing. It took about 2 years to help her find a manufacturer and clothing style that she does like, and now it's not so painful. Funny because any time we looked at apartments or homes, the realtor would comment on the closet space being ample for the lady and I'd have to tell him that I have more clothes and shoes than my wife does. I don't just go browsing. I know what I'm looking for when I'm shopping and I buy them, usually in an assortment of colors all at the same time. It may sound excessive but then again, when I need another one as the first is worn out the style is no longer sold, so stock up already, especially when it is on sale.
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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. |
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05-11-2003, 08:53 AM | #20 (permalink) | |
Non-smokers die everyday
Location: Montreal
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Quote:
I work for a major shoe retailer that uses the whole outlet/liquidation centre approach. Families love to shop there for good prices/convenience. Personally, I don't buy a lot of clothes. When I do, it's pretty much out of impulse, so I end up buying them in whatever store is closest to me at the time. I don't go for stuff that's too expensive, but since I'm a t-shirt n' jeans kinda guy, I'm not hard to please.
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05-11-2003, 10:37 AM | #21 (permalink) |
Psychopathic Akimbo Action Pirate
Location: ...between Christ and Belial.
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I live about 5 miles from one of (probably the) largest outlet malls in Texas.
I never really go there because I don't really buy anything that isn't computer or video game related. Unless of course I need clothes, but then I go to a thrift store. Oh, and I've also been known for the occasional grocery shopping.
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malls, outlet, truth |
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