Just a note…
Today (Wednesday, July 8) is my fifth blogoversary! I didn’t think I’d make it through one year let alone five. I wish I could say I have hundreds, if not thousands, of subscribers, but I remain a teeny tiny blogger. And, that’s OK because I’ve made some really good connections with people all over the world. If I’d never hit publish on that first post, I wouldn’t have grown as much as I have. Thank you to those of you who have been with me from the start. And, thank you to anyone who is brand new to the blog!
Sales…
As y’all know, we’ve just come off a big holiday. And, what do holidays mean these days? Big ol’ sales! So, let’s talk sales. I love a sale. In fact, I sometimes, but not always, will talk myself out of something because I know it will go on sale. There are other times, I just impulsively buy something because I’ve convinced myself it will sell out before it goes on sale (talk about a run-on sentence). Of course, there are the times when I’ve bought something because it’s on sale. It may be something I’ve never even considered before going on sale.
Holiday sales…
I’m not sure about other countries, but here in the States, we seem to have holidays for everything. That means every other month or week or day, there’s a special sale. I remember when the Red Hanger Sale at Talbots was a reeeeaaallly big deal (and, yes, I considered the Red Hanger Sale a holiday). A Canadian friend and I once waited until after midnight her time to see what the prices would be on things we liked. Here’s a hint. The prices didn’t change at midnight…her time or mine! Now, sales happen, at least at Talbots, all the time. You can almost always count on a Sunday night special of $50 off $200 plus additional discounts. Other retailers do it, too. Of course, there are those that don’t. That makes me wonder which companies are more successful. Have y’all ever gotten a Frances Valentine catalog? Oh, my gosh! I swooned over their cardigans…then, I looked at the price. I’m talking a few years ago, and a cute embellished cardigan ran about $350. Now, if I love something and know I’m going to wear it over and over and over again, I’ll fork over that kind of money. But, and it’s a big but, these cardigans were more acrylic than natural fibers. I don’t like acrylic, and I certainly won’t pay hundreds for it.
But, I digress…
Back to the companies that rarely have huge sales vs the ones that seem to have them all the time…I’ve noticed those that don’t have the big sales are the ones with the big price tags. Does that mean their clientele really doesn’t (or would that be don’t) care about price? Or, is it smart marketing, knowing your product will sell because you’re selling not only a high quality item, but also a brand? I honestly don’t know. I’m really just riffing on the idea of sales. But, if anyone has an answer, I’m here to learn. Of course, Quince isn’t a big price tag retailer, and they rarely have sales. I wonder if they don’t have the best idea…a fair price where they still make a profit and prices don’t jump up and fall down. I think, in the few years I’ve been buying from Quince, they’ve only had two special events. One was last year. If you bought two items, you received a $10 credit on your next purchase. The last one was in the last week or so. If you bought something in the app, you got $10 off. I hate apps, and $10 isn’t enough for me to download one!
So, sales…
Recently, I bought two dresses at J Jill. They were pretty new stock so I didn’t figure they would go on sale any time soon. These fell into the category of “I think they’ll sell out soon.” Check out Saturday’s look here for one of them. J Jill’s policy is to do a price adjustment within 14 days which is fair, I think. But, I’m pretty sure you can’t call them anymore and ask for one. That may have changed over the last year or so. I do know they put in a new register system a couple of years ago which prevented you from doing that. But, many people may have complained, and it got changed. I just checked, and it said for a store purchase, the receipt must be present. It then went on to say you could also contact them via email or chat. So, do with that what you will. Anyway, I was about a month out from buying these two dresses. They have been marked down substantially with an additional 40% discount. I could save over $100 if I re-ordered them and returned the two I have. Well, I wouldn’t return the one I have because I’ve worn it, but I could return the one I’d receive if I re-ordered. Did you follow that? Here’s my conundrum. I know brick and mortar stores have goals to meet, and if I return these two dresses, that will impact that goal. Do I want my local J Jill store to stay open? You better believe I do. I may go months without shopping there, but I want to know it’s still there. But, $100 is a lot of money to save.
More sales…
I know most sales associates don’t have any idea about when items will be marked down or big sales are coming up. But, there is a part of me that is a little irked when I buy something one day only to have it get marked down or go on temporary sale a day or so later. I’ve heard that R. H. Macy is the guy responsible for “sales.” But, when I googled it, that daggone AI popped in with all kinds of “information.” So, I don’t know for sure if Macy is to blame for the ups and downs of retail prices. Another pet peeve is when something goes on sale, but you know, just the day before it was even cheaper! Remember my post on stripes and polka dots? That skirt, at the time I published the post was only available in a size 18, but it was over $150! It’s no longer on the website. Trust me, I didn’t pay anywhere near that amount.
Friends and Family sales…
Of course, it helps to be friends with your retailer! I remember back in the day when Banana Republic was a fun place to shop. I would hold my breath just waiting for that F&F Sale!! It was 40% off which is a really big deal for BR. Now, they have been offering 30% off a number of times, but it’s available for just about anyone. Macy’s also does a Friends & Family sale which I love because it’s 15% off beauty! You don’t get that very often on name brand beauty items. That’s when I buy my Jo Malone body creme. It seems like one of those should be popping up pretty soon.
The outfit…
It’s ironic I just mentioned a 30% off sale at Banana Republic! I bought this georgette skirt during one of their 30% off sales earlier this spring. It’s perfectly me! It’s swirly and feminine and just a little bit unique. I can’t find it on the website anymore so I guess I proved one of my points, right? Buy while you can! But, I also noticed a skirt I bought last summer is still listed though sizes are limited. Besides the fabric, I really like the smocked waistline. You can adjust it with the ties at the side. You can see them hanging down in some of the photos. Those ties are nice and yet not. They just hang there and look a bit goofy. I added one of my favorite Luxe textured tanks from Old Navy and a Seaside Cotton Tie Front Cropped Cardigan, also from Old Navy. The funny thing is probably 2-3 years elapsed between the purchase of the tank and the cardigan yet they match perfectly!
The Lewk!
Lately, I’ve been really into matching my accessories and footwear with my outfit. This day was no different. These are my Miz Mooz Shay sandals. I have to tell you they are so comfortable. Some may think they’re a bit on the ugly side, but I love them, all the straps and the molded footbed. I just wish they’d offer them in a cognac color. I’d add them to my collection. I love a layered necklace, and this one is just so versatile. There are some pieces of jewelry I feel like are for a specific season. This necklace is not one of those. That large pendant is a lotus flower, but I’m not sure of the stone. The earrings and necklace are from the museum gift shop. See, I told you I need to stay out of there!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
As you can probably tell, these photos were taken a couple of months ago. I do love a sale, but I have also learned to put something in my cart and wait a bit. If it’s still there in a couple of days, I’ll buy it. But, as y’all know, I love to shop so there are just as many times when I don’t wait. By the way, I’m not re-ordering the dresses. I know J Jill will not sink if I stop shopping there, but I do feel a bit of loyalty to my particular store. So, can we talk? How do you feel about sales? Would you prefer a fixed price that’s reasonable? How would you handle the situation with the two J Jill dresses? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.
Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
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Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. My April Cornell code, MARSHA15, now works, but it’s good for only one use. You can get $15 off $100. I’d wait and use it during a really good sale! Use Marsha12 for 12% off any order of $65 or more at Buykud. I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA15, for 20% off any purchase. I am also an affiliate with Clara Sunwoo. You can use my code, MARSHA10, for 10% off your entire order. Use MARSHA15 at Katia Designs for 15% off your order. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post. I have now have a code for Tulip Clothing. Use the code, MARSHA20, for 20% off your order.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World . I also link up with I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month as well as the Global Writing Challenge on the second Thursday. I now co-host Fashion Files with Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa every Tuesday. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, Cat, and Rena. I also host 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
It may sound ridiculous, but I don’t think I have ever returned anything. Of course I don’t buy many clothes at all and I usually just buy shoes with which I’m sure about the size (as in my sneakers). Buying clothes has rarely been fun for me, online or in person.
Of course, the word “sales” affects my brain, anyway. I have learned to get much better about it, though, unless I need something. It’s hard to resist beads on sale and even harder to resist a surprise bead mix on sale! I think it’s quite lucky that my bead shop hasn’t had those for a while.
I rarely return things either. Most of the more expensive things I buy I know they fit and that I like them. When I buy something inexpensive online and it doesn’t meet expectations, I always plan to return it, but then decide it’s too much trouble for the amount of money I spent.
Thanks, Christie! Oh, now that’s a problem, too, isn’t it? When the amount of time and gas money you’d spend to return it is probably more than the price you paid. Then the problem is what to do with it. I don’t return many things these days, but I used to shop a whole lot more than I do now (which is probably shocking to read)!
Thanks, Cat! Sale is a brain burner, for sure! We just have different things we like to buy…you and I. I think you’re just a smart shopper if you’ve never returned anything.
Well, I would never return beads, that’s for sure! 😉
Beaaaaaaaaadzzzzzzz ….
Hahahaha!!! I wouldn’t return yarn, either!
Oh I hated it when people returned items. It lowered my yield. I think it was way better when sales only were 6 weeks in January and Six weeks in June. That still happens in Belgium. Congratulations on your blog anniversary!
Thanks, Nancy! That would be nice if it were like that here. You would know to, either wait or pay full price. And, that’s exactly why I didn’t return the dresses. I knew it would mess up their quota or whatever.
What a great blogging achievement. Sales are so frequent these days for some outlets, I am surprised that anyone would pay full price.
Thank you, Rosie! There are only a couple of retailers I will pay full price because their sales are so very infrequent. I do miss that with all the retailers because it made things a bit more equal.
I’m heading out shopping today for my annual birthday trip with my mom and since it’s after the 4th I expect to find some really great sales. That said I don’t typically notice if an item I have already bought is on sale after I’ve bought it. Many stores with honor the sales price if it’s within a certain time frame of your purchase– have you checked?
Thanks, Joanne! Yes, I did check at J Jill, and I was two weeks over the adjustment period. I think that’s a fair time. If it wasn’t such a long (time-wise) drive, I would have driven in as soon as I could have. I check some retailers every day for their new markdowns. I’m glad you get to spend your birthday money with your mom. That’s got to be so special. My mom loved to go to the mall (back when they were decent), but she wasn’t into birthdays other than to sing to us. I’m sure you will find many great deals!
Love this look….the long skirt is just so dang glamourous in a good way.
Sales were my focus most of my life (except for a couple of years when I was more successful as a dentist)
Now it’s thrifting, which is even better than most sales.
Shopping is my obsessive trait…that’s for sure.
And I”m glad you’ve been doing this for 5 years….I can’t believe it’s been that long.
XOOX
Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! It even feels luxe! I hear you on the sales. Now, it’s almost like a challenge…how long can I hold out and will the item sell out? And, don’t forget you were a part of me starting blogging! Debbie had me email four or five bloggers, and you wrote me the kindest email. One didn’t even respond, and the others replied with terse answers. Then, you emailed me again asking for the name of my blog! So, you’ve been very instrumental in my journey!
Congratulations on your fifth anniversary! I was curious to see the drop off point of most blogs (like social media content creation and podcasting, I imagine many start and few remain after even a year).
An article I found mention most drop off after 1-2 months! Your five years puts you in a category of very very few—again, congratulations 👏🏾
Thanks, Edi! Wow! I didn’t know that. I’m glad to know I’m in a category like that!
Congrats on the 5 year anniversary! This made me curious about my own blog…and it’s 5 year anniversary was in March and I didn’t even notice, haha. I am impressed that Old Navy had the tank and cardigan in the same color a couple years apart. These days, I rarely buy things that aren’t on sale because if you want 5 minutes, they will be.
Thanks, Sally, and congratulations to you, too! I’m trying to think how I even discovered you and vice versa. I’m betting it was maybe through Michelle since she made jewelry? I really was surprised when I went looking for something to wear with that cardigan only to discover the tank was the exact same color. I love when retailers (J Jill does, too) do that, but who would think Old Navy would. You are more patient than I am, my friend! But, I’m getting better!
Happy blogiversary, Marsha! Five years of writing is an accomplishment to be proud of. I’m like you, I have a smaller, but loyal following and I’ve met lovely people from all over the world. As for sales, I’ve heard some places mark prices up only to make a sale look bigger later. I don’t know if that’s true. My preference would be to have reasonable and stable prices most of the time with close-out markdowns and/or occasional sales events.
Thanks, Christie! Every year, I battle with myself about continuing. I feel like I have run out of things to say yet I always manage to come up with something! Would it be nice to be huge? Yes, it definitely would. But, I also really don’t want to spend that amount of time. Oh, I know there are places that do exactly that…mark the prices up so they can put them on sale a bit later. That’s usually on things that are on sale in the first place, and it seems to be online mainly. That’s one of the things I like about Quince. Their prices are really reasonable so they don’t need to run sale all the time.
Congratulations on your 5 year blogging anniversary Marsha.
I must say I’m a terrible shopper and even worse sale shopper. I will often see something I like but dither, go home to think about it and then decide to buy only to find they don’t have my size!
Love that skirt Marsha, it goes so well with the tee and cardigan.
Thank you so much, Linda, for the compliments and the well wishes! As you can tell, I love to shop. I take my granddaughters shopping occasionally. I have only taken my grandson shopping for Legos, though. I need to wear this skirt more often because it really is just so lovely and flowy.
I enjoy this topic and enjoyed reading your thoughts/takes on sales. I agree with a lot of what you’ve said here. That said, I’m not a big shopper at all. I was more so when I was younger and I loved to shop for cute clothes for my girlies when they were young :). I like a lot of the clothes at places you mentioned. I’m also terrible about returning items so I have to accept that if I buy something, it’s mine for the long haul!!
Thanks, Maria! I wasn’t a shopper when I was teaching because we had three kids to put through college! But, those days are behind me, and I can shop a little more (OK a lot more) than I did then. With my first, I worked in a small boutique for kids a couple days a week. I bought him the cutest clothes. Then, when I had my daughter, I still worked there for a little bit. I bought her the most gorgeous dresses. I wish I were content to accept that I won’t be returning something. I rarely return something I’ve actually bought in the store. It’s mostly online shopping when I return things. I don’t want to hurt the brick & mortar store’s bottom line.
You can google without ai by adding “-ai” at the end.
And FYI, Talbots is being sued for its “sales.
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/class-action-claims-talbots-used-inflated-prices-to-advertise-false-discounts/
Thanks, Veronica! I have tried that, and it works sometimes. Other times, it doesn’t. I didn’t know that about Talbots. Interesting!
Hi, Marsha – Happy 5th anniversary! I recently hit my 10th, but I never celebrate because I don’t have a hundred subscribers either. Maybe I’m missing the mark and should be pushing the blog more. I inherited from my Dad the artistic talent and lack of business talent. I prefer sales but you never know how long to wait. Love your lewk – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! Congratulations on your anniversary, too! I am happy to have the subscribers I do have, though I’d love more. I honestly don’t know how to grow my blog without monetizing it, and that’s just not for me. You are so right about not knowing how long to wait. I waited too long for a dress, and it completely disappeared from the website. Then, one day several weeks later, it was back. So, you never know!
My friends know me as the Sales Queen lol! I just love a good sale, and have almost always bought most of my clothes during sales. However, you’re right in that there seems to be sales on all the time these days! My favourite sales are the ones during summer (they’re on right now and I’m going to have a look with a friend soon), and the January sales which start on Boxing Day (my birthday!!). I have bought some duds over the years, things that I only bought because they were cheap. But I have also got some fabulous bargains too. It’s such fun, trying to find the right one!
I LOVE your outfit—I would wear all of it, in a heartbeat!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thank you, my friend! Oh, I, too, have bought things just because they were on sale. I read in another blog, if you aren’t willing to pay full price, what difference does the sale price make? I think that makes sense in a backward logic kinda way. We don’t really even seem to have really, really big sales anymore…like Black Friday. Those seem to start earlier and earlier every year so you’re waiting to see if today is the best day to buy. I really dislike that! I’m pretty sure you would be stunning in this outfit as I think olive green would be gorgeous on you!
It’s been a while since I have ordered something online or bought something in store: mostly because I don’t take the time to go to these stores (the mall is about 30 min away and the nice stores about 45), so unless I happen to take a min in TJmaxx, I’ve been mainly thrifting. I used to buy one or two things in the Nordstrom sale every year. This is my kind of outfit! I love how you paired these together!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Thanks, Mireille! I’m glad you liked the outfit. I was so surprised the tank and cardigan matched after a couple of years had passed. I usually buy beauty products in the NSale because the other stuff doesn’t really appeal to me. I wonder if, eventually, it will end. I keep hearing the quality of the products is declining. I have to drive quite a ways to get to a mall so I make those visits count!
I’ve always loved a good sale! My husband, not so much! LOL! Happy 5th blogiversary! I always appreciate your posts and your humor, your insights and your take on life! Congrats!
Thanks so much, Laura! My husband enjoys sales on things like tools and the like! He can’t understand the joy in finding the perfect pair of shoes for 25% or more off! I’m so glad you enjoy the posts and my humor and thanks for the good wishes!