Hard Bargain
How to Shop a Sale
In the old days the Barneys warehouse sale was a big deal. There would be an ad in the Times (“feel the frenzy”) and lines to get in the building on W. 17th Street (or was it 18th?—it’s a bit of a fog at this point). You went down a flight of stairs and were confronted with endless racks of clothes and people everywhere losing their minds. There were no changing rooms, just a sheet barely hanging over a cord in the corner. There were fancy women with dresses piled over their arms and old Hasidic men stocking up on dark suits. It was bedlam.
I got some good things at the warehouse sale. But I got some really bad ones. In that environment you lose your grip on reason, like a kid at a birthday party eating too much cake. This suit was $1700, it was marked twice. Now it’s $489. $489! I wasn’t looking for a pinstripe suit, but this is a real deal. It’s true I’m not familiar with the brand, and alterations aren’t included. But I’m saving money! They are essentially paying me to take this suit.
This is the thinking that gets you in trouble. Something marked down a few times. You never wear it because you didn’t need it and it didn't align with your sensibility anyway. When it comes to sales you need to stay strong, hold the line and then pounce like a hungry lion. Here are some ideas to help you keep your discipline in the face of markdowns.