Saturday, January 24, 2009

Sample Sale (in NYC) Final Days

"Thanks!" to many of you, including KatherineD (in this post), Anon at 8:36 PM & Lindsay (in this post), as well as Anon at 9:35 PM (in this post), who let us know that prices have been reduced at J.Crew's Sample Sale in NYC. According to ClothingLine's website (click here):

J.Crew sample sale information
* some stock, mostly samples
* huge shipment arrived Friday, more goods to be added Saturday
* Men's & Women's tee's & polo's now 2 for $15
* Men's & Women's cashmere now $50
* Men's & Women's casual pants & denim now $20
* Women's suits now $100
* Men's shorts now $10

New Shipment Update
We received new shipments of over 10,000 pieces for Men, Women & Kids* over the past three days. Including tee's, shirts, polo's, sweaters, cashmere, pants, dresses, blazers, outerwear and more.
We will be receiving an additional shipment Friday afternoon & Saturday morning of 5,000 pieces that will include stock merchandise and lots of cashmere.

Also, "thanks!" to v girl (in this post) who let us know that she "went on Tuesday and I decide to go back Today (Friday). The prices are still high. In fact, light cheapo dresses they were charging less on Tuesday just $25, they decided to "re-categorize" so that they fall into the dress category and they are now charging $60. The way they charge you is ridiculous. Nothing is reduced except for T shirts. When I told them the sign says tanks and shirts, they say no to everything because they say it doesn't fall into that category. Basically, it's false advertising. Because nothing appears to fall into that cheaper category!!! Prices are the same or I 'd say even higher after this re-categorization. And there are NO ACCESSORIES ANYMORE! NONE TODAY. NONE TOMORROW they say."

As mentioned in an earlier post (click here), I did attend the sample sale on the first day. I did buy a few things, but not nearly as much as I was (hoping and) expecting to. However, what I did purchase I love:
  1. "sample" Postcard Lighthouse skirt in gold sand from Summer '07
  2. "development sample" of the canvas & leather Avignon Clutch in British Khaki that would have come out in Spring '07
    [I am not sure if this version ever made it into production. I remember the navy version, but not this one.]
  3. "1st proto sample" pencil pouch from Fall '08
  4. Jillian Patterned Toe Flats (Item 10490; was $188.00, now $69.99) in Light Pewter (aka: Golden Roses) from Holiday '08
  5. Lizzie Patent-Leather Driving Mocs (Item 95894; was $135.00, now $54.99) in Metallic Bronze from Fall '08
  6. Jeweled Sunburst Ballet Flats (Item 90670; $325.00) in Black from Spring '08
Are you planning to attend the last day of this event? If you have attended the Sample Sale (during the latter part of the week), do you think it was worth it? Did you find some amazing deals?

34 comments:

  1. Alexis - congratulations on some great buys! Love all the shoes you were able to get. Okay, and maybe I'm slightly jealous. :D I wish I could have gone, but NYC is just to long of a commute from SC! :)

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  2. Thanks Math Teacher! I do love the shoes too! :)

    If it makes you feel better, I felt the sample sale was *so* not worth the trip on such a freezing cold NYC day. :)

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  3. Alexis, was these the great finds you got on Tuesday? Kat and I did not see any of these wonderful things..... They are gorgeous! Congrats!

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  4. you are so lucky you got those accessories!! They didn't have any out at all while I was there =( Awesome shoes though!!!

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  5. Hi Everyone- Thanks for the congrats! :)

    Nicole R: I did get these on Tuesday! :) I know what you mean about not seeing them. ClothingLine put out two small boxes of shoes that were placed on the floor, slightly obscured by the table. It was completely random that I came across them, and by the time I did the boxes were practically empty.

    KatherineD: It was a lot of digging. I didn't think they did a good job showcasing what they had available. I also suspect that the really good accessories were snatched up before the Sample sale was open to the public.

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  6. All in all, I did find some pretty good buys at the sample sale as well -- I left with 5 blouses (2 loose & fairy sleeveless cotton shells, 2 plaid flannel Madwell blouses, and 1 striped buttoned tunic-style tank top), 3 Madewell scarves, an oatmeal colored Madewell cardigan, the Peacock necklace which I had been searching for on eBay for months, and a fleece track jacket for my boyfriend. It was a lot of fun, but I did wish there were more of the larger sizes available.

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  7. Congratulations on your great finds, Alexis! :)

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  8. Alison: Congrats on your finds! :)

    FFM: Thanks for the nice words! I am really happy with what I got. :)

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  9. Alexis - congrats on your awesome finds! Great Shoes! Thanks for your wonderful blog! You do a great job!

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  10. I went to the sample sale on Friday at around 1 and it was pretty quiet. My friend and I waited in line only for 5 minutes. I didn't see a ton of stuff I wanted BUT I did get the Metallic Houndstooth Marie Coat for $99! They had a ton of collection stuff for $100. I also got a beautiful cashmere henley with crystal buttons for $50. My friend got 3 cashmere sweaters for $150.

    My train leaves tomorrow at 2, so I might go back before I leave since Penn Station is right around the corner...we'll see if my wallet can handle it ;)

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  11. Alexis, I loved all you pieces! I got same golden roses shoes on -line couple of days ago and they shipped!:)
    I think you found fabulous items, congratulations!:)

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  12. Elizabeth in MO: Thanks for the nice words- that is super sweet of you! :)

    JaneEsq: Congrats on the coat- that is a great price for such a beautiful piece. :)

    Slastena: Congrats on the peep toes!!! I can't wait to see your Polyvore outfits using the flats. :)

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  13. Alexis: Love the shoes. That would have made it worthwhile for me.

    I was planning on making a trip on Friday, but I got several crewcut items (coats, sweaters and shoes) at good prices online and decided against it. After reading all the feedback I'm glad I used the time to do something else.

    I would have loved to have picked up some Thomas Mason shirts for DH but it seems that there wasn't a wide selection of sizes at the sample sale.

    Finally, I was really turned off by the feedback on the "sample" markings on clothing.

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  14. I am so dissapointed with the awful reviews of the sale. I had been planning to go, since I live in NJ, expecting rockbottom prices. I'm glad I didn't. I spent my money at the Cheesecake Factory instead! :)~ lol

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  15. Love those Jillians and your other great choices. I ordered the Jillians three weeks ago I can't wait to wear them in the Spring time.

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  16. You found actual shoes? I thought that was a myth!

    Btw, I went back on Friday too & it was all the same. Only thing new I noticed is the Street trench for men, which were $175 each.

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  17. Congrats, Alexis! The shoes are all very adorable :) You just convinced me to check out the sales tomorrow, finally!

    OT, did anyone also go to the Cole Haan sample sales nearby?

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  18. The sample sale sounds like a complete bust. The prices are so high! I got cute flats online for $50 and they came to my door and I didn't have to dig through boxes or go out in the cold. Wow, glad I did not go after all!

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  19. I listed the 3 cardigans that I bought at the sample sale but are (sadly) too small for me on ebay here.

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  20. aww poo. But at least they'll sell on ebay - they're cute!

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  21. I just came from the sample sale and needed to exchange a few items. One sweater I paid $35 for and a beaded tee I paid $10 for. Well, they decided to give me a $15 dollar credit for the sweater and a $7.50 credit for the tee....sweater are now 2 for $30 and tees 2 for $15. I kept the sweater and exchange the tee....I got a Metallic Marie Houndstooth coat for $49! And a pinstriped dress shirt for $7.50. The sales were PHENOMENAL today. All dresses were $30....and they had a great selection....alot of cotton cady dresses, madras patchworks dresses from alot summer...even had a lovely yellow leather jacket for $149...it was beyond worth it. Sad to see the sample sale go. If anyone is interested however, I have 2 pieces I am selling....one of which is a TAWNY OLIVE colored sherpa lined goosedown vest, asking $35.

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  22. um ok sooo many typos...I am sleepy. the vest is an XS, and I meant to say "last summer" not alot summer....lol

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  23. I live 12 blocks from the sample sale, so I went back today for the THIRD time! lol. Was definitely worth it today, as they slashed prices to where they should have been from Day One.

    All crew cuts were $10 each, so I picked up little madras and seersuckers blazers for my nephew.

    Among other things I bought, I am most proud of these two purchases today:

    Item 99406 - J.Crew Collection "Paradise jacquard pant" - orig $228, but marked down on the website now to $119.99 - got BNWT at the sample sale for $20

    Item 99476 - J.Crew Collection "Metallic houndstooth Marie jacket" - orig $425, but marked down on the website now to $189.99 - got BNWT at the sample sale for $49

    All in all, I'd say I scored some great deals the three times I went.

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  24. Lex: Don't you ADORE the Marie coat?! Especially for 49 bucks! I cannot believe there were as many as they had there....Someone hid a size 2 in a corner and I found it....all I saw was 4's, 6's, 10's and 14's. This was also not my first trip there...and I scored beautiful pieces too. Enjoy your items!

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  25. Tina and Lex:

    ARGH I should have gone back today before I left the city...I got the Marie coat for $99, still not bad from $450, but $49...what a bargain!

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  26. Chiffoncupcake, I went to the Cole Haan sale and it was awesome. I got two pairs of shoes @ 70% off and my friend really cleaned up -- she got 4 pairs of shoes and 2 bags for less than $500. Most of the shoes were styles less than a year old and they had plenty of sizes. They also had plenty of attendants to find sizes for you (the shoe boxes faced away from the customers and towards the attendants to dissuade mad grabbing disease). I don't know if they refreshed the stock from yesterday but there were plenty of styles in both men's and women's, as well as boxes and boxes of purses and bags.

    We went today around 3 PM and we didn't have to wait in any line to get in. The only thing I wish they'd done a bit better is having multiple try-on areas. The one small area they had was always full so peeps were trying on shoes in the aisles.

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  27. Thanks so much, Roxy! :) 6 Cole Haan items for less than $500? That is a super great bargain especially for the quality!

    I ordered two bags during the extra30 off promo on their website a week ago. Hmmmm, if I found something similar in this sale, I probably will return them!

    Do they have a lot of Nike Air boots too? Would you say it would be a wishful thinking to grab a genevieve there? ;)

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  28. I'm not super familiar with Cole Haan's style names and but yes they had Nike Air boots there in multiple styles. Sorry I can't be more helpful on that front!

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  29. love the sample sale today, scored the cotton cady dress for 30 bucks, can't go wrong with that. Another cashmere bateau sweater for 40 bucks. Last, the silk twill printed boatneck for 15 bucks.

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  30. Chiffoncupcake - I went to the Cole Haan sale on Saturday, and I did pick up the large Genevieve triangle tote in black patent/suede, for $79.20! I aldo got the small Genevieve hobo in purple patent/suede, for $85. All in all, 3 bags plus 1 pair of hot pink patent strappy slingbacks for $350 (including tax). They were also running a special, but 3 bags receive an additional 20% off highest retail price. Same for shoes.

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  31. Wow, Marietta!!!!!!! Serious???? I am definitely going tomorrow!!! I hope they do re-stock at the end of today or towards the end of the sale! BTW, you got almost the same like what I ordered from their website. I got a small brown triange genevieve and the estate blue geneivieve hobo. I don't recall I see any purple suede hobo on their website or in the store. That is a brilliant find!!!!! (Excuse me for the exclamation marks but this is just incredible!) ;)))

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  32. Just wish that they had offered good prices from the beginning at the sample sale. From feedback from Tues-Thurs, it just seemed that the stock and prices were not that good.

    But congrats to all those who got good deals on the final day. Would have loved the metallic marie coat for $49!

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  33. I was one of the ones that got the $49 deal on the Marie coat....and IMO....again IMO....its not worth much more than that...I mean I guess you pay for the detailing but I was surprised at the weight of the coat. Its very light...something I could wear in the Spring...or Fall...definitely not now...not even in 40 degree weather. I guess I shouldn't complain after the bargain though hun? :)

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  34. I went to the sale on Saturday and did a small review on my blog with photos of what I bought, in case anyone is interested!

    Click Here

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