What exactly is an 'outlet' for a clothing store?

[Zeze]

I went to a Banana Republic outlet. Their clothes tag has 'three diamond' symbols which differentiates from regular retail BRs. And you cannot return them to retails.

I thought outlet was just a marketing gimmick to sell shit cheaper. But how is it actually different? Is it a reject garment & style? But that makes no sense as quality is similar and style is same. (as a consistent brand should be)

 

[zerocool84]

Older styles or things that didn't sell well. The only place I ever shop for clothing is at the local outlet over here.

 

[FoBoT]

the rent for the building is usually cheaper

 

[Zen0]

The secret is that actually, they are made cheaper, in different factories, and often even by different designers. The goal is to cash in on the brand name at a lower priced market.

Once you know the secret, you'll never buy Outlet again. Unless it's just for underwear and socks.

 

[Zeze]

Older styles or things that didn't sell well. The only place I ever shop for clothing is at the local outlet over here.

That used to be the case and the true definition of an 'outlet' 20 years ago (I've been googling).

But today, most clothing stores directly make clothes just for outlet branch (main brands like Gap/BR/Coach, etc).

They're certainly not 'older styles' (a sweater is a sweater), nor didn't sell well (made just for outlet to begin with).

So I don't know WTF exactly an outlet is.

 

[TheInternet1980]

Cheap things are found within. Or so the rumors go.

 

[shortylickens]

Its just a term used to lure unsuspecting people into shitty shopping.
It USED to mean discount clothes, but last time my mom and aunt went up to an outlet mall in Northern Virginia it turned out to be a crappy old regular mall, with regular mall prices.

 

[Zeze]

The secret is that actually, they are made cheaper, with different designers often, but cash in on the brand name.

Once you know the secret, you'll never buy Outlet again. Unless it's just for underwear and socks.

I never noticed a difference between a nice sweater or dress shirt I bought at retail Banana vs a Banana outlet.

I may not notice the sharpest quality difference, but if I don't, major of the people either including those wear them and others looking at you.

"OH MY GOD, YOU'RE WEARING OUTLET GAP!"

 

[zerocool84]

Its just a term used to lure unsuspecting people into shitty shopping.
It USED to mean discount clothes, but last time my mom and aunt went up to an outlet mall in Northern Virginia it turned out to be a crappy old regular mall, with regular mall prices.

That sucks. The ones near me always has great deals like buy one get one half off and other great deals. I get jeans for like $15.

 

[Zen0]

That used to be the case and the true definition of an 'outlet' 20 years ago (I've been googling).

But today, most clothing stores directly make clothes just for outlet branch (main brands like Gap/BR/Coach, etc).

They're certainly not 'older styles' (a sweater is a sweater), nor didn't sell well (made just for outlet to begin with).

So I don't know WTF exactly an outlet is.

You got it.

Go to a J. Crew Outlet store for example. They will readily tell you they have not only different cuts, fits but also different lines and different designers. There is no need to mention the lower quality construction.

 

[Zeze]

Its just a term used to lure unsuspecting people into shitty shopping.
It USED to mean discount clothes, but last time my mom and aunt went up to an outlet mall in Northern Virginia it turned out to be a crappy old regular mall, with regular mall prices.

They ARE certainly still cheaper in outlet mainstream brand vs same retail mainstream brand.

 

[Zen0]

I never noticed a difference between a nice sweater or dress shirt I bought at retail Banana vs a Banana outlet.

I may not notice the sharpest quality difference, but if I don't, major of the people either including those wear them and others looking at you.

"OH MY GOD, YOU'RE WEARING OUTLET GAP!"

Of course you'll find some Outlets have much higher discrepancies in quality than others.

 

[SandEagle]

bought a pair of timberlands at an outlet. wore em over 12 years....still going. best pair of timberlands i ever owned

 

[shortylickens]

That sucks. The ones near me always has great deals like buy one get one half off and other great deals. I get jeans for like $15.

When I was young my mom dragged me to an outlet store that had genuinely cheap prices.
But at that age I didnt give a damn. Now that I care I cant find the real ones anymore.

 

[preslove]

My outlet mall has some genuinely good deal outlets with their actual products but also has a bunch of stores with mall prices.

 

[thegimp03]

Maybe the colors in the clothing from the outlet fade faster, but seems like they use the same materials and the clothing fits and looks the same to me. However, the outlet is 35 minute drive from where I live whereas the store is 5 so it's less convenient.

 

[JS80]

It used to be the over-supplied, close-out, irregular, and out of season items. Today it's just the same shit with lower quality leveraging the brand to lower income and frugal brandwhores.

 

[SandEagle]

the macys next to me usually has a 75% clearance rack with some really nice name brand clothes. better deals than any outlets. used an additional 20% coupon and picked up a nice dress shirt for $7, dress slacks marked down from 50 to $5! and a nice tshirt for $3. hella deals

 

[shortylickens]

the macys next to me usually has a 75% clearance rack with some really nice name brand clothes. better deals than any outlets. used an additional 20% coupon and picked up a nice dress shirt for $7, dress slacks marked down from 50 to $5! and a nice tshirt for $3. hella deals

I find looking for the bargain bins at retail stores is a much better time.

 

[preslove]

What are some of the brands that pull the bait and switch crap?

 

[0roo0roo]

in theory it is extraold stock.
in practice it has become profitable and lower quality items with the brand name are now purposely made for "outlet" stores..it has become a bit of a scam to target the cheaper segment of customers.

 

[0roo0roo]

"Trick #1: The Merchandise Isn’t What You Think It Is
The original outlet and factory stores sold overstocked, discontinued items, and imperfect merchandise unfit for retail sale; that’s what made the prices so cheap. But nowadays, there are as many Gap factory stores as there are real Gap retail stores—how could they have that much extra or have so many irregular T-shirts on hand?

Some outlet stores still sell overruns and irregulars, and many more sell out-of-date items from seasons past, but the truth is that the majority of common outlet stores supplement their stock with merchandise created especially for outlet-store sale. These lines carry the brand name, but they’re made with lower-quality fabrics and cheaper construction techniques. The companies depend on customers’ inability to tell the difference between the quality of real designer merchandise and the lower-quality knockoffs carrying the same label. The knockoffs may be cheap, but that cheapness comes at the expense of quality."
http://www.divinecaroline.com/22270/103269-buyer-beware-sneaky-tricks-outlet

i think consumer reports or the like had an article on it once, showing the differences between the cheaper knock off clothing and the more expensive real retail stuff. some of it is minor trim, other is material/less complicated stitching etc.