Making the Most of Designer Sample Sales – Online or In Person

Designer names and fashions don't have to come at designer prices, thanks to designer sample sales. Not too long ago, one had to be located in a large city with a lot of designers, like New York City, to find one, but thanks to the internet, everyone now has access to designer clothes and shoes, saving 50% or sometimes even as much as 80% to 90% of the original cost. Some of these sites may require registry, but they're generally free, giving you access to fabulous deals all year round. Those who live in places where the designer sample sales happen and want to visit one, should do some preparatory work first. The first step, of course, is to find out where they are. They are almost never held in stores – the usual location is office buildings or warehouses, which means finding the exact suite or floor the sale will be held. It would be very disappointing to go to a sale, only to be unable to find it. In fact, some of these sales may even require you to call ahead for an appointment. Don't worry, though, it's generally as simple as asking to get an appointment, and the perfect opportunity to nail down the location details. The physical designer sample sales are not typical stores. You're going to be walking a lot, so wear shoes that are good to your feet. Pay attention to what you're going to wear underneath, as well, because there are probably not going to be any changing rooms. Wear a bathing suit, a leotard, or at least underwear you're comfortable being seen in, if you plan on trying something on. Online shoppers don't have to worry about this, of course – but they do have worry about buying something that doesn't fit once it arrives. You simply have to be very sure of your size before making your order final. All sales are final at a designer sample sale. If you find a spot on it once you get it home, it's yours forever, so check it out closely before you take it home. Remember that just because it's on sale doesn't mean it's being sold for a good price. The items found at these venues are there for a reason and sometimes that reason is because it was ugly or garish. Even designers have their bad days, and the item deserves to remain where it is, no matter how attractively priced it may be. One thing online buyers have to worry about is the shipping costs. You may be able to offset that by taking advantage of referral credits, if you can get some friends to join you in your online deal-hunting endeavors. Look for those sites that offer credits so you can get even better prices than advertised, even with the added cost of shipping. Timing is not everything, but it's still an important consideration, especially with the physical sales. If you get there early, everything will still be there. You'll have not only the best possible selection, but everything will still be organized, because no one's picked through it yet. Toward the end of the day, however, you'll find the best prices, because the sellers what to have as little merchandise left as possible. When at a sale in person, it's a good idea to avoid the lunch hour, if at all possible – that's when everyone else will want to shop and the place will be packed. If you're prepared and ready to shop, you can even hit more than one of these sales in a day, ending up with a lot of beautiful clothes for even more beautiful prices. Look up some designer sample sales of your own and see what you can find.