I will be the first to admit, I am addicted to designer sample sales sites such as Ruelala.com and Ideeli.com. I often find myself annoyed if someone schedules a meeting for 11am EST (the most popular sale event start time). If you are not completely familiar with these sites, I will give you a quick run down of how they work. Most of these sites are invitation only and below I will provide you with a link to a special invite to some of my favorite sites for you to check out. Once you become a member of the site, you will be notified daily of their sale events. Typically the event lasts for 2 days but if you are not prepared, many items will be gone within hours if not minutes. You will find designer clothing, shoes and accessories for 50 to 70% less than retail.
The whole idea behind these sites is that it’s all about impulse and acting fast if you really like something. I have learned this the hard way. Recently, I put a top in my shopping bag and then went back to the event to look at other items that I might be interested in. HUGE MISTAKE. When I went to my shopping cart to finalize the purchase, the top was gone. The very next day, I made the exact same mistake and lost out a on a beautiful pair of Charles David shoes. It was pure shopping devastation for me and I began to think, how many other women have made this very same mistake and spent the rest of the day slightly blue about their fashion loss?
Simple tips to achieve sample sale success:
1. Preview the events for the week and keep a mental note of what events are a “must attend” and make sure you are at your computer a few minutes before the event starts.
2. Keep in mind top well known brands will be in high demand and require you to act fast. That being said, keep a mental note of what you are willing to pay for that Michael Kors top or 7 for All Mankind Jeans.
3. Act quickly but thoughtfully. As with all purchases, consider how it will add to your current wardrobe and make sure you check the size charts and order accordingly. Many of these sites only offer merchandise credit for returns. I personally don’t have too much of an issue with the credit, because I know within a few weeks, I will find something else that I will just have to have, but this is a fact that you should take note of.
4. Most importantly, if you find something you want to buy and you really have your heart set on it, choose the “Buy now” or the “Quick! Buy It” option on Ruelala and then revisit the rest of the event for more shopping. Don’t worry that you will pay shipping twice if you decide to purchase a second item, most sites will combine the order once you finish. This past week I did not choose the “Buy Now” option and I lost out on 2 highly coveted items.
Sites like Ruelala.com, Ideeli.com or Gilt.com all cater to the impulse buyer and if you do your research and can act quickly, you are sure to snag some real wardrobe gems!
Invitation Links to Sample Sites:
