The ever-enthusiastic bargain shopper and writer, Nancy Brenner, pens another insightful piece for GSNYC:What's the ooh la la about Rue La La (ruelala.com) and all these other "invite only" sample sales that seem to crop up daily? Portero.com's porter private beta launched last week. After what seemed like an interminable wait, the merch from Rue La La arrived and it was a perfect fit - the petite cardigan was just the right size and the color was as posted. The skirt fit fine as well - I admit going online and sorting, selecting and buying in 7 minutes was very fast - even by my seasoned sample sale standards, but I would try again if I knew the brand very well (in this case Beth Bowley), what size suited me in that brand and factored in the cost of delivery (and ensuing risk of return rate).
How to shop the sites? Here are my quick tips: try to sign on a few minutes before hand - sizes disappear quickly and how was shocked that the sold out banner appears within minutes; you can easily be tempted to buy too much too fast (I set a mental dollar budget before I went online), so think about what might be complimentary to your existing wardrobe before you sign on or what you truly want to add, pre-spot check the web to make sure the merchandise is current and of course - that the price is right - in checking out a few of these types of sales (but no other purchases), the prices and selection are much better at the "real" "brick and mortar" sample sales where you can often can get that one of a kind piece for a true sample price. The online sales all have limited selections. FYI, the merchandise came with an easy to return pre-printed UPS label for $9.95 for a credit - not a return. There are no returns at sample sales, but not a pressing need to make such split second decisions. Online there is no time to sort through "your pile," or change your mind while waiting to pay at checkout. On the other hand, no long lines to pay, no broken registers to contend with, no mad dash to the garment district or Chelsea Market or some narrow little street lower down, two subway lines away, no women to fend off from trying to rip off your clothes while you're foraging for a try-on mirror, no checking of all your belongings except for you wallet and your cell, no men wandering around claiming to "shop for their girlfriends" while staring at women in various stages of undress (hey - it's time to start banning those guys) and best, but not least, no roving cell phone paparazzi snapping pics of you pre-dawn, makeupless on a long line in the rain as if you were the next Paris Hilton landing up on the latest fashion sample sale blog for all your frenemies, exs and co-workers to see.
So try out ideeli.com, gilt.com (where a "bargain" is a $995 Chloe cropped sequined jacket reduced from $3,600 and already believe-it-or-not sold out), thetopsecret.com or others. But think before you click - will the dress make you look like Gaby in Desperate Housewives, or will you look just plain desperate.
Who knows, this year may be the last big year of sample sales as retailers retract, designers disappear and sample sales, both brick and mortar and online, just may go the way of the IT bag.
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