To get really mad that retailers don't replenish stock when it sells out!

[OhTheDrama]

So I don't want to buy my winter clothes whilst it's still Summer. I would rather see how the weather pans out and buy my A/W clothes as and when I actually need them. So tonight I've decided I need some warmer clothes and all the bloody stuff I like appears to be long gone, yes Boden and Uniqlo I'm looking at you!

So why aren't they replenishing things? I get profit margins and not wanting to have to discount too many lines but seriously the colder weather will be here until at least March! At this rate there'll be choice but to buy S/S stuff in January, and breathe! Just wanted to rant, am prepared to be told I'm being totally unreasonable.

Sorry got carried away meant to say no choice.

You say all the stuff you like has gone. Not that they don't have stuff.

Theres the issue. It can be impossible to predict taste entirely.

And they can't just replenish stock 'like that'. Do you have any idea of the lead times from ordering, to manufacture, to getting it delivered to a central warehouse and the to the shop floor?

So if something proves very popular they can't just get more of it. This means decisions about stock are made months in advance and they are stuck with those decision.

They will not order one thing in massive quantity initially for a number of reasons; they don't know if it will be a seller, so whilst they want to sell as much as possible, they don't want to buy too much and not be able to shift it because that affects their profit.

They also want a variety of different things, in the hope that people will buy more than one item. They also are aware that people buying stuff don't want all their friends buying the same thing. They also want to turn over stock, so they always have new things coming into the store to attract people to visit over and over again, rather than just once for a whole season.

So yes YABU as you don't understand how shops make a profit.

Yeah, what redtoothbrush said.

Loads of reasons why YABU. You clearly haven't got a good grasp on retail.

Nope I don't have a good grasp on retail, not my area of expertise. I just want to buy the things I like when I actually need them. Do shops not factor this in? Or are we now expected to buy things out of season in order for them to make a profit? Am I the only person that wants to shop this way?

Well, it's not just about preform its about supply and demand. Obviously, most people do want to buy their seasonal clothes early. There are also plenty of places to buy A/W clothes at the moment, so not entirely sure where you are looking!

There's a lot more competition for retailers now with internet shopping. They have to keep ahead of trends, they can't work on a season as it's just far too risky.

Agree with drama that yes, i do want to be able to buy winter things when it is actually cold so i think YANBU.

However, i do not envy retailers in this climate and so i see why their orders are conservative.

It could be that the things you mention aren't in depo anymore. I work for a very well known high street retailer and things that are big sellers are often out of depo when we go to order more. So it's not for lack of trying it's simply because we can't get our hands on more!

I hate that you are expected to buy your summer clothes in winter, and winter clothes in summer.

It so annoying and really pointless, from the customer's point of view.

and why do swimming costumes disappear, I swim all the year round, I want buy swimming costumes when ever I need one.

I agree, it would be nice, but yabu. To buy one item in your size retailers usually need to buy a set with all the other sizes too (which may still be in stock) and comfirm to minimum order quanities. So to get a couple of items in your size they most likely have to spend £500 and that's if the manufacturer hasn't run out.

We get these threads a lot. Retailers will tell you that you are completely unreasonable to want to buy a winter coat in October, or some shorts in July. You should do it the other way round, obviously.

Amen to that quote

DD2 lost her swimming costume at school. Can I replace it easily and cheaply? Can I f*ck.

I had a friend in Inverness who really moaned about this. Summer starts in July there (if it starts at all) and finishes at the beginning of September. She couldn't figure out why she could buy autumn and winter clothes at the start of autumn and winter, but could only get summer clothes in winter and never in summer

Its not going to change, is it. So I have now learnt to buy when the stock is in and not leave it. You can rant, but it wont change things. So you changing is realistically the only answer.
Controversially, I suppose most of our clothes are shipped over from somewhere. Shipping takes 6 weeks?

This drives me mad too. I like to go to small independant shops and they are invariably out of my size.
They usually say ' oh yes, the size 14 s always go first, they are very popular'
No shit, Sherlock, as there are way more size 14/16 women than 8s or 20s - so why don't you order more mid-sizes then?
A certain M & S is really bad for this too and they actually cater for the middle range market

I don't think she's unreasonable to want it. Just unreasonable "to get really mad" about the retailer! Blame the supplier ;-)

Because the supplier won't let them freshguts.

Most clothing comes in a pack with the same number of each size. The retailers only choice is how many packs to buy!

Sports shops for swimming costumes.
And the problem is large multiples all being sent stuff centrally, having no choice about when to stock. Support your local retailers -if you have any left! :)

I remember one year in early January before the first snow and it was forecast so I wanted to get a snowsuit for baby DD. Apparently I was being unreasonable as they'd all sold out and they wouldn't be getting any more. Now I could understand if it was March, but early January? Winter hadn't even begun. All they had were raincoats and swimming costumes. Perfect for a freezing January.

I understand the whole selling ahead but I can't help but feel they're missing a trick by having season-appropriate stock available too.

And on a similar note, if I want to buy a take away curry from the curry counter on a Friday night from my local supermarket, I have to get it before 3pm to have any chance of getting the one I want. If I leave it until after doing the school pick up, I might just have a chance of getting one in a packet but then I can't benefit from the meal deal discount.

All the people on the counter get fed up because they say that Friday is one of their busiest nights for curry and they could sell so much more but hq won't send them any more. A few people might not mind which type they buy and just get one of the other curries but not everyone especially if they are pernickety like me will want to do that.

And that's for something that comes chilled and dated that they could do relatively easily - even one more pack would make a difference give me a chance of getting some after school pick up time.