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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if any of you have ever paid full price for an item from Gap or House of Fraser?

24 replies

Cerseirys · 26/03/2016 16:06

Because they are ALWAYS having sales! Barely a week goes by without me receiving an email from them with a 30-40% off promotion or a "Big Brand Sale". Is business so bad that they have to keep doing this? It's been going on for years now.

OP posts:
WeAllHaveWings · 26/03/2016 16:13

I remember with Gap maybe 3 years ago everyone used to get excited about the 30% VIP offers, their clothes were generally very good quality and with 30% off a good buy.

I haven't bought from there for a while as DS(12) is not going through an everything has to be Adidas phase, but still get their emails and over the last 6-9 months there is constantly promo codes. They must be starting to struggle, cant remember the last time I saw anyone in a GAP logo hoody.

Goandplay · 26/03/2016 16:16

I know what you mean. I love Gap for baby, toddler and pre school ages. I really hope they don't go out of business before my youngest has out grown them.
The clothes always outlast the ages they've been bought for. I think the quality is excellent, but now I won't buy anything unless I have a code.

Original poster
Cerseirys · 26/03/2016 16:21

Same for Banana Republic, as they're owned by Gap. I do find their clothes rather overpriced and a little BA cabin crew at times though.

Body Shop is another one that's forever sending 40% off emails!

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 26/03/2016 16:25

I've been thinking the same about Laura Ashley. Emails announcing a sale, emails reminding me of the sale, emails announcing sale ends Sunday, by Tuesday another sale starts ...

Sparklingbrook · 26/03/2016 16:40

I don't understand House of Fraser. It's always a bit deserted in there and I am never sure which bit is for me if any.

MadisonAvenue · 26/03/2016 16:43

I've paid full price in House Of Fraser when I've bought make up, but never in Gap that I remember.

KP86 · 26/03/2016 16:47

If they are having 40% off sales constantly it shows how overpriced the stuff is to begin with because they still won't be losing money at that price, or they couldn't afford to do it.

Fannycraddock79 · 26/03/2016 17:10

If I remember rightly the 30% gap started as a friends and family thing where you got a card with your name on a couple of times a year. One year something happened when it was emailed out and meant anyone could use it. They honoured all the sales and from that year on have sent out the 30%/40% emails ever since. Like pp said it just shows how marked up their clothes are.

winewolfhowls · 26/03/2016 17:22

Gap maternity clothes are sooo comfy. I will pay full price for those

OneLove10 · 26/03/2016 17:31

Wine can I ask if you find gap maternity wear sizing true to fit? I'm petite size 8 so would i need to go up or keep to size 8?

JuneFromBethesda · 26/03/2016 17:34

I bought some Gap joggers at full price the other day, but online as I needed the longer length and my local jumble sale Gap shop doesn't stock them. So yes, their 'tall' range I would pay full price for - but even then there are usually codes for money off, so I should have planned my purchase more carefully! (But they're going back as they're not right, so no harm done ...)

EssentialHummus · 26/03/2016 17:37

Never paid full price in Gap or Pizza Express Grin. I really like Gap for basic tops and jeans, but if I give myself enough time I can usually get at least a 25% discount. I'm on their mailing list and get 1-2 discount emails a week.

CornishDoll82 · 26/03/2016 17:40

Somehow I got on a Devenhams mailing list and they were discounting every other week - emails were driving me mad.

It's such a short term strategy. With M&S I now never buy anything that I'm planning to without waiting for one of their 'exclusive' 20% off offers

FilthyRascal · 26/03/2016 17:45

Gap in particular have really stepped up the discount codes in the last year or 2. The 30% codes would run once or twice a year and everyone would be really excited and the shop would be packed. Now they email me a code several times a week which is tiresome and yes means I'd never buy anything at full price.

I haven't found the same with house of Fraser but there are only a few brands I buy from there and I think perhaps they're the less often discounted brands anyway. Polarn o pyret etc.

OhSoggyBiscuit · 26/03/2016 17:45

Nope. Only ever sales, and they seem to do them a LOT!! Got some nice stuff from there for fairly cheap but wouldn't pay full price.

BarbaraofSeville · 26/03/2016 19:25

YANBU. It's annoying. But it works and tricks people into buying when they otherwise wouldn't.

Same with Pizza Express and most other chain restaurants, there's always a 2 for 1 voucher or similar. DP and I joke that the definition of someone with more money than sense is someone who eats at a chain restaurant without using a voucher.

IncognitoBurrito · 26/03/2016 21:02

YANBU i also get emailed tons of sales for Gap.

I read somewhere that's it's a more US model of trading. They go in for coupons and discounts a lot over there rather than pricing the item low to start with like Primark. It's really only worth the sale price.

I think the quality in Gap clothes has fallen off a cliff since the 90s. They used to be great.

senua · 26/03/2016 21:07

Has no-one mentioned Debenhams and their Blue Cross sales yet? You can set your watch by them.

winewolfhowls · 27/03/2016 22:14

Onelove, I did find it true to size. I am a pear shaped 12 to a 14.

Certainly right for tops and dresses but I tried on jeans as I find them difficult to find even normally.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/03/2016 22:18

Laura Ashley are a fancier DFS. They have sales more often than not (or so it feels). I only buy from GAP outlet, and generally only when there's an extra sale on.

BankWadger · 27/03/2016 22:23

That Oak furniture place is back to back sales and consequently back to back irritating as fuck ads for their "sales"

BettyCrystal · 27/03/2016 22:29

Barbara is right. I only buy in sales. And I don't need the stuff. I'm also a sucker for charity shops & TK Maxx.
I'd love to change my shopping habits to paying full price for that one item I really want / need / love.
But with shops having flash sales so often, I always think full price isn't worth it. And it isn't really...

maggiethemagpie · 29/03/2016 21:33

I find it bloody annoying when shops do this all the time... I refuse to buy full price (inflated price) so have to wait for the sales (real price). Everything is soooo expensive at full price cos they know you're just waiting for the sales.

I wonder what % of stuff in HOF or Debenhams is sold at full price at what % in the sales, I can't be the only one who refuses to pay the full price.

Those sales get me every time though

comfortblankie · 29/03/2016 23:50

I've never paid full price in HOF now that I think of it. The odd thing from Mango that wasn't on sale still gave a student discount (bless my PT cert).

DP and I have defined madness as going to pizza express without a coupon code!

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