Bicester village

Namechange466 · 2021-08-19T21:34:05+00:00

What’s the deal with Bicester village? A friend doesn’t normally buy brands but bought a YSL and mulberry bag from bicester village recently. She said they were dirt cheap. are they actually? How much of a discount i can you get? I recently got a new more senior job and feel like giving myself a once in a lifetime treat!

Nowisthemonthofmaying · 19/08/2021 22:42

Dirt cheap might be an exaggeration but you can certainly get some good discounts. It tends to be like sale/end of sale prices although you can find some real bargains sometimes. I go a couple of times a year but tend to head for Lululemon and Sweaty Betty rather than the top end stuff. If you want to treat yourself though it's definitely worth a try!

ThelmaDinkley · 19/08/2021 22:43

I got a Barbour coat for less than £100. Some places didn’t have many good deals on though. I think it varies store by store.

Putthekettleon2021 · 19/08/2021 22:51

I think outlets can be hit and miss. There are discounts to be had if you're not looking for a specific design of a product. Definitely not dirt cheap though! Their website usually tells you when they have sales, so if you time your visit you can get things even cheaper.

tigerbreadandtea · 20/08/2021 07:49

Dirt cheap - definitely not. I have a couple of Mulberry bags from there from years ago that were a few hundred cheaper than buying non outlet: I was also really lucky and got black in classic designs but there is no guarantee what they will have.

HelloChompy · 20/08/2021 08:27

It's been a few years since I went and I echo what previous posters have said - it depends on the store and what you are after. I was looking for a black leather jacket and I got one in Ralph Lauren. It was last years design, I paid £200 for it and I have worn it loads. Other things I saw didn't really seem much of a bargain at all.

countrygirl99 · 20/08/2021 08:33

You have to know your brands in advance. BIL used to work in management at the Head Office for an upmarket retail brand that has a store there. A lot of the stock is manufactured to a lower price point especially for the outlets and isn't the usual quality. But you can pick up bargains if you know what you are looking for. Lot's of putting in stock at 1 store for a period so they can put it in all the stores at "50% off".

TheLadyGrayson · 20/08/2021 08:48

Definitely not dirt cheap, I went to the York Mulberry outlet earlier this week and the discounts were £100-200ish on most bags, that still meant most were £500 or more. I always get suspicious of places manufacturing lines specifically for their outlet stores which are of a lesser quality than normal. Bicester is a nice day out though!

Original poster

Namechange466 · 20/08/2021 18:23

Thanks all.

Had no idea that some products are specifically manufactured for outlet stores

may just head there for a fun day out rather than a new bag

OP posts:

allfurcoatnoknickers · 20/08/2021 18:42

Not dirt cheap, but definitely cheaper.

I grew up fairly close by, so my friends and I regularly joke about a "good Bicester day" or a "bad Bicester day".

Good Bicester day is when you raid the cosmetic company store and they have the £10 grab bags and all the foundations in your shade. Then you get a £25 Ralph Lauren jumper and find a wrap dress for £50 in the DVF sale bin. And you get a seat in the Pret and they're not out of your favorite sandwich.

A bad Bicester day is when everything is £10000 reduced to £5000, anything you like has a hole in, the queue at Prada is out of control, all the mulberry bags are weird colors and Pret is out of everything. Then you have a fight with your Mum outside Dior and get stuck in traffic on the way home.

SweatyBetty20 · 20/08/2021 18:48

I don’t go anymore as I moved Mack up north, but a good Bicester day for me included driving along the M40 just as an RAF Hercules flew over and disgorged 60 odd parachutists - loved it #planenerd

nc8765 · 20/08/2021 19:14

@allfurcoatnoknickers

Not dirt cheap, but definitely cheaper.

I grew up fairly close by, so my friends and I regularly joke about a "good Bicester day" or a "bad Bicester day".

Good Bicester day is when you raid the cosmetic company store and they have the £10 grab bags and all the foundations in your shade. Then you get a £25 Ralph Lauren jumper and find a wrap dress for £50 in the DVF sale bin. And you get a seat in the Pret and they're not out of your favorite sandwich.

A bad Bicester day is when everything is £10000 reduced to £5000, anything you like has a hole in, the queue at Prada is out of control, all the mulberry bags are weird colors and Pret is out of everything. Then you have a fight with your Mum outside Dior and get stuck in traffic on the way home.

I've never heard anything more accurate in all my life! 👏🏼

aerosocks · 20/08/2021 19:22

There has been a time when the only thing I could afford bought was in Pret. Everything else was either hideous or ludicrously priced.

Palavah · 20/08/2021 19:22

@countrygirl99

You have to know your brands in advance. BIL used to work in management at the Head Office for an upmarket retail brand that has a store there. A lot of the stock is manufactured to a lower price point especially for the outlets and isn't the usual quality. But you can pick up bargains if you know what you are looking for. Lot's of putting in stock at 1 store for a period so they can put it in all the stores at "50% off".

Why would they do that? Surely it damages the brand?

countrygirl99 · 20/08/2021 19:23

Apparently not. They all do it.

NatriumChloride · 20/08/2021 19:25

@allfurcoatnoknickers

Not dirt cheap, but definitely cheaper.

I grew up fairly close by, so my friends and I regularly joke about a "good Bicester day" or a "bad Bicester day".

Good Bicester day is when you raid the cosmetic company store and they have the £10 grab bags and all the foundations in your shade. Then you get a £25 Ralph Lauren jumper and find a wrap dress for £50 in the DVF sale bin. And you get a seat in the Pret and they're not out of your favorite sandwich.

A bad Bicester day is when everything is £10000 reduced to £5000, anything you like has a hole in, the queue at Prada is out of control, all the mulberry bags are weird colors and Pret is out of everything. Then you have a fight with your Mum outside Dior and get stuck in traffic on the way home.

This certainly made me laugh! 😂

SpeckledyHen · 20/08/2021 21:03

@allfurcoatnoknickers

Not dirt cheap, but definitely cheaper.

I grew up fairly close by, so my friends and I regularly joke about a "good Bicester day" or a "bad Bicester day".

Good Bicester day is when you raid the cosmetic company store and they have the £10 grab bags and all the foundations in your shade. Then you get a £25 Ralph Lauren jumper and find a wrap dress for £50 in the DVF sale bin. And you get a seat in the Pret and they're not out of your favorite sandwich.

A bad Bicester day is when everything is £10000 reduced to £5000, anything you like has a hole in, the queue at Prada is out of control, all the mulberry bags are weird colors and Pret is out of everything. Then you have a fight with your Mum outside Dior and get stuck in traffic on the way home.

Spot on!

Top tip - GET THERE FOR BREAKFAST before the shops open and leave before the Disney style queues start .

MuchTooTired · 20/08/2021 21:30

Sign up for their newsletter when they’ve got the sale on. I got a mulberry bag reduced from 850 down to 445 then another 10% off as they had an offer on. Best thing was, I didn’t have to leave the house as we did it all over WhatsApp/the phone!

Isabelle70 · 20/08/2021 21:33

If you are after a Mulberry what about the online factory shop they have at the moment?
www.mulberryfactoryshop.com/

JaceLancs · 20/08/2021 21:44

I’m not a bag person but love Bicester for shoes
Last visit I bought some classic flats in bronze from Manolo Blahnik - they are such soft leather and very comfortable - think I paid £275 much better than over £700, I’ve also had Valentino shoes and Jimmy choos from there in past
I agree it’s luck as well - previous visit with DD bought cashmere cardigan from DKNY for £20, missoni scarf for £35 and DD bought a Paul Smith sweater for her DP for £50

JaceLancs · 20/08/2021 21:45

I live nearer cheshire oaks, but there are less high end designer shops and more high st outlet stores

tigerbreadandtea · 21/08/2021 14:58

@allfurcoatnoknickers

Not dirt cheap, but definitely cheaper.

I grew up fairly close by, so my friends and I regularly joke about a "good Bicester day" or a "bad Bicester day".

Good Bicester day is when you raid the cosmetic company store and they have the £10 grab bags and all the foundations in your shade. Then you get a £25 Ralph Lauren jumper and find a wrap dress for £50 in the DVF sale bin. And you get a seat in the Pret and they're not out of your favorite sandwich.

A bad Bicester day is when everything is £10000 reduced to £5000, anything you like has a hole in, the queue at Prada is out of control, all the mulberry bags are weird colors and Pret is out of everything. Then you have a fight with your Mum outside Dior and get stuck in traffic on the way home.

So true.

LadyEloise1 · 27/08/2021 10:19

Channel4 did an expose programme some years back about premium brands selling stock made specifically for outlets.
But Bicester is a lovely day out and if you like something, can afford it, buy it.

You won't get your Chanel 2.55 bag or your Hermes Birkin discounted at an outlet.

You might, if you hit lucky, get something you had your eye on that was last season's stock though.

rc22 · 27/08/2021 11:18

@JaceLancs

I live nearer cheshire oaks, but there are less high end designer shops and more high st outlet stores

I live near York Designer Outlet which is similar. I do visit and leave having only spent money in Pret and on pick and mix in the Lindt chocolate shop.

The worst visit I had was when I went for my lunch in Pret and the fridges were practically empty. Whilst eating my sandwich, they restocked then all. Nightmare!!