90% Off Sale – Breaking The Camel’s Back?

I’m perhaps one of the rare few who has a distaste for sale announcements.

I got this newsletter email from online high end retailer Yoox.com today, announcing that there’s yet another sale going on. This time a sample sale where some items are slashed at 90% off.

I found these Michael Kors pants originally priced at $274, slashed down to a mere $25. Granted, they’re not the greatest looking pants, but one has to wonder what kind of profit Yoox is actually making by having such a sale. Perhaps nothing since it may be trying to get rid of inventory with the new spring collections pouring in bit by bit. Still, aren’t retailers aware that this is a huge risk they’re taking in putting up these sales?

If I wanted stuff on sale from an online store, I’d just hit Bluefly.com, where items are perpetually on sale. It’s sort of like the Winners of online shopping. And let’s not forget that TheOutnet is about to arrive next month, which will push the competition for designer discounts even more.

Even as a shopper myself, my interest in shopping at full price is starting to wane on the fact that some things are simply overpriced. I’ve seen $500 print leggings, which I could probably get for a fraction of the price made of the same material, but the print design would probably be simpler and less ornate. I was also disheartened to see Banana Republic already slashing prices on items that have only been there for 8 weeks. Had I waited 2 months, I could’ve gotten my dresses on sale. It sort of takes out the pleasure of shopping when things go on sale now, it just cheapens the experience and simply rubs the state of the economy in your face.

Sales are no longer one of those events that you look forward to, it’s to be expected every couple of months. Retailers are really killing it with the sales, it makes me not want to shop at all. I don’t mind a good bargain, but let’s not overkill it with 90% off.