There is a reason I’m not a sale shopper. I wish I could say that reason was oodles of money. But no, the reason is actually impatience. Delayed gratification? No thanks. I want my stuff and I want it now! (Please.) I started a new budget just a few short days ago but I had started practicing for it at the beginning of the month. I made a deal with myself — whatever was left in my cart on November 20th I would buy. So above is how my cart looked on November 1st. And then the waiting began. I am terrible at waiting. I show up early to everything. I walk like I have somewhere to go even when I have nowhere to go. I can’t stand lines or roadblocks of any kind. You get the idea.
The first sign of trouble came last week. I check my cart and — GASP — Leifsdottir’s Still-Life Blouse (now $120) was sold out in my size. No!! It was on sale and everything! Devastated, I checked the product page to see that only a 4, 6 and 10 were left. But I couldn’t cheat…what’s a gal to do? Then I checked the lovely jcbellemarie’s blog and discovered that Leifsdottir was on Gilt Fuse. My size was sold out but I decided to grab the 6 while I could. I mean, it’s not cheating if you buy it from another store, is it? Thanks for your opinions earlier on the top. It was very helpful to get your thoughts.
Crisis averted, or so I thought. As I mentioned a friend & Anthropologie employee kindly extended me her friends & family discount for a limited time. I was told it would last until November 30th but it cut off early. I was incredibly bummed out to see my cart total go up by over $200. (By the way, if you’re an Anthropologie employee not currently sharing your discount, let’s chat! Email me.) The loss of the discount meant I had to re-evaluate my cart. I removed a couple of things. As for the suddenly-there Ganache Pumps ($90, link to Endless.com), I have no idea how those possibly got into my cart.
Not that it matters anyway because a day later those were sold out too. Anthro! This is so not funny. When Anthro reduces inventory they really reduce inventory. Ba-dum-chick. I ended up ordering those from Endless — review coming next week after they arrive. That was Tuesday and it’s not like much would happen between now and then. Right? Right??!?!?
Sigh. WRONG. I finally placed my order this morning. But instead of the 5 items I started with I only ordered 2. On the plus side I saved a bunch of money. So I guess there’s a happy ending for my wallet. But this spoiled gal wanted it all and I’m sad to give some of it up.
What’s in your anthropologie.com cart at the moment? Are there any items you missed out on? Has anyone else been attacked by the dreaded Out of Stock bar?
roxy that happens all of the time for me too! I swear items that are new to anthro go out of stock within a week! I've been having to order items from the stores that are still listed as new arrivals on the website. I swear anthro has like 5 items in each size or something. I was going to take the plunge for the garnett glow dress today, and I just saw that it isn't online anymore… What's up with that? They had plenty in stock yesterday. Now I get all paranoid that if I don't buy something immediately after it comes out, I'm going to miss out on it cometely. Frustrating.
I am totally confused with Anthropologie right now. A lot of their items are selling fast online.
I also noticed that the Ganache Pumps are suddenly back in stock in white. So odd. I'm sure the casual customer wouldn't notice the difference, but for the Anthro stalkers it's a bit off-putting.
I just discovered your blog Roxy!! As if I didn't spend enough time trolling the Anthropologie site, now I'll be on sites ABOUT Anthropology!! Crazy. I think I treat my cart as a fantasy closet…it's so much fun to visit. Love your blog!
Gosh Roxy, I've had the Snow Queen Dress on my wish list (I don't keep anything in the shopping cart) since it debuted but I just went to the nearest Anthro today and was heartbroken. You haven't posted a review of it yet so I'm assuming you haven't tried it on, but I was so sad. I looked like a three year old in a comically voluminous tutu. If I were 5'11" instead of 5'7", I think it would have worked. And the color was so lovely! Oi.Anyhow, I'm sad to see that the Scarf-tied Oxfords have completely disappeared from Anthro's online listing. That and the Winter White Oxfords have moved on too.
Yes, I have noticed the same thing. I think they are trying to make us push the trigger quicker. I also find that when an item goes out of stock, I want it that much more-enough to hunt it down in stores. They are definately smartening up!
I agree with Blondmoma,if I really want something I hunt it down with the help of CS. I've been pretty lucky in being able to locate items that are out of stock on line.
This happens all the time to me too! I guess we should be glad that items are selling well, which means Anthro will be around for awhile. I'm still *kicking* myself for not getting the Sommerset cape. I loved that thing but waited too long and it sold out the one week Mr. Draw and I went on vacation. Le boo. It definitely makes a gal want to buy things *now* instead of later, FP be damned.
roxy this post made me feel like I am not alone in my anthro stalking craziness! I do the same thing – try to wait things out but as soon as things start disappearing I have to order them, budget be damned. it's a sickness I tell ya. Right now I am desperately trying to make myself wait until monday before ordering the quince cardigan and the soft drapes blouse. You just looked so cute in them that I had to have them! Hopefully they won't sell out or go on backorder before then! It seems like items are going on backorder as well as selling out much more frequently too.
Hi Roxy! I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only crazy Anthro lunatic! There have been many, many times where I've kept things in my basket and the next day it's 'out of stock'…and the next week it comes back.
I have a few things in my cart. It's like $500! I won't be pulling the trigger soon. However, I am sorry I didn't get something that has sold out. I'm glad I can still see it. Perhaps it will be put in stock again.
the whole limited-stock thing is awful for the consumer, good for the retail store. I just placed 2 orders from F21 because I saw half an hour later that my close-to-dream-skirt was added in a different color. Once something goes out of stock anywhere but JCrew, I'm pretty much not going to find it so I bite the bullet if I really like something. did you get your leifsdottir GILT purchase yet? I absolutely love my 2 skirts!
So far I've only saved two things in my Anthro shopping cart to consider later, and both were sold out the NEXT DAY! When one of them later reappeared on the site, I immediately bought it. Instead of pondering forever as I usually do. So if limited stock is a strategy to make people buy, I guess it's working in my case.
Hahaha, oh I HATE that. I think a lot of retailers are carrying less inventory now with the bad economy, so things sell out sosososoquick. I've noticed that with Nanette Lepore as well- I'm pretty sure some of the pieces I like this year definitely won't make it to the sale section (or if it does, not in my size) and argh. Good for retailers, I suppose, but bad for me. 🙁
awe, don't be sad! just consider it a savings account for all the stuff goes on sale Thanksgiving week! I haven't even told my boyfriend yet that I will be requiring a massive Anthro shopping excursion this Tuesday…surprise baby!
Ooh, you got the Reveille Jacket! I almost bought that yesterday; can't wait to see your pics.
I used to a sale shopper, but not so much anymore. When I see something that I LOVE, I buy it. It sits in my closet. If it's within the two weeks, I'll ask for a price adjustment. If not, I have no problems paying full price for it.Plus, I just can't deal with the heart palpitations. I'm on the west coast, and the first thing I check Tuesday mornings is Anthro. The moment I wake up. And my size is usually gone.As for shoes, I learned never to wait. Not a lot of them go on sale, and they sell out. Oh! And another area that bugs me is their jewelry. A lot of the items don't make it into the store. And they sell out. I had been stalking a pair of earrings, and all of a sudden, they disappeared. Not only that, they seem to have a lot less inventory. I remember a couple of years ago, they would have tons of jewelry on sale, and now it's a paltry number. I think it's a combination of less inventory and their increased popularity. As annoying as it is to have items I want disappear, as someone who would pay full price for items, I really don't want to see what I'm wearing on another woman, and know she paid significantly less. If that were to happen, I'd go back to waiting for all their items to go on sale. It kind of builds into that uniqueness that Anthro is selling. I know they are popular, but I would probably spend less at their store if their items became the norm, and less special.Sorry for the long post.
Tien- totally agree. I am worried now that Anthro has become more popular. If it becomes "jcrewed" or "gapped" I will slow my purchases. I really dislike when I see others I work with wearing tha same clothes as me. I think unfortuntely, it is going in that direction.
that red bar came up as i was making a purchase the other day. i had just put a sale dress/cardigan in my cart and was adding other items (for free shipping), and when i returned it was sold out. 🙁
Oh Roxy, I laughed so much when reading this post, mostly because it mirrors my experience so much. I resolutely refuse to buy most things from Anthro before at least a first sale cut — I firmly believe that even though some of their things are so cute it hurts, they are ridiculously marked up, and sale time is the only time things seem sort of reasonable. However, Anthro is making this longheld practice of mine verrry difficult this season with their ridiculously low inventories — grr! Still, I stubbornly prevail, and make little whimpering sounds everytime something expires in my cart 😉
So is the Anthro F&F discount only for Anthropologie workers and to those they wish to share with?
Hi ladies! Thanks all for sharing your thoughts. To everyone that has seen an item in your cart go out of stock, I hope they pop back soon. Blondmoma, I think you are right though I will say that I will not play the "buy this now before it goes out of stock!" game for long. Diana Draw, I love your take that Anthro is sure to be around for awhile. 🙂 Tien I have the same concerns…I suppose I'm not helping the cause by writing an Anthro blog either. Interesting thoughts.Heather – hopefully my order arrives on Monday and I will snap some photos! :)Anon – yes, Anthro's F&F is limited to employees plus select other individuals. This is not uncommon; as of yet they have not ever had a public F&F sale like other retail brands.
Items sell out but they also come back in stock, are still available in stores, or are sold in other stores, or are released again in a new colorway. I wait for sales. The rare full-price item I purchased was a ~60 dollar top (Glittering Gentian) that I loved, and it went on sale before I got around to wearing it, so definitely taught me to wait. I've actually had pretty good luck waiting for clothing, but seems like the really expensive home stuff never budge.
Roxy and ladies: This was a great post and a good conversation about shopping Anthro. I am a relatively recent convert to this store since I stumbled into one in FL a couple of years ago. Didn't seem many of them in my area since they, with one or two exceptions aren't located in the normal major mall areas.I don't want to see myself coming and going, that is one reason I like Anthro. However, I do think that many of their items are a bit expensive, but I am willing to spend the dollars to not see myself coming and going and while who doesn't want a sale, I am still willing to pay full price for items I think are "special" enough. I do think retailers are really trying to retrain us shoppers from the disaster they had in 2008 with sales. There's an interesting article about this in NYTimes, I think, regarding Neiman Marcus and Saks philosophy for this year. They'd rather sell less at full price and have pent up demand then have to reduce. I think Anthro has a bit of that while they are certainly watching their inventory levels. I'll continue to watch items that I don't have to have now and think will make it to sale. I tend to try and pick items that will add to what I am lacking in my current wardrobe and also what I think I can get years of mileage out of.We all love Anthro and this crazy limited stock thing will end when either we customers get fed up or the economy picks up.Sorry for the long post! 🙂