Are we all being ripped off?

giftedmom

Tue, Apr 16 2024, 11:35 pm

It’s a short season. I shop sales for 90% of my kids wardrobes.
For a style conscious pre/teen you can still get basics on sale so that you only have to pay for current season tops.
For boys and little kids you can 100% get sales.
Bonus is you don’t spend on clothes at a time when you’re spending on so many other things ie before YT and the new school year.

chestnut

Tue, Apr 16 2024, 11:37 pm

agreer wrote:

Yes, we are being ripped off 100%

Why do they charge so much? BECAUSE THEY CAN
Because people will think it's better quality if it's more expensive
Because people feel pressure to only shop at certain stores (I.e. not Carter's)
Because people will pay extra money for tznius items (but then why do some stores sell non-tznius stuff?!)
... basically as long as there's demand, they will supply it.
As long as people shop there, they will charge as much as they can get away with.

If half their customer base decided to stop shopping there, they would either lower prices or close down (b/c they wouldn't be making enough to live).

Yeah, this. They obviously sell most of their merchandise at this price, so they continue charging it. It'll be on sale after pesach.

amother

Celeste

Tue, Apr 16 2024, 11:37 pm

I feel like the Jewish stores have to charge so much because they have so much leftover clothing after each season and they do all the legwork for us. The prices you are paying are for the time you are saving from having to go to tons of malls and find tzniyus clothing. If you do have time and go to outlet store you could really find beautiful things for much cheaper. Time is money.

chestnut

Tue, Apr 16 2024, 11:40 pm

Junees outlet is open now in Brooklyn, Lakewood, and 5 towns if you're anywhere near those places. In Brooklyn, not a big selection of summer shabbos/Yom tov things yet, though.

amother

Winterberry

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 12:02 am

The prices are wildly out of control.

Not sure what I'm going to do when my kids get older and I'll need to buy them these clothes. Might have to work a second job.

amother

Winterberry

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 12:03 am

amother Ghostwhite wrote:

https://www.nordstromrack.com/s/koko-and-mason-long-sleeve-tie-waist-maxi-dress/7365850?origin=category-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FWomen%2FClothing%2FDresses&color=690

https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....r=410

https://www.nordstromrack.com/.....r=302

Try Dress Blank too- reasonable prices

What is a dress bank? Like a gemach? Consignment store?

amother

Slategray

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 12:05 am

How can you compare chain stores to mom and pop stores? Do people here not understand how different their costs are?? I think people need a business education in high school so we can discuss facts instead of feelings.

amother

Oldlace

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 12:56 am

justforfun87 wrote:

OK now I'm pissed. I rarely ever buy from Jewish owned clothing companies but I have been browsing a bit as I'm trying to find some things for my daughter.

I've bought in the past and spent 150 on dresses that look like they came from Sheinn and the buttons have fallen off after one wear.

I'm not even talking about that. I'm complaining about the prices. How is it possible that every website I went to today the dresses are just about MINIMUM 85 dollars. FOR A COTTON WEEKDAY MAXI DRESS!! Most dresses are 140!!

I guess I'm going to answer my own question is it because it is small businesses and they need to make a profit? Is there no where to get just a normal freaking tznius dress for I don't know I'm being generous here.... 50 dollars?

If you think they are ripping you off then why are you shopping there?

WhatFor

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 1:53 am

Op, first of all, boutique stores are nearly always more expensive than huge department stores. Of course you can buy and sell for cheaper when you're purchasing a hundred times the amount of one tiny store.

Second, when you have specialty stores, like a frum store (or let's say a plus-size only store, or a maternity only store) they're doing the work of either sourcing only the clothing you're looking for or hiring people specifically to make certain clothing. It's not necessarily a rip-off, you're paying more because more work has to go into creating a store that caters only to that purpose. A lot of people are happy to pay for it because it saves them time. You can also buy some tzniut (or, to use my other examples, plus-size, or maternity) clothing on the sales rack at Macy's, Century 21, Nordstrom, etc. You'll just have to spend more time looking through a million things that are nonstarters.

But you don't need to shop where everyone is shopping. You can spend less, you'll just end up spending more time.

amother

Tanzanite

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 2:08 am

This is why I won't shop frum stores if at all possible. I waited until my girl is too tall for target etc to be covering her knees. But Target dresses often look like the frum stores... I also got a great long maxi type skirt for my daughter from there a year ago. Kicking myself I didn't get 1 in the next two sizes too... and so cheap. $15?

Now that my daughter needs longer stuff- I shop around. Amazon has some amazing stuff- just sort it. I got a great top for myself from there. I also did Shein. I can't afford frum stores and it doesn't save much time for me anyways as the stores near me aren't open convenient hours, I would likely have to take off from work to shop...

A quick amazon search for modest dress+girls+size had a lot of options.

amother

Jean

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 2:08 am

justforfun87 wrote:

I was being generous when I said 50 dollars. Even that for a kids dress I think is ridiculous. I'm browsing for my daughter who wears women's sizes. I'm just disgusted that literally spandex dresses are over 100!

I do hate shopping but from my understanding it's not easy to just find dresses that are tznius at the Rack etc. I know it exists but higher neck, sleeves would require a lot of time to find..

Here is your answer. We are not being ripped off, there are lots of non- jewish stores to shop at. You are paying for convenience. No one is forcing anyone to shop anywhere but we can all agree that shopping at a store where 90% of items agree with your standards vs 5% at h&m is a great convenience that makes it worthwhile for many of us to spend more $$.

amother

Nemesia

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 4:05 am

amother Brass wrote:

I went to Kidichic today and found really cute dresses for $50 and lower. I was actually surprised to see such good prices in a Jewish store. Not sure the quality but I’ll take it for the affordability.

I second Kidichic , they carry till size 20 and have excellent things for normal prices.

amother

Mulberry

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 4:52 am

justforfun87 wrote:

H&M and Zara have tznius dresses and skirts all the time. And they are affordable

amother

Pearl

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 5:48 am

I have worked in this business and can assure you that the higher costs are due to the smaller manufacturing runs, and in general the quantity not bad ethics.

amother

NeonPurple

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 5:57 am

I look at it this way: we are paying a premium for the convenience of shopping and knowing everything is tznius. Most of my favorite skirts and shirts are from old navy. Perfect necklines and length. Target is also a favorite, although they're usually not cheap. Still, it's under $50 for a dress. I've also found gorgeous dresser from Walmart online! Marshals and TJ Maxx also have great finds from time to time, and you can shop online for both stores as well.

Nowadays it's so easy to filter for neckline and sleeve length when shopping online. Try shopping online from stores that are easyish to return to. There are so many options out there if you want to spend the time.

English3

Wed, Apr 17 2024, 7:48 am

My two week olds wardrobe:

jacket 70 dollars
Jacket and blankets set 80
Stretchies at least seven worth 30 to sixty dollars
A stretchie,blanket,bonnet worth at least 120

These are all gifts for a tiny person worn maximum two, three months.
Its crazy what we have become, my princess has more expensive wardrobe then any of her siblings.