Top Five Sample Sale Sites for Fashion
March 4, 2010 @ 9:17 am
Written by Jaime Palmucci
Sample Sale sites are amazing ways to access health, beauty, fashion and lifestyle items that normally would be out of our (okay, my) reach, and they’re priced to make these luxuries an easy and fun way to add some more glam and style to your lifestyle.
Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing with you my top five sample sale sites for a couple of different genres (including beauty, accessories and more), but I thought that we’d start with the one that gets most people hooked: Fashion.
5. Rue La La: one of the original sample sale sites, Rue La La has done a great job of growing with their fan base. They have a couple of issues that lead them to be listed at number five (extremely slow shipping, higher prices and minimal quantities which equal fast sellouts) but the site has been known to get some amazing brands that the others can’t touch.
4. Hautelook: Flexible shipping costs is the name of Hautelook, and it’s one of the reasons they’re so fabulous. Their ship time is slightly faster than Rue La La, and they have a fun assortment of fashion options for men, women and children (I’ve even seen some pet fashions, too!). Hautelook tends to have the most sales listed daily… usually around 14 total.
3. ideeli: Because of past experiences with ideeli (and some amazingly stellar buys that I’ve come across), they land at number three. I’ve heard of some issues with the company but, other than extended shipping times (yes, you have to be very, VERY patient with most of these sample sale sites… but the price is worth the wait!), I haven’t encountered them. I shop almost exclusively from their ideeli red sales, because they tend to have the best markdowns.
2. Billion Dollar Babes: I got hooked on BDB after a couple of awesome denim sales, and I’ve found some amazing steals on the site (like a pair of $242 Current/Elliott jeans for under $30!). Slow shipping is a given, but they can have some amazing prices. Usually, Billion Dollar Babes only hosts new sales three days a week (Mon, Wed, Fri) with three sales each… wish they had more!
1. Gilt Groupe: How many of you are surprised that Gilt made number one? … none of you? Oh. Well, there’s a reason for that. Gilt is the best in the business because of two things: great selection and great prices. Another big bonus that has happened more recently? Their shipping costs, while high, are actually paying for shipping, because you can get your stuff quickly. I’ve been known to receive same week deliveries from Gilt. And, with their expansion into Gilt Fuse (a more affordable Gilt), Gilt Man and a few others, they just keep rising.
Do you agree with this list, or think there’s a site that got left out? Any sites you haven’t tried yet… or have a personal favorite? Share it with me in the comments or by email… you can decide who really takes the cake!
To see more of Jaime’s work, check out DenimDebutante.com.
About the Author: Jaime Palmucci
Are these websites, I never knew they existed. I had heard of sample sales in warehouses or hotels, but they never seem to be as good as they’re trumped up to be! I will definitely check these out!
Great selections, all. I think ideeli is my fave right now!
I’m glad I came across this post. You just pointed us to some of the best shops online. Thanks for the reviews, links, and tips!
Thank you so much. will have to check all these out and hope they ship to Canada. Just noticed they are all said to be exclusive memberships. How do they screen? Is it really exclusive (not nice), or just a way for them to collect information?
.-= canadianmom´s last blog ..Canadianmom: There’s a pro #hcr rally in D.C. , but I don’t think they will get a as much air time as opponents. They look too sane. No racist signs. ( : =-.
Gilt as number one?? DEFINITELY not. While I agree with the prices, their shipping is waaaaaaay too high, I pay $12 for shipping and the fastest I have ever gotten anything from them is one month after I ordered it. I think BDB is the best, I usually get it a week or two after I buy and then it comes over night to my house. Nice list though. I just ordered something from Beyond the Rack (UGGs at AMAZING prices) so I will see how the shipping goes…
[...] Top Five Sample Sale Sites for Fashion [...]
I’ve heard about sample sales, but wasn’t sure how it was different that something like bluefly, net-a-porter or overstocked which seem to have prices just as good (at least at first glance.) Maybe I’m wrong.
A lot of these don’t ship to Canada, but billion dollar babes were very quick to reply via twitter to let me know that they did which impressed me. I was got a red flag about hautelook after reading some very negative comments about costumer service on their facebook page.
I did find a Canadian/New York site, ilovesamplesales. Has anybody tried rownine?
I came across a list of new york/online sample sales here: nycinsiderguide.com/New-York-City-Shopping-and-Sample-Sales.html
In terms of designer glasses clearlycontacts has prices have bigger discounts (with better selection and return policies) than I could see in one sample sale.
I was a little bit concerned about ordering something like gosmile at half price. Are they selling it at that price because of the shelf price, or am I passing up a great deal? (I can get free shipping a good discount from a Canadian supplier online, but it would still save a few dollars if I wasn’t suspicious about the due date on sample sale cosmetics.)
p.s. excuse typos above. One of my little ones was trying to help me type.