Sticker SHOCK

[Shropskr]

I know I'm ad normal and it's a good thing.  I shop a yard sell and thrift stores mostly BUT. I returned a too small Xmas present with my dd 6.  Her outfit was too small.  Got a $20.80 gift card good so far.  Went to look at clothes she could use first the dress she saw.  Only 1 in her size$35.00 and that was on sale from $55.  what?  She's six not going to prom.  It wasn't even a special one like Easter or Christmas just an everyday dress.

Next the shirts long sleeved  $22. huh?

Search search finally found 1 long sleeved shirt$9, short sleeved, $5 clearance and a shoulder wrap $7
With the 20% off coupon I had.  it worked.

Geez. I don't think I'll ever be normal again.  I thought I was getting ripped off at goodwill when they raised there prizes to 4.99 for a kids shirt.

I'm still in sticker shock.

[marty998]

I know I'm ad normal and it's a good thing.  I shop a yard sell and thrift stores mostly BUT. I returned a too small Xmas present with my dd 6.  Her outfit was too small.  Got a $20.80 gift card good so far.  Went to look at clothes she could use first the dress she saw.  Only 1 in her size$35.00 and that was on sale from $55.  what?  She's six not going to prom.  It wasn't even a special one like Easter or Christmas just an everyday dress.

Next the shirts long sleeved  $22. huh?

Search search finally found 1 long sleeved shirt$9, short sleeved, $5 clearance and a shoulder wrap $7
With the 20% off coupon I had.  it worked.

Geez. I don't think I'll ever be normal again.  I thought I was getting ripped off at goodwill when they raised there prizes to 4.99 for a kids shirt.

I'm still in sticker shock.

You're upset about your kids shirts costing $4.99? Spare a thought for the 10 year old Bangladeshi girls earning 20c a piece to make them.

I know we all want things cheap, but there are global consequences when we in the West turn the screws on clothing manufactures.

[kt]

I know I'm ad normal and it's a good thing.  I shop a yard sell and thrift stores mostly BUT. I returned a too small Xmas present with my dd 6.  Her outfit was too small.  Got a $20.80 gift card good so far.  Went to look at clothes she could use first the dress she saw.  Only 1 in her size$35.00 and that was on sale from $55.  what?  She's six not going to prom.  It wasn't even a special one like Easter or Christmas just an everyday dress.

Next the shirts long sleeved  $22. huh?

Search search finally found 1 long sleeved shirt$9, short sleeved, $5 clearance and a shoulder wrap $7
With the 20% off coupon I had.  it worked.

Geez. I don't think I'll ever be normal again.  I thought I was getting ripped off at goodwill when they raised there prizes to 4.99 for a kids shirt.

I'm still in sticker shock.

You're upset about your kids shirts costing $4.99? Spare a thought for the 10 year old Bangladeshi girls earning 20c a piece to make them.

I know we all want things cheap, but there are global consequences when we in the West turn the screws on clothing manufactures.

that was from goodwill, where presumably they are second hand and were donated for free. not quite the same as expecting as shop to stock $4.99 shirts.

[Anatidae V]

Agreed, if a NEW item is more expensive due to better conditions for its maker, that is a good thing, not a bad one.

[cthoops]

if a NEW item is more expensive due to better conditions for its maker, that is a good thing, not a bad one.

I agree, but the problem is that the $55 six year-old child's dress is not more expensive due to better conditions for the factory worker.  Someone's making a killing off of that profit, and it sure isn't the 10-year old girl in Bangladesh.

After watching the quality of clothes at the mall go down, down, down (paper-thin turtleneck for $20 anyone?) and reading about the impact of "fast fashion" on the workers and the environment, I simply can't shop retail for clothes any more with only a few exceptions (underwear, socks, shoes).  I buy exclusively from our local consignment and thrift shops (allowing my money to benefit a local business without further enriching the fashion industry) or I make my own (giving me the satisfaction of knowing that I made it myself). 

[dragoncar]

American apparel is a US company with fair wages.

Why exploit your manufacturing employees when you can exploit your teenaged models?

[golden1]

A lot of these companies have grotesque sticker prices but then ALWAYS have a 40% off sale going on so people think they are getting a deal.  It is pretty much standard practice. 

[PantsOnFire]

Back in the day, the rule of thumb in textile costing was "double, double, plus 10"(at least I think it was +10... I took that class some 15 years ago.)  In other words, if it costs $5 in raw materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead to produce a garment, you double that ($10) then double that ($20) then add 10% and you have a full retail price of $22.  This allows for a slim profit margin after you weigh in the costs of design, logistics, merchandising, unsold goods (some sizes don't sell by the end of the season and they end up at 80% off to get them out of the store), the retailer's stake, standard markdowns, etc. 

There are of course more specific calculations used, but the rule of thumb gets you in the ballpark. 

[marty998]

American apparel is a US company with fair wages.

Why exploit your manufacturing employees when you can exploit your teenaged models?

Yes, this is a good point. That is why I said I love their clothes for kids. I haven't purchased anything else from them. Actually, I haven't purchased from then since I realized about those weird issues.

Geez. I don't think I'll ever be normal again.  I thought I was getting ripped off at goodwill when they raised there prizes to 4.99 for a kids shirt.

I'm still in sticker shock.

You're upset about your kids shirts costing $4.99? Spare a thought for the 10 year old Bangladeshi girls earning 20c a piece to make them.

I know we all want things cheap, but there are global consequences when we in the West turn the screws on clothing manufactures.

that was from goodwill, where presumably they are second hand and were donated for free. not quite the same as expecting as shop to stock $4.99 shirts.

Ahh ok, I stick my hand up and apologise. My bad.