Online vs. in store, deals

Friday was payday, so I was surfing around on Banana Republic's online store and saw that they have a ton of summer clothes on sale. Shoes, dresses and lots of cute shorts!!! Items for like $19.99. So instead of buying online, DH and I took the kids Saturday to the real store since it's just around the corner from us. We were both sooooooo disappointed...First, they didn't have ANYTHING they had online. I asked about their t-shirt dresses, nope. I asked about some cute halters I saw, nope. So then I go over to the shoes and notice that the exact same shoes are NOT on sale in the store, but on sale online. Does anyone know why they do this?? Why stores don't carry the same things they do online and why they don't offer the same sales?! Is it because you make up the cost in shipping? I don't get it. Totally frustrating.

I think it's 3 fold.

1. To make you angry of course!

2. In hope that since they got you in the store, you'd just go ahead and buy.

3. I think online is like a different market for them. There are probably items that are offered in a different region then yours and for whatever reason, maybe they didn't "test" well for your region. So they're available online, b/c everything is available there! Also, I think they have a larger "stock" to be able to provide better prices.

But mostly I think it's the first one.

basicaly thats the reason. sometimes they have specials to clear out the warehouses, but do you think the store didn't update the status of the clothes yet?

when sales are going on at A&E its a cheaper sale in the store then on the net
they guy told me always check the store

It's probably because they are trying to clear out the inventory and therefore don't ship the items out to the different stores. There's a lot of stores that carry more stuff online than they do in the B&M stores.

With that being said, if you print a copy of the page with the sale price and take it to the B&M store and they have the exact same item at a higher cost, then they will usually price match it. Most stores will price match their online price. However, I've even done that with different stores (have Circuit City price match a Best Buy online price, or vice versa). But, it usually has to be the exact same item. HTH.

I think also in the stores they hope to sell "in season" stuff for regular price to up that individual stores profits. I know here not much summer stuff is on sale because the stores still have time to sell it at full price. I think the company as a whole though won't be shipping it to their retailers at this point and are just wanting to get rid of it.

My answer was probably repetitive, I didn't read all the replies

Oh that's okay Monica! Thanks for your responses everyone! Makes sense now. I'm just never comfortable buying online, clothes that is. Gifts for the kids, like toys, fine. Or bedroom type stuff like a comforter, but clothes...I want to try it on! Sizes vary too much.

I suppose that's another reason they can make things cheaper online - to make you feel better for going through the process, taking a risk on sizes, and paying high shipment costs.

I'm the same way about buying online. I've gotten a little better about it, I stick to brands that I know fit me well and that I know my size in.

You could always try them on in the store and order online. But, I hate waiting for new stuff to arrive... I need that instant gratification. LOL

it is frustrating, however I normally will only buy form on-line when the shipping is either $5 or less, I prefer free and I can return it to the store thats a BIG plus in my book.

I'm not really sure why that happens, but its pretty frustrating!