Cardigan Empire

Salt Lake City Fashion Stylist

Thrifty Penny: Markdowns

‘Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor‘ (Samuel Johnson)

Ok, here is my disclaimer. 
I do not speak as an official representative of any of these companies.  The information I present here is based on personal experience and may or may not be company policy.

STORE MARKDOWN SCHEDULE
Anthropologie
TUESDAYS
True for online and in stores.  Shop early for the best selection. New shipments Monday through Thursday.  Semi-Annual sales around Christmas and during the Summer.  Also I recommend adding your birthdate to your Anthro account.
Banana Republic
SUNDAYS
Not a rule (may not happen every Sunday) but definitely a good suggestion.  New Shipments Mondays and Thursdays.
Dillards
1st OF THE MONTH
additional discounts announced on Wednesday’s.  Regular weekly shipment receipts.
Forever21
MONDAYS
Not a rule (does not happen every monday) but definitely a good suggestion.  Occurs regularly as dictated by corporate.  New shipments multiple times a week.
Gap/Gap Kids/Baby Gap
WEDNESDAYS
New shipments twice a week.
Gymboree
MONDAYS
Usually every other week.  Also watch for gymbucks and end of season sales. 
H&M
END OF EVERY OTHER MONTH
These are end of season sales, the current sale (Spring 2011) started on Tuesday, March 29th.  New shipments weekly.
J. Crew
TUESDAYS
Not a rule (does not happen every Tuesday) but definitely a good suggestion.
Janie & Jack

THURSDAYS
Usually every other week.  Also watch for end of season sales. 
Kohls
WEEKLY
Regular one days sales and weekend sales.  Also watch for lowest price of the season sales.
The Limited

SEASONAL
Markdowns at the end of season.  New shipments multiple times a month.
Loft (& Ann Taylor


SEASONAL
New shipments Monday and Friday.  Apply for an Ann Taylor Credit Card to earn $20 in rewards for every 2,000 pts of s
Macy’s
SUNDAY-WEDNESDAY
Macy’s starts their markdowns on Sunday, and work to be 100% marked down by Wednesday, close of business. 75% off, you should get it, as it will rarely go any lower. The next week they will box it up and ship it out to their clearance stores.  Also watch for “wear red” (extra 20% off) days and semi-annual sales in different departments.
Nordstrom
SALE SCHEDULE

  • Half-Yearly Sale for Women and Kids—starts Wednesday, May 25
  • Half-Yearly Sale for Men—starts Friday, June 17
  • Anniversary Sale—starts Friday, July 15 and ends Sunday, July 31
  • Half-Yearly Sale for Women and Kids—starts Wednesday, November 2
  • Half-Yearly Sale for Men—starts Sunday, December 25 online, and Monday, December 26 in-store 

Also shop for additional savings at Nordstrom Rack and Last Chance.
Talbots


MONTHLY

Sign up for e-mails to receive regular promotion notices.
Target

SEE SCHEDULE
Monday – Electronics, Kids Clothing and Stationary (Cards, GiftWrap, etc.)
Tuesday – Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and Market (food items)
Wednesday – Men’s Clothing, Toys, Lawn & Garden, Health and Beauty items
Thursday – House Wares, Lingerie, Sporting Goods, Shoes, Music / Movies, Books, Decor and Luggage
Friday – Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry

50% off the day after holiday for three days
75% off the fourth day after holiday for three days
90% off the seventh day after holiday for 1-2 days

Target rarely marks down non-holiday items below a 75% off discount. And if the price ends in the number 4, you may be looking at your last chance to buy.

Victoria’s Secret
ANNUAL & SEMI-ANNUALS SALES January & July
White House | Black Market
AS NEEDED
Join Black Book (free customer service program):

Once your merchandise purchases reach a net of $300 you will obtain Black Book membership status. As a Black Book Member* you can look forward to these benefits:
Preliminary Black Book benefits include:

  • Be the first to know about newest collections, sales, and offers
  • Preview new collections via email

Black Book (once your merchandise purchases reach $300) benefits may include :

  • 5% off every merchandise purchase
  • Birthday bonuses
  • Double discount days
  • Invitations to special parties and events
  • Private sales

*To be eligible for birthday bonus benefits, Black Book members must have shopped with WHBM during the past 12 months.

Once again this list is not an official statement from any of these fine retail establishments.  It may contain errors or inconsistencies. 

Please pretty please, share what you know or have experienced.




Let Cardigan Empire search out the thriftiest option for you.  A complete Fashion Package: combines a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session
Feed me fashionably fresh

Thrifty Penny: Price Adjustment

 
‘Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’
Price adjustments are slightly different than return policies. With price adjustments, you can still get the difference in cost even if the product has already been opened or worn, as long as you have your original receipt.
STORE PRICE ADJUSTMENT POLICY
Anthropologie
14 days
with original purchase date or date of shipment(you can use your anthro card as receipt)
Banana Republic
14 days
one time adjustment within 14 days of purchase. For an online purchase, call 1-888-BRSTYLE or send an email message including order number in your email message.
Dillards
No policy
Forever21
No policy
Gap/Gap Kids/Baby Gap
14 days
one time adjustment within 14 days of purchase. For an online purchase, call 1-888-GAPSTYLE or send an email message including order number in your email message.
Gymboree
7 days
One-time price adjustment on any item within 7 days of initial purchase with original receipt. To receive a price adjustment for an online purchase, email us at [email protected], contact customer service at 1-877-4-GYMWEB or send the entire packing slip to: Gymboree Online Store, Attn: Price Adjustments, 2299 Kids Way, Dixon, CA 95620. Forms must be postmarked within 14 days of the order date noted on the packing slip. Price adjustments will not be allowed on some orders that receive promotion discounts (e.g. Gymbucks). If the price adjustment brings the purchase below the required earning amount for a coupon (e.g. Gymbucks), the coupon will be decremented or deactivated. Online orders can only receive price adjustments as a result of a change to the price of the item at gymboree.com. Online orders cannot receive price adjustments in our retail stores.
H&M
14 days
One-time price adjustment will be granted when an original sales receipt is presented within 14 days of purchase.
J. Crew
7 days
one-time price adjustment on full-price merchandise within 7 days of the retail purchase or mail order ship date if accompanied by the original receipt.
Janie & Jack

7 days
One-time price adjustment on any item within 7 days of initial purchase with original receipt. To receive a price adjustment for an online purchase, email us at [email protected], contact customer service at 1.877.449.8800 or send the entire packing slip to: Janie and Jack Online Shop, Attn: Price Adjustments, 2299 Kids Way, Dixon, CA 95620. Forms must be postmarked within 14 days of the order date noted on the packing slip.
Kohls


14 days
with original dated sales receipt (not available on clearance markdowns)
The Limited

14 days
one time adjustment within 14 days. For online purchases, contact our customer service center by phone or e-mail within fourteen days of the purchase date. Call toll free at 1-877-LTD-1963 (1-877-583-1963) between the hours of 6 a.m. – midnight EST, 7 days a week or e-mail us and include your order number in the e-mail message.
Loft (& Ann Taylor


7 days
One price adjustment for merchandise purchased at full-price, which has been marked down for the first time, may be made within 7 days from the original date of purchase. Price adjustments are not eligible on special promotions, including %’s off (e.g., 25%, 40%, and 50% etc.) and $’s off. Please note, our stores are not able to process price adjustments for online orders. To request a one-time price adjustment, please e-mail us at [email protected] within the 7-day window. Should you be eligible for a price adjustment, we will gladly credit your original form of payment within 1 week of receipt of your email and send you an email reply confirmation. Depending on your credit card cycle, however, please allow 1-2 cycles for the credit to appear. Should you not be eligible for a price adjustment, we will reply with an email, as well.
Macy’s
14 days
With original dated receipt in stores.
Submit request for adjustment on online purchases here
Nordstrom
14 days
With original dated receipt in stores.
Talbots


14 days
With original dated receipt in stores.
Target

Same week or following week
If Target advertises a lower price either the same week or the week following your purchase, bring in your original sales receipt to Guest Services for an adjustment.
Victoria’s Secret
14 days in store
21 days online
White House | Black Market
14 days
With original dated receipt in stores. A one time price adjustment may be made by calling 877.948.2525 for online and catalog purchases.

If you are outside a merchandiser’s price adjustment window, but within the return window, and have not worn the item,  bring the actual item into the store with its original receipt, return it and repurchase it.  Again this option only works if you haven’t yet used the item.

Let Cardigan Empire search out the thriftiest option for you.  A complete Fashion Package: combines a theoretical look book & a practical virtual shopping session
Feed me fashionably fresh