7 Tips to Get the Most Out of a Sample Sale

Shoppers looking for designer labels after last week’s Spring 2010 Fashion Week in New York may soon have the opportunity to grab clothes by some of their favorite designers for as much as 80% off. The catch: avoiding some common sales traps.

These deals are available at sample sales, which sell unsold stock and returns, as well as items that never made it to the runway, let alone the racks. Sample sales have exploded amid the recession, says Michelle Madhok, the founder of deal tracker SheFinds.com. “All these [liquidation] companies are trying to benefit from the down market,” she says. Beyond the traditional sales for women’s fashion, there are now sample sales for men’s and kids’ fashion, home goods and even beauty products. Many sales have also moved online to capture a wider audience of shoppers.

The sales represent an opportunity to stay trendy on the cheap because most of the goods come from designers’ latest collections. “Designers just haven’t given luxury consumers any compelling reasons to buy,” says Pam Danziger, the founder of Unity Marketing, a market researcher that tracks spending by wealthy consumers and on high-end goods. Average spending at luxury brands and boutiques is down 12% compared with the first quarter of this year, she says. That leaves a lot of inventory unsold.

Of course, snagging a pair of $330 Galliano skinny jeans for $59 (82% off) or $470 Marc Jacobs sandals for $99 (79% off) doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting a great deal. Sample sales are known for frenzied crowds and impulse buys – a risky environment for the usual no-return policies. “People will just grab things,” says Rachel Weingarten, a New York-based stylist and personal image consultant. “They’re dazzled by the designer labels.”

Here’s how to make sure you’re getting a good deal:

Mark your calendar. To gauge demand, many sample sales require advance registration. Keep up with the latest sale notices at Daily Candy, The Budget Fashionista and SheFinds, among other sites. They’ll tell you where to go, what wares you’ll find and how big of a discount to expect.

Measure everything. Ignore sizes on the label, says Linda Arroz, a stylist based in Los Angeles. Many items at sample sales aren’t standard -- they were fit to a specific person, or otherwise altered to look good on the runway. “The fits are usually way off,” she says. “Don’t assume.” Try on the items you can and bring a tape measure to gauge what you can’t. For online sales, which primarily feature unsold items from stores, first check the designer’s web site for sizing.

Gauge prices. True sample sale prices are below wholesale (i.e., less than half the suggested retail price on the tag), says Cheryl Holland Bridges, the director of the Center for Retailing Studies at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Be cautious about buying anything with less of a discount. You might be able to find it cheaper at an outlet, a discount luxury retailer like Bluefly.com (BFLY) or secondhand on eBay (EBAY).

Check trends. “Sample sale pieces are probably the items they couldn’t sell, that no one wanted,” Weingarten says. That begs the question -- do you? “If it doesn’t flatter you, it’s a waste of money,” she says.

Review quality. True samples may be designed slightly differently or cut from a different fabric than the piece that eventually made it to stores, Bridges says. Don’t assume that an item is in perfect condition either. Check for wear and tear.

Hunt for codes. Online sample sale sites like RueLaLa, Gilt Groupe and HauteLook require an invitation or code to register. (Membership is free.) Google the site name and “code” to see if you can snag an extra discount. For example, use code OPRAH to join Billion Dollar Babes and save $25 on your first purchase.

Work your way up. Most online sample-sale shoppers browse from the top of the page down, so start at the bottom to increase your odds of snagging something, Madhok says. But don’t let the item linger in your virtual shopping cart too long. Some sites dump unpurchased goods back into inventory after 10 minutes or so.