Yup... we have something called "Choice" as well... but it varies... it can be Choice Casual, Casual Choice, or just Choice. There is a store in the Southland Mall in Hayward... same idea, but a different name. I can remember what it's called though. I think it starts with a "B." **shrugs**

Anyway... I LOVE Express as well. But I only shop there now for sales. I can't even afford the $40 button downs so how can I afford the $80 ones???

The best deal I ever got was last Christmas season's sale. I got a red cashmere hoodie for like $20, and it was $90 at one point.

I did fall victim to buying one of the skinny scarves they had for about $25. But the sweaters (cable knit, 3/4 sleeves) weren't too bad. I think about $30. Not bad and I wear them both all the time.

But save yourself the cash if you are digging the colored peacoats. Express had this cool green one for... gosh... over $100. I went to Target and got the same thing for about $30.

Wow, I hadn't noticed a decline in quality... until today. My favorite pair of jeans (which were Express jeans) split right by my crotch... and not even on the seam! :eek: Thank God I was at home when it happened. I'm so mad though! :mad:

Oh, don't even get me going on the quality of their jeans the past 2 years...we used to buy them there because they had the best selection of jeans in the short length but lately, the pairs we've given at Christmas have split by Easter. We now buy short Levis.

I was in an Express over the weekend and I seriously felt like I was at the Buckle because we were constantly getting bombarded by the employees. In the less than 10 minutes that we were in the store, four employees came up to us. I realize that they work on comission but seriously, it was a bit much.

I've noticed the decline in quality along with the increase in price. I don't buy too much there anymore as a result. I generally hit The Limited when they've got their sales going on. I also really like NY and Co. They've got good work clothes and the prices are pretty reasonable for me.

I get pissed because those stores never sell anything about a size 12. And while that's keen and peachy for most of the population...they've obviously never fitted rowers. Me and a rower friend of mine went to get nice outfits for a boat christening party, and we went into express, and the chick seriously said to us..."We don't sell things for girls your size".....excuse me, little miss size 0. Grrrrrrr.

This is why I shop at Gap and Kaufmanns and Old Navy...I can at least find things above a size 10 that actualy fit me.

Thats so bitchy. I work at the Gap and sometimes people come in that dont really fit our sizes but I would NEVER say that to them.

There are some cute dressy stuff at The Limited. They have this velvet like pant and blazer that feel so freaking comfortable. Some of The Limited stuff is expensive, but I can understand because it's dressy. But the stuff at Express is kinda casual but still expensive. The stuff I get at Express are jeans, and stuff that's under $30 or so. Those bra tank tops are freaking like $30 or something!!

Haven't read this whole thread, but I echo the thoughts that Express is getting way over priced and they definately are not worth it. I was at the mall the other day and saw a really nice halter-style top on the manequin in red, which I thought would look nice when I go out of town in a few weeks with my friends. I went in the store to find it, and not only didn't they have it in red, but it was almost fifty bucks for a flimsy little tank top that they only had in blue. I prefer stores like NY&CO and Old Navy myself over Express any day.

5-7-9 recently came back to the Baltimore area.

FYI, Express, Limited, Lerner/NY&CO, Lane Bryant, Victoria's Secret, what used to be Structure, and Abercrombie are all owned by the same company (Bath and Body Works too, but that's not what we're talking about). I've noticed over the years that Express is jacking up their prices (like everyone has mentioned), Lerner/NY & Co has changed their style of clothing from classy-work like clothes to everyday normal, trendy clothes and Abercrombie...well that's a whole different thread. I guess the owner of these companies is trying out new fashion demands, but it's backfiring in their faces. Does anyone over the age of 17 still shop at Abercrombie? I can't stand their clothing now, especially since the skirts barely cover your butt. :o

I used to love Abercrombie when I was younger but that is one other way overpriced store, especially for the age-category it targets.

I want to know what the name of that company is so I can buy stock in it, because you just named like every major retail store that highschoolers buy from. And if my brothers' girlfriends are any indication they have a RIDICULOUS amount of money to spend on clothes.



Maybe when the *really* big girls go into GAP or Express they're looking for someone else? Or things that fit everyone (earrings, mittens?) Or just inspiration? Though the girl at Express turning size 12s away.... that cracked me up. I can see her thinking she'll only ever be a size 8 if she's pregnant, and anyone in the double-digit sizes can't sit in a movie-theatre seat.

When I worked for Bath and Body Works, you got discounts at those stores as well. If I think really hard and look through some paperwork, I'm sure I'll be able to remember what the big company name is. I wish I was the CEO of that corporation.

Incorrect. Limited Brands (the name of the parent company) does not own Lerner/NY&CO or Lane Bryant or Abercrombie.

Limted Brands Inc.

They no longer own Abercrappy & Bitch as of 1998 and they sold Lerner/NYC & Co at the end of 2002. Then there's the Lerner catalog which has nothing to do with any of them.

I wonder why they sold? Seems to me like that's a bad plan, but then I guess that's why I'm not the CEO of Limited Brands, Inc.

Lerner sucks and was driving down profit margins.

Opps, sorry for the incorrect information. I didn't know they sold a few of the stores.

Between inflation and predicting/creating fashion trends, it seems par for the course for these stores to be trying to grow their loyal client base into a more upscale trendy boutique. The loyal will stay loyal and they'll cultivate new clients from the Bebe-esque stores. Higher profits and perceived value due to their marketing. Most people don't complain about poor quality-- particularly the demographic purchasing this type of clothing. I encourage everyone to keep writing letters.

Wet Seal was doing well for years as a reasonably priced retailer of trendy teen clothing and then completely lost their demo when they went from trendy hip clothing to the short lived trendy peasant clothing. They lost money and brand equity; which they have never fully recovered from.

I can tell I'm getting old when I'm walking past stores I would've shopped only a few years ago and I'm wondering if this is where prostitutes shop. :eek:

Les Wexner is his name. He owns a fair amout of New Albany/Columbus. He just built a huge mall out by my school. I've been to his property for an Otterbein Alumni event...i'm telling you, I've never see such a place in my entire life.

*bump*
So I had emailed them on Oct. 24th, finally got a BS response today saying that they'll pass it on to their merchandising team or whatever. :rolleyes:

I think that you should write a letter to the merchandising team if you have their address. It is so easy to dismiss an email with the click of the delete button. I think an actual letter will get more of a response since it is so unusual to receive one nowadays. Good luck. :)

today, i bought this gorgeous pink cardigan sweater for 40% off original price. it is beautiful. i am so proud of it

I used to love going in there and seeing what hot chicks they hired for the holiday season when it came around. It was like summer B in the dead of winter....a whole new batch.

Seriously? I've seen plenty of size 12s and 14s on the rack at Express.

I second that... I actually went shopping there for some jeans and that's ALL I could find... that and the 0s. Apparently everyone is a size 6.

I usually only shop at express during their sales (which are pretty great) but I have noticed that their prices have gone up.

Still, one of my all-time fav sweaters is from Express -- it's one of the 100% cashmere boatneck sweaters with a kangaroo pocket in the front.

ebay pic:
http://i22.ebayimg.com/02/i/02/cf/28/4b_1.JPG

My bf bought it for me in light grey in the store ($30 from $78) and I bought him a mens cashmere sweater in dark grey ($20 from $98) as part of our holiday presents last year. He saw how obsessed I was with this sweater and bought me another one in black off of ebay this summer for about the same price. :D

Now, you might attack me for this but I do like forever 21... sometimes. I'll admit that a lot of their stuff is trashy club/bar clothing (although nowhere as bad as Rave or G+G) but you can find some great bargains! Perfect for trendy stuff that you want but know won't stay in style long.

I bought a bunch of cute flirty skirts this summer (all $10-16) and got loads of compliments on them. I also found the most amazing sweatshirts there, on clearance for $4. (The same style as the Express sweaters -- cropped to the hip, kangaroo pocket, pull-over fitted hoodies) I'm going to get letters put on one, and leave the white one plain. I also found some of those thin l/s layering shirts there ($4) and a gorgeous sweater. You just have to be a careful shopper and make sure you arent buying cheap-looking or trashy stuff.

Anyway, has anyone noticed that Abercrombie has gotten ridiculously expensive?? $140ish jeans, $100+ bags? Maybe they are trying to escape the whole pastel colored sparkly stuff that draws all of the 12 year olds to the store... :rolleyes:

I walked into Express the other day and absolutely fell in love with a coat and scarf. Honestly, I locked eyes with..um...its buttons..and was in love. But then I walked over, looked at the price tag and it was $250 :-( Then I thought I could console myself with the pretty champagne colored scarf that I was also pretty enamored with...nope...it was $98. A $98 SCARF!! WHaaaat???
Im so mad at Express :-(

Heh-Heh. I was hired on as a holiday employee about 3 years ago at the Oviedo Mall. I lasted about 2 weeks before I realized it was crappy hours, crappy pay, and management was a bunch of airheads. I hate going into Express and being "attacked" by an associate the second I walk in and then being suffocated by them as I try to shop. They tell their employees to be relentless when it comes to getting a sale. You're supposed to also harass the customer in the fitting rooms by throwing a shirt over the door that you think they might like. God forbid you pick their wrong size! Then, you talk their ear off about the Express credit card. I just couldn't deal with the customers getting annoyed at the associates for doing this; I would be annoyed too if I was in their shoes. I began to hate myself and that's no fun. Plus, it's not like you get commission for all the sales you get so what's the point? I quit after 2 weeks and went back home to work at the Bloomingdale's in the Boca Town Center. The pay was better, I got commission, and they don't force you to annoy the hell out of your customers!

Sorry...double post.

I think many stores are trying to follow the new trend of expensive jeans and expensive handbags. It's always been popular (well, at least in SoFla) but I think it's caught on across the country. My sorority little is from Nebraska and was telling me that when she lived there, nobody ever wore that stuff and most people had never heard of Fendi or Burberry. When she went back there last December to visit, her old high school friends were telling her about how they drive all the way to Chicago to buy designer clothes because the malls closest to them don't carry that kind of stuff!
The problem with Abercrombie and Express trying to sell expensive handbags and jeans is that they still have a stigma as being a moderately priced clothing store. If most people are like me, they'll buy themselves a pair of Chip & Pepper jeans for $140 before they buy a pair of Abercrombie jeans. I mentioned the same thing earlier in this thread about the Express diaper bag vs. the Kate Spade diaper bag.
I guess maybe this is coming from a marketing standpoint but I think what Express and Abercrombie are doing is just a bad, bad idea. Abercrombie and Express have their niche in trendy, moderately priced clothing for high schoolers and young adults. By upping the prices and not the quality, they lose their original market. The older clientele with more money would rather spend their $140 on jeans at Neiman Marcus. I don't know of anyone who would buy a $140 pair of Express or Abercrombie jeans. I have a feeling that this price increase is going to come back to bite these companies' in their butts.

I wonder, if maybe this trend in raising the prices in normally average priced chain stores has to do with the guys? ZTAngel is right, women will not spend $140 on a pair of jeans from one store when they know they can get a "higher" brand pair for the same price. However, I think Abercrombie and Express Men are really sticking it to the guys who shop in their stores. For the AVERAGE male, there is no more expensive equivalent that doesn't cross into territory that most of them would consider gay. I do not know any girls with those $120 Abercrombie jeans, but I know plenty of guys who are buying them, because they look cool and they don't want to have to shop somewhere else.

I agree that the prices in Express are getting ridiculous and, although I have never shopped there with frequency, the recent changes in merchandise pricing have caused me to not go there at all on my shopping trips.

I do not understand why companies would push this price increase. Perhaps they are focusing on urban shoppers? The young female shopper in a large city possibly has the income to spend $90-150 dollars on single items of clothing that are of average quality. But, using the example of North Carolina, there are many small town malls where Express is one of the few choices young women have for stylish clothes... and they do not have the discretionary income to pay these higher prices unless they are looking for something special like a coat or handbag.

God forbid if these price increases ever happen at the Gap... I would probably just die.

This is why I think Limited was a lot smarter with their price increases than Express - they left their jeans, cords, oxford shirts, and basic sweaters at the original prices, and the only stuff that got jacked up was the dress clothes, which had an increase in quality (pants are a better fabric, sweaters now have cashmere and angora vs. straight cotton) so it seems more justifiable.

I live in Eastern NC and I haven't worn Express in years. When I want to shop, I do go to the big cities (Raleigh and Durham, which are the biggest things around...Nordstroms and Saks) I thought Express was cheap years ago, not just now.

*bump*

Express is having a pretty decent sale right now. I think they're having their huge sale coming up in a few weeks but, for right now, they have some of their Editor pants and sweaters on sale. I've wanted these plaid editor pants with a hot pink pinstripe on them for the longest time. At first, they were $78 and then they were marked up to $79.50. I remember saying to a friend of mine when I saw these pants, "I really want these but I guarantee that Express will have a sale and these pants will be marked down to what they should be...$29.95." I was right. I finally bought them this weekend. :) They have their cashmere sweaters for 40% off and some other items (tweed skirts) for 30% to 50% off.
I'll give to Express that they have some great sales but that's the only time I'm willing to shop there. I'm certainly not cheap when it comes to my clothing...I just hate knowing that the company can mark down some of their items more than 50% and still make a great profit.

Yeah we're having a big sale too. I don't see what the big deal is....yeah their clothes are overpriced, but they always go on sale!!! I got two of those shiny/funky blouses for $60 last weekend.

Lerner is like the best freakin store ever, man!
I never shop at Express. They don't really carry clothes in tall, which is a must for me. Places like Lerner and Old Navy do.

I completely agree with this. And the problem is, even if they DO increase quality along with price, it's likely going to still come back to bite them in the ass -- because people see these stores as being moderately priced and not high quality. The average shopper is not going to realize right off the bat that the store IS increasing quality. Furthermore, the type of person who shops at moderately priced, medium-quality stores is often not the same type of person who shops at higher-priced, higher-quality stores. So the problem that these stores will have is that, without a large marketing campaign pushing their changing product, they're going to lose a lot of the customers that come there for the moderate stuff (because of the price change) without gaining a lot of the customers who shop at higher-end stores (because they don't know that the price/quality has changed).

Basically, I think that all these stores -- Express, A&F, the Limited, etc. -- need to realize that they're known for having a certain type of product and they should market to that. The only way I can see the whole price (and maybe subsquent quality) increase working is if

a) they do a whole company makeover from the ground up, complete with subsequent p.r. campaign -- as A&F did back in the day when it changed from selling, oh, hunting boots and such into selling teen/young adult clothes -- making it obvious that their product has changed, or
b) they do it very, very slowly, over the course of several years, where they're gradually, a few items at a time, upping the quality and price of the product.

I completely agree. The quality of these stores does not at all match the prices. I don't mind spending money for classic well made items, but then i want them to last for a long time and that isn't what you get an Express. I can certainly understand and agree with everyone's frustration.

I may have to go check out this sale at Express, because I do love the Editor pants, but am unwilling to spend another $80 on them (I already have 3 pair).

But as for my normal shopping, I have converted to New York & Company. I started shopping there after one of my friends started working there part-time to supplement her income, and their clothes are much like what you see in Express... and they cost a lot less. I love their jeans!

I think Bath & Body Works is doing the same thing - selling upscale lines in the front of the store - I mean who is going to buy Davies Gate body wash for $14 when you can get twice as much for $9? If you want those upscale lines you probably won't go to BBW - and I don't think they offer them at the stores in the smaller towns which is where they might actually sell since the customers don't have a Sephora or Saks.

Ditto on all the previous posts about the price hijack. Although they do have good semi-annual sales has anyone else noticed that they no longer have a sales rack like they use to 2-3 years back? I use to be able to go into that store and find a rack or two of clothes on sale but now you go in there and unless its a storewide sale everything is regular priced. The semi-annual sales are nice but it stinks when I want to go in and get something on a regular day and walk out disappointed because I refuse to pay 60 bucks for something that really should be no more than 20.

I also miss their lingerie line...they had good underwear...