Express (the clothing store)

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by ZTAngel

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 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.

[Anchorgirl]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
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.

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.

[SSS1365]

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!

[33girl]

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.

[HBADPi]

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...

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by 33girl
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.

Out here in "the OC," they are selling Henri Bendel fragrances and body products at Bath & Body Works.

For example, their cologne is $48. I have a coupon, so I will buy some, but I only think that the upscale lines will work in certain parts of the world.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Out here in "the OC," they are selling Henri Bendel fragrances and body products at Bath & Body Works.

For example, their cologne is $48. I have a coupon, so I will buy some, but I only think that the upscale lines will work in certain parts of the world.

Herni Bendel is owned by the same company that owns Bath and Body Works.

[norcalchick]

I fit the jeans fine in Express. But the tops are small on me. I have a wide rib cage and shoulders along with my chest, so some of thier stuff doesn't fit.

[norcalchick]

I went into an Express store that was at a big mall, so it has a lot of stuff. Why did I see a cashmere sweater for $500 on the 50% off rack?!?!?!?! There were a couple of other sweaters that were more than $150-$450 on that same rack. I think the people there are all smoking crack. There are better things at The Limited for waaaaayyyy less than what Express charges. I only get the Express jeans when they're on sale for $30.

[PureGoldF2K1]

Doesnt it make you soo mad??? I'm cutting up my Express Gold card!!

Ya'll seem to have alot of fashion sense. I love those stores like Limited and Express but I guess I cant see myself wearing stuff like that. I'm a poor college student. I shop at American Eagle. How can I turn down cute, casual 40 dollar jeans? AND a credit card that sends you 15% off coupons all the time? One store I do go into and drool over stuff is Banana Republic. The only way I've been able to buy stuff I like there is because I have friends who work there.

[Glitter650]

Originally posted by carol9a
Ya'll seem to have alot of fashion sense. I love those stores like Limited and Express but I guess I cant see myself wearing stuff like that. I'm a poor college student. I shop at American Eagle. How can I turn down cute, casual 40 dollar jeans? AND a credit card that sends you 15% off coupons all the time? One store I do go into and drool over stuff is Banana Republic. The only way I've been able to buy stuff I like there is because I have friends who work there.

Ahhh.. Banana Republic... another pricey store... at least their quality is, in general better than Express for what you pay.

Another gripe Express.... WHY DID THEY STOP DOING THE FAST CASH ?? I loved that deal. They also stopped sending as many cupons. We don't have that many Lerner stores around me, but I wish we did so I could start going there instead.

[kddani]

i haven't gotten any express coupons in AGES and AGES and i'm a platinum express card holder too

ETA: American Eagle's not exactly cheap, either. Plus their stuff is a little too young for me. Lots of super trendy, but not very flattering stuff. But yeah for a Pittsburgh based company though. Express stuff I can wear to work. American Eagle, I could never. AE and Express have very different lines

[Sister Havana]

And if you're bordering on plus size or have a large chest, you can just forget about getting anything that fits properly at most of those stores.

I shopped at Abercrombie and Fitch all the time when I was in high school and early college. Back then they sold clothes that were more like things you'd find at Eddie Bauer and the prices were really good. I think at least half my wardrobe came from those two stores. (Plus the guys in that store were always hot. ) Now it's another store where I can't find things.

Lane Bryant used to be a part of Limited Brands but they were sold fairly recently to the people who own Fashion Bug. They too have really been jacking up the prices. I will say that the quality of their clothes, particularly lingerie, has improved. Back in the day if I bought a bra at Lane Bryant it would fall apart within a week. They're much better made now.

[norcalchick]

Yeah, I'm not fat but I do need to lose weight and Express jeans are the only ones that fit me the way I like. So I'm kind of bound to them because of that. But I have a wide rib cage and shoulders and chest, so the shirts don't fit unless they are a size 14. The larges are still kinda small.

I'm getting cheaper and cheaper. I can bring myself to buy shirts that are like $30, let alone things that areover $100.