Can no longer afford to wait for sales?

[Anonymous]

I'm disappointed, although hardly surprised, to see that some retailers are keeping much lower inventory. In the past I could mull over purchases for a few weeks or wait for a sale, but lately I'm finding that if I do the item is gone. Is it just the sites where I'm shopping or is this more widespread?

[Anonymous]

Sites and stores are in a bind, just like consumers. If they have less of a product, they won't have to resort to practically giving it away.

[Anonymous]

Well, yeah, I know that. I'm just surprised by quickly they stock out and wondering if others have encountered the same thing, or if it's a function of where I'm shopping.

[Anonymous]

Agreed they are buying less of some items so the sales will not be as good as last year. I am also finding increases in the number of items that are on backorder - it seems like some internet sites are waiting to have actually orders before buying in the stuff themselves.

[Anonymous]

Stores make a profit on what they call "sell through" - items at full price. When the economy tanked, they were forced to sell at sale and thus not make much or any profit. Anticipating that sales would be slow this season, stores bought less inventory so the smaller amounts are what you are seeing. Most stores are buying fewer of each size with many stores only buying one size of shoe. They can't afford to have those firehouse sales of the last two seasons.

[Anonymous]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/19/business/19shortages.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=saks&st=cse

Saks is the store where I've been finding the most stock-outs. Guess someone at the NYT had problems there too!

[Anonymous]

i haven't really been able to wait for sales the last few years, especially if I'm shopping in Arlington - I think *everyone* in Arlington must be the same size as me, judging from the fact that I can never find my size in stock anywhere. I often have the same problem in Tysons Corner or Gtown. It's frustrating. I've learned that if I see something I like, I should probably just buy it.

[Anonymous]

I'm having this problem with shoes especially. I went to Bloomingdales and Lord and Taylor early in the season and they were out of my size in a number of styles that I wanted to try on.