slhsato
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posted on April 2, 2002 08:57:26 AM
Does anyone know where people are getting Abercrombie & Fitch products for cheap? I'm wondering how some of these eBayers are selling these A&F products (new with tags!) for so cheap.
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mrfoxy76
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posted on April 2, 2002 09:00:16 AM
this question has crossed my mind alot no only with A&F but with alot of other products. I come to 2 conclusions...
1. they purchased old stock from A&F.
2. its stolen! there has to be LOTS of stolen stuff on eBay.
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MRSSANTACLAUS
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posted on April 2, 2002 10:34:49 AM
They bought it at a thrift shop or a consignment store in an area where there are more affluent people?
That's where I get mine! 
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mrfoxy76
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posted on April 2, 2002 11:49:56 AM
I am refering to new unused products that STILL have the TAGS on and are in current season regarding point 2
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computerboy
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posted on April 2, 2002 12:02:52 PM
The product is secured in bulk overstock and liquidation purchases at greatly reduced pricing. Most companies dump their old inventory in this fashion and it ends up in the hands of liquidors such as myself. The product usually represents last year's fashion lines and slow moving merchandise. It is generally purchased by the truckload, but can occassionally be found for sale by the pallet.
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mrfoxy76
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posted on April 2, 2002 12:26:56 PM
how could you explain this?
I purchased a brand spanking new pair of Banana Republic shoes from the SUMMER 2002 catalog only released for that I even asked in the store they confirmed just released. there are 3-4 people selling them on ebay and I purchased a pair from one of these sellers at half the price from Banana Republic.
I am just curious as to how they can obtain them at such a low price as to sell them to me for half retail and still make profit.
Just received them and they are new in box unworn.
Personally I dont care i get an awesome deal just curious.
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slhsato
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posted on April 2, 2002 12:37:54 PM
Hey computerboy, can you tell me WHERE I can purchase A&F products by the pallet?
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computerboy
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posted on April 2, 2002 01:00:04 PM
The best place to start out is to visit websites like retailexchange.com and other business to business related trade sites. There are often designer closeout deals on these website from various retailers and liquidators.
Most of these b2b websites require that you are a registered business with a federal tax ID number in order to register and have access to the site. Overstock.com also has a B2B website that operates in the same fashion.
Good luck!
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outoftheblue
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posted on April 2, 2002 01:47:03 PM
mrfoxy76
>>"there has to be LOTS of stolen stuff on eBay."<<
There probably is stolen stuff on Ebay but assuming that something is stolen because someone lists it for cheap is ridiculous.
There are several, perfectly legal, ways to get legit, brand new, brand name products for practically nothing. I won't mention them here because the ones who are selling these items have done their homework.
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mrfoxy76
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posted on April 3, 2002 05:37:08 AM
no i appreciate that I am happy obtaining these products at GOOD prices not saying insanely cheap just good prices compared to what a store is offering
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rogerdodger
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posted on April 3, 2002 06:52:22 AM
Merchandise still with tags?
When Department Store Retailers sell off any overstock items to "jobbers" they always make a point to remove all tags. (They don't want the items being returned.) Merchandise that's sold this way is usually sold for about 10% of original cost and would be older merchandise NOT current merchandise.
There is also the case where a Buyer might order say 10,000 pieces of an item with the intention of only keeping 5,000 and selling off 5,000 to a third party. (In this way he can acccrue promotional money on the goods purchased and not sit on the goods.)Even in this case though all tags would be removed.
My guess is that the merchandise is being purchased on sale with an employee discount and being sold again for a small profit.
Just my humble thoughts,
Rogerdodger
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bkkofaz
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posted on April 3, 2002 07:58:44 AM
You can buy A&F, new with tags, in China and other parts of Asia. Maybe factory seconds, maybe knock-offs, but they're dirt cheap!
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RichieRich
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posted on April 3, 2002 08:42:05 AM
I purchase my NEW WITH TAGS clothing at about 10% of retail and 99.8% of it comes with tags attached. NOT ever department store removes the tags. I have yet to receive a delivery that nothing had tags attached.
If your supplier is removing tags maybe you need a new supplier.
I often wonder how many NWT items have the actual original tags. I know my items do. BUT anyone can purchase a tagger - the gund that shots the plastic thingy - and price tags and attach them.
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outoftheblue
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posted on April 3, 2002 08:58:01 AM
>>"I often wonder how many NWT items have the actual original tags. I know my items do. BUT anyone can purchase a tagger - the gund that shots the plastic thingy - and price tags and attach them."<<
You don't even need a tagger. I know of quite a few ladies around here that purchase new items at discount stores wear them a few times, re-attach the tags and sell them on Ebay. I hear it's pretty easy to do, but it's not exactly an honest practice..
Edited to add: Most of the in season items that are on Ebay are probably store returns.
[ edited by outoftheblue on Apr 3, 2002 09:15 AM ]
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sulyn1950
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posted on April 3, 2002 02:08:34 PM
I found a liquidator on one of those b2b sites that had some top name brand and department store private labels up for sale. The small print on the agreement form I'd have to sign stated that I had to cut in half or remove the tags before re-selling!!!
They would come to me with the tags but I was instructed I had to cut the tag or remove the tag myself....now how many people do you think would do that????
In one of my correspondences with them, I was told that if I didn't remove the tags, and someone from the brand name company or the private strore label discovered I had not done as I agreed to do, they could stop me from selling them and even sue me!
I asked them why the companies didn't just remove the tags themselves before selling them to the liquidators or why the liquidators (in this case the one I was writing) didn't remove them themselves? Why have me sign an agreement form that I would do that. I was told it wasn't cost efficient. It takes time to remove all those labels or cut them in half and since their % was so low, they couldn't afford to but it was a requirement for me to do business with them. I asked how I could prove I had done that (I figured I'd have to send the tags to them or something) and their reply to me was: tell us you did in writing.
What this told me is that the liquidator was inferring I could keep the tags on, but to keep them out of trouble I had to furnish them a statement that I had done as agreed!
They really could have cared less if I cut those tags or not, they just made sure to cover their behinds!
I also was not given any choice in what I would get, so I passed....I'll leave clothing auctions to the pros!
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slhsato
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posted on April 3, 2002 02:34:42 PM
Basically I just wanted to know where eBay sellers are getting their A&F products so cheap. If you go to an A&F store, you can't find anything under $14.95 on sale, not even a t-shirt that's been on clearance! So how can these sellers turn around and post it on eBay for $9.95 (with tags, mind you). I've checked out dozens of these liquidator sites and none of them sell A&F- although they seem to sell every other brand name. And the only A&F outlet store that I've found (so far) is in Chicago. Even then, I doubt the prices are less than $9.95 for a shirt. The guy who suggested that people get them in Asia was probably the best answer I've heard so far.
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springmoon
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posted on April 3, 2002 03:45:01 PM
Yup!...they are all nockoffs.
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pointy
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posted on April 3, 2002 05:20:22 PM
A product distributor normally buys product for 25% of retail. They in turn distribute it to the retailers in their country for 40% of retail, thus leaving a 15% of retail window. Now let's say that a distributor in another country intentionally orders more than they need. They can then sell it to Ebay type retailers in the U.S. for 30% of retail and still make money. This way there own market is not affected much, and they still make 5%. It's not exactly legal.....and how the product crosses borders without duties I don't know.....but it happens.
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fluffythewondercat
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posted on April 3, 2002 05:41:28 PM
"I've checked out dozens of these liquidator sites and none of them sell A&F- although
they seem to sell every other brand name."
I shouldn't be telling you this, but...
There is (literally) tons of merchandise available through the B2B sites that is NEVER POSTED on the B2B site. Once you establish a working relationship with a jobber, you will be offered goods that are not offered to the wholesale-buying public and you can tell them what you're looking for. Most of these guys are more comfortable using a phone than a computer.
The key is that you have to make one or more bulk purchases to establish yourself as a serious buyer. We spent over $30,000 last year on goods that were never offered on any B2B site.
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outoftheblue
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posted on April 3, 2002 11:50:40 PM
slhsato
You're not thinking logically. Someone has to liquidate A&F products. They don't just toss them in the trash. Someone out there is getting their products at cut rate and selling them.
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