Designer retail outlets – are they worth the schlep?

nwc389

I've just spent this morning at Dalton Park near Sunderland so I had to smile when I read the thread.
We went for shoes for my son who has a job interview next week , the shoe shops are probably the best thing about it as there are about 4 with plenty of choice .
The next and m&s both are filled with stuff specially made for outlet stores and as another poster said the next was crammed with tat.
The sportswear brand shops are more expensive than online and the same goes for the Levi's shop .
I have in the past had a couple of decent bargains from Radley but the last few times I've been in the bargain shelf was threadbare.
There's also a few 'outdoors' & camping/skiing shops & last year my oh was looking for walking boots , he tried some on but decided to browse a bit before buying , while we were having a coffee I found them for £12 less online at Amazon .
We got what we needed in the way of shoes and we had better choice than in the local city centre , just a short drive and free parking but honestly if I wanted anything specific to wear I would head for a proper shopping centre or online.

Hermia

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

I rarely go to these places but I associate them with being cold, wind-blasted and miserable!
I don't think I've ever managed to go to one of these bleak places in warmer weather.

They have a big outdoor firepit at one I visit but even that doesn't help much!

Clarks Village isn't too bad because it is surrounded by an actual village so you can just pop outside to have a walk around or go to the very nice bakery there. They also have local animal rescue groups coming along sometimes. Once I walked around a corner laden down with shopping to find a ferret race going on! Bicester was the first outlet village I went to so I think all others look okay compared to them!

missbiggles1

Pollycat wrote: »

Sorry, I have a problem with understanding anyone spending £700 on 2 bags. But I guess that's just me.

I'd have a problem understanding someone spending £700 on 7 bags, quite honestly.

WibblyGirly

I worked at a store in one for years and the prices were jacked up so they were almost the same as the full price store anyway! Now I don't work there I never go to the outlet because there is nothing there I'm interested in buying.

Mrs_Ryan

I live not too far from the East Midlands Designer Outlet and I mainly go there for the Superdry outlet. I have a hoodie from there which was classed as seconds as there was a tiny fault on the inner stitching but it was a classic style- selling for £59.99 in the stores and I paid £20 for it. Worn it to death and still see very similar style in store now (this was about 2 years ago)
OH bought a suit from M&S there for his brother's wedding- classic navy, very similar to what we looked at online but half the price.
There is a lot of tat in those shops granted but on occasion you can get some pretty decent deals.

Pollycat

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I'd have a problem understanding someone spending £700 on 7 bags, quite honestly.

:rotfl:

I reckon that most of the stuff bought from these places are impulse buys and end up at the back of the wardrobe with the tags still on, donated to charity shops or returned for a refund the next week.

margaretclare

I saw the word 'schlep' in Germany and it was being used in the context of cars being towed away if parked in the wrong place. 'Auto werde schleppen sein' (car will removed be).

I believe it's also a word in Yiddish and derives from German. In that context it means 'long tiring journey'.

If anyone is in the East Midlands/Mercia area i.e. Derbys/Notts, a visit to the David Nieper shop in Alfreton, Derbyshire, is well worth the journey. I was there yesterday and I bought a lovely warm winter coat in russet red, £65 off the stated original price. If you like quality women's stylish clothing not made in foreign sweatshops, but you like a bargain, they have discontinued lines that are well worth a look.

19lottie82

I usually stop at Gretna when im visiting family on the other side of the border, and the Berghaus shop is usually worth a look.

I got a great waterproof jacket reduced from £280 to £70, and my step mother got one of the 3 in 1 jackets for £40!

AylesburyDuck

I'm basically a short car ride from Bicester Village, we used to go there on the odd occasion when the kids were small (late 90's early 00's), but frankly i found in the end it wasn't worth the trip, real bargains for the expert shopper were few and far between, and quality of item to price really didnt tally.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

Pollycat wrote: »

Me too.
And I'm not convinced that it's the right word anyway

It's perfect in this context

"a tedious or difficult journey" As most retail outlets are in the middle of nowhere I think it's a fair description.

Personally, I love Bicester and try and go a couple of time a year.

Pollycat wrote: »

Sorry, I have a problem with understanding anyone spending £700 on 2 bags. But I guess that's just me.

It's none of your business what people spend their money on, is it? What gives you the right to judge what other people do in their lives?