Gymboree Stores vs Outlet

[ShoppingCartDiva]

I've never shopped at the Outlet much, until recently there wasn't one near me. What's the deal? I popped in there the other day and saw an older line - full price. That doesn't make sense to me? Am I crazy?

I did get some cute things. I can't remember what line it was from, but I got some blue polka dot pants with matching socks and curlies, and a white shirt with a blue satin bow. Prolly cost me about $15.

[bananabucks]

The outlet remakes lines from the year before. They use the same designs, but a lesser quality. They replace many of the appliques and embrioidery with screenprinting, and they appliques and embroidery that they don't replace just doesn't look as nice. The fabrics aren't as nice as retail either.

Outlet is def. not a good deal! The prices are only a little less, but the quality difference is noticeable! I have a few outlet things that I am very happy with, but overall, sales + coupons at retail are the way to go.

[patcat]

This is my take. The outlet usually starts out at 25% less than retail Gymboree. All the lines you see at the outlet were at the retail store last year. They do change it up a bit from time to time. Mixing lines together or changing colors but mostly theme design comes from the previous year. The outlet does get cheap once it is at the end of the season and I have gotten some really good deals then. They don't markdown their items as quickly as the retail stores does so it takes much longer to get a rock bottom price. I buy retail and don't really want to put it on my twins again the next year after already wearing the item for a season. I will buy the Outlet version for the the following year cheap so waiting is not biggy for me.

Now for quality of the items. This is really hit or miss. I have seen the same quality as the retail store and some items are not good at all. They do change ebellishments on some of the items and don't use the good embroidery as was posted on many of the outlet versions.

My advice is with everything in life. Buy quality at the cheapest price you can get. You know when a piece of clothing is made well and when it is not.

[scrapjacks]

I have shopped the outlet several times since moving here - about 20 min. away. I have found some great deals! Boys shirts & shorts at less than $5 are better ( and cuter) than wal mart or target! But I agree that the clothing is not embellished the same as the retail lines. The boys shirts are nearly dirt cheap sometimes, though. I just bought some for $2.99 and $3.99.
My dd has Coral reef seahorse tank from original line and outlet line and they are different embellishment & slightly different color, so I can see exactly the difference.

The fact that it is last years line has worked well for us. My dd is slim but sprouting up like crazy, so her old shorts are still a good fit ( thank goodness for adjustable waists!) but she need longer tops & we just picked up a couple so she can keep wearing her "FAVORITE" outfits. 5 year olds can be very ATTACHED to a certain outfit!

The shoes at the outlet are nowhere near true to size,though. Flip flops were ok, but the wedge or strap sandal type seemed to be way off for my dd.

[missgymbo]

The quality of the pieces at the retail stores varies also. A line coming in right before Gymbuck redemption or CoF or any of the other major events is almost always a lower-quality line.

I shouldn't say "lower quality", because it's not really quality. Just less "special". Tees tend to have print rather than emboidery, dresses lack gatherings or smocking, etc.

Outlet reflects those same lines a year late. So yes, there is some inconsistency in the level of detail. Not because it's from Outlet, but because of the line it was linked to in the original floor set (the patterning and cutwork is all computer archived, so it's the same the next year at Outlet).