The online sample sale. It always reminds me of that Friends episode: It’s like waiting for the doors to open at Kleinfeld’s, and then rushing around frantically trying to find exactly what you want before anyone else. Maybe you’ve even enlisted some of your friends to find and hold things for you. Except the virtual sample sale is all done at the comfort of your desk (while on your lunch break, of course), while lounging at home, or maybe you’re shopping at the mall and browsing the sample sale on your iPhone or Blackberry. And while this all sounds so leisurely, the online sample sale is just as stressful and exciting as being there in person. You’ve got to know how the sale works, you’ve got to know what you want, and you’ve got to go for it!
To help you succeed in online sample sale shopping, I’ve decided to compare three top sample sale sites (Gilt Groupe, HauteLook, and Rue La La) and give you the lowdown on what you should know before you start arranging your schedule around these sales. These sites are all worth checking out, and once you’ve discovered them, you’ll feel very guilty about paying retail ever again.
What time do sales start?
Gilt: 12 PM, EST
HauteLook: 11 AM, EST
Rue La La: 11 AM, EST
When I invite friends to join, how much credit will I receive after they make their first purchase?
Gilt: $25
Haute Look: $10
Rue La La: $10
How long can an item remain in my cart?
Gilt: 10 minutes
HauteLook: Time can vary for some items, but the usual limit is 15 minutes. Keep an eye on the conveniently placed timer in your cart.
Rue La La: Once you find something you want, buy it. It appears people can steal items right out of your cart if you don’t checkout immediately!
Some pros:
Gilt: They have great customer service, a very user-friendly interface, and the fabulous “wait list” feature: If you missed out on an item, put it on your wait list, and Gilt will notify you via e-mail or text message if that item becomes available for purchase.
HauteLook: There are timers conveniently located all around the site, counting down till the sale’s end. They have a great selection, and their prices have been the most affordable for my budget ($300 designer sunglasses for $39? Sure! I’ll take three!).
Rue La La: When an item starts selling out, the site tells you how many are left. They offer slideshow previews of upcoming sales.
Some cons:
Gilt: A lot of rich people shop on Gilt, and they snatch up the unaffordable and affordable rather quickly. Gilt’s stuff is usually very very high end and out of my price range, even at 70% off retail. I’ve also experienced some technical difficulties when trying to make purchases, but their tech and customer support always come to the rescue, so you experience problems, contact them.
HauteLook: I’m not a huge fan of their sales calendar setup.
Rue La La: They do not have separate tabs for women’s, men’s, etc.; are sales all listed under the “Boutiques” tab. They do not list models’ measurements, but they do offer size charts. If you want to see all the items on one continuous page, you must click “view all.” Gilt and HauteLook automatically load all the items on one page.
What’s the return policy?
Gilt: Accepts returns 21 days from date of shipment for Gilt credit only. Some items are final sale and cannot be returned.
HauteLook: Accepts returns 14 days from date of shipment for HauteLook credit only. Some items are final sale and cannot be returned.
Rue La La: Offers free returns up to 30 days from the date you received the item for Rue La La credit only. Some items are final sale and cannot be returned.
Are exchanges allowed?
Gilt: Yes, if the item you need is available.
HauteLook: No.
Rue La La: No.
Is there an app for that?
Gilt: Yes, there’s an iPhone app.
HauteLook: Not yet.
Rue La La: Visit m.ruelala.com on your mobile device.
Not a member yet? Just click on my personal invite links below:
Gilt: http://www.gilt.com/invite/jennkepler
HauteLook: http://www.hautelook.com/invite/JKepler698
Rue La La: http://www.ruelala.com/invite/jkepler01