Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Sample Sale

So as some of you know, I sometimes work in the film industry here in Toronto. Lucky for me it's in the wardrobe department. Although I only work when people need me (meaning less pay for me) there are some perks... Sample Sales. A sample sale is an all out event! It happens when a film or store no longer has use for the merchandise that is left over. They sell what they have, at rock bottom... "so-low-it-could-make-a-grown-woman-cry" prices. The thing about sample sales is that they are very dangerous; dangerous to your wallet and to your health! Sample sales can turn the average female shopper into maniacs who have little thought to those around them. We rationalize, rationalize, and rationalize! :
It's ok to spend hundreds of dollars on things that are on sale, because I would have paid hundreds more if they weren't. So actually... I've really saved the extra hundred I didn't have to pay on that last item... hmmm... maybe I should get a few more things...
It's also a danger to your health and sanity. It's crazy; women pushing each other, grabbing and stuffing themselves into things that could NEVER in a MILLION years fit them, but writhing into them anyway because they're dirt cheap (the clothes... not the women). I've seen women, who've piled so much clothing and accessories into their arms that they end up tipping over from the sheer weight. I've seen women with a look in their eyes that I can only compare to a crack addicted streetwalker who would sell you their only child for just "one last hit". Sample sales can do this to you, so be forewarned; if you want to succeed you have to go in there with your wits about you. I recently helped out at a Triple Five Soul sample sale. We were paid in either money or clothing (everyone chose to be paid in clothes... go figure). This is what I got for one day of work:

 Posted by Hello
I almost* can't wait for winter so that I can wear it. Lucky for me, because I was there to set up, I got first dibs and didn't have to duke it out with any crazed shoppers. Although... I did have to convince an abnormally short woman (who was also working that day) that the coat was waaaaaay too long for her. Hey... all's fair in love, war and winter-wear.



(*) I said almost, so don't go calling me ungrateful for the nice summer weather.

7 comments:

steph said...

Oh God, sample sales. Even the words make me start drooling. It's like Shopping Survivor... I hit a BCBG Max Azria sample sale, and I'm STILL talking about it haha.

At those prices, it's criminal to NOT buy something. Sweet coat.

Jason said...

I've been through one of these before. Once was plenty. I don't like to physically struggle to shop!

Forzavryheid said...

I have been the victim of crazed women shoppers over a Christmas shopping day many a time...

DAMN the (ex)girlfriend! DAMN her!

Anonymous said...

Kitkat: I hear ya, for some reason the bargains always pull me back in.

Steph: here's some insider info from one shopping fiend to another; there is a sample sale here in the T dot from Thursday June 16th to Saturday June 18th. Go to www.dcsamplesales.com to get the location and times.

Jason: It's definitely a girl thing!

Adrian T: Even I wouldn't go shopping around Christmas time, especially Boxing Day... (...is Boxing Day just a North American tradition?) You definitely have courage.

begins with v said...

super awesome cool!!!! I'd love to get cool clothes that way! you lucky ducky

steph said...

Ohhh trouble. Thanks for the heads up!

Forzavryheid said...

Thanks for the linkage!

Naturally, I linked you AGES ago...