We should start a thread on Canadian SALES!

[funlover]

Are there any sales in Canada at all?? Everywhere I go is darn expensive stuff and no real variety.why is everything so outdated here? I have to order everything for my DD from US and beg my sister to bring it over to save on the crap duty fees.....I absolutly hate it but there is just no way other than to sulk over all the US deals they get there...

[Piglet]

I see sales all over the place. You just have to look for them. I shop at Winners a lot because their prices are so much cheaper and they have unique outfits. I admit that I have not shopped at the Bay or Sears in years - that says a lot about the state of the department stores in Canada, because I shop a little too much elsewhere but haven't been impressed with their clothes for anyone in the family. I shop at the Gap (they even have Gap Maternity in Calgary finally), but only buy things that are on sale - I haven't paid full price for anything in the last 5 years, I think. Their sales are great and their return policy is the best in the business, so I buy tons of stuff and return as needed. I always stock up on Boxing week and then over the next year I return stuff that didn't work out - as long as the tags are attached and you have your receipt they take it all back, no questions asked. I recently found Reitmans - they have very nice outfits this season (their stock is very hit and miss with me, so I am thrilled that this season is a hit). They have petite and plus size and their prices are very reasonable. Last week I even shopped at Walmart for me! I really liked some of the George outfits.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you can get by very nicely in Canada. It's not like we all walk around naked, LOL. I don't sulk about US deals. Yes, there are a few stores that have great deals that I have had shipped from the US via my cousin, but generally, we aren't missing out on that much. I find the quality and price at MEC to be very comparable to LandsEnd or LLBean. I got DH shirts at Marks Work Wearhouse and they were way cheaper than the comparable catalogue shirts. I shop at Hanna Andersson whenever there is a sale and I accept the duty as part of the price (I only shop when there is a code, so the discount usually negates the duty and it is easier to stomach). I guess, I am coming from a time when there was NOTHING in Canada a few years ago and am SO happy with the current state of things - it can only get better and we have made huge strides!

[funlover]

Have you ever been able to.. get the following in Canada for these prices..

Buy a gap maternity sweater for $4.97?

Ralph Lauren Polo Rompers for 4.99?

Tommy Hilfiger shirts for 5$ a pc both for son and DH

Nike Addidas and Reebok jackets,pants for 6$ a pc...

Ralph Lauren polo chino shirts for Men at 12$ a pc...

Catimini and Baby Lulu for 8$ a pc!!!!!!! I got 10 dresses for DD

last year at TJ max in the US!

Express and Limited Dresses for 9.99 a pc?

The list goes on and on.......
There is Just no comparison....The deals you can get in the US are in NO WAY comparable to the prices here!

Guess I am too negative but seriously I don't understand why everything is so inferior and expensive here.All I can do is Beg and beg my sister all the time to buy things for me...

[Piglet]

Winners is part of the TJMaxx group of stores, so I have had great luck on lots of name brand items. Just today, I found Elefanten and Naturino baby shoes for under $20 CDN.

I am not saying that we have it all, but I will pay a little more for my clothes and get 1 year of paid mat leave any day. I find it pretty sad that you think that everything is so inferior and expensive here. My kids are dressed very well and I do not break the bank on their clothes. Personally, I never go for big names in fashion (TH or RL) - I don't find the quality to be that much better or the style to be that much cuter. I buy things that I deem stylish, comfortable, cute, etc.

I love Canada and have no desire to be a mini-US. I appreciate the great stuff we can buy here and accept that the prices are not always the same. I do go to the US once a year and shop at Target, but I never lament the lack of cute, affordable baby clothes around here.

I am sorry you are so ticked off with the state of Canadian retail, but when you consider all the things we can and should be grateful for, retail isn't such a big loss.

[darby24]

>Am I missing something at LL Bean?

Nah, I just like catalogues! :P

My nephew has a LLBean jacket (it's the only llbean item in all our family). Last year they went on sale for something like $20 shipped. It held up perfectly, lasted him through the year and looks like new. That was worth it.

No purchasing this year, I've not seen one good deal.

Winterco? Is this the name of a store? I've never heard of it.

[Piglet]

Hmmm... it seems they might only be in Calgary. They are locally owned, but I somehow thought they were a national chain. They had problems in 2000 or so and went bankrupt but there was such a demand for their stuff when they were liquidating that another company came and bought them out and has been carrying awesome winter wear, just as good if not better than the original company.