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Why is Abercrombie and fitch so expensive?

post #1 of 23
4/5/07 at 2:00am
Thread Starter 
The price of Abercrombie and fitch colognes are so expensive. How the heck can they charge so much.

E.g in canada, the price of ezra is $108 for a 100mL bottle. Basically the only thing that is not a nitch brand and very recognizable that is in that price range is terre D hermes at 115 or so. Their 50 mL are about 70 dollars. I hope its actually a au d toilette, because all these A and F have the term cologne and not au d toilette in their name meaning that if they ever produced a adT or perfume, you would be looking at 130-200 dollar pricing!!

Last I heard, Abercrombie and Fitch itself was not any more high end then polo, and less so than even lacoste in designer wear. But some how in the cologne world they jumped over armani, jpg, YSL, Zegna, Dior and etc to jump into hermes pricing. The worst thing is you can't get this stuff cheap even on ebay.

Why is it so expensive?

look at this, it ridiculous

http://www.abercrombie.ca/webapp/wcs...-1_12276_12203
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post #2 of 23
4/5/07 at 2:14am
Because, they have to save money somewhere, using sweat shops in Malaysia isn't saving them enough money. OK, I'm not going to get self righteous, because many American brands are made in third world countries, not just A&F. I think it has to do with exclusivity. Kind of like how their jeans never go on sale, they know that it'll sell, they just need to keep the price high to do it.
- Rich
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post #3 of 23
4/5/07 at 3:06am
'cause people are willing to pay it.
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post #4 of 23
4/5/07 at 3:24am
Thread Starter 
Man, people have to realize that A and F is not designer. I don't see designer clothes when I see A and F. All I see is a Slightly better quality and more rugged Gap clothes with a damn moose on it.

If I saw an A and F fashion show, I would laugh at how ridiculous plain everyone was dressed.

I don't see why people are willing to pay the high price, they should realize they are getting ripped off right away when they realize that they are walking into a store that sells clothes a fifth of the price of real designer and are buying cologne that is more expensive than those said real designer.(not getting into a debate on real designer and their prices).
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post #5 of 23
4/5/07 at 4:59am
One reason for the high costs might be that the glass/item/packaging are produced in the US. The men's Ezra states that the 'leather covering the glass is imported Italian leather and that the glass is handblown' or something to that effect.

Have you compared the new Eddie Bauer fragrance recently launched against the A&F line for quality, value, etc?

Oh, I meant to inquire if the fragrance is any good!?
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post #6 of 23
4/5/07 at 7:28am
Dude!
They have to pay for all that lame advertising and those obnoxious loud stores somehow!
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post #7 of 23
4/5/07 at 8:57am
The short answer is that enough people are willing to pay that price for it. How Abercrombie seems to have created that demand is interesting, however.

First, Abercrombie capitalizes on the adolescent need to be accepted and not stand out from the group. I have a teenage nephew who refuses to wear anything but Abercrombie and its sister company, Hollister. I believe that it is because he knows that those brands are acceptable at school.

Second, the people who choose Abercrombie are not shopping with their own money. My nephew could not afford to spend a hundred dollars or whatever Abercrombie jeans costs. The money comes from his father, and people are much less apt to hunt for a bargain when they are spending other people's money.

Finally, Abercrombie does put things on clearance -- during the week. On Friday, the prices go back up for the weekend. So, if you have to have something Abercrombie, check it out during the week.
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post #8 of 23
4/5/07 at 9:10am
Thread Starter 
I agree the music is way too loud and I think it idiotic. Honestly, sometimes I feel like just dancing like a mad man in there, because when music is that loud there is no talking, all you can do is dance.

I know I would make an ass of myself, but I think I would make an ass out of the store just as much. Yeah I agree about the whole mom and dads money thing. Everyone in there just looks spoiled. Even the people that work there look spoiled. I can imagine everyone that works there saying man I am going to work at abercrombie and Fitch, I am so cool. But when they get home they are like, I have a crazy head ache.

When I go there, it looks like all the workers are unhappy and have headaches.
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post #9 of 23
4/5/07 at 10:38am
I used to work there lol ...oh well
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post #10 of 23
4/5/07 at 10:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Advocate View Post

The short answer is that enough people are willing to pay that price for it. How Abercrombie seems to have created that demand is interesting, however.

First, Abercrombie capitalizes on the adolescent need to be accepted and not stand out from the group. I have a teenage nephew who refuses to wear anything but Abercrombie and its sister company, Hollister. I believe that it is because he knows that those brands are acceptable at school.

Second, the people who choose Abercrombie are not shopping with their own money. My nephew could not afford to spend a hundred dollars or whatever Abercrombie jeans costs. The money comes from his father, and people are much less apt to hunt for a bargain when they are spending other people's money.

Finally, Abercrombie does put things on clearance -- during the week. On Friday, the prices go back up for the weekend. So, if you have to have something Abercrombie, check it out during the week.

Very true, I think you nailed it.
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post #11 of 23
4/5/07 at 11:19am
Yeah, the people working there almost always look a little snotty. But if memory serves me right, so do the people at American Eagle, GAP and other stores of this ilk.

I will say the sales guy at our local store was down-to-earth and helpful.

I rarely buy from A&F because I hate to support a store that I think has sexually exploited teens in the past. But so has CK and countless others.

The A&F stores always smell great. FIERCE must be pumped through the air vents.

Bottom-line, it's all just a part of the consumerism of youth. Daddy, I gotta have it, or I won't look cool. The stores know when they have a good racket going. And if they dropped the prices, they'd sure lose some cache', whether we'd like to admit it or not.

My son's 11. If he wants this stuff in a couple of years, and he stays at Straight A's on his grades, I'll probably buy it for him. Beats drugs.
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post #12 of 23
4/5/07 at 12:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckW View Post

I rarely buy from A&F because I hate to support a store that I think has sexually exploited teens in the past. But so has CK and countless others.

In what way?
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post #13 of 23
4/5/07 at 12:08pm
Well, hasty generalizations and other logical fallacies aside..
I'm fairly certain A&F lies about the authenticity of some things(such as the Italian leather. I believe that about as much as I believe there was a J. M. Hollister who founded the company). But most people believe them. That's a factor into their prices, along with a few other things people have said here. Fierce, contrary to what you may think based on your "not eau de toilette" statement(which I'm almost certain is wrong), lasts quite a while and projects well. So does Proof in my experience. Fierce is annoying and I wouldn't be caught dead wearing it. Proof is actually kind of nice. Ezra doesn't last at all, I don't think, though I like it most.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckW View Post

I rarely buy from A&F because I hate to support a store that I think has sexually exploited teens in the past. But so has CK and countless others.

ps: I'd hate to see what your reaction is when you wake up and learn about the world of capitalism and commerce.
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post #14 of 23
4/5/07 at 12:24pm
WHEEEWWW, pushed a few buttons, huh?

As far as exploitation, I think the catalogs they put out a few years ago speak for themselves. Call me a prude, I don't mind. I wasn't the only one that took offense. It was a media frenzy issue just about 4 years ago. I think A&F has toned it down some since.

As far as waking up, just because capitalism takes up some unsavory tactics, that does not mean I have to approve of them. I'm not hating the players, but I can hate the game, even if I'm part of it.

These are just my two cents. I'm not judging anyone, folks. Just my opinion.
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post #15 of 23
4/5/07 at 12:54pm
Thread Starter 
Sorry about the generalization of the workers, to those that have worked there. But I don't know how people can work there considering the conditions that A and F puts the workers in just to put on a certain image. I have not been to a store so dark and with such loud music(aside from hollister). They are not a bar or a trendy nightclub, and I hate the way they market by putting all this the new face of A and F and some girl or guy. Its like A and F telling us who is hot literally. I don't need to know the name of someone I don't know, someone who will probaly not do anything else memorable beside be an ambercrobie and fitch model for a year.

I never met a company that try to tells me so directly what I should dress like, whats cools and what I should pay. I guess that what allows them to immediately charge high end prices for colognes.

I can't stop feeling like an ass walking into a store so loud. By the time I walk out of there, my ears feel a little muffled and If I stay there long enough, my eyes have to readjust from walking in darkness for so long when I reenter the mall. Working there on a daily basis would give me headaches and make me want to quit asap.
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post #16 of 23
4/5/07 at 1:43pm
Quote:
WHEEEWWW, pushed a few buttons, huh?

As far as exploitation, I think the catalogs they put out a few years ago speak for themselves. Call me a prude, I don't mind. I wasn't the only one that took offense. It was a media frenzy issue just about 4 years ago. I think A&F has toned it down some since.

As far as waking up, just because capitalism takes up some unsavory tactics, that does not mean I have to approve of them. I'm not hating the players, but I can hate the game, even if I'm part of it.

These are just my two cents. I'm not judging anyone, folks. Just my opinion.

I don't see why you'd think you pushed my buttons when I did not respond in a hostile manner. Whatever. People like to flatter themselves, I find. My point was that if you're going to boycott a company for having bad morals and conduct then you might as well go nude.

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I hate the way they market by putting all this the new face of A and F and some girl or guy. Its like A and F telling us who is hot literally.

Have you been asleep for the past decade?

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I never met a company that try to tells me so directly what I should dress like, whats cools and what I should pay. I guess that what allows them to immediately charge high end prices for colognes.

Absolutely. That's a part of it, at least.

Quote:
I can't stop feeling like an ass walking into a store so loud.

I've met quite a few people of this discourse. I've told them all the same thing. Walking into a store does not change who you are. It's not a project you indulge yourself in - not a facet of your life that you contribute to the world existentially. Walk back in there when you are more comfortable with yourself as an entity, existing in the world. See how you feel then.
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post #17 of 23
4/5/07 at 2:17pm
What is the deal with A&F and Hollister thinking that not wearing a shirt is the new wearing a shirt? They've been pushing this the last ten years, and every time I see it I laugh.
http://www.hollisterco.com/hol/homepage.html
Check out the films at the bottom.
Everyone else is either in a sweatshirt or pants, and the guy's just running around without a shirt on. It's just so damn cheesy.
Adam, don't be ashamed of working there, just think about it, you were hot enough to work at A&F, that's not bad at all!
- Rich
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post #18 of 23
4/5/07 at 2:38pm
Abercrombie can advertise all the hunky 20 year olds it wants to, in my opinion, I quite enjoy the scenery (with and without shirts)...however I really can't stand their fragrances.
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post #19 of 23
4/5/07 at 6:16pm
Thread Starter 
genvy I think you are taking my interpretation of A and F stores the wrong way. I am not ashamed of myself walking into an A and F store, as I have already said, I would gladly make an ass of myself in the store itself.

Rather the store makes an ass of itself to those that don't buy into the Ambercrobie and Fitch hype. I have no need to have music blasting away to a level where I cannot have a conversation inside, or have lighting which is so improper I cannot gauge how the clothes will look when I wear it in a normal environment. Its all counter productive in the clothes making process and an annoying distraction. If I want the above environment I will go to the bar, where those things actually serve a purpose. Not some effort of a company to be cool.

I am just saying that Ambercrombie and Fitch methods of marketing do not work on me. I am comfortable to say whose, who does Ambercrobie and Fitch think they are? And when I walk into the store to like buy a clothes for my girlfriend(which I regret doing as I would rather spend my money elsewhere), I feel like how do they get away with this crap. Forcing everything down your throat, I just hope people get over this A and F phase like they did with the gap, as atleast gap was not so forceful(but definitely as silly).

How was it like working there Adam, did you like it?
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post #20 of 23
4/5/07 at 8:12pm
I got to fold clothing and say hi to people or ask if they could find everything they're looking for, for $6.50 an hour !! lol my title was "Brand Rep"

It wasn't so bad I guess, but it got boring after a while. It was a great way to meet people thats for sure. Hearing the same music over and over got on my nerves at 1st, but it grew on me after a couple of weeks there.

I was in there one day in the begining of summer after I had just graduated high school, and a gorgeous girl came over and asked me if she could try something on in the dressing room. I paused for a moment and I said "oh, lol, i'm sorry I don't work here.." she looked confused and I guess a manager saw the whole thing take place and she (another gorgeous girl, who would have thought, lol) helped the girl with the clothing she wanted to try on and then she came over and asked if I 'really' would like to work there, I said sure. We talked for a little and she gave me her cell # just incase I had any questions about the job
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post #21 of 23
4/5/07 at 8:37pm
The stores for teens not adults, if you don't like the loud music, so called "high prices" and thier fragracnes then don't go in. Don't complain about it, it's not gonna have them turn down the music and lower their prices.
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post #22 of 23
4/5/07 at 10:23pm
I moved this thread here because it isn't about fragrance anymore.
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post #23 of 23
4/6/07 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChuckW View Post

As far as exploitation, I think the catalogs they put out a few years ago speak for themselves. Call me a prude, I don't mind. I wasn't the only one that took offense. It was a media frenzy issue just about 4 years ago. I think A&F has toned it down some since.

It is true that many people have found Abercrombie's advertising to be offensive.

However, in what way do their photographs "exploit" their models? Are the models under age? Were they photographed without their consent? Were they not compensated?

In fact, a quick Google search of "former Abercrombie model" found many examples of models who were proud of their association with Abercrombie, and who had used the exposure to further their careers:
  • Jeremy Black is on A&E's "Flip This House."
  • January Jones has acted in several films, including "We Are Marshall."
  • Justin Bruening is on a soap opera.
  • Taylor Kitsch is on "Friday Night Lights."
  • Channing Tatum was in "Coach Carter."
Child sex workers in Asia are "exploited." Child soldiers in Africa are "exploited." Adult models who consent to be photographed, are compensated for their work, and use the experience to further their career ambitions, not so much so.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thisbekevinn View Post

The stores for teens not adults, if you don't like the loud music, so called "high prices" and thier fragracnes then don't go in. Don't complain about it, it's not gonna have them turn down the music and lower their prices.

I agree that Abercrombie is targeted towards teens, especially teens who need a specific brand of clothing to feel accepted by their peers, and teens who are not spending their own money. Otherwise, $398 blue jeans would not exist in a rational economy: http://www.abercrombie.com/webapp/wc...-1_12236_12202

Certainly, complaining about Abercrombie will not change anything. This conversation is useful nonetheless because there are lessons to be learned by examining how Abercrombie has succeeded in the marketplace despite uncompetitive prices, bland styling, and poor quality.
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