Why is Gap so expensive?

CleoKitty

Ds is going through a phase where he wants to dress like dh everyday which pretty much means a pair of khakis or cords, a long-sleeved button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a solid colored t-shirt underneath.

I've been looking online at gap.com and they just seem so expensive! We don't have a Gap nearby so I can only shop online, but even when I actually have the occasion to shop in a store I always leave shaking my head at the prices. It just seems like a total rip-off, IMO, when you can buy the same junk food t-shirts at Target for 1/3 the price. And the few times I've been in the store in the past couple of years it seems like their clearance racks are very skimpy.

I seem to do so much better at Gymboree- their prices are high too but they pretty much always have some sort of sale or promotion whether it's Gymbucks, their coupons that we always get in the mail, etc.

Am I the only one who really thinks that Gap is totally overpriced for the most part?
 

mommyme

I'm w/ you 100% cleo.  Ds is actually in cords w/ a ls navy t and a button up over it today!  I bought the cords at ouac for $4 and the button up for $3.  The cords are originally from old navy and the button up from children's place. 

 I love gap, but the only thing I buy there are my jeans b/c they hold up forever.  I always look on the clearance racks, but they're so picked over.  I end up at old navy more frequently.

katie277s

I think most of the clothing stores are overpriced for children.  I have a hard time justifying a $45 sweater that DS will only wear for a short while.  I usually go to Walmart or Target or Old Navy to get DS's clothes.  Most of the time, they end up stained after they are worn once anyways. 

isabella22

I think their active wear (long sleeve t-shirts and leggings for girls) are really reasonably priced ($10 each normally).

Their jeans, sweaters, and dresses are a little pricey - but I love their clothes so I just pretend not to notice

Kapalua

I think they are $$, too...but I'm lucky enough to have an outlet nearby and have had some really good luck there.  I definitely don't buy items for full price there.

LanaM

I agree, I don't remember the last time I bought anything full price there. Anything I buy is usually on sale + some kind of a coupon or promo.

 

Angela814

I feel completely the same.  I've shopped at Gap for DD so many times and never actually bought anything.  I don't think the sales prices are good enough, even with extra coupons.  I have literally bought 2 items for her in the last 2 1/2 years.  I bought a red white and blue top for next 4th of July and a swimming suit in girls size XS that should last a couple seasons.  Both were on clearance.

Gymboree's starting prices are a little lower than Gap, and they have much better sales.  You can't beat the baby sale with an extra 20% off or the Gymbucks prices.

Jodi&Joe

Gap is just like Gymboree in the respect that if you time it right, you can get some great deals.

They have 20% off often -- so if items are on sale and then an additional 20%, it's equivalent to buying at Gymboree on sale. 

I have found that I'm a total Gap girl now --- haven't bought much from Gymboree in a long while.  At one point, they had a 20% coupon, plus I stacked another 10% coupon on top of that, and used a rewards certificate (if you have their credit card --- every $200 you spend you get $10).  I get quite a bit for a little amount of money.

eclaires

I know I never buy anything there unless I have a coupon.  What helps me is I have a Banana Republic card that I can usually use the Gap card promos with.

Before I had the BR card I'd only shop there every so often just because I don't like paying full price for stuff for Jackson.

Now though he has a lot from there and all of it was pretty reasonably priced IMO.  Like I bought a bunch of denim for him when it was buy one get one half off at the beginning of fall plus used a coupon.

cristiana

I don't buy without a coupon. Plus, the resale value is awesome, unlike Gymboree in recent years. I don't buy much Gymbo anymore because I like Gap styles better.

CleoKitty

Hmmm. I've never seen a Gap coupon! That would certainly make a difference seeing as the only time I ever buy anything at other stores like Gymboree is when I'm combining a coupon or Gymbuck with a sale.

Angela814

CleoKitty:

Hmmm. I've never seen a Gap coupon! That would certainly make a difference seeing as the only time I ever buy anything at other stores like Gymboree is when I'm combining a coupon or Gymbuck with a sale.

I get emails with 20% off coupons occasionally if you ever want one.  Even 20% off a sale price is still quite a bit more than say 20% off a baby sale item at Gymboree.

I think I'm just cheap.  I'm learning to accept that.