Saks Sale Fallout

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

For those who don't have a subscription to the publication, blog Guerilla Shopper has helpfully republished a WSJ article on the disintegrating relationship between designers and department stores. Basically, after last year's insane markdowns, designers don't trust department stores anymore. "Bargain pricing, of course, appeals to many cash-strapped shoppers, who couldn't otherwise afford luxury goods. But the onslaught of sales actually dismays other customers -- particularly loyal luxury devotees, who feel duped for having paid full price...The price swings confuse customers, leading them to question the real value of their purchases." Eileen Fisher has gone so far as to suggest renting department store space for her brand so she could control pricing. [Guerilla Shopper]