To all the London experts:) | ExpatWoman.com
 

To all the London experts:)

370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:48
I have bought a Monsoon dress here and the same in the UK in the past month - exactly the same... Exactly. Did the same thing last year within a timeframe of two weeks. Seasons must change fast if what I bought in london was already in dubai as last seaons stock two weeks later I didn’t say that everything made is different I said some items, of course there are things the same as the UK that’s the whole point of a franchise. Its not even true for some. If its the same design - they made it in the same factory with the same material, as this is much cheaper to do than manufacturing a whole bunch of different varieties of the same thing at different factories. The less you manufacture of something, the more expensive it is.
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:46
T[b'>he franchises here stock current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london and anywhere else.[/b'> You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. [b'>The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else.[/b'> There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Complete rubbish. You have obviously never been in any designer shops! No - what you are referring to is that they have the same variety. Obviously the variety on offer is different in different cities (not just between london and dubai) based on market size and differences in taste in a region, as what is popular in certain places is often very different. The issue at hand was whether they are marketing the same designs, but having the same thing made in different places with different materials. And thats simply not true. You can go into different franchises of the same brand in different cities and buy the same exact thing - not an imitation of something that you saw of the same brand in a different city. *that* is complete rubbish Exactly the lines are very different, depending upon what country to live in, which is the opposite of what you initially said. Also, not all lines are made by the same manufacturer, hence the reason why some lines are not of the same quality as others. I have frequently seen last seasons clothes in designer stores in Dubai at full price! No its not the opposite. Someone said you are buying the exact same design made by a different manufacturer. Thats not true. You CAN buy items that are exactly the same in different cities. The ones that are the same design are NOT made by different factories by different people. That is what I was saying. Do go back and read it.
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:44
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. The current season stock is the same thing - its not lesser quality or made anywhere else, its the same thing. i literally have purchased the same dress in London and Dubai last year as I got the wrong size. Its cheaper to manufacture good quality in huge bulk for stores worldwide than it is to manufacture a small amount of carp quality for just one country. It makes no sense to make a design and then send it for small quantities all over the place. With manufacturing the savings are in the bulk. Its definitely not a fact that you are buying the same season designs made by different factories with different materials. I don't doubt they stock they buy out the last seasons stock and sell sometimes too. Indeed there is less *variety* amongst the new season stock that is available here - but that is also to do with the market size. Take T shirts for example, One T shirt brought in Dubai and one in the UK, the Dubai T shirt had tiny holes in it after a couple of wears compared to the UK T shirt that lasted for ages with no holes, DH asked his friend (who owns the shop in Dubai) why this was and he said it’s because they copy the design and have it made cheaper so same item made in the same country but by a different supplier for cheaper. You need to put us in the know so that we can boycott this store! ;) Not willing to share? ;)
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:44
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. The current season stock is the same thing - its not lesser quality or made anywhere else, its the same thing. i literally have purchased the same dress in London and Dubai last year as I got the wrong size. Its cheaper to manufacture good quality in huge bulk for stores worldwide than it is to manufacture a small amount of carp quality for just one country. It makes no sense to make a design and then send it for small quantities all over the place. With manufacturing the savings are in the bulk. Its definitely not a fact that you are buying the same season designs made by different factories with different materials. I don't doubt they stock they buy out the last seasons stock and sell sometimes too. Indeed there is less *variety* amongst the new season stock that is available here - but that is also to do with the market size. Take T shirts for example, One T shirt brought in Dubai and one in the UK, the Dubai T shirt had tiny holes in it after a couple of wears compared to the UK T shirt that lasted for ages with no holes, DH asked his friend (who owns the shop in Dubai) why this was and he said it’s because they copy the design and have it made cheaper so same item made in the same country but by a different supplier for cheaper. Lol. That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. As mentioned, with manufacturing - the price is with the bulk. It is not cheaper to manufacture a small amount of poor quality for one city than it is to manufacture an identical thing at decent quality for an entire world market.
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:43
So we are back at full circle :-P
4
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:43
T[b'>he franchises here stock current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london and anywhere else.[/b'> You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. [b'>The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else.[/b'> There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Complete rubbish. You have obviously never been in any designer shops! No - what you are referring to is that they have the same variety. Obviously the variety on offer is different in different cities (not just between london and dubai) based on market size and differences in taste in a region, as what is popular in certain places is often very different. The issue at hand was whether they are marketing the same designs, but having the same thing made in different places with different materials. And thats simply not true. You can go into different franchises of the same brand in different cities and buy the same exact thing - not an imitation of something that you saw of the same brand in a different city. *that* is complete rubbish Exactly the lines are very different, depending upon what country to live in, which is the opposite of what you initially said. Also, not all lines are made by the same manufacturer, hence the reason why some lines are not of the same quality as others. I have frequently seen last seasons clothes in designer stores in Dubai at full price!
446
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:40
I have bought a Monsoon dress here and the same in the UK in the past month - exactly the same... Exactly. Did the same thing last year within a timeframe of two weeks. Seasons must change fast if what I bought in london was already in dubai as last seaons stock two weeks later I didn’t say that everything made is different I said some items, of course there are things the same as the UK that’s the whole point of a franchise.
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:39
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. The current season stock is the same thing - its not lesser quality or made anywhere else, its the same thing. i literally have purchased the same dress in London and Dubai last year as I got the wrong size. Its cheaper to manufacture good quality in huge bulk for stores worldwide than it is to manufacture a small amount of carp quality for just one country. It makes no sense to make a design and then send it for small quantities all over the place. With manufacturing the savings are in the bulk. Its definitely not a fact that you are buying the same season designs made by different factories with different materials. I don't doubt they stock they buy out the last seasons stock and sell sometimes too. Indeed there is less *variety* amongst the new season stock that is available here - but that is also to do with the market size. Take T shirts for example, One T shirt brought in Dubai and one in the UK, the Dubai T shirt had tiny holes in it after a couple of wears compared to the UK T shirt that lasted for ages with no holes, DH asked his friend (who owns the shop in Dubai) why this was and he said it’s because they copy the design and have it made cheaper so same item made in the same country but by a different supplier for cheaper. You need to put us in the know so that we can boycott this store! ;)
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:38
Part of the problem here is that stores hang onto old stuff and then try to put it in the sale a year later - we have all seen that where Debenhams or someone is trying to sell something at nearly full price that you bought for 9 quid in the UK the previous summer! :D Just sell it off for goodness sake!
446
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:37
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. The current season stock is the same thing - its not lesser quality or made anywhere else, its the same thing. i literally have purchased the same dress in London and Dubai last year as I got the wrong size. Its cheaper to manufacture good quality in huge bulk for stores worldwide than it is to manufacture a small amount of carp quality for just one country. It makes no sense to make a design and then send it for small quantities all over the place. With manufacturing the savings are in the bulk. Its definitely not a fact that you are buying the same season designs made by different factories with different materials. I don't doubt they stock they buy out the last seasons stock and sell sometimes too. Indeed there is less *variety* amongst the new season stock that is available here - but that is also to do with the market size. Take T shirts for example, One T shirt brought in Dubai and one in the UK, the Dubai T shirt had tiny holes in it after a couple of wears compared to the UK T shirt that lasted for ages with no holes, DH asked his friend (who owns the shop in Dubai) why this was and he said it’s because they copy the design and have it made cheaper so same item made in the same country but by a different supplier for cheaper.
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:36
I have bought a Monsoon dress here and the same in the UK in the past month - exactly the same... Exactly. Did the same thing last year within a timeframe of two weeks. Seasons must change fast if what I bought in london was already in dubai as last seaons stock two weeks later
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:33
T[b'>he franchises here stock current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london and anywhere else.[/b'> You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. [b'>The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else.[/b'> There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Complete rubbish. You have obviously never been in any designer shops! No - what you are referring to is that they have the same variety. Obviously the variety on offer is different in different cities (not just between london and dubai) based on market size and differences in taste in a region, as what is popular in certain places is often very different. The issue at hand was whether they are marketing the same designs, but having the same thing made in different places with different materials. And thats simply not true. You can go into different franchises of the same brand in different cities and buy the same exact thing - not an imitation of something that you saw of the same brand in a different city. *that* is complete rubbish
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:32
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. The current season stock is the same thing - its not lesser quality or made anywhere else, its the same thing. i literally have purchased the same dress in London and Dubai last year as I got the wrong size. Its cheaper to manufacture good quality in huge bulk for stores worldwide than it is to manufacture a small amount of carp quality for just one country. It makes no sense to make a design and then send it for small quantities all over the place. With manufacturing the savings are in the bulk. Its definitely not a fact that you are buying the same season designs made by different factories with different materials. I don't doubt they stock they buy out the last seasons stock and sell sometimes too. Indeed there is less *variety* amongst the new season stock that is available here - but that is also to do with the market size. I have bought a Monsoon dress here and the same in the UK in the past month - exactly the same...
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:31
so why do M & S things still have the UK price labels on ?? I've noticed that in lots of other shops too - Next, Top Man etc.... Coz they all come from the same suppliers, not different ones. Exactly, so why does Twilight say they don't ?? to try to make us believe that everything we get here in Dubai is inferior to what is available to those living in the UK Most of Dubai’s shops are franchises from the US and UK everyone moans about the quality, price and stock being last seasons fashion. Am I wrong ? One of the reasons for TYPE of stock is that buyers DO buy for a market here where people want certain kinds of clothes to cover up, longer lengths etc and as for the shoes , well that at least seems to be improving and we are getting away from the ME big platform shoes! Why is everyone always moaning about the hooker style clothes sold in the shops if you say the buyers are buying more conservative clothing, or is that only in certain shops? I don't think people moan about hooker clothes do they? They are just talking about shorts, skimpy things etc which are quite normal for youngsters elsewhere.. I think I notice places like M and S having loads of covered up stuff e.g Per Una and their Indigo range to name 2. These ranges seem to be quite popular with certain groups here ( long skirts, certain colours, good for layering etc) and there seems to be an excess of them in favour of some of the other ranges.
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:27
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. The current season stock is the same thing - its not lesser quality or made anywhere else, its the same thing. i literally have purchased the same dress in London and Dubai last year as I got the wrong size. Its cheaper to manufacture good quality in huge bulk for stores worldwide than it is to manufacture a small amount of carp quality for just one country. It makes no sense to make a design and then send it for small quantities all over the place. With manufacturing the savings are in the bulk. Its definitely not a fact that you are buying the same season designs made by different factories with different materials. I don't doubt they stock they buy out the last seasons stock and sell sometimes too. Indeed there is less *variety* amongst the new season stock that is available here - but that is also to do with the market size.
4
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:23
The franchises here stock current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london and anywhere else. [b'>You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour[/b'>. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. [b'>The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else.[/b'> There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. Complete rubbish. You have obviously never been in any designer shops! <em>edited by Sonic on 30/05/2012</em>
446
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:22
so why do M & S things still have the UK price labels on ?? I've noticed that in lots of other shops too - Next, Top Man etc.... Coz they all come from the same suppliers, not different ones. Exactly, so why does Twilight say they don't ?? to try to make us believe that everything we get here in Dubai is inferior to what is available to those living in the UK Most of Dubai’s shops are franchises from the US and UK everyone moans about the quality, price and stock being last seasons fashion. Am I wrong ? One of the reasons for TYPE of stock is that buyers DO buy for a market here where people want certain kinds of clothes to cover up, longer lengths etc and as for the shoes , well that at least seems to be improving and we are getting away from the ME big platform shoes! Why is everyone always moaning about the hooker style clothes sold in the shops if you say the buyers are buying more conservative clothing, or is that only in certain shops?
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:15
Oh well. I guess if anyone is silly enough to buy cheapo carp just because it has a designer name on it, they deserve to be ripped off :)
446
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 18:14
The franchises here stock [b'>current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london [/b'>and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai. How do you know that? Yes you can find items the same in the UK and Dubai but on some items the quality is different, fact. Re, last season items when I lived in Dubai I would see clothes in the UK that were not stocked in Dubai then a year later they would be on sale in Dubai full price, despite the fact that it had previously been on sale in the UK the year before, so that suggests that they buy last season clothes. This may have changed now but it was 100% the case a few years ago. <em>edited by twilight on 30/05/2012</em>
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:55
There are BOTH types of goods in outlets - yes, there are " made for the outlet" stuff - Gap is particularly guilty of this especially in the US. However there is the same stuff that you get in department stores in the outlets in some stores. Not all of it is made for outlet. They all vary e.g Saks outlets tend to be the previous non sellers from stores.
867
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:36
I believe that not all items from the same store are created equally.....example; in the US at the Outlet malls, items from say Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren or Coach are mostly not the same as what you would buy from a regular mall store of the same label - they have special stock made especially for outlet sale. Outlet malls sell stock off cheaply that were not popular or did not sell in the retail outlets, or sometimes samples that never went into a full production. To make the most profit the retails stores need to stock the most popular, fastest selling, full price items. Profit is lost when the room is taken up with dead stock that doesnt sell, or stuff they have to sell at half price just to get rid of it so they can make more room. So to make room they clear the dead stock and sell it off discounted at the outlets. Its not stuff made specifically as a lesser quality for an outlet. As you've said, some of the stock is dead stock from old seasons. But in some cases, some stock [b'>is[/b'> actually made for Outlet shopping exclusively. Keeps the stores full as well! http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/family-money/10-things-outlet-malls-wont-tell-you/ http://shine.yahoo.com/financially-fit/what-outlet-malls-dont-want-you-to-know-2535354.html <em>edited by Pomegranate on 30/05/2012</em>
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:29
I believe that not all items from the same store are created equally.....example; in the US at the Outlet malls, items from say Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren or Coach are mostly not the same as what you would buy from a regular mall store of the same label - they have special stock made especially for outlet sale. Outlet malls sell stock off cheaply that were not popular or did not sell in the retail outlets, or sometimes samples that never went into a full production. To make the most profit the retails stores need to stock the most popular, fastest selling, full price items. Profit is lost when the room is taken up with dead stock that doesnt sell, or stuff they have to sell at half price just to get rid of it so they can make more room. So to make room they clear the dead stock and sell it off discounted at the outlets. Its not stuff made specifically as a lesser quality for an outlet.
833
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:24
Maroosh, also try TKMaxx they sell designer clothes from previous seasons. You need to take some time and go through the racks but then you can find some real bargains. Also take a look at Hobbs for some nice trousers, not cheap but good quality and cheaper then in NL. Avoid Oxford street on the weekend. It's worse then the 'Kalverstraat' on a 'koopzondag' Happy shopping!
370
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:23
The franchises here stock current season stock from exactly the same sources as those in london and anywhere else. You can go and buy a current season item in london and come and buy it in Dubai in a different colour. It costs more because the franchisee pays more for the product and privelege of using the brand name. When they stock previous season stock - its exactly that. Not a different product from a different country. They are not selling "the same thing" made for half the price by someone else as though you're going to buy the same dress in an inferior quality in two different countries. The current season stock is exactly the same as everywhere else. There is less impressive sale stock in all shops everywhere. Thats not unique to Dubai.
867
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:22
I believe that not all items from the same store are created equally.....example; in the US at the Outlet malls, items from say Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren or Coach are mostly not the same as what you would buy from a regular mall store of the same label - they have special stock made especially for outlet sale.
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:15
The shops in Dubai are franchises that mean that they don’t have to use the suppliers that the UK stores use so most of the clothes come from china using lesser quality materials. When I last came to Dubai I couldn’t believe the difference in the quality of the clothing. The fashion is different as well. If you want wide leg trousers M&S have a big range and because it’s a shop for older women they’re less see through. I think most shops are 20 to 30% cheaper than Dubai but now some of the sales have started you could pick up some bargains. You can also claim back all the VAT on any clothing you buy in the UK which makes it even cheaper still. Interesting, I thought it was all made in the same places. I found H&M decent in the beginning, but later on when they started growing their quality got really cheap. And that was before I moved here. It is made in the same places. H&M design and manufacture all their products. Franchisees in every country all get the stock that was designed and manufactured by h&m - it is never sourced from other suppliers. H&M have factories in many places, but mostly Asia and a large percent from cambodia. One of their sweat shops famously had 300 workers faint in one day last year. The clothing there goes all over the world - including london. Franchisees are generally required to make continuing royalty payments to the franchiser each month based on a percentage of their franchise’s sales, the franchiser can designate your franchise’s supplier of goods and services. Franchisers argue that this is done to maintain quality control, but almost all franchisers receive kickbacks from the vendors. By not allowing them to shop around and subsequently limiting competition, they are forced to pay higher prices on supplies. I know for a fact that not all of the clothes brought by a certain store are from the designated supplier because we know the owner, it’s a business at the end of the day that’s why the prices are higher than the UK. Also with China and India so close why pay double when you can have it made for a fraction of the cost and sell it for more. This seems to suggest that people think that clothes are not made in India, China, Thailand etc but everyone knows that!
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:13
so why do M & S things still have the UK price labels on ?? I've noticed that in lots of other shops too - Next, Top Man etc.... Coz they all come from the same suppliers, not different ones. Exactly, so why does Twilight say they don't ?? to try to make us believe that everything we get here in Dubai is inferior to what is available to those living in the UK Most of Dubai’s shops are franchises from the US and UK everyone moans about the quality, price and stock being last seasons fashion. Am I wrong ? One of the reasons for TYPE of stock is that buyers DO buy for a market here where people want certain kinds of clothes to cover up, longer lengths etc and as for the shoes , well that at least seems to be improving and we are getting away from the ME big platform shoes!
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:08
The shops in Dubai are franchises that mean that they don’t have to use the suppliers that the UK stores use so most of the clothes come from china using lesser quality materials. When I last came to Dubai I couldn’t believe the difference in the quality of the clothing. The fashion is different as well. If you want wide leg trousers M&S have a big range and because it’s a shop for older women they’re less see through. I think most shops are 20 to 30% cheaper than Dubai but now some of the sales have started you could pick up some bargains. You can also claim back all the VAT on any clothing you buy in the UK which makes it even cheaper still. Ditto - my post below - has it changed? Don't think so.....?
4329
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 17:07
Same as here but about a third cheaper Yeah that's the answer I was looking for **happy dance**.. :) Thanks for your help, I will save my Dirhams and wait till I get there. And don't forget to ask for Tax Free Shopping when you buy the clothes, then you'll get about 12% back at the airport.... If you're tight for time I really wouldn't bother with Oxford Street - you can waste so much time going from shop to shop and get very frustrated dodging all the tourists! Westfield has everything in one place, plus easy to use find cafes (and more importantly) toilets! It's not as straightforward as that - there has to be a minimum spend in ONE shop - used to be 75 Pounds - has that changed?
5452
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 16:43
so why do M & S things still have the UK price labels on ?? I've noticed that in lots of other shops too - Next, Top Man etc.... Coz they all come from the same suppliers, not different ones. Exactly, so why does Twilight say they don't ?? to try to make us believe that everything we get here in Dubai is inferior to what is available to those living in the UK Most of Dubai’s shops are franchises from the US and UK everyone moans about the quality, price and stock being last seasons fashion. Am I wrong ? No, you are right. Fortunately, I prefer Arabic-style clothes nowadays so I don't get ripped off much here. Most of the Western clothes I have I have purchased in the USA. So why would you say that I am trying to convince people that things are inferior ? I was just being facetious.
 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY