Loehmann’s Bankruptcy Sale: How Good Are Those Markdowns?

Is the Loehmann’s going out of business sale really offering the best deals?

When I heard that Loehmann’s was going into Bankruptcy and selling off all their stock and fixtures, like many shoppers, I resolved to get right over to my local store. Loehmann’s, once the best source for designer deals going out of business? I was saddened and beyond motivated to go shop the sale.  But is the sale really offering the best deals on designer merchandise? Well that depends.  Here’s what we found at our local store.

If you’re shopping the sale, be aware that things are in disarray.  Shoes are not necessarily in the correct name brand box.  Dresses are missing belts.  Beautiful gowns are frayed at the bottom.  But in the midst of all the chaotic picking over, there are still plenty of bargains to be found.  Top designers are still on the racks.  Just check the price tags carefully against the labels inside the dress, shirt pant or the shoes.   Things are now mismarked because they’ve been a little picked over. Make sure the designer name on the sales tag matches the label inside, so that you get the right price.

Chinese Laundry flats purchased at the Loehmann’s sale for 25% off of the retail price.

I rushed out to Loehmann’s because I thought the stock would all be gone by the end of January.  But that’s not really the case. I’ve checked with two stores in California ( Beverly Hills and Orange County) and mid-March is a more accurate closing date.  That means that there is over a month to go on this going out of business sale, and prices may go lower as March approaches.  Right now, most items are at least 25% off of retail, but check the prices carefully on items.  I found a pair of Chinese Laundry  “Easy Does It” shoes that retail for $59.95 at Nordstroms  in a box that suggested that had once been $70.00.  When I checked closely, the box was for a different, more expensive pair of shoes.  I got the shoes for about $47.00, a savings of $12.00, but they were not discounted from $90.00 to $47.00 as the box they were in suggested.  So check those prices carefully to make sure you are really getting a deal.  Mobile phones make it easy to check your Loehmann’s picks against prices at other stores.

Two final things to remember about the Loehmann’s clearance sale 1) there are no returns  and 2) if you are a Loehmann’s Gold Card holder, you can still get discounts on all items until the sale ends.

Have any of you shopped a Loehmann’s clearance sale? Leave a comment and share your tips.  I found everything from Furla bags to Valentino dresses to designer jeans on the racks.