The Pricing is just obsurd! - or is it just my cheapness coming out?

Crystalina wrote: The whole Gymboree dress discussion in Caseys Easter Pics thread got me thinking about pricing for children's clothing. I will give you a run-down of recent purchases for Gabriella.

*NOTE- These were purchased for her by my sister. I am not insane enough to pay these prices.*

One butterfly onsie: $14.75
One pair of capri pants with rope belt: $32.75!!!!
One green dress (with diaper cover): $29.75
One tank top: $22.75
One skirt (with attached diaper cover): $26.75
One pair of green butterfly pants: $19.75 <---not so bad considering everything else.
One t-shirt with a butterfly: $19.75

Are you freakin' kidding me??!!
Last night I put the capris and the onsie on her because we had family from out of state come for a visit. I noticed the prices were still on so I used my teeth and ripped it off the capris. As I tossed it on the table I saw the price. WHAT!!! I then wondered if she should even wear them. I put them on her like they were gold and covered her with a bib and then a towel as she sat in her Bumbo waiting for us to leave. DH wondered why she was wrapped up like a mummy. Shortly after we got the visit under way I used the excuse she was hot to take those clothes off and put a sleeper on her. Now, I've said on here many times that I'm the Queen of Cheap so am I just thinking these prices are outrageous or are they really outrageous?
My sister (who bought this all) got an earfull this morning and she thinks nothing of it and actually bought all the same clothes for her daughter. I just don't see the sense.

stella6979 replied: I also consider myself the Queen of Cheap so for me I think those prices are incredibly outrageous!

coasterqueen replied: I'm right there with you, although I probably have no room to talk after spending an obscene amount of money on the girls last Friday (for spring clothes)...but in all fairness they were all on sale.

I 9 times out of 10 will NOT pay gymboree full price. One of the places we went last Friday was Gymboree and they had a $10,$15,$20 sale going on and a BUNCH of clothes was on that sale. I got $34.75 dresses for the girls at $20, which I thought was really good since their clothes are better made than most places (and they make the kids look like kids and not grown up girls ). Kylie actually picked out the patchwork dress and I had thought it was on sale. When the girl rung it up at full price I told her she could have that one back. It was so cute, so I was sad, but $20 was more than I wanted to pay for them anyways. I did get about 4 spring outfits for the girls late winter there for under $10 a piece! They were last years outfits, but I don't care and if my children start caring...there is gonna be a problem anyways.

Now I am the way I am because I can't afford full price, let alone the prices I paid on Friday. I didn't really even have the money to buy them spring clothes, so I had to unfortunately charge it, but Kylie was in desperate need as she's had some major growth spurts. I usually wait until we visit our friends down south in April, we usually go to the outlet malls then, but the weather has been so great and well, I didn't wait. Otherwise we ALWAYS try to shop at outlet malls. So I don't necessarily think I'm cheap, because if I had the money I may spend more on an outfit or two, but not ALL of their wardrobe - I'm cheap there, lol.

MommyToAshley replied: I don't buy name brand clothes unless it is on sale... especially at this age when they outgrow it so quickly. I did splurge on Ashley's Easter dress because it was so beautiful, but I could probably Ebay it and get most of the money back (if I could ever bring myself to do that - LOL).

I went into Justice for Girls the other day and their prices were so high. I was ready to walk out the door until I saw the clearance rack in the back of the store. The normal price for the shirts I got were $26 (for just the shirt) but I paid $4.99 each. There is no way I would ever pay $26 for a shirt for Ashley.

momofone replied: I can see if i had alot of money i would not mind spending it but since i dont i go for sales also because they grow out of things so fast. It is fun shopping though.

cameragirl21 replied: I think I need to get myself a sister like yours.

moped replied: Yeah, I am the person that spends way too much on my clothes and my childrens clothes, and i won't shop at Gymboree, I think the prices are OUTRAGEOUS.......I am sure i have never purchased anything there.........I can get an outfit at Tommy for less or a cute GAP outfit or even Please mum is way cheaper!

I don't like Gymboree - can you tell?

CantWait replied: I find that pretty cheap for most of the stuff actually.

coasterqueen replied:
I was thinking the same way. I'm cheap but my sister is REALLY CHEAP. To her spending $10 on an entire outfit for a child is TOO EXPENSIVE. Needless to say she rarely ever buys for her nieces unless she absolutely has to and then she complains she's broke when she spends $15 on a toy for them.

coasterqueen replied:
Wow, I've never found those places cheaper. I won't even set foot in those places, even the Gap outlet malls are way too expensive to me.

I absolutely swore I'd NEVER buy Gymboree, but I had to decide to go against my words when Kylie started getting in size 6/6x-7's. Both my girls would rather wear dresses 24/7 than anything else, and the only place I've found with decent dresses for a 6 year old that doesn't make them look like a tramp is Gymboree. Children's place has some, but they couldn't even beat the sale prices of Gymboree last week. Unfortunately they make trashy clothes for 6 year old girls these days, or clothes that are all Hanna Montana and High School Musical, which I won't buy - so I ate my words and shop at Gymboree - but ONLY sale prices!!!

My2Beauties replied: Holy Cow Batman - that's high. I go to Meijer, Target, K-Mart and yes sometimes Wal-Mart to shop for the kid's clothes but mostly I swear by Penney's, they have their Arizona stuff but one get one for $1 ALL THE TIME and I always hit those sales, they do it at the beginning of every season it seems like and their clothes aren't as cheap as Wal-mart or K-Mart so they don't fall apart as easily and they are very cute clothes. Hanna loves the Hannah Montana stuff so I buy it if it's on sale sometimes but that crap is high too, most of the time she just gets regular Arizona outfits.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Yes they are outrageous! It makes me mad because their clothes are ridiculously cute and I can't buy them. I feel like I'm spending too much if I buy a Gymboree dress for $7 at once upon a child.

skinkybaby replied: I usually wait to hit up Gymboree when they're having a sale. I just like that their clothes hold up and last so much longer than most other places. And you can mix and match so much of their stuff!

Our Lil' Family replied:
Wow, I wouldn't ever by myself a tank top for $22, much less an infant! Where did those clothes come from?

Danalana replied: Yeah, those are crazy prices. I admit that I have bought a few things that were a little more than I wanted to pay, but I think it was because Kade was my first and I had wanted him for so long. I used to put him on the changing table and play dress-up with him But there's no way I would pay those prices for onesies. It would have to be an incredibly special onesie for me to pay that much.

Oops! I looked again at the price of the onesie, and I have paid that before Honestly, I have probably paid all of that before, but now I hit the sales when I can

Celestrina replied: I would never pay those prices, especially since they outgrow their clothes so fast at that age.

I think the most absurd thing I've ever seen was at a Baby Gap (or Gap Kids). A suede jacket for a toddler! Needless to say it was expensive, but ridiculously impractical. Who would put a toddler in suede? They wear it once and it is ruined!

Kentuckychick replied: Lol -- didn't mean to start a Gymboree debate!

I certainly have never spent anywhere near those prices at Gymboree -- the dress I bought Caydence was one of the more expensive items I've bought and I spent $20 on it.

I think Gymboree seems more expensive to people who don't actually shop there often. I used to think their prices were outrageous, but now I'm in there all the time. Only the VERY new stuff is marked ticket price and while some people purchase those items, most go with the sale and clearance. They come out with a new line at least once a month so things get marked down very quickly!

I've bought tons of t-shirts and tank tops that were originally $20 for $3.75 - $5.00 and tons of dresses and outfits that started around $40 for around $10. Plus they have gymbucks where if you spend $50 in the store during a given time you get 25 gymbucks -- $100 = 50 gym bucks and so on. Then when you go back during gym buck time you get to buy $50 worth of merchandise for $25 (it's like getting a fifty percent discount just for shopping).

So what we do is go in and buy the big clearance items to spend $50 (I can usually buy 5 or 6 outfits for $50 during good clearance times) and then go back and save 50% on the higher priced stuff that I really want but don't want to pay more for.

Make sense?

lol. It's confusing, but really they aren't that expensive. I usually spend less for the items I get in Gymboree than I do at JcPenney or Target... if that gives you any indication.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I rarely buy clothes for MYSELF at those prices, let alone for my kids.

Kaitlin'smom replied: when I do buy her clothes unless its for something special then I am all about clearence stuff or good sales. My MIL buys her tons of things she seems to find the really nice stuff really cheep I am talkin .50 or $1 for t shirts, shorts and myabe $3 for dresses. she has quite the wardrobe so i dont buy much. I would say the most I have ever spent on somehtign for her was probably about $40 for a dress but she wore it more than once. Heck most things she wears out now before she can outgrow it. I have been lucky that she gets to really wear her clothes before she needs new.

Nina J replied: It doesn't seem outrageous to me, but it may be country differences. Things tend to be priced differently here.

I had to go clothes shopping the other day, I got 2 shirts, a dress, a skirt and some pyjama pants and it cost $200.

Kids clothes are okay because they're usually between $5 - $50. But when they get older, it's going to cost as much to dress my kids as it costs to dress myself. I am insanely picky over my clothes though, if I spill something on a shirt I'll put it to soak straight away so it doesn't get stained. Which is good, but I don't feel like I have any 'old' clothes. Like when I mow the lawn, I have no old clothes to put on, because I will keep clothes for 5 years or more and still consider them good.

Crystalina replied:
I'm the same way. It has to be lower then clearance for me. I'm talking...I'm digging through the bin.

I was waiting for a table at Garfield's one day at the mall and ran into Gymboree real quick when I was pg with Bella. I picked up a baby blanket (just a bit thicker then a receiving blanket) and it had a teeny-tiny flower embroidered in one corner. The price was almost $40. I gently placed it back down and walked out and have never been back since.

HuskerMom replied: Oh wow that's pricey. I think I'll stick with walmart.

A&A'smommy replied:
I hit those up too but my mil waits until its REALLY on sale and pays maybe 2 dollars for most things I never find stuff like that

Brias3 replied: Yea, Gymboree is really up there. They have such cute stuff though, so the devil on my shoulder really needs to be pushed into place when I'm passing that place in the mall!

I'll admit I used to get alot of stuff for Aliyah there (I like their girls clothes better than their boys), but I used to always browse the sale stuff, or wait till they had the specials running for getting back Gymbucks. Plus, all that stuff has a good resale value.

Kentuckychick replied:
It does -- you can sell Gymboree clothes on ebay or Craigslist for a good bit... and it holds up better than just about any other children's clothing.

coasterqueen replied:
I agree, they do hold up better, but I don't know about your kids but my kids growth out of their clothes so fast it doesn't matter if they hold up or not. Of course I buy Gymboree because I refuse to buy the tramp clothes I see in other stores for Kylie's age. At least with Gymboree I can keep her her age a bit longer, before she starts wearing clothes that make her look older than she is.

Kentuckychick replied:
They're my godchildren actually -- they spend 70 hours a week at our house though so that's why I shop for them so much and take them to get their pics taken and all. But yeah, it is hard to spend that much on something they grow out of so quickly. I don't know what it is, but Caydee has actually been able to wear some of their dresses for two years and some of the stuff she had this winter will probably still fit her next fall. Connor outgrows stuff faster, but he can still wear the shorts from last summer.

I imagine as they get bigger and grow more from season to season I won't shop there as often. I totally agree with you though on their clothes being the least trashy/trampy of pretty much all the stores. I like Old Navy and Gap too but they don't seem to hold up as well. Carters is probably what we have the most of.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
I heard that about Gymboree before. I've always wished I lived close enough to go there once or twice a month, but as it is we only go to a mall that has one about once or twice a year. I did get a super cute hat for Allie there when she was a baby for only a couple dollars.

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
That's so true Karen... I am already noticing a big change in girls clothes just going from infant stuff to 2T! All the cute sweet little things are in the baby's sizes, and a lot of the 2T -4T stuff at the department stores and even Target has that flirty grown up look. My family and friends have been hearing me complain about that a lot in the last couple months. It's just been so frustrating trying to find cute summer clothes for her without spending a fortune.

coasterqueen replied:
You know, I asked Ryan the other day if I was being too "whatever" (don't know the right word to use here, anal? paranoid? protective?) about Kylie and wanting to keep her in little girl clothes (her age - age 6) as long as possible. I asked him if I should just give up the "fight" and let her wear teenage looking clothes, let her wear Hannah Montana and High School Musical clothes. He said "OF COURSE NOT". So I'm glad he wasn't thinking I was being too whatever it is that I'm being. She'll have plenty of time to wear all that "crap" in highschool and believe me I wore it even when my father said no. I just waited until I got to school and changed. So I know by highschool I'll have to be less protective....or made middle school? sigh....

ETA: Until this past year I bought a lot of Gymboree via secondhand shops and Ebay at a lot cheaper prices.

MommyToAshley replied:
I let Ashley wear High School Musical and Hanna Montana tshirts (that's not a big deal to me), but I agree that much of the other stuff out there is too old in the way it is cut, etc. I don't need my six year old looking sexy. Ashley is in a size 8 now and it is REALLY hard to find clothes once they move out of the 6X and move up to the size 7-14 because even the 7's are geared towards 14 year olds. (And, I wouldn't even let my 14 year old wear some of that stuff)

Danalana replied: I'm lucky that I have a boy (and ANOTHER boy coming )...I haven't seen any of the bigger boy clothing looking "sexy" But I agree...why in the world do they have to look like women when they are still just little girls? Let them be little for a while!

coasterqueen replied:
Yeah, you only have to worry about them wanting their jeans hanging almost completely off their butts with boxers showing. Oops, unless you like that look, then I apologize for the comment. It definitely would be easier to have a boy in this department for sure.

Danalana replied: Ummmmm...no. I don't like that look, and I can assure you that his pants will be fitting him where they are supposed to! Well, until he is grown and out of the house. Then, if he still thinks showing his undies to the world is a good idea, he can go for it

Boo&BugsMom replied: I only buy name brand when they are on clearence. Other than that...Walmart, Target, and Kohl's are what I stick to. I don't ever spend more than $10 on a whole outfit for the boys, unless it's for a special occassion like a wedding or holiday.

Kentuckychick replied:
Lol -- I remember a time when the low rider/underwear showing was the "in" thing back when I was growing up. A phase my older brother never went through but my younger brother who is 13 months my junior took a little too seriously.

And I also remember many a time when I would be walking past him in the halls of our home and I would simply reach over and give his pants a little tug... because seriously... how could I not? Then I'd laugh at his annoyance at having to bend down and yank them back up from around his ankles.

I mean... that's what you get.

Luckily that phase didn't last long and now he dresses like a respectable, well raised 25 year old.

Danalana replied: I seriously don't get that whole thing. If I was going to dress like that, I wouldn't bother with the pants at all! Just boxers and a shirt.

Boys r us replied: Okay, I'm a Gymbo and baby Gap freak! Those are the only places I shop for Alliebelle and most of the boys clothes came from Gap when they were little..now they've developed their own personal faves..so it's holister and A & F kids for them.

But, here is why i can justify it..ASIDE from the fact that baby gap and ymboree have THE CUTEST outfits ever..I sell them on Ebay when i'm done. For instance, i just listed all of Alliebelle's summer stuff from last year on Ebay last week and most of the items have brought nearly what I paid for them..it's insane! Only Gymboree and baby gap hold their value for resale on ebay though.

wcs40110 replied: I think the price on 90% of everything is outrageous!!!!! I wont but a shirt for me or my daughter for more than 5 bucks. No more than 20 for pants for me, 5 for her. I but shoes for her second hand or on clearance. I make 9.40 an hour and I have to think of how long I worked to buy an item and spending 30 bucks on a dress just sounds insane!!!

Calimama replied: Well I'm a big gymboree fan too. The clothes are made really well so we can use them for our next baby and most of them still look brand new. It's easier spending that much on a 2 year old though than an infant because my kid just doesn't grow. My in laws are big on getting her designer clothing. I think it's a bit much since the kid lives at the beach and she's TWO, but whatever... not my money.

MoonMama replied: I have to admit I love Gymboree too....but lately the boys stuff has been seriously lacking.

holley79 replied: My MIL went to Children's Place and bought annika a couple outfits for christmas, she spent over $100.00 and that was for 3 outfits on sale. Im the queen of cheap!!