Clothing and the Consumer

1. Clothing and the Consumer Chapter 59

2. Customer Service • What do you want from sales personnel? • What are some polite, effective ways to ask for or refuse assistance? • How can you make a complaint without offending store staff and still get a problem solved?

3. Recognizing options is a necessary step in making decisions. • Some people let biases limit their shopping options. • Name brand or it is inferior • How can failing to recognize options make any decision more difficult?

4. Where to Shop? • Department stores • Divided into sections that offer different styles, sizes for men, women and children • Sell accessories • Offer store credit cards, gift wrapping, free delivery • Some prices are higher than other stores

5. Factory outlets • Run by manufacturer or factory • Prices generally lower than department store • Fewer customer services • May not accept credit cards, checks, returns, or exchanges • Know the prices before you go into this outlet • May have “irregulars” • Items with imperfections

6. Specialty Stores • Sell only one type of clothing • Carry labels that department stores don’t stock • Prices may be higher • Offer extra personal services • Handle special orders

7. Mail-order catalogs • Magazine-style booklets • Convenient to order but takes longer • Be careful on sizing • Toll-free numbers for help • Prices vary • Additional shipping and handling charges

8. Resale Shops • Secondhand shops • Sell items that may look new • Antique or designer clothing • Sponsored by a charitable organization or by consignment • Clothing cannot be returned

9. Garage, Yard, & Rummage Sales • Sources for used clothing • Purchased for a few dollars • Check carefully for staining or repairs

10. Flea Markets • First-quality merchandise to seconds to irregulars • “designer” labels may be poor quality copies • Prices are usually lower • Cannot try on clothing or return items

11. Art & Craft Fairs • Original • One-of-a-kind designs • Hand-painted, quilted, patchwork, hand-woven, hand-knitted items • May pay a premium

12. Some stores apply sale prices retroactively: customers can get a partial refund on an item’s price if the item goes on sale within a given time period, perhaps 30 days, after they bought it.

13. On the other hand, some stores state that “sale prices do not include previous purchases.” • Why would a store might favor one policy over another one? • Which one is better?

14. When To Shop • Time of year you shop affects prices and selection • At beginning of season prices and selection are the highest • At the end of the season prices and selection are at their lowest • Plan ahead for expensive purchases • Winter coat

15. Sales • End-of-the-season • Sale that is held to clear out merchandise to make room for the next season’s styles • Winter coats, sweaters on sale in February • Swimwear, sportswear on sale in July • Annual holiday sales • Labor Day, Washington’s Birthday • Aim to bring in customers to shop on a holiday

16. Markdowns • Reduced-price items available year-round • For some reason didn’t sell, longer it is in the store the lower prices • Special Purchases • Items that the store bought for a lower-than-usual price • Passes savings onto consumer

17. Sizing Things Up • Size range = category you fit into • Female sizes • Junior, misses, or petite • Junior (3,5,7,9,11,13) • Misses are even numbered (4,6,8,10,12,14,16) • Cut for trimmer and shorter waist • Petite well-proportioned figure • 5 feet and 4 inches tall or under • Cut for person’s height and not weight

18. Male sizes • Men’s and boys • Sold by waist measurement • Inseam measurement (length of pants leg from bottom to the seam where the two legs meet) Special sizes women’s, slim, husky, tall, & short

19. How To Find the Right Size Ready to wear clothing sizes based on measurements of typical bodies finding the right size can be difficult no one is typical

20. Some clothing is marked extra-small, small, medium, large, or extra-large • These fit two or three standard sizes • Smalls= size 6 to 8 • Mediums = 10 to 12

21. Smart to buy larger • Might still grow • Outfit may shrink • Last longer

22. Checking the Fit • Try on garment • Check for good fit • See figure 59.1 on page 571 in your text • Check out figure 59-2 for fabric and construction on page 572

23. People with physical disabilities have additional concerns about fit. They may need clothing that can accommodate a leg or neck brace. • People with multiple sclerosis and other muscular disorders appreciate clothing that is easy to put on and take off.

24. Constant sitting in a wheelchair can broaden the waist; elastic waistbands make garments more comfortable to wear.

25. A team at Cornell University is developing a new, more detailed sizing system. It uses size clusters based on 15 variables in body proportions, such as a short waist or long legs. Each cluster represents a different combination of these proportions. Nearly everyone fits into one of these clusters.

26. More on Checking the Fit • As with clothes, shoe and boot sizes vary by manufacturer. Try on both shoes and walk around before making a purchase. You should be able to wiggle your toes, the heel should be snug without rubbing, and the sole should fit the shape of your foot.

27. Checking the Fabric • Quality of fabric contributes to garment • Look for wrinkling, pattern, wearing qualities, and care information

28. Checking the construction • Check seams, edges, corners, fasteners, hems, and trim

29. Calculating the Cost • 1. is the price within my budget? • 2. How long will I wear it? • 3. How long will it last? • 4.Can I buy something similar for less? • 5. Can I buy it for less elsewhere? • 6. Could I save money by waiting for it to go on sale? • 7. Could I make the item?

30. Real Life Application Jana wants a pair of nice jeans for school and work. She found a pair that cost $35; however, she also found a pair of dry-clean-only dress pants for $20. Which pair of pants is the better buy?

31. Estimate Cost Per Wearing • Is the total of the purchase price and the cost of cleaning divided by the number of times you wear a garment

32. Avoid Pitfalls • Classics = styles that stay popular for a long time • Fads= styles tat are popular for a short time

33. Fads • Not inherently bad • Fun to purchase • Realize what you are getting • Can update a wardrobe inexpensively

34. Activity • Make a list of fads: