LOEHMANNS ONLINE, WHO KNEW?

More you wanted to know about me: I'm not one of these girls who likes sifting threw sales or clearance racks. And I'll tell you why:

1. I don't like the utter and complete chaos that always seems to ensue near a rack of clothing that is signed with the words, "Just reduced take an additional 70% off clearance price".
2. I'm not a size xs, and therefore do not want to waste my time looking through item by item, (as die-hard sales fanatics do) of a 60 ft. clearance array of size xs sheer ruffled skirts, returned leggings and blouses that should only be worn by the cast of Dark Shadows.
3. I'm from the school of thought that once an item hits, "sale" status, its either [a] not in demand [b] is in demand but there is only a petite size 0 remaining [c] irregular in some form.
4. I have yet in my DECADES of life as a discriminating shopper ever glanced over at another shopper's finds and thought, "Oooooooh, let me try to wiggle my way through the 3 rows of ravenous women with no-frills strollers, wailing unattended babies and make shift Diaper Genies because I just HAVE to have that pair of asymmetrical gauchos that she has".

Friends of ours swear by Loehmanns and their, "killer" merchandise, but I've yet to bear witness to such criminality. These two women sound like a broken record, "Loehmanns is the best. You wanna go to Loehmanns? I'm off tomorrow Ma, lets go to Loehmanns. Ooooooh, be still my heart, they just opened a Loehmanns in Sarasota? Why don't we go there this year instead of Disney? The kids can go to Disney next year, if I don't blow all of my money at Loehmanns". You get the picture. If Loehmanns were to close these two women would handcuff themselves to an emergency exit in order to die along with their favorite store once the wrecking ball hits.

I've been to Loehmanns, twice. Once because the above mentioned friend gave me a DKNY hoodie that I wanted to exchange. The other time? Because I still had a store credit to use from the DKNY return. I had that store credit for over a year. That NEVER happens. I ended up giving the store credit to another Loehmanns junkie.

Now a sale online, that's a different story. Assuming the sale isn't Old Navy, or Target that is. Take for example yesterday's sale and subsequent posting. Neimie's still had tons of great stuff and at a bargain hunters price. No sifting through clearance racks. No pushing my way through foamy mouthed moms. No headache from the wailing and most importantly, UNATTENDED, (I can't emphasis this enough) spawn.

Loehmanns just seemed to me to be just one giant store of the aforementioned. Items that didn't sell at department stores at markdown prices now disguised on 4-way racks as regularly priced merchandise. Has it gotten any better? I don't know, I haven't been there in years. A thought occurred to me that perhaps a good way of seeing Loehmanns and thereby avoiding the unneeded mayhem is by checking out their website. Once there, you're directed to http://www.smartbargains.com/ for your Loehmann's fix. I haven't yet had an opportunity to peruse their online site, but by the looks of the front page of smartbargains, there is much being offered.

I'm crossing my fingers for you Loehmanns Online! And by the way, my Amex Platinum sends her regards.