We all have our own personal inner demons. Some people struggle with chemical addiction. Others cultivate unhealthy co-dependent relationships. For some it’s an obsession with the gym. Me? I have a crocodile. Lacoste makes me feel irrationally exuberant.
That irrationality comes with a price, however. Full retail for the standard men’s short-sleeve polo is about $72, plus sales tax. The button down shirts are even more expensive, usually in the $100 range, and the sweaters are pricier yet.
I am telling you right here and now that you should not feel ‘cheap’ or otherwise unworthy for not feeling comfortable paying that much for a mass-produced shirt. On some level it’s a little bit ridiculous. You have to accept the fact that you’re paying extra for a shirt that doubles as status symbol, because face it, the Lacoste polo is a staple of the preppy/yuppie uniform.
That being said, you don’t have to pay full price. My wardrobe has way more Lacoste crocodiles than my entry-level paychecks suggest, because I’m always on the lookout for deals—you just have to remember that deals are relative rather than absolute when you’re talking about luxury brands. Just remember that brand management is extremely important to Lacoste and similar retailers. They don’t want to risk alienating their full-price customers by selling their wares too cheaply. After all, how exclusive is a shirt that you can get for $10 from Mega-Mart?
Strategy 1. Factory stores
Lacoste factory stores (outlet stores) seem to be a pretty well kept secret, probably because there aren’t too many of them around the country and they certainly aren’t advertised. The men’s polo shirts sell for around $54, or 25% off the $72 retail price. Just keep in mind that the Lacoste polos in “classic” colors (e.g. black) are rarely, if ever, available at this price point. The button-down shirts, sweaters, and pants are usually marked down more aggressively, sometimes even 40-50% off retail.
If you’re not sure if you live near a Lacoste factory store, just do a quick Google search for “Lacoste outlet” or “Lacoste factory store” and your zip code. Update: Here’s a list of all of the Lacoste outlets in the U.S.
It’s also worth mentioning that items sold at the Lacoste factory store are never defective or otherwise inferior in quality to what is sold elsewhere—Lacoste actually destroys defective merchandise rather than risk cheapening its brand image.
Strategy 2. Online department stores
A few times a year, some of the upscale department stores (i.e. Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom) will sell the previous season’s Lacoste merchandise at a decent discount online. I’ve nabbed a few of the classic polo shirts in the mid-$50 range, with free shipping. This is a great option for people who don’t live near a factory store.
The problem is that clearance Lacoste sells out fast. It helps to be an unusual size, but even then it’s not guaranteed that you’ll find the deal before the online merchant runs out of inventory.
Luckily, I have a secret weapon that ensures I know about the sale before the general public: I have keyword alerts set up on two of the internet’s most popular deal-hunting forums. Whenever someone on the forums posts a message containing the word “Lacoste” (or any other word I choose), I instantly receive email notification. It’s very nifty.
Personally, I use FatWallet.com and SlickDeals.net, but there are other good ones out there. I highly recommend keyword alerts to keep tabs on all of your favorite products and brands.
Strategy 3. Brick & Mortar
Once in a while you can find Lacoste on sale at regular brick & mortar department stores. I’ve had luck with Macy’s and Nordstrom, but it’s very hit-and-miss, and sometimes you’re not allowed to use coupons on Lacoste.
In my experience, the selection and discount pales in comparison to what is available through the factory store and online sales, but it never hurts to look. I have never seen the classic pique polo on the sale rack at a department store, but I have seen button-down shirts, long-sleeve polos, t-shirts, and khakis.
Strategy 4. Lacoste.com
The Lacoste online store just launched this summer. They don’t have many discounted items yet, but the fact that they have a sale section at all is encouraging.
For now, I’d consider this a last resort when trying to score Lacoste for below full retail, but I’ll be keeping my eye on Lacoste.com for future developments.
A note about eBay
You might be tempted by the seemingly amazing deals on Lacoste found on eBay. “Ten polo shirts for only $100? Amazing!”
But don’t be fooled. Anyone trying to unload Lacoste (or any other luxury brand) at a steep discount is very likely peddling counterfeit merchandise. Just think about it for a second. If you had a shipment of expensive and very in-demand clothing to sell, would you ask only a fraction of the full retail price? If you knew that the shirts retail for well over $50, why would you sell a dozen for $100? It doesn’t make business sense if the product is actually legitimate. (Additionally, Lacoste only distributes their merchandise through well-established retail chains, never through private wholesalers.)
The only time I would even consider buying Lacoste on eBay would be for vintage items.
how much is to get lacoste shirt for and what do you selll
thankyou