Yesterday was a big day for fashionistas as Jason Wu’s collection hit the shelves and racks of Target stores around the country. Unfortunately for many, myself included, both a trip to Target and attempts to get online to make purchases were in vain.
ABC News’ Christina Ng and Lauren Effron reported on ABC’s website this morning that “Mere hours after Target released designer Jason Wu’s collection in-store and online Sunday, the fashion line was sold out.” In my case, our local Target (one of only two in the state carrying the collection) sold out of nearly everything in less than 30 minutes.
Across the country shoppers waited in line for hours before stores opened with the hope of getting a dress, scarf or handbag. I met and spoke with a few shoppers who were deeply frustrated by 9am. “How can everything be gone already”, one woman asked angrily. Another felt the store didn’t have enough stock. “There was more available at the Missoni launch”, exclaimed a woman named Maggie who had come to shop with her husband, daughter and granddaughter in tow. Employees, when asked, confirmed Maggie’s suspicion. Despite the fact that there were several pretty Jason Wu posters about the place, they had only received three racks of clothes – hardly enough to satisfy the desires of the whipped-up Wu crowd.
As I stood before the near-empty racks, having also combed the fitting area for cast-offs, I wondered how many purchases were destined for Ebay. As it turns out – quite a few. At last check there were 10,671 results for “Jason Wu for Target” on Ebay. And, if you didn’t hear, there was a couple from Miami who practically bought out the entire Wu collection at their midtown store with plans to sell everything on Ebay at a higher price (click here to see the YouTube video). Dubbed “The Vultures Who Ruined Jason Wu for Target“, the pair were vindicated in their actions when a call to Target corporate headquarters confirmed stores were not allowed to stop people from what basically amounted to “shopping for Ebay”.
Those who didn’t drive to their nearest Target may have gone online to shop and been equally disappointed. I went online at midnight (New York time) and could not get past the Jason Wu masthead. I went to bed and tried again at 9am (again, New
York time) and discovered that the blue dress I wanted for my daughter was only “available in-store”. Ughh! Even now, a full 24 hours later, it’s still impossible to figure out what’s going on…the “available in-store” and the “on-line price” (with “free shipping when you spend $50) followed by the “find in store” is confusing to say the least. It shouldn’t be this difficult.
Hello Target…are you listening? Please, make it simple. Is it available online or in-store? And, could you please let us know in advance next time?
Oh, silly me. Next time Target collaborates with another hot designer, they will surely tease/frustrate us all by 1) not supplying enough information, 2) allowing their website to be flawed, and 3) not filling their shops with a “suitable” amount of product to make a large percentage of the shopping public happy. While we cry “Boo hoo, Jason Wu at Target”…Target is sublimely happy. In-store, online or via Ebay…whatever the way, Target wins in both financial terms and public relations.
In an Irish Home 