8 tips to survive the J. Crew Warehouse Sale

I’m no rookie when it comes to the J. Crew Sale. I’ve been to the iconic store’s clearance event three times previously – once in Winston-Salem, once in Chapel Hill, and once in Raleigh. When I heard that the notorious blow out was coming to the Queen City, I knew I’d find myself in line on opening day.

Even though this wasn’t my first rodeo, I made some crucial mistakes. Do as I say, not as I do, and follow the tips below for a successful shopping spree experience:

(1) Get there early. 

I arrived 5 minutes after the doors opened at 10 am and walked right in. When I was leaving at 12 pm (yeah, I was there for two full hours), there was a long line to get in the door.

(2) Decide what you’re there for.

I walked in aimlessly, unsure of what exactly I was shopping for, so I just started at the front of the stockroom. By the time I got to the back of the building, where the shoes and the dresses are kept, everything had been picked through, leaving just the unwanted remains. I kept seeing women toting cute bathing suits and thinking, “Gosh, why did I start in the t-shirts?!” Although not overtly, rows of boxes are labeled, so make sure to start your hunt in the most desired section.

(3) Glance over the pricing guide.

When you walk in you’ll receive a large plastic trash bag and a pricing sheet. It’s helpful to know how much each category of clothing costs as you browse. Here’s an overview:

• Tops: $8 – $40
• Bottoms: $8 – $15
• Jackets: $30 – $175
• Dresses: $15 – $35
• Wedding dresses: $80
• Shoes: $10 – $50
• Accessories: $2 – $20
• Swimwear: $5

• Sleep/Loungewear: $5 – $10

(4) Go crazy, then sort it out. 

Crowds move quickly and folks are tearing through those boxes like the Tasmanian Devil. If you see something you like, grab it. After you’ve hit all the highlights, take your garbage bag full of clothes and plop yourself down on the floor to sort through your items. Unwanted merchandise can simply be left in a pile on the floor, and the staff will come behind you and pick it up.

(5) Wear leggings and a tank top under your clothes.

The warehouse doesn’t provide changing rooms and you aren’t allowed to completely disrobe, but you can try stuff on. I saw ladies slipping dresses, pants, and even bathing suits over tight fitting clothing and thought to myself, “I mean, duh. Why didn’t I think of that?”

(6) Bring a friend.

If possible, it’s nice to have a friend with you who can tell you how clothes look on you, since there are no mirrors. If not, everyone’s friendly; and it’s not weird to ask a stranger if those pants make your butt look big.

(7) Do not bring your baby.

I’m a nanny for two little girls. The oldest of the two was in preschool yesterday morning and I confidently thought, “Carrying a baby with me through the sale will be a breeze, I can do this.” False. First of all, I didn’t think there would be room in the warehouse for strollers (there is), so I stuffed the one-year-old in a Baby Bjorn which she exceeds the weight limit for by about 5 pounds. Let me just tell you how terrible my back felt after walking around with a 30 pound, flailing, tiny human for an hour and a half. It was not pretty. Secondly, I thought the baby could power through and skip her morning nap for the sake of the closeout. Everybody loves shopping, right? Wrong again. By the time we got to the tagging line, I was that lady that people were looking at thinking, “I wish that woman would control her screaming child.”

(8) Pay attention to the time.

I spent way too much time digging through boxes and didn’t account for wait times at all. Before paying, you first have to go to a station where the staff counts your items and puts tally marks on your pricing guide to make it easier for the folks running the cash registers. I stood in the line to get my clothes counted for thirty minutes and only made it about half way to the front. (Side note, I ran into Ted’s wife and baby while standing in line. Great people. Ted has a freaking cute baby.) I looked at my watch and realized that if I didn’t leave right then, I was going to be late for preschool pickup. Luckily I ran into a friend and she offered to purchase my items for me and let me pay her back. If you’ve got somewhere to be, give yourself plenty of time to check out.