The real thing: a VS clearance catalog
A dear friend of mine, formerly an employee at Victoria's Secret, once gave me a $50 VS gift card saying something to the effect of "I know you'll make this go 3x farther than its value." It's true that I've become pretty good at getting my favorite VS items for less.
Here are a few of Victoria's secrets I've uncovered over the years:
1. The best prices are in the VS clearance catalog. Unlike the other VS catalogs that arrive in droves (including the ones that say "Sale"), this rare, slim catalog comes only once a month or is enclosed with an order. The catalog is half the width of a typical VS catalog. Almost everything makes its way there eventually. The highest prices are in the VS mall store.
2. The same item may have different prices in different catalogs. The item number dictates the price. Many items get reduced to $19.99 or as low as $4.99--sometimes the exact same items that appear at higher prices in a different catalog.
3. You must have the item number to get the best price. Most items in the VS clearance catalog cannot be "searched" for by style via the VS search box at their online site. The price of the item in the VS clearance catalog is often lower than the web-posted price if you do try to search for the style. You can usually find even items from old catalogs if you have the item numbers.
A little love for Victoria:
--Victoria's Secret has high quality merchandise! How many of you are wearing a VS bra you bought more than 5 years ago? They typically do last.
--Their pants are awesome!--very flattering.
--I've almost never received an item from VS that I didn't love. And VS will quickly return or exchange any item, no matter when you bought it. Their shipping has also become wicked fast--typically 2 or 3 days.
--VS frequently offers discount codes and free shipping if you sign up for their email notifications.
--VS has a huge inventory. I picture a massive warehouse in Ohio--oh, how wish I could visit it!
Do you love-hate Victoria? Please spill any secrets you've got. What are your best hints for shopping from this company?
Here are a few of Victoria's secrets I've uncovered over the years:
1. The best prices are in the VS clearance catalog. Unlike the other VS catalogs that arrive in droves (including the ones that say "Sale"), this rare, slim catalog comes only once a month or is enclosed with an order. The catalog is half the width of a typical VS catalog. Almost everything makes its way there eventually. The highest prices are in the VS mall store.
2. The same item may have different prices in different catalogs. The item number dictates the price. Many items get reduced to $19.99 or as low as $4.99--sometimes the exact same items that appear at higher prices in a different catalog.
3. You must have the item number to get the best price. Most items in the VS clearance catalog cannot be "searched" for by style via the VS search box at their online site. The price of the item in the VS clearance catalog is often lower than the web-posted price if you do try to search for the style. You can usually find even items from old catalogs if you have the item numbers.
A little love for Victoria:
--Victoria's Secret has high quality merchandise! How many of you are wearing a VS bra you bought more than 5 years ago? They typically do last.
--Their pants are awesome!--very flattering.
--I've almost never received an item from VS that I didn't love. And VS will quickly return or exchange any item, no matter when you bought it. Their shipping has also become wicked fast--typically 2 or 3 days.
--VS frequently offers discount codes and free shipping if you sign up for their email notifications.
--VS has a huge inventory. I picture a massive warehouse in Ohio--oh, how wish I could visit it!
Do you love-hate Victoria? Please spill any secrets you've got. What are your best hints for shopping from this company?
 Victoria's Secret Miniskirt, $9.99. Available in 5 sizes and 11 colors. |  A page devoted to tips for making your fashion dollar go further:  |
RSS Feed
