Gilt Warehouse Sale

Meh.
I’m a big lover of online flash sale sites, and I was happy to pay the $ 25 admission fee for what I thought was a prime sneak peek but I’m disappointed to say the least.
The brands are mostly good, the pieces were mostly not. A lot of couture items as well but none of them very pretty, in my opinion. Even though I saw brands I was excited about (Zimmerman!) I didn’t find anything that excited me, and when I did they were heavily damaged. as in multiple holes larger than a quarter (wtf?)
Would definitely not come back. Props to the staff though– they were very nice and courteous.
Saw a lot of:
Oscar de la renta
J brand
Prada shoes
Stuart weitzman
Cole Haan
Gucci for men
Pro tips: I think part of why I found this lackluster is my sizing. If you’re a xs/​size 6 shoe the selection is much smaller. Women small had the largest rack, while women’s large sizes also had a pretty small selection. You’ve been warned ;)

This was my first Gilt sample sale (though I shop the website regularly). I was hoping that negative reviews from other cities were off base, but alas, my conclusion is that they were deserved. Here’s my objective (as possible) assessment.
Note: Entrance fees were $ 10 plus parking/​taxi/​transport, so assume $ 20. Tickets are sold in 2-​hour time slots — they claim to restock between each time slot but I doubt that anyone believes them because the earliest ones sell out first.
Pros: Free wine (Sutter Home) and airline type baggie snacks (Special K). Not exactly high quality but you could theoretically eat/​drink your $ 10 worth. Lots of brand selection, from low quality Made in China crap (eg, Kelsi Dagger shoes) to higher end Italian designers (eg, Valentino sweaters). Free coat check. High energy environment (live DJ playing pop music). Looks to have limited ticket sales to somewhere around 100 people per time slot.
Cons: The merchandise is not straightened up between time slots, as sizes were in the wrong places upon entering (tip: check your own size section first, then check the others as well). You can’t keep anything larger than a wristlet with you (no cross body bags either). Much of the merchandise is damaged, so it’s critical to check it carefully before trying it on or buying it. Dressing room is communal. All of the clothing is on open racks, so shoppers are sorting through it from both sides, meaning that someone on the other side of the rack will be grabbing for the same piece as you. Shoe selection was very limited. Very few home items.

I get sample sale fever like any red-​blooded girl, so there have been numerous NYC and SF sample sale frenzies in my past, and this is the second Gilt Warehouse Sale I’ve gone to.
Here’s what I’ve learned about sample sales in general:
1. It’s all a big crapshoot (since my husband can’t stay away from poker tournaments…), but it’s my damn right to gamble (why shouldn’t I try my luck at these sales?)
2. Maintain perspective, maintain dignity. Example: «Am I really paying to shop? Am I really standing in line to shop? Am I really a brand-​whore? Oh, I’m such a sick joke. Ok, now back to the shopping…»
3. Suit up in a suitable outfit. Easy on, easy off. Pockets. Beige undies. No jewelry. Efficiency, baby, efficiency.
4. Ain’t no time, no place for modesty in the dressing room.
5. Be nice. After all, see #1 and #2.
Here are highlights from the Gilt sale:
1. Bigger selection than last time
2. Coat check is so smart
3. Checking out was a breeze (thanks to my cashier/​Gilt City COO)
4. Dressing room operations/​set-​up went quite smoothly
5. I made off with some good loot (Helmut Lang top, D&G blouse, Bally pumps…)
But on my own observations and from my two companions, here are some suggestions:
1. I know the law of entropy rules at sample sales, but the project manager in me just cringes at the massive chaos. Better sizing signage, organizing by apparel type, more tables for the shoe/​accessory piles, and some garment bags for the high-​end/​delicate pieces will not only make it easier for go-​backs, it’ll help shoppers identify what they want more efficiently and thereby increase sales. So, duuuuuuh.
2. The subterranean lighting sucked. Kinda brought down the shopping high.
3. The promos/​giveaways were lackluster. I expect more from Gilt. For those that really can’t find anything on the racks, a swag bag or a hand massage can still score you a satisfied customer.
4. Better pricing. If you’re going to charge an admission, at least drop your prices lower than what can be found online.
5. Consider donating some of those pieces that have been around the block to The Princess Project, Bottomless Closet, etc. What goes around comes around, Gilt. And we don’t want it to be the pieces that we’re starting to see sale after sale after sale.