Why do they do it.

[Vicky_Scotland]

Why do shops and websites specialising in anything for the TG community feel like they have the right to rip us off by charging over inflated prices.

This really annoys me....anyone else feel the same way?

[Yes I am]

They do it and get away with it because most transfolk are closeted and unwilling to be vocal about it.

[RikkiOfLA]

Why do shops and websites specialising in anything for the TG community feel like they have the right to rip us off by charging over inflated prices.

This really annoys me....anyone else feel the same way?

Actually, there are exceptions. One of them is Glamour Boutique here in the US. I don't work for them; I don't own stock in their company. But I've found some incredible deals there. Their website and their stores in Massachusetts, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas are well worth checking out.

Rikki

[Toyah]

There are some good ones and some truly terrible ones you just have to shop around

[~Dee~]

i suppose it comes down to business sense verses business morals.
most of the shops owners know that cd'ers are in a position to pay and not ask questions or make a fuss about it.

so really i guess it comes down to what the market will bear, like always .. they know they can increase the prices more and more and still count on many customers still purchasing from them without problems.
so .. when you get down to it .. can you blame them for doing it?

i get it with jewellery. people coming to me and showing me pieces that they've paid a fortune for .. and i could have made them the exact same thing for a fraction of the cost .. but cant you blame the jeweller for wanting to make a living from their goods?
if people werent buying it, then they couldnt keep the prices at that top markup.

mind you, im not saying its right .. i do think that its horrible at some of the prices that are put on things. i personally find it shockingly hard to put a huge price tag on something that i know didnt cost me much to make ..
but .. thats probably why i make a terrible business. :D :D

[Julia Cross]

I agree the prices are often too high for what they are selling, but not all stores are ripping you off intentionally. Keep in mind, any store that specializes exclusively in servicing the transgendered society will have a very limited clientele, however they still need to pay market value rents and all other business costs as well as they need to buy the products they sell just as anyone else does. To make it even more difficult, they don't have the buying power regular stores have because they buy very limited quantities.

I think they are doing the best they can to service a very small market and still make a living.

On the other hand, if you are referring to fetish stores, where the market is larger as they service anyone who has come to fgrips with their sexuality as well as the general public as a whole buying gag gifts, fun-in-the-bedroom stuff, videos and educational toys and books to name a few - now there I feel they are ripping everyone off.

Julia

[Tamara Croft]

I would have thought because the clothing are designed especially for crossdressers? I'm only guessing, never actually bought anything from a cd shop, but I'd imagine that although the clothing looks like womens clothing, they are made to fit men properly.... shoulders, back, hips etc...

[~Dee~]

they are made to fit men properly.... shoulders, back, hips etc...

i cant speak for every place out there .. but the places that we have seen, (never bought from mind you), are just generally larger sizes of standard female clothes .. nothing different about them that i saw.

[Julia Cross]

Here in the greater Toronto area, the shops are very limited and the clothing isn't designed for men, it's simply an assortment of this and that in many sizes with a slight increase in the amount of larger sizes. On the whole, the selections are usually weak but given the limited clientele, what can one expect?

J

[Tamara Croft]

i cant speak for every place out there .. but the places that we have seen, (never bought from mind you), are just generally larger sizes of standard female clothes .. nothing different about them that i saw.Well if that's the case, then that's bad. The TG's have enough to deal with, nevermind lamers ripping them off.... grrrrrrrrr....... :Angry3:

[Karren H]

Don't feel that way because I don't shop at TG specific shops. Bought a few specialized items (gaff, padded panties and breat forms) on ebay and was happy with the price and product. Buy all my fem clothing and shoes locally at discount and department stores so always looking for a bargin!! Maintaining two wardrobes is expensive!! "The Frugal CD". Hehehe

Love Karren

[Julia Cross]

Karren has the right idea, buy where the women shop, it's cheaper and the variety is far better. And, you can usually return it with no questions asked.

Julia

[Bev06 GG]

Hi Vicky,
Yes I feel exactly the same way. I do makeovers for CDs and I can say hand on heart that I only charge slightly more for a CD than I do for a GG. The only thing that I have to spend more time on with a CD is the camourflage on the shadow. Everything else is exactly the same so why would I charge lots more. The thing that really gets to me is that alot of these makeover services are run by CDs or their partners and you'de expect them to be alittle more considerate. The exploitation is incredible. And Im at abit of a loss when I read that it takes 90 minutes to make a CD up. Can someone explain please explain to me why this is. I experiment with various looks so that I can be sure that someone likes what theyve ended up like, and it doesn't take me anywhere near that amount of time to do the makeup. Maybe the photographs and dressing can take some time, but makeup should only take about half an hour at the very most. Even the heavier stuff for a drag queen only takes about 40 minutes and thats being generous.
Take care
BEVxxx

[susiej]

Ladies,

My experience is that there are two kinds of CD shops out there. The first kind is/was started by someone who either is CD/TG, or has an idea what we're about, some empathy for us, and understands that serving us well will generate loyal patronage long-term.

The other kind has been described in previous posts. They offer misleading, "come-on" websites that promise to make me look like J. Lo., and as observed, tend to charge 170% for items one can get at Chez Target. These folk are banking (literally) on the hope that we are too frightened to buy our bras at discount stores.

A) I think this is changing, as reputable, kind-hearted businesses pop up to compete with the other kind, and B) we make it clear that we vote with our, um, purses, and don't come back to the stores that attempt to, um, screw us :-).

Hugs,
Susie

[Stacie Stockman]

So can we form a list of reputable CD boutiques vs the unreputable ones?

[michelleD]

Hi Ladies: I agree with Karen, I do a good deal of shopping at the local owned lingerie shops and the owners cater to all clients. Small shops do not change over staff like chain stores in malls. This can be a blessing as it has become for me, as I now have a good business relation with the staff at these shops and they are more then willing to order in items with no obligation to buy ( never happened to pass on any thing). Better yet it does not matter if shopping dressed or drab the fitting rooms are availible to check on fit. Best place I found to buy shoes is The Shoe Company, up to size 12 and some 13, with clearance end of season specials can save a bundle. Got on their e-mail list and have gotten great deals for shoes both dress and drab. Most of MichelleD"s cloths come from thrift shops such as Elegance Again Inc, another local shop. I also found sliding a $20-40 dollars off each pay cheque ($750-1000 a year) into a separate account keeps the bank books at home straight and a spending allowance to enjoy SHOPPING...

[sierracd6]

I do agree.....that is why I do all my shopping in the stores, well mostly, Fredricks still gets my biz...........I do agree though..the TG catalouges I get are ridiculous....at least double on skirts that you can buy elsewhere.........I hear ya sister.....

[andrea6er]

Well if you live in the South East there's Frillies in Dover Road Folkestone who cater for us girls, at very reasonable prices, my only trouble is getting all of my shopping home without my SO seeing what I've bought. Otherwise I still love to shop in normal GG stores. There's also a sister shop to Frillies in Brighton can't remember it's name though.

[Annabel]

Hope this isn't too dull, but M&S for skirts, tights (I do think their tights are the best) and underwear - and then I'll use my [male] M&S cashmere jumpers; I've got a few pairs of boots over the internet from Cinderella Shoes in Ireland - they are the bees' knees, just perfect.

PS Is it just me or are pencil skirts just THE best thing ever?

[Charlene Marie]

Vicky, Hi honey. There are lots of places we can purchase what we need, and from friendly and caring people. Here's two;
"Ruffels and Lace" and my favorite, "Glamour Boutique" both on the east coast USA ship anywhere, and reasonable prices. Try them.

Good luck shopping.

Charlene

[sparks]

Why do most of these sites tend to use GG's to sell their stuff!

You could look just like Jane if you bought our new hair hiding hose!!
Really Jane doesn't have any leg hair!

You could look just like Jane in our new thong collection!
Really! Jane has nothing to tuck!

Shits and giggles in the advertising world.
We will still buy the crap in prayers to look like Jane1