How plus size stores rip us off!

[rydersmama 804]

For the last 15 years or so, the only store I could shop in, in my city was Penningtons...this was the only store that went up to the size I wore.

It always frustrated me that I only had that one option to get clothes as they are VERY expensive and over priced for what you get.

I realize that yes, they need more material for a 5x shirt, but it's not like its high quality material or anything.

I recently went to Walmart cuz I had to break down and get some new clothes, and was beyond happy that I easily fit into the plus size section there.

I was blown away....a 5 pack of panties for $10??? I was paying $40 for that many panties.

I bought a bra for $12.95....whaaaaa!!! Used to pay $50 for those.

Tshirts for $8....same thing at penningtons would have been $30.

This is the kicker...a bathing suit from Walmart $30....I've payed well over $100 at penningtons.

Anyway, you guys get my point. So I basically feel like I've been ripped off and taken advantage of all these years and it pisses me off.

Now that I can shop other places for clothes, I vow NEVER to set foot in penningtons again....and that makes me very happy and proud of myself

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

It really isn't the same thing though.

I buy cheap clothes now because I can, but that doesn't mean that the larger stores are ripping me off. They have additional costs.

The cost of plus size clothes is not just the extra material, it is extra shipping weight also. They need more space etc.

Then a big difference between plus size clothes and regular sizes is the cut. The cut is something that takes research and skill. Once you become larger and distort the body, there is more effort that has to go into items to make them flatter a larger frame.

The plus size clothes and the normal sized clothes at Walmart are not cut the same, just like the juniors aren't cut like the misses.

Then when you get into supply chains it gets even more complicated. A plus size store is going to have a limited supply chain, that services their sizes and their cuts. Regular sizes can all be made in the same factory and just have different labels slapped them. This goes to Walmart, this goes to target, this goes to old navy. The cut on clothes at Ashley Stewart is different from the cut at Avenue, which is different from the cut at Lane Bryant, which if different from the cut at Additionelle.

Are they marking things up? Sure they are, they have a niche market. Are they ripping you off? Not really.

[cindyw41 761]

Looking at the website penningtons seems to be a department store. Something like Lane Bryant.. Far different than Walmart.

I always felt that plus size clothes at Walmart looked like table cloths or curtains.. I'd pay more to have stylish clothes that made me feel good wearing them.

I don't think they are ripping us off but I do think the industry lacks in providing decent clothing for plus sizes.

[JupiterinVirgo 846]

I completely agree that the markup on plus sized clothing is ridiculous. I completely agree that the industry takes advantage of the limited choices currently available plus sized people. I have been repeatedly appalled shelling out $80 or more every time I bought a piece of clothing, and although paying top dollar, the quality of the material was probably only slightly higher than what you would get from Walmart at about 20% of the price. In our culture, anyone outside the box of so-called normalcy, which in my opinion doesn't exist, has to pay for it. And the real cost, isn't measured in dollars and cents.

[KristenLe 5,979]

I love Lane Bryant clothes and with their coupons or sales - I've gotten great deals (often times going way overboard)! I wear their pants for years and they still look decent. If I can manage not to stain my shirt the 1st day of wearing - they last a long time too. Much better quality than Walmart. Although - I do buy undies at Walmart too. :-) The other place I have gotten decent stuff recently is Target.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I've got to disagree! I worked retail in college and there are many reasons plus sized clothes are so much more expensive.

First and most obvious. Plus sized clothes take more fabric. They also create more waste. A bolt of fabric is standard sized. With smaller clothing sizes, more pieces of the pattern fit on the bolt and there is less fabric wasted. With larger sizes, the only way to use the excess cut away fabric is to also make tiny clothes from the same fabric and most plus sized manufacturers don't also make kids' clothes from the same fabric.

There are a lot more cuts going into larger sizes as well. Instead of one piece of fabric wrapping around the body to make a skirt with one seam, two (or three or four) pieces must be cut and stitched together. With more cuts, there are more stitches, too.

Clothes are ordered in sets. Most manufacturers will sell a store (I am making this up for example sake) 1xs, 2s, 5m, 4l, 1xl of each item. In plus sizes, there might be 2-1x, 4-2x, 2-3x, 1-4x. Stores takes a loss on the clothes they don't sell so that cuts the profits on the clothes they do sell.


Fabrics fall differently, give differently and patterns need to be matched differently on plus sizes. When you get into nicer clothes (think with lining, with intricate lace or button patterns), this all takes more hands on work and intricate machinery. You also have to consider zippers, fasteners, heavier thread for the weight of the fabric....

Plus sized clothes cost more to ship, too.

The reasons are so many. It sucks big balls, but it's reality.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Also, big box stores rely on cheap (i.e., practically slave) wages. I am trying to be cognizant of where the clothes I buy come from if possible. If something is ridiculously cheap, the reason is usually not very pretty.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Almost everyone is using slave labor, even higher end designer brands like Chanel. The cost of making the clothes doesn't has as much to do with the cost that consumers pay for most things. The cost of items is based on if the business is volume revenue driven or not. You can make more money selling a lot of cheap shirts than a few expensive ones.

There are very few exceptions to items being made with slave labor. Very very few. And a lot of them are just hiding it in their supply chain.

[2goldengirl 2,076]

With many decades being a clotheshorse under my belt, I have determined that I hate cheap clothing. Cheap fabrics, cheap design, cheap workmanship just aren't worth the money. With few exceptions, they don't fit well, wear well, flatter me, or make me feel good when I'm wearing them.

That said, I dislike paying full retail. I'm doing some consignment shopping now that I'm on the cusp of no longer needing a plus size. A well-engineered, well-constructed bra is worth every penny I cringe at spending on it. On the rare occasion I can find a cheap one in my size (F-cup here), it doesn't last nearly as long as the better ones do, and doesn't do nearly as much for my figure. I watch sales and loyalty program promotions. Walmart? Not me. I live between two of them, and I won't set foot in either one. The mess and disorganization in them just kills any pleasure I take in shopping.

Edited May 4, 2016 by 2goldengirl

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

The Danskin workout clothes at Walmart (not the sports bras but the other stuff) are just as good as some of the workout clothes I have spent 10X as much on. There are lots of things I won't buy there, but I'd rather spend $12 on compression leggings than $85. Something that close to your body with all the heat is going to break down at the same rate.

Plus, most of this stuff is all made in the same factories with the same materials, the only difference is the labels and the marketing.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

The Danskin workout clothes at Walmart (not the sports bras but the other stuff) are just as good as some of the workout clothes I have spent 10X as much on. There are lots of things I won't buy there, but I'd rather spend $12 on compression leggings than $85. Something that close to your body with all the heat is going to break down at the same rate.

Plus, most of this stuff is all made in the same factories with the same materials, the only difference is the labels and the marketing.

Agree. I would never buy bras at Walmart because the girls would only revolt against me by dropping lower than they already are. Underwear is OK, but really, I could buy much better quality if I looked for sales at Lane Bryant for only a few dollars more.

Workout wear at Walmart is great, though. My kids are not label hogs, but are typical teens and even they will say that the leggings at Walsuck are as good if not better than more expensive work out clothes. We like those at Old Navy, too, for the record.

[Sophie74656 1,572]

In understand that plus size clothes would be more expensive but I also do think they are taking advantage of plus size people. I refused to shop at Layne Bryant because the prices were simply outrageous. It is common in my local store to see tops in the $50 range or higher.

[LipstickLady 25,682]

I shop in regular sized stores now. I really don't see a price difference, I simply have a LOT more options.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

It really isn't fair or logical to compare specialty stores to big box stores. The prices at Lane Bryant are no worse than the prices at The Limited/New York and Co. All the plus size stores have tons of sales and coupons all the time. I never pay full price.


I really don't like ragging on Lane Bryant and these other plus size stores. When I was a size 28, they were there for me and provided me goods and services when I had no other options. I could buy racy lingerie, pretty matching bras and panties and still feel like a sexy young woman. When I needed suits for work, I could go there.

Just because I don't have to shop there anymore doesn't mean I am going to look down on them. They are providing important goods and services to a lot of women that wouldn't have other options.

Just because you aren't fat anymore, doesn't mean you get to look down on fat people and their issues and needs. Compassion is free.

Edited May 4, 2016 by OutsideMatchInside

[KristenLe 5,979]

I have spent alot of $ at Lane Bryant and I don't think I've ever paid full price. I plan on getting a few staples in smaller sizes on clearance for when I start losing. Even paying full price for some of their clothes ($59 for pants) is worth it to me for the quality but it rarely if ever comes to that. I have beautiful fancy dresses I got on clearance for less than $30.