But you Never Have my Size! Understanding Samples and Sample Sales!

Y'all. We have got to have a talk.  Ok, I know we all dream of finding our dream pair of boots at unbelievable prices. I know that some come away from sample sales happy as a lark while others feel like they just can't win.  I just want to break down what is going on and give y'all the skinny on what is up with samples and why the sizing is the way it is.

First of all if you are other than a 7, 7.5, or 9 sample sales can be gut wrenching.  There is no doubt about that. No one hates you. No stores or boot makers are against you. It is not that they do not make your size or think your size doesn't matter. Nope.  It is a lot more sciency and mathematical than that and not discriminatory at all ladies.  Really y'all! See, 'rithmatic matters and your teachers were not crazy that you would need it as an adult!

What is a sample?

So we know what we are dealing with let me say, sample boots ain't stock y'all!  We've got to look at what the samples exactly are. The boot samples are sort of the prototype that the rest of the boots with that name, style number, color, and all that jazz are patterned after.  They are the first out the gate.  They are used as a promotional item. Boot Babes, the sample boots are the ones we see in print advertisement, they are what we see at trunk shows, they are what stores see and pick from at market (HELLO WESA), and they are in the catalogs that stores pick their stock from.

So, the sample may have been pawed all over. Ok, it likely as been. They dang sure have been around if ya know what I mean. The sample may vary a smidgen from what gets to final production.  A sample boot may never make it to production and be an oh my gosh, UNICORN!

But, where is MY SIZE?

Boot Babes, let's think about clothes first. I think most American gals these days know we ain't even close to being a sample size.  For clothing the "Sample" sizes for print are a 4-6. Some of us can do that, many can't.  For runway it is an even smaller 0.  That is the  fashion industry standard.  So, yes there are maybe 12 lucky heifers that can snag those gorgeous and out there runway samples and lots more than can grab the size 4-6 samples used in print at a fraction of the retail price but the rest of us just have to go to the store and either pay full retail or wait for it to go on sale and hope they have our sizes left.  Even if you are in that enviable "perfect" by industry standard size range, there ain't gonna be enough to go around at the sample sale price because the manufacturer does not make a ton of samples. They are done in onezies and twozies or a handful at best.

Let's move on to boots y'all following the same concept.  Boot makers make maybe 1-2 pair as samples.  For women's boots and shoes the industry standard is a 7.  This can be a 7, 7 1/2, and sometimes a 9.  WHY do they do this?  See, this is where the math comes in y'all.  A size 7 shoe is said to be the perfect size for print when you look at proportions. It is believed to be the most aesthetically pleasing size for print.  Pretty much, it looks the best for the ads.  That is why the boot makers choose the 7 and 7.5 and sometimes 9 to be their  "Sample Sizes".  It is not to neglect the rest of the sizes.  They do not think about resale value on the samples at all. It is because they expect if you love it that you will buy in your size it at the regular retail price.

What else is in the "Sample Sales" and is all hope lost?

Well y'all everyone does it differently.  Some makers sell returns during sample sales so see y'all there is SOME hope left for other sizes.  Also, some choose to sell runway and boots from photo shoots in sample sales. Just so you know, you may get a boot that has been worn in a sample sale!

Sometimes, you get lucky and also find discontinued boots in these sales.  These vary wildly in sizes and may be only in a 5 and an 11 because that is all that was left over. Somtimes these are the display boots from stores that have been dropped, tried on, touched and what have you or it might be still new in the box. Again, y'all it is a toss up on if boots like this are included and you need to pull out your old Magic 8 Ball to figure out what sizes might be left over and if they will be in pristine condition.

I saw it and now want it!

Boot Babes, I have a be a little bit of a downer here but The Boot Babe wants to keep it real 'cause I love y'all and friends don't BS  friends when it comes to serious matters like boot shopping.  Even if you see it, YOU MAY NEVER FIND IT.  Not all boots we see online, at market, or in sample sales made it to production. It all comes down to what stores like and order.  You may see the most shut the front door gorgeous boots ever, but if no one orders it, the one you see is all there may ever be. Talk about a needle in a haystack y'all!

If y'all get lucky and the store's buyers love that beaut as much as you, well hot dog it will be in stores! Here again Boot Babes, I gotta keep it real.  More than likely, it will be at regular retail prices or maybe with a teeeeennnncy discount.  This is because the stores pay MORE for stock.  They can't even get the boots at the sample prices themselves.  In exchange for the higher price here is what you get: A boot that most likely has not been tried on, for sure should not have been worn, a boot where the bugs like loose studs and faulty zippers have been worked out, A BRAND NEW IN THE BOX pair of boots that until you wear them has been in the box.

IF YOU ARE PICKY AND A PERFECTIONIST ABOUT WEAR, HAVING YOUR TOOTSIES ONLY IN FRESH BOOTS, AND HAVING THE CORRECT BOX, ONLY BUY NEW AND FROM STORES THAT DO NOT DISPLAY ALL OF THEIR BOOTS. You will be much happier if you do this rather than telling yourself you can make do with a sample because many sample boots ain't perfect. They are amazing and cool at a great price but perfect and untouched is not their thing? Ok? Good.

Size Matters!

The most popular sizes are 7 1/2-9 for gals.  That makes for some fierce competition in these sizes.  Let me tell y'all, I promise the stores order MORE of these sizes than the adorable 5's and 6's and that the poor 10's and 11's are lucky to get even a single pair ordered.  Stores DO NOT WANT LEFTOVERS and they dang sure do not want left overs of hard to move sizes!!!  They want what will sell.  That is why there are few big and small sizes ordered and why the popular sizes are ordered in a larger quantity but very few are left over. Darn it at the math again!

Boot Babes, let me stress again, please do not get peeved if you are not a 7 or 7.5 during the sample sale and feel like no one orders your size! It is not intentional at all but we know it ain't fair and ain't pretty. Don't fret though, if you are the standard average size, you will always be more likely to find your size in stock and can still have a beautifully stocked boot closet!  Just don't hate the stores or the makers, throw all that shade at those dang heifers blessed with the size 7 and 7 1/2 feet.  Who knew being a 7 in boots was just as lucky and enviable as being a size 0 but with the benefit of never having to pass up Waffle House or Whataburger to stay your size?

Love y’all and until next time, let your boots rock your socks!

The Boot Babe