Can someone help me to figure out GYMBOREE????

[jrmasm]

With my first daughter (now 12) I shopped Gymboree all the time. I haven't as much with DD #2 (now 3). Anyway, I stopped in last night with my 30% off coupon and after about 10 very stressful minutes I ran out empty handed. Clothes were falling off rack, children were screaming and running around, the store was packed with racks and people and the size I was looking for seemed to be the most picked over.


Honestly I doubt I'll be back because I do not need the aggravation.

 

[jcemom]

I prefer to shop online. We have two stores that are somewhat local (45 minute drive to either one from my house) but they're both small and selection is always fairly limited, especially as far as clearance goes and that's what I'm usually looking for. I can shop in my pjs with no screaming kids... well, sometimes MY kids are screaming, LOL.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I can't believe that I have heard several people say that GYM vlothes fade and bleed and stain! I have not had this problem with ONE thing I have bought and I buy there exclusively! I have pretty much all baby boy lines sincemy DS2 was born. I only had a couple of things stain becuase he was eating without a bib and I knew that type of stain would NOT come out of pretty much ANY clothes!!!! My fault!

I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean since you quoted me, but I can assure you that this has been my experience with SOME Gymboree clothing purchased at a Gymboree store, not an outlet..AND I DO know how to use a washing machine, following all the label instructions. Maybe just a bad batch of dye or fabric or whatever. I never said the clothing line was responsible for food stains..that would be rediculous.

The clothes are cute, but not worth the money..JMO.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I'm thinking people aren't following washing instructions, or are washing in hot water, which of course may cause problems with fabrics.

I know how to wash clothes. I use hot water only on white towels and gym socks. It is insulting to imply that anyone would put anything else in hot water.

 

[jcemom]

I don't recall any of DD's Gymboree clothing ever bleeding, but I have had a few that seemed to fade prematurely. I do wash and dry everything in the machine, no hanging on a line. Overall I've been very happy with the quality, with the exception of just those few items. And I wasn't terribly unhappy with the fading, just surprised because it's not been a problem in general.

 

[Kristi1357]

I have never had a problem with Gymbo clothes shrinking or fading. My 4 year old has been in pretty much exclusively Gymboree clothes since he was about a year old. I had alot of clothes from other stores prior to that - and even things from stores like Macy's & Filene's looked yucky after a wash or two. And they never quite fit right either.

I also wash all of our clothes together, in warm water. Everything goes in the dryer. I have never had any of DS's Gymboree clothes shrink, bleed or fade. I have some items with stains, but that is from him eating something and me not trying to get the stain out asap.

I love Gymboree!

 

[KTMEMOMMY]

I have just gotten intothe whole "gymbo" thing, but I have to say, it is an easy trap to fall into. What I have been doing is buying clothes from certain lines in excellent used condition or new from ebay or gymbofriends. I have a pretty limited budget, and this way have been able to buy cute, quality clothes at the same prices I'd be paying for brand new elsewhere. Everything I've gotten has been in fantastic shape. The spring wardrobe I bought my dd new at Kohl's, on the other hand, wore really poorly. I like the way pieces of the Gymboe lines go together, because I feel like that maximizes the looks I get with a few pieces. In the past, I might have gotten 3 tops and 3 bottoms that only matched each other; now, 3 tops and 3 bottoms can be interchanged within one line and not look as much like you're wearing the same thing over and over again.

For the fall, I've gotten 4 dresses, 4 pairs of leggings, 6 shirts, 3 skirts, 2 ponchos, 1 pair of corduroy pants, 1 sweater, 3 pairs of patterned tights for my 5 year old. I've spent maybe $150. For the $9 I spent on like new Gymbo pants (and they look like they've never been worn) I might have bought a pair of new cords at Target (though those probably would have cost a few $$ more)...but these are cuter, match a few tops I have, and have some resale value if we can manage not to trash them (or if we do, I don't stress because they were bought used to begin with!) I'm also eyeing a few other things, and if I build up my paypal account I'll go after them (which I do by selling old clothes of ours).

I'm really pleased with how this is working out for us...though it is habit forming! Now, I also did a big new purchase during their labor day sale...b'day presents...but felt with the markdowns, percent off markdowns and Gymbucks that I got a great deal and paid no more than I would have at a discount store, and got better quality stuff. Even during last week's baby sale...leggings and tops are $10 a piece, etc. And now there are markdowns plus 30% off purchase plus Gymbucks. Not much more than you'd pay anywhere else.

If you get past the initial sticker shock of full price and shop strategically you'd be surprised!

Lisa

 

[texasteacher35]

I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean since you quoted me, but I can assure you that this has been my experience with SOME Gymboree clothing purchased at a Gymboree store, not an outlet..AND I DO know how to use a washing machine, following all the label instructions. Maybe just a bad batch of dye or fabric or whatever. I never said the clothing line was responsible for food stains..that would be rediculous.

The clothes are cute, but not worth the money..JMO.

WOW! It's certainly nothing to get offended about...clothes...I was not saying anything about YOU or your washing abilities...I have heard lots of people say that about fading/bleeding colors in Gym clothes in different threads on th DISboards...I was just surprised.

 

[mcreamer9]

Being a new mom I am hooked on Gymboree... ...We are very lucky to have an outlet about 10 min. from here. Yesterday I found t-shirts for $.99 and $1.99 I love it, we also have a hartstrings outlet and they always have a 70% off rack. You are still paying $12-$15 for an outfit, but the original price is crazy. I paid $6.00 for a onesie that was originally $32, but it was so cute.

 

[jagafen]

With my first daughter (now 12) I shopped Gymboree all the time. I haven't as much with DD #2 (now 3). Anyway, I stopped in last night with my 30% off coupon and after about 10 very stressful minutes I ran out empty handed. Clothes were falling off rack, children were screaming and running around, the store was packed with racks and people and the size I was looking for seemed to be the most picked over.


Honestly I doubt I'll be back because I do not need the aggravation.

And that is exactly the reason I started shopping online!!! So sorry this happened though! Although, the last itme I went into one of their stores, the sales lady gave me access to the racks of clearance they were holding in the back (they didn't have room on the floor for them yet.) She just pulled them out of the back room and showed me where the sizes were that I was looking for. I cleaned up from the summer lines for my son....even found a few cute things for my grilfriend's daughter!!!!

 

[*love*2*shop]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gymboree-4-you-n-me/

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I ended up going to the Gymboree store this weekend because we happened to be in the mall. I bought DD 10 items for $33.xx after 30% off coupon and 5% Gymboree visa discount. I didn't spend enough to get a Gymbuck, but even the sales clerk didn't think that it would be worth it to spend $17 more just to get a $25 off $50 Gymbuck. I got DD a bunch of shirts for $1.99 after discounts.

My total would have been lower except DH was with me and he was picking through the accessories bin while I was looking at the clothes He picked out 2 pairs of sunglasses and some hair stuff for DD. I made a mental note to leave him at home the next time I'm going clothes shopping for DD Just kidding...the sunglasses were actually a really good deal.

As an aside, has anyone else noticed that Gymboree seems to "recycle" similar stuff year after year? There was a cute horse line just out, but I found a bunch of really similar horse stuff that I packed away for DD after buying it on clearance last winter

 

[texasteacher35]

I vowed not to buy anything until gymbuck redemption (beginning of October) and I blew it on Sunday night, right before the f&f coupon expired...I had to buy a couple of things online...enough to get another gymbuck! Now I have $325 in gymbucks...they better have some new stuff for me to buy...I need about 2 new lines to use up all those bucks! I have bought everything/ extra pieces of the Baby Boy lines...so I am out of stuff...I already have the MooseLodge stuff and Tool (super cute stuff)!

Yes, I am an addict..of Gymboree!

 

[texasteacher35]

I ended up going to the Gymboree store this weekend because we happened to be in the mall. I bought DD 10 items for $33.xx after 30% off coupon and 5% Gymboree visa discount. I didn't spend enough to get a Gymbuck, but even the sales clerk didn't think that it would be worth it to spend $17 more just to get a $25 off $50 Gymbuck. I got DD a bunch of shirts for $1.99 after discounts.

My total would have been lower except DH was with me and he was picking through the accessories bin while I was looking at the clothes He picked out 2 pairs of sunglasses and some hair stuff for DD. I made a mental note to leave him at home the next time I'm going clothes shopping for DD Just kidding...the sunglasses were actually a really good deal.

As an aside, has anyone else noticed that Gymboree seems to "recycle" similar stuff year after year? There was a cute horse line just out, but I found a bunch of really similar horse stuff that I packed away for DD after buying it on clearance last winter

YES, YES...They definitely recycle the lines...that is because BOYS clothes do not have that many interesting themes...horses/bulls/cowboy...moose...tools...cars/vehicles/firetrucks...dogs...surfboards...bugs...jungle animals...I have seen most of these themes cycle in the 2 years I have been buying baby boy's clothing there...tools are the newest that I have seen...I am really tired of the jungle animals...they have cycled those at least 3 times since I have been shopping there! I hope they will do more primary colors...it seems like there have been more than a fair share of orange and borwn in the last 2 years! AARGH!

 

[Kristi1357]

The orange for boys really has to go - I have a redhead & he does not look good in an orange shirt!

 

[tlbwriter]

Now I have $325 in gymbucks...they better have some new stuff for me to buy...I need about 2 new lines to use up all those bucks!

You can always sell the gymbucks on eBay if there isn't anything you want to buy.

 

[texasteacher35]

That's a good idea to sell my gymbucks! I just hope they have something that I want to buy.I know the holiday line is coming out...dressy and casual...so maybe I can find something...I hate to have to sell them, when I earned them! But, I definitely could do that!

Yeah...orange...I am really tired of that color! They had it on the bug line of clothes and it seems like all the transition lines, except for the tools...I am trying not to buy ANY orange! I am hoping the next few lines have some different colors!