Nov 15, 2011

Arrests Made at Salvatore Ferragamo Sample Sale

With a small Mt. Everest-worth of sample sales this week, there was bound to be some sort of lunacy at one (or more) of these events. When I broke news of the Salvatore Ferragamo sample sale, I had no idea that the aforementioned chaos would break out in New Jersey of all places. Mizhattanites in attendance have been sending updates via email and the comment section, describing a "insanely slow moving line" and an out of control scene involving law enforcement being called to maintain the situation & people getting arrested. Wow. One anonymous commenter writes "The sale is officially closed, it is a complete chaos, people are arrested by the police". Another writes "I just dropped by at 10:40am and it is a HUGE line that snakes around the building and down the street. Easily 2 hours wait.". It seems this line rivaled the insanely long line of the YSL sample sale just a few weeks ago. I have been told that due to fire code violations the sale was closed at 11:15am, an hour and 15 minutes(!) into the sale. It goes without saying that the majority of angry shoppers left empty-handed. Hopefully, the staff will regroup and reorganize for tomorrow (if they even plan to open).

MizAdvice: To share you anecdotes or thoughts on this sample sale, please leave your comments in the comment section of THIS article. To read previous comments, click here.

{Image credit: BIG THANKS to taap for sending this in}

45 comments:

  1. I feel bad that people arrived there at 8.30am, wait until 11.15am, still could not get in and at least 50 people still in front of her. So you know how slow the line was.

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  2. My friend Elizabeth got into a fist fight with a cop and they dragged her into jail!

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  3. OMG....are they going to reopen?

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  4. I can't believe how unorganized the management is. They have been having this sample sale for several years now.By now they should know how to handle the excessive line cutting and fire codes. I used a vacation day at work to go to this sale- got there a little before 8, but had to come out empty handed (although I was in line at the register to pay)because THEY violated a fire code. Yet they are yelling at everyone. I understand that it may have been the only way to control the crowd, but I'm still VERY agitated.

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  5. From reading the comments on this blog and another one, it seems like SF wants to blame blogs for the sale getting out of hand. In this day and age, you can't expect any sale like this to stay under wraps for long.

    Management definitely needs to step up their game, as well as get security guards who don't screech as if the world is coming to an end. It just added to the confusion. Maybe hand out tickets to control the crowds (there was no "line" really).

    Or they could do what other companies do and pay for someone else to run their sale or have it in a civilized place like Metropolitan Pavilion.

    I'm from NJ and stuff like this just makes NJ look bad.

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  6. Anonymous #2: Fist fight?! Really?? I hope your friend is ok.

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  7. It would be sincerely appreciated if everyone wrote their name, nickname, or any pseudonym, by clicking 'Name/URL' under 'Comment as:' instead of choosing 'Anonymous'. This way I can better reply to your individual comments without any confusion.

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  8. ijustwantedshoes, where did u read about SF blaming blogs? can u share?

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  9. It was crazy at this sale. I arrived at 9 and the line wasnt even a line. More like a mass of people hanging around. I didnt get in and I think more than 90% of the people just came out for no reason.

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  10. "The sale is closed. This blog, among others, created a messy sale and Ferragamo was forced to close their doors. "

    Source: http://madisonavespy.blogspot.com/2011/11/ferragamo-warehouse-sale.html

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  11. I dropped by a little before 2pm, the sale will be closed for the rest of the week. Sheesh!

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  12. SF needs to do better to organize. They host the sale, they need to expect what will happen. And it is not their 1st time hosting it. They should hire a professional company to do it for them like other brands.

    I think people cannot blame any blogs for sharing. If they do, why even go to these blogs and read???

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  13. i took the morning off and waited 1.5hrs in line to see this sale. i dont understand what fire code was violated. everyone was standing peacefully on the sidewalk. there was no chaos at all. and suddenly they closed the sale adn everyone rushed and no one knew what was happening. then the guards started yelling and police was at the door. we decided to leave cuz its not worth wasting time if they cant control the door.
    it was VERY disorganized and disappointing. and now they are closed down completely. i drove 30min to visit the sale this morning. :(
    if theres someone nearby can you plz check and post any updates that you may find out.
    Much appreciated.

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  14. KitCat is it official statement from SF?

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  15. "...I had know idea that the aforementioned chaos would break out..."

    "know" and "no" are homonyms not cinnamons.

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  16. So when are they going to open again?? Gotta know this one...

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  17. Bill Burgundy, thanks for the catch ;)

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  18. This comment was written in the first Ferragamo sample sale article. I thought I would copy & paste it here. Be aware that I have not confirmed its authenticity.

    Due to the large unexpected response to this year's Secaucus Sample Sale, we have decided to close the sale indefinitely, effective immediately.

    Our priority has always been to provide our clients with the best possible shopping experience. While we are pleased with the extraordinary interest in the Ferragamo brand, the overwhelming attendance has made it impossible to provide this level of service.

    We truly value your patronage and appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter.

    Best Regards,

    The team at 700B

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  19. I don't understand this place has been there for years and was always empty, they do sales all the time , all year long and if you get on the mail list you will see it. Merchandise at my opinion is old style and the place is tiny so very little availability. So whats the frenzy about it???? This place is just another sf outlet store but probably 1quarter of the Woodbury common one in size and with limited merchandise. Now I am not sure if this was a particular special sale that they give things for free but I can tell you prices are reasonable no matter when you go.

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  20. will you reopen this week

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  21. The line is completely IN THE ORDER before the security guards tried to persuade ppl coming after 8:30 and created the complete panic!!
    The management is totally amateur, and as a matter of fact, there are just simply not enough staff. For a 500+ crowd, shouldn't there be at least 25 staff?!

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  22. the prices are only like $10 less than woodbury... go to woodbury, it's sane there. and no line!

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  23. I got there around 10:30. There was a line, yes a very long line, but still a line. Then all of a sudden it moved so quickly, then there was just a mass of people and this one security guard screeching so loudly you couldn't even understand what she was saying. She was initially just telling people to move over, then they said everyone had to leave and lots of police showed up. I saw about 5 people walkign out with bags filled with shoe boxes, but that is about it. It turned into chaos !! The security guards were so mean and not good at crowd control. I stayed in the area for a few hours, went to some other outlets, had lunch, came back around 2 and all the security guards were sitting out front and the driveway was blocked off with yellow police tape. I wonder if it will be closed all week :/

    I went last year, 3 separate days and it was great, hardly a line, people were civilized, I got some great shoes. Not sure why this year was so insane.

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  24. So the sample sale is closed! not reopening not gonna happen. Honestly the staff was amazing very nice and helpful. Unfortunately, the violation of a safety hazard is first priority and if you cant understand speak to the lady who got trampled at the door. Seriously, is it that necessary for the first couple of people to act so foolishly. Dont think so. So just imagine what the rest of 400+ people would have done. -_-

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  25. Why will they be closed for the rest of the week ? Was the fire hazard because they let too many people in at one time ? Can't they open tomorrow and limit the amount of people they let in at one time ?

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  26. I arrived at 9:30 and already the line was about two hours long so I didn't get in. I've been going to this sale for over 5 years now, and I've never waited more than twenty minutes. I went the first day last year, arrived the same time and there was no line at all. This year was very different. One thing that I noticed was the large amount of Asian men and women who outnumbered white women by 10 to 1. Prices according to what I've read also seem to be much higher, last year, shoes were $69, this year, $89. Bags were $149-349 last year, and this year I was told started at $500. I went twice last year, on the first and last days, and on the last day, there was still plenty of merchandise, it was fairly empty and they had reduced the skins and exotics further by 15%. Two-three years ago, during the recession, nobody was there. The place was empty.

    One other thing, it seems that many who were here this year were not buying for themselves, but were looking to sell their purchases on ebay and the internet for a profit. I could tell by all the men looking to buy women's shoes that this was probably the case.

    The secret is definitely out. Oh well, all good things come to an end.

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  27. I got to the sale at 9AM, and there were a good 100 people in front of me. As the time past many Asians came and cut the line saying their friends are waiting on line for them or saving their spot. I found it to be so disrespectful for all of us waiting patiently on line while they were cutting. Even as security was telling them not to cut the line they completely ignored and went anyways. Security has to come up with a better system to identify who is waiting on line and who is cutting the line.

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  28. I am one of those Asian, and yes, there were a lot of Asian faces. We got there around 8:30 and there were already about 200 people in front of us. There were cutting of lines, but I have to say it's for people of all colors and backgrounds. Where I stood, I didn't see any Asian do that. We did have this older Jewish lady kept trying to talk to people and then cut the line. She got caught and people kept telling her she can't cut the line, and she would respond "don't worry, i won't get in front of you". She did get pushed back further and further because no one would let her cut. There was this other dark skin lady whom just played dumb, and complained her shoes hurt and would sat on the ground with shoes off. We told her the same thing and she would pretend she didn't hear, or doesn't speak English. It was really funny actually. In any case, people were actually being nice and chit chat with each other. No one was being unruly and anything although we do complain how few people got in. All of sudden, security came out and said the sales were closed. That's when chaos happened and people started running towards the door and arguing with security/polices. All and all, I think all the customers were being pretty orderly, and it was really the fault of company/security for being so dis-organized. Lot of people like myself actually took a day off work and it was a complete waste of our time.

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  29. The prices were higher than last year. It's much better to go to Woodbury at this point. Better service and usually good products. The staff is much better there at least

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  30. To Anonymous "I am on of those Asian".
    I totally agree with you. Even the line was long and slow but we were in line even not so happy when some people just cut line. Suddenly they said the SS close.

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  31. Update from the Company is that the sale is definitely not opening the rest of the week. No word yet if they are rescheduling.

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  32. I agree with the Asian. I am one too. I don't know what's wrong with 'white' people. I even suspect the sale was closed coz there were too many Asians. I doubt if SF GOT THE GUTS TO CLOSE THE SALE when the majority of the orderly waiting crowd was white. I've always been a loyal customer of SF, but if it is racist, I'm done with it.

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  33. I was there and i saw everything happen in front of my eyes. Sale was not closed cuz of racism or ethnicity issues. it closed down cuz the management was disorganized. This blog is for all fashion lovers regardless of race and origin. Please keep it that way. We all waited and couldnt get in and it was an equal disappointment for all of us.

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  34. Ladies & Gents,

    As I read over the comments in this article, I am completely overwhelmed with sadness. Sadness that racism would surface on a site that is purely dedicated to the love of fashion and sensible shopping.

    The fact is, the unfortunate Ferragamo incident was not caused by one's ethnicity or religious background. Instead, it was caused by civilized human beings checking their COMMON SENSE and HUMAN DECENCY at the door. For what?? To save a few bucks??

    I am deeply ashamed that the comment section, a place for creative and thoughtful conversation, would turn into a place of racist remarks. Since opening the comment section a few weeks ago, I would have never thought I would need to moderate it. But if this type of remarks continue, I will not hesitate to remove and suspend all comments. For those who cowardly hide behind a faceless computer and speak in horrendous ways, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

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  35. Miz, I personally enjoy reading the informational comments after your posts, so please don't let a few people ruin it for the rest of us.

    A few notes: Although I did notice that there was a lot of Asian people in line when I drove by, I also noticed a lot of male Hassidic Jews queuing up--does that mean that they, too, are in it to "ebay women's shoes"? Ridiculous. They put in the same amount of effort and time to get there and wait in line. It's really none of your business why they do it.

    People cut the line not because they are Asian, or black, or white. People cut lines because they are rude. If it bothers you that someone is cutting the line, tell that individual and do something about it instead of writing it on a comment board where people have no sympathy for your inactions.

    It's just sad when petty reasons are being offered by uninvolved bystanders to account for Ferragamo's own mistakes.

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  36. Bottom Line: is the sale going to reopen??

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  37. Nope closed for good...im sure we will all see the goods on every discount website as they will need to unload them since people are so rude, pushy, and have no class that made the sale close to begin with. Thats for ruining it for the rest of us normal human beings.

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  38. I was able to get in on Monday night and it was pretty crazy, I can't imagine what it must of been like on Tuesday. I don't live that far away so I drove by two hours ago. There was a guy standing at the door and he said that he didn't know if they were going to reopen :(

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  39. Are they going to do this sale ever again? Like sometime this year or even in later years?

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  40. Woodbury is supposed to be getting most of the merchandise from the sample sale. Probly a bit more expensive but definitely lots of product

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  41. "Woodbury is supposed to be..." is that confirmed from a company rep? it would really stink if i went all the way up there and it's same as usual...

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  42. Mizhattan, I love your blog and read from it very often.

    I been going to sample sales for many years now and even though I love reading about them through your blog there are times I also thought maybe because of these blogs posting upcoming ss, it draws lot more people then intended.

    Dont get me wrong, your blog is so informative and convenient. But there are reasons why ss are somewhat secretive and not announced/advertised to the mass.

    Maybe its best you dont announce the upcoming ss but just review them after you go?

    Just a suggestion.

    I really love your fashion style and easy to read format of this blog.

    Keep up the good work and Thank you!!

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  43. anon at 8:08. i think your suggestion smacks of elitism. why do you think you should be entitled to know about when a sample sale is going to be held while others aren't? is there a reason you think you should be so privileged to know about these sales? its just so obnoxious.

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  44. @anon 12:13,

    I was just voicing my suggestion to Mizhattan.

    Which you could disagree with since its just my opinion but you dont need to call me obnoxious...

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