Question:
I was in a local tj maxx the other day and noticed 2 polo regent shirts. Both were labeled as regent classic fits but at different price points. One was orig. $85, the other was orig. $145. The only difference I could see from looking was that the more expensive shirt had "regent classic fit" written in script. Neither of the shirts was made in Italy. Anyone know why one would originally be priced so much more than the other?
Answer:
Welcome to retail.
Last year I sold a few Polo Ralph Lauren 100% cashmere button-front shirts. Some had a retail price tag of $450, some $895. They were identical shirts, both made in Sri Lanka.
Answer:
i have both and as far as i can tell, the only major difference was that the collar stays in the more expensive one are much nicer. they are thicker and do not bend like normal flimsy collar stays. aside from that i am at a loss. these are both "custom fit" models and were both made in hong kong.
Answer:
TJ Maxx buys all their stock from other retailers (which do not all have the same markup).
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Regent is a model. RL makes various levels of production on each model. the $145 ones should have had MOP buttons as well as the script label. The fabrics are usually of better quality as well.
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The more expensive Polo Regent is only sold in Ralph Lauren stores and select Saks stores. Some NM stores with Ralph Lauren shops might also carry this model. Unlike the Blue Label sport shirts that sometimes resemble dress shirt and are sized L/16, these shirts are sized with exact neck and sleeve measurements. They do indeed have MOP buttons, finer fabric and some other upgraded features.
Answer:
The cheaper ones also have MOP buttons. I can't speak to any differences in fabric quality.
Answer:
Are you all sure that the $ 145 model has Mother of Pearl buttons. I am familiar with the different shirts you are referring to and it is my undestanding that ther $145 features shell buttons and not MOP. I am actually wearing a pink version of that particular shirt right now. Besides the aforementioned higher quality fabric and buttons, the shirt also features a butterfly gusset with the polo logo embroidered on one side. But when I have seen them at TJ Maxx, they have been $34.99 like the $85 shirts so I would recommend that you go with the former.
Answer:
MOP is shell... one of many sources of shell buttons. As for the $85 shirts, I've never seen one with shell buttons, they've all had plastic. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen, just that in several thousand shirts over 2 decades, I've never seen it :-)
Answer:
This couldn't be further from the truth. TJ Maxx and Marshall's (owned by the same company and one buyer buys their department for both chains) buys most of their merchandise directly from the vendor, particularly with a vendor like Polo.
Answer:
I have found the fabric on the $145 dollar shirts to be far finer than the $85 offerings. If the model is in script, then it is a finer shirt -- thin MOP buttons and very nice fabrics. They are still, however, made in Hong Kong.
I've been paying $50 for them at TJ Maxx. They have them at full retail at the Ralph Lauren store here at Tyson's Corner, and they sell a lot of them.
The $85 shirts have a fabric which is much closer to cardboard. Can't believe you guys can't tell the difference. I tried on the $145 shirts at Ralph Lauren and the $300+ RLPL shirts they had marked down to $120, and the fabric was not much different.
