apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I noticed this and posted this a week or so ago. I saw a stool that I wanted to buy from their website but even though it was marked down 50% the site wouldn't let me purchase it. So I went to one of their stores and saw the stool. A little banged up but it was not bad. I said I wanted to purchase it for the price on their website but it wasn't marked down in the store. They had it marked at the full price.

Finally the manager said I could have it for half price. So if you go to the store I suggest you very politely but persuasively try for the prices you see now on their website.

Maybe the problem is their focus on Modern style. I hate the shift away from global furnishings. Hate it.

I noticed that a week or two ago but didn't realize the strategic direction behind it. To me, this makes absolutely no sense. Presumably there's a significantly lower overhead to operate the ecommerce site and they'd be better off closing a few more stores and putting a greater emphasis on driving folks to the site. Interestingly, over the past three fiscal years, their in-store sales keep dropping while direct-to-consumer (web/catalog) sales are increasing. I wonder what sort of research was conducted - this just seems like a really bad decision.

Personally, I hate going into their stores because it's such a mish-mash and overwhelms me (not to mention it's inconvenient), but I like shopping online.

One thing I think is part of the problem with Pier 1 is that they changed their product focus to more expensive stuff and it used to be inexpensive and a lot of it cool stuff from all over, many of them Asian and for the life of me I can't recall teh name of the store that was very similar to it years ago that I loved going to that also had many Asian inspired products and furnishings.

Pier 1 seems to be selling their overstock to Big Lots-- both of the Big Lots near me recently had lots of their stuff, which they try to move quickly since it takes up so much space. They start at 30% off, then 50%, then 75%, and eventually 90% until everything is gone. I've only been to locations on the westside, where almost all of the Pier 1 stuff is gone now, but maybe there is more to be found at other locations, and more to come!

Dinglet,

I have seen Pier 1 stuff in the Big Lots stores here where I live, Seattle and vacinity as well.

Yes, I was surprised that they opted to close out the website and keep the stores. It doesn't make sense. The stores have been losing money year after year and it's been proven that most consumers shop online now rather than drive to a store. I think it's a big mistake and won't be the least bit surprised to see the stores close one by one in the next year or so until Pier 1 is no longer.

This is surprising. Recall Garden Botanika? In contrast, they closed their brick & mortars and went with affiliates and web. No telling how they are doing.

I dislike Pier 1 for the strong perfumed aroma when you are in their stores - anyone with sensitivities are right back out the door!!!

La Canada Big Lots has a Pier 1 sighting too.

So far i've ordered candles, bedding and lamps. They add new items everyday so keep looking. The kind of odd thing is, if you click on an item, it usually comes up with a suggested item that goes with it, that isn't listed with the rest of the stuff. Click on some of their mirrors for example and you'll see what I mean.