# Abercrombie pisses me off **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 22, 2003, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855 "2003-08-22T03:36:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/61 "2003-08-26T00:06:40Z")
Personally, this stab at economic relativism aside, and all other things being equal (which they are), paying a markup of 200% or more for a fucking _name_ **is** stupid. And wasteful. And shallow. And generally done by people who could make the world a better place by declining to further use up the oxygen in the atmosphere. Thank you and good night, ya Mall victims… ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/62 "2003-08-26T00:15:44Z")
Not realizing that different people value things differently is stupid, and shallow, and generaly done by people who could make the world a better place by declining to post idiotic comments to other posts that they don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/63 "2003-08-26T00:18:36Z")
And, for another thing, it’s not wasteful. In fact, it’s what makes the entire economy work, you fuck. One person acquires something, adds value to it, and passes it off to another person who would rather have the thing than their money. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/64 "2003-08-26T01:18:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TaxGuy \* > \*\*A t-shirt is not just a t-shirt, that’s the whole damn point. A t-shirt bought at Abercrombie and Fitch is different from a t-shirt bought at Target simply because of the fact that the t-shirt was bought at Abercrombie and Fitch. \*\* I must split a hair here. It’s different because it was _manufactured by_ A&F, not because it was bought there. An outlet store, if you’re lucky enough to have one within driving distance, might have A&F t-shirts at a 40% or more markdown. They would be sent there because one thread missed the dye, or a seam is one millimeter out of true or something, but other than that, you get A&F quality at a Target price. Outlet stores rule! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/65 "2003-08-26T01:53:23Z")
But **Taxman** , there _is_ no intrinsic value there! It’s a goddamn piece of fabric sewn into the shape of a shirt. The only value added is added by brain-washed teenagers who see A&F’s ads and think it’s the coolest thing to have. Maybe I’m just way too rational to buy into illusionary value. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/66 "2003-08-26T02:30:46Z")
Um, don’t confuse “I don’t know shit about economics” with “I’m just way too rational.” ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/67 "2003-08-26T02:32:28Z")
Um, don’t confuse “I don’t know shit about economics” with “I’m just way too rational.” A car is just a goddamn hunk of metal and rubber. People pay me loads of money an hour to say words on the phone and send emails to them. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/68 "2003-08-26T02:36:21Z")
(In other words, whether something has value is tested in the eyes of the consumer. It doesn’t matter what a third party (you)thinks.) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/69 "2003-08-26T03:27:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TaxGuy \* > (In other words, whether something has value is tested in the eyes of the consumer. It doesn’t matter what a third party (you)thinks.) \*\* You are correct of course. People are willing to pay a premium for Abercrombie shirts because there is a certain image and prestige associated with the label and the look. How else would preppy upper-middle class kids identify each other? I still don’t understand the animosity people feel towards people who buy the clothing, other than perhaps petty jealousy. If you can afford it, what’s wrong with paying extra for a certain look or style? I mean granted, the clothes look like the Derelict line from Zoolander, but it’s better than dressing like an actual homeless person. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Angel\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_Heart)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/70 "2003-08-26T03:48:15Z")
I shop at both the Gap and Target. I don’t think stores should be mutually exclusive. If Abercrombie and Fitch or American Eagle is having a sale, I’ll check it out (I once got a skirt for $30 and a t-shirt for $8.25 this way). While I wouldn’t buy dressy clothes at Walmart, I might by a pair of khakis or a blouse there. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/71 "2003-08-26T13:09:23Z")
That A&F has inside! The ones made from deer antler? Where can I buy these? They look so cool! ---
**Author:** ![nitek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@nitek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitek)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/72 "2003-08-26T13:41:59Z")
I get clothes from American Eagle because I like some of the shirts they have… always from the clearance rack of course. I don’t see the big deal about buying clothing that looks worn. You’re buying character. That’s what fashion is. When people buy and wear a really sharp suit, it projects something about them. Is that any more genuine than buying a hat that has a torn brim? I just like the commercial running in the AE store where the guy is fixing his car with his $30-$40 shirt on. Yeah right!! ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/73 "2003-08-26T14:04:32Z")
Next to every shop which sells absurdly priced seconds should sit a simple market stall selling those T-shirts which say EI’m with stupid. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/74 "2003-08-26T14:38:32Z")
Funny how that finger’s pointing right at your username, moron. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/75 "2003-08-26T14:41:39Z")
GI’m with stupid. Beg pardon. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/76 "2003-08-26T14:52:01Z")
Heh 🙂 Really though, why is economic ignorance the most unfought form of ignorance on these boards? It drives me nuts (said the man with a steering wheel sticking out of his pants). ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/77 "2003-08-26T15:06:46Z")
Come now, to poke a little fun at bovine adolescents frittering their money away on effectively second-hand clothes is hardly _ignorance_. Consumer spending does keep money sloshing around fluidly, agreed, but I don’t think anyone has _disagreed_ on this point. The point is that spending the same amount of money _irresponsibly_ helps the economy no more than using an atom of common sense in one’s shopping. But of course, let them have their chimps’ tea party. It is not _wrong_, just stupid. ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/78 "2003-08-26T15:12:31Z")
> [@](#): > > Come now, to poke a little fun at bovine adolescents frittering their money away on effectively second-hand clothes is hardly ignorance. You’re wrong. You are saying that what these kids are doing is stupid when actually it is a perfectly rational and non-stupid thing for them to do. The reason you think it is stupid is that you don’t know shit about economics. You are economically ignorant. > [@](#): > > The point is that spending the same amount of money irresponsibly helps the economy no more than using an atom of common sense in one’s shopping. More ignorance. The “responsibility” (or lack thereof) of one’s purchases can be measured only through such person’s eyes; any outside point of view on the purchase is absolutely meaningless. The kids that shop at A&F _are_ using “common sense,” and you’re not. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/79 "2003-08-26T15:24:27Z")
A[/size] ---
**Author:** ![TaxGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@TaxGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TaxGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abercrombie-pisses-me-off/196855/80 "2003-08-26T15:54:57Z")
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