I hope DH doesn't kill me! A friend of mine went to this this AM in Charlotte... I told her I would give her $100 in virtual money to spend for me for gifts, etc, and I would pay her this afternoon. Neither one of us had any clue how insane this sale was. She was supposed to be there for an hour (she got there at 9 AM), with her 7 yr DD in tow to help.... My poor friend called me numerous times from there (it's in this huge building, like a convention center), asking me if I wanted certain items, etc. She spent over 1 1/2 hours IN LINE to checkout and the fire marshall closed the building b/c it was over capacity! My friend - who is a seasoned BF shopper and can hang in there with the best of them - told me that this sale made BF look like a walk in the park!

When all was said and done, I wrote her a check for $158.xx, but the retail value of this stuff was probably $550-600, at least! These are going to be Christmas presents, teachers' gifts, b-day presents, etc.

I've never heard of this sale before, but if it comes to Charlotte again, I WILL go next time! (I have out of town company so it was impossible for me to go this time.)

Suzanne

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

It's here in Fort Wayne every April. The company is located here. It is insane. They actually sell tickets for the first day the sale is open. The proceeds from the ticket sales benefit breast cancer research. It's usually here for 3-4 days and people actually come from all over the US for it. I always seem to be broke and have nothing in the budget to spare when it come around so I've never been to it.

I had no idea they were doing it anywhere else.

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Living well IS the best revenge!!

sphillips9---

The next Vera Bradley sale that you have in Charlotte, PLEASE IM me on here! We live about 2.5 hours from Charlotte and I would drive that far (even w/gas as high as it is--esp. this weekend..it went up overnight--literally!!!!) for one of those sales. I had no idea that there was one this close! My DD and I are VB freaks!!!! I would have loved to have gone.

I guess I need to check the website and see if there are the special outlets sales listed. I can't believe that I missed this!

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Mom to a beautiful 15 year old DD and my handsome little man who's 6!

~~~GO DALE JR!!~~~

Hey, I have gone to the VB website and signed up for e-mail alerts so that I know when the sale is next year. You can do the same. I seriously had never heard of this before, ever. This must be QUITE the deal! I will most definitely plan accordingly for this next year. And, from what my friend told me - it would SO be worth the drive for you!!

Hope this helps!
Suzanne

P.S. I do know that there is one of these in Atlanta in two weeks, in case you wanted a longer road trip!

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

Well...though I do like to travel I don't think I can justify driving all the way to Atlanta for some Vera Bradley!! So...I guess I'll just have to wait until next year! But, I did go on the website and joined "Club Vera" so that next year I WILL know when the sale is!! Til then...I guess I'll have to buy at the retail store.

Thanks for the post though. Now I at least know they do make it around our way once a year!

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Mom to a beautiful 15 year old DD and my handsome little man who's 6!

~~~GO DALE JR!!~~~

This is the first time the VB sale has been anywhere other than Ft Wayne, IN or that they've had more than one a year. My sister lives in Ft Wayne and goes every year and spends about $1000! Most of that is for other people (about $250 of it was for me this year). My other sister has her pick up teachers gifts, I get Bunco gifts, she gets Christmas presents, etc. One of these years I'd like to make it to the sale but it could be very dangerous -- I have way too many VB bags as it is. My sis has so many that she has a "Vera Closet" in her spare bedroom.

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Cecilia

"We must love them both--those whose opinions we share and those whose opinions we reject. For both have labored in the search for truth, and both have helped us in the finding of it."
Saint Thomas Aquinas

My friend told me that there was a TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR LIMIT at checkout!!! OMG! You have nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo idea how much of this VB stuff you could walk away with - at these insanely low prices - for $2K! And yet... She told me saw people with HUGE PILES of stuff checking out and then returning for more!!!

WOW is all I can say!
Suzanne

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

The outlet sales are where most of the Ebay sellers who deal in new Vera shop. When they have the really big sale in IN some folks even buy first day tickets and sell them on Ebay. Vera was so out of fashion for a long time, now it is so in fashion that it is insane. i own several and have been lucky to find them at thrifts and on Ebay from sellers who did not know they were so popular or were just looking to sell quick.

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TLJ ~ Women United in Spirit

Yes, my mom has gone with her friends and said it is huge fun.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

There is one of these sales coming up in a few weeks in Atlanta and I'm going. This is the first time they have done these 'warehouse sales' outside of Indiana. Can anyone who went to Charlotte give me an idea of what they had for sale -- retired patterns, retired styles, current styles, seconds, etc. I just don't know what to expect.

I am shopping mostly for gifts, NOT Ebay, although I'm sure there will be a lot of Ebay shoppers there!

Sarah.....mom to Jason & Devin

Sarah, I didn't go, but my friend bought things in Hope Toile pattern, Citrus, and some other (darker) colors. She bought zipped wallets, pencil pouches, lunch bags, backpacks, little bags, cosmetic cases..... I don't know if the patterns are discontinued or what, as I don't know much about this at all.

I do know that people at the sale told her that (1) earlier in the week/sale, there was more to pick from, but- later in the sale, there are MORE DISCOUNTS! In her case, when she went, prices had been slashed 2-3 times since the sale started.

Maybe that helps you some?

Suzanne

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Fate is like a strange, unpopular restaurant, filled with odd waiters who bring you things you never asked for and don't always like. - Lemony Snicket

I am so glad we do not live near one of these sales. DD is a VB nut. I, personally, am not that fond of them. I like my Dooney Bourke and Coach - thankfully their outlet stores are less than 10 minutes away.

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I went to the Ft. Wayne sale last year. The limit is $2,000 a VISIT and people come and spend the night. I talked to women who had been there more than 3-4 times in the 3 days! WOW!

I went on Fri. (the second to last day) and they were marking down more. I wasn't looking for anything special, so the the discounts were better for me than a good selection. I plan to go next year on Sat. The crowds were insane!

Thanks -- that does help. I'm not looking for anything in particular. Mostly I want to buy Christmas gifts and maybe a few things for me. The sale in Atlanta is Thursday, Friday & Saturday. I'm planning to go Thursday morning, but I may have to go back on Friday if they are going to slash prices. DH is going to have a fit. The location is about 30 minutes from where I live, so it's not like I can just run up there a few times.

Sarah.........

Did anyone go to the ATL sale today? I'm going tomorrow and want to know how crazy it will be!

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Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle

For those of you who live close enough to get to the sales outside Indiana...enjoy your free admissions.
I highly suspect that in the future...you'll be paying first day admissions as well.
I was in the VB STORE yesterday...and from what the clerk said...there was no admissions at the out of state stores the first year.

I used to love going to the sales here every year....but the last time I went was the day following the paid admissions day and there was nothing to choose from. They still had lots of what they had left...but very few choices of styles or fabrics. There was literly not even one of the Villiger bags left and that's the one I carry most often. I have several in different fabrics but I was looking for certain fabrics.
So, yesterday I went to the store and paid retail price for what I wanted. Yes, I paid more for it than I would have at the sale, but I didn't have to pay for a ticket to get it.....AND I bought just what I went in for...so therefor...I spent far less money than if I'd been to the sale...and had just what I went for.

Like I really needed more Vera Bradley products when I have a closet full already. LOL

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Barb


My GOD Bless our Country and our Troops, and rid the World of terroists.

My mom went to the Atlanta sale today, she said the prices were great. She called me a couple times to ask what I wanted, etc.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

I have no idea what/who Vera Bradley is , I guess I'll have to look into it! lol

I went! It was so much fun! I only got two things (for half the price) but my friend got around $600 worth of stuff for $215!

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Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle