Not So Good: nOir Jewelry Sample Sale Review 6/1

As a sample sale reporter, we’ve endured all sorts of sales to make sure you know about the best discounts this city has to offer. We’ve waited in hours long lines, been yelled at by rude salespeople, and tried on dresses in all manner of public places. Never, however, have we ever had such an unpleasant experience as we did at the current nOir sale.

When you walk up to 530 38th, one unusual thing immediately stands out. The only way to enter the building is by elevator. This is weird and also, seems like a big fire hazard. We waited outside, in an increasingly large crowd, for ten minutes for the elevator to arrive. Once it did, we, along with a dozen others, were crowded into a car that smelled like straight up vomit. Cool! The elevator made several stops, one of which was definitely in some sort of food processing space, which may have explained the smell. Upon arriving at the nOir sale, we were not in the best mood.

Things had a chance to turn around there! If the bargains had been great, our elevator trial would have been written off as an example of the adage that everything worthwhile in New York requires some hassle. But that’s not what happened. The first item that caught our eye was a very cute, very small red and blue graphic print purse. For $60. That price (for that quality and a brand that can’t even get it together to properly capitalize its name) would be high if it were the full price, but for a sample sale, that’s inexcusable. Matters didn’t get better with the $70 studded leather bracelets and the $25 “shaka” bracelets. Not sure what shaka means? Here’s a hint: they look exactly like the bracelets you made with gimp at summer camp all those years ago. And now they cost $25! At a sample sale! Around the $75 bejewled animal rings, we realized this sale didn’t offer anything we couldn’t find at Forever 21 for a quarter of the price.

That’s not to say there aren’t some good deals here. We loved a pair of coral earrings ($10), which looked very 50s resort wear, and we flipped for $15 mod plastic necklaces. Are these bargains worth waiting in line for a vomit elevator? We’d say no. Save your money and your stomach and just go to Forever 21.

WHEN: 6/1 – 6/3, W-F (10-7)

WHERE: Noir Jewelry Showroom
350 W. 38th St., 5th floor
(between 8th & 9th Aves)

By Leila Cohan-Miccio

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Posted by Bindra at 03:12 PM
bargain news , Sample Sale Reviews |