MiamiBeachMomma

I know I have heard that there are Fendi, Gucci, D&G, Prada outlets somewhere outside of Florence. I have searched the boards and found nothing recent about trips to these possible mythic places. Whats the real scoop? How far are they from Florence, can you get there by public transportation, and is it worth the trip? What girl wouldn't want a brand new bag as a souvenir?

J62

The place is called The Mall.

Via Europa, 8
50060 Leccio Reggello Florence, Italy

themall.it‎

You can find Fendi, Gucci, D&G, and Prada goods there for $450 instead of $500, or some other similar discount. The place gets jammed with busloads of tourists - so much that you may have to wait in line to get into stores.

My observation is that you can get the same goods at home (whereever in the world home is) for the same or better price.

You can look up on google tours that will take you there.

J62

Here's a link for 1 tour co which lists other outlet centers

http://www.enjoyflorence.com/english/outlet.html

CaliNurse

Thank you, J62. I too had read that the "bargains" arent worth the trouble.

ozlinz

There is also Barberino Designer Outlet, 30km from Florence. Take A1 toward Bologna & take the Barberino di Mugello exit.
Personally I found it disappointing on both occasions I visited there with relatives from Florence.
Cheers, Ozlinz.

xutka

Do it in the USA

Italians are masters of scamming dumb tourists with many overrated unremarkable sights and things to do and they have these gucci, fendi and so outlets outside their cities with prices that are many times more expensive than prices of the same items back in the USA

those places get so full of dumb tourists that think it's their chance to find a great deal that they end up waiting hours in line just to go to the stores!

LoveItaly

Hello Miami, I just saw your question.

I have several Italian friends in Florence and two couples have second small houses in Reggello along with family members in Reggello.

Long story short, they roll their eyes and chuckle about the savings, in other words they feel the same way as the majority of posters here on this thread expressed. No savings and last year's styles.

I live walking distance from a large outlet shopping center, here being N CA. It is the same situation basically. Tour buses bring shoppers in and people drive for miles to shop at our outlet center. The great majority of our residents hardly ever go to our outlet stores. So evidently it is somewhat the same situation, the various outlet centers are not the bargains that one expects but they sure pull in the tourist.

ParisJo

We have been to both the outlets near Florence and I would tend to agree. However, there is one place that is worth the trek. There is a Prada outlet in Montevarchi, about an hour south of Florence. You wouldn't know it's there because there is no Prada name on the building, it just says SPACE.

I got a Prada bag for 180 euros and shoes for 120 and my hubby got sandals for about 150 euros. The place is huge and also include some MiuMiu stuff.

I knew about it from someone on Slow Travel and our villa was only about 15 minutes from the village of Montevarchi. You would need a car to go there.

Happy Shopping!

MiamiBeachMomma

Ok - so it looks like nabbing a bag at a great discount is a pipedream!! Wonder if they have the after Christmas Sale at the designer shops is Florence.

LoveItaly - I live about 45 minutes away from an Outlet mall here - Sawgrass. I hate it there and I never go!!! I get it!!

LoveItaly

Hello Miami, the sales (saldi) have always been in January/February and July/August and I doubt that has changed these last few years.

LOL, I remeber when we lived about 40 minutes or so from the outlet stores and we use to come here just for the shopping. But as a friend said there use to be small special stores with unusual items but they have gone out of business and the clothing was not made just for the outlet stores which seem to be the case these last years. Have a wonderful time in Italy!

ekscrunchy

The designer sales in January in Italy are fabulous,, with big discounts, and there are often lines on the first day of the sale. The actual start of the sale varies year to year and city by city. In my limited experience, they tend to begin sometimes after 6 January.


LoveItaly was helpful here, too, long ago:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...t-in-italy.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-florence.cfm

rineurope

My wife has "dragged me" to many of the "outlets" near and around Florence. As an impartial (and cost-conscious) observer, I was less than impressed by the Mall, the D&G outlet, etc. I saw better prices in the US on my last trip back.

Perhaps the one exception was the Prada Outlet. The goods change daily - We've been there on weekends and weekdays, and certainly the crowds are less, and the amount of merchandise and prices better, in mid-week. I'd avoid the weekend bus crowds. I've been there on weekends and swore I was not going back! Here's a link with maps and info on Prada Outlet.

http://tinyurl.com/Lo-Spaccio

Having lived in Rome for three years, we've been to all the malls, but have found many excellent buys in the smaller outlets located throughout the city. You do have to LOOK because the word "outlet" is used quite loosely. The best outlets we've been to are offering designer labels at discounted prices - about 70-80% off. My wife purchased a D&G full length coat (retail approx 1500€) for about €225. It was in plastic and still had the tags on it. But we had to negotiate DOWN to that price.

In these smaller outlets, cash is king. You can get a better price offering to pay in cash. We always "show" our credit card but ask for the cash price. Also bargain for the VAT refund up front - as many smaller outlets may want the cash (and not declare the sale, avoiding the tax issues for them). In Italy, many things are "negotiable." Good Luck!

charnees

In the book, "Gomorrah" about the Mafia in Italy, the author says they outlets are controlled by the Mob. I don't think I would go through all that hassle just to give my money to the Mafia.

BTW, the book is so accurate in exposing the mob that the author's life is in danger.

shopaddict

@rineurope what are the best shopping outlets you have been to in Italy?