The Indochino Groupon Dilemma

From the Mailbag: The $125 credit for $50 at Indochino Groupon Dilemma

Above:  Indochino Light Grey Blazer – $279 ($204 with Groupon)

Hello:

I found Indochino through Dappered and recently bought a Groupon ($50 for $125 credit) to the site.  I’m wondering what the best way to spend it would be.  I’m considering a suit or maybe a dress shirt and tie clip combination.  Any thoughts on the new Brown and Tan suits they have?  I hear mixed reviews on these colors being in/out of style, but I tend to like the look and I have the standard suit styles generally covered.   Any suggestions or reviews on their suit and dress shirt quality?

– Matt

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Here’s the deal about Groupon.  Like Gilt, it can get tricky.  And you have to pay extra-close attention to the fine print.  I’m guessing Matt knows this, but for everyone who’s been seeing the Indochino Groupons pop up, know that they’re a solid deal, but not a mind blowing one.

When I first saw the: “Spend $50, get a $125 credit at Indochino” my first thought was:  Buy three of these Groupons and for $150 you can get a pretty sweet suit.  At that point you’re sitting on $325 worth of credits, and that’ll almost get you their Essential Charcoal, Classic Navy, or my new favorite suit, the Ultimate Gray.  Buy four of those groupons and for $200 you can have just about anything they sell on the site for half price.  But the fine print won’t let you do that.  Here is that pesky fine print:

• Expires May 6, 2011
• Limit 1 per order.
• Not valid until 12/7/2010.
• Cannot ship to PO Boxes.
• Must use in 1 order.
• Not valid with other offers.

Damn.  You can only use one of these groupons per order.  So if you’re ordering a suit, it really amounts to a $75 off coupon.  And that’s something we’re quite familiar with.  (Although, we have been able to get Indochino to discount deeper in the past.)

Back to Matt.  Brown wool suits come and go.  I don’t own one and don’t plan on getting one.  But as it was discussed on this site before, many of you guys would.  And give Indochino credit.  The subtle grid/windopane pattern on the chocolate brown suit looks pretty good.

But maybe consider spending a little less on an alternative if you need to satiate a desire for a brown suit.  Plus, Indochino’s new brown suits are 50% polyester.  Looks like they’re going for durability (see the description on their site), but I myself would prefer all wool.

Spend that groupon on something you can wear all the time, but still won’t break the bank on.  Like their Light Grey Blazer, or their new (and brown!) all wool herringbone teachers jacket (below).  Both with the Groupon can be had for just over $200 total cost.

Whatever you decide, just please don’t wear your purchase with an all yellow-gold watch like the Indochino Models.  Or anything with an all yellow-gold watch for that matter.  Unless you’re a greasy used-car salesman, pimp, or both.  And if that’s the case?  Wear two.

Want a full review on an Indochino suit?  Click on over this way.
***NOTE*** Indochino has also been spotted more recently on the Groupon competitor LivingSocial, another discount deal-of-the-day type site.  The living Social deal?  $50 for $150 worth of Indochino apparel.  That’s basically $100 off any suit.  And that, frankly… is about as good as it gets.