GAP vs. Amazon – Store Wars Rd. 2

STORE WARS: GAP vs. Express

Starting March 15th and running through April 4th, Dappered.com is hosting a bracket based tournament with the purpose of eventually crowning the all around Affordable Men’s Style Retail Champ for 2011.   For a full introduction see this post.  To see the updated bracket, click on the image to the right.  Make a case for your preferred competitor in the comments section, but don’t forget to vote at the bottom of each match up.  On with today’s showdown.
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Strengths: The main destination for basics and slightly above.  Incredible blazers for the money.  Their pima polos are a great athletic fit polo for a reasonable price.  Merino wool sweaters aren’t half bad.  Tons of sales.  Well lit, decent looking stores.  Clearance racks can be a nice place to find a steal.  Free shipping on online orders more than $50, with free returns to brick and mortar stores.  Can combine across BR/Old Navy/GAP platforms for that discount too.

Weaknesses: The waistband on their jeans tend to stretch.  They’re a major mass retailer, so their stuff can run a little big.  They’re always on sale, so you wonder if you’re really getting a good deal.

Strengths: They’re the world’s #1 online retailer.  Huge inventory of watches, music, movies, books, electronics, and a solid inventory of shoes.  Style isn’t always about clothes.   Their watch deals can be pretty solid when compared to department store prices.  Their sneaky “other customers shopped” / “you might be interested in” section is absolutely meant to get you to buy more, but it can be fun to browse.   Pretty good Black Friday sales.   Relatively low threshold for free super-saver shipping.  Parent company of Endless and Zappos.

Weaknesses: Their lack of clothing options.  Style isn’t always about clothes, but… a lot of the time it is sorta kinda maybe about clothes.  Watch section is littered with third party non-fulfilled eye brow raising dealers (could be gray market, who knows)…

Your votes determine who goes on to the next round.  Cast your ballot below.
UPDATE: And GAP moves on to take on L.E.C. in one half of the semis.
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