The North Face Freeport — Local services in Freeport

Good for weekly specials--usually REALLY marked down; some items made for the outlet; some retail items aren't much different from outlet items--go figure...stuff that doesn't sell well is mostly still very expensive (the Gore-tex, pricy boots/clothing/bags, sleeping bags, etc) or strange color combos. Popular items rarely there--good luck getting a women's white down vest NOT an XL! The BIG extravaganza is the twice yearly sample sale... MEDIUM in everything ONLY...babies (3-4 toddler), kids size (10-12), women & men (medium!). Best to find styles that have more leeway--e.g. snowboard pant ("cargo" style) can fit a 4 to 12 sized woman with waist velcro vs. "regular" more fitted medium ski pant)--Some coat/shirt/pant cuts are smaller cut or very generous cut--you have to know your TNF actual item sizing, besides eyeballing/trying them on. Yes, borrow people you are sure have body type of person you are buying for--staff happy to help😁 because...NO RETURNS, you are stuck with what you buy! I have found innumerable items as fantastic gifts--backpacks ($80 retail!) for Toys for Tots/school giving tree, (1 example)--$20! Salesperson told me many (many) sample sales ago that these are the actual samples presented to stores & some are one-of-a-kind (not mass produced--didn't work: materials/colors ended up not being available on large scale, etc., to make/sell--my treasure buys:)))). Staff has NO IDEA what's coming in. Beautiful items (even revered white down vest--$30)!!! Best to go every day or so for a week to get things as they come in, if lucky. Often there are one (or LITERALLY, a few) of best sellers, then they are GONE, other times there are 25 of some jacket, say in one color (black!), rarely does a great item pop back up, but it can. Next sale is week before Memorial Day this year. Usually Fall sale starts the week BEFORE the week of Columbus weekend & is spectacular. Other times it is at/after Labor Day. Every few years they will knock off prices even more--nirvana. Sales staff said NO winter items were at last sample sale event this past season (yes, they were surprised), thus winter items are due to arrive for next sample sale--check website for sample sale ad; I had it pop up on my TNF emails last season, 2 days before event--barely a heads up...Coats usually $100; ski pants $60; shoes (same sizes as listed above but men's are 9s & women's are 7s) are $35+; accessories run between $10 (mittens, hats, scarves, T-shirts) to $20-50+ (exercise wear, hoodies, backpacks, Arctic gloves, waterproof bags--fanciest items priced higher) to $200+ (Gore-tex anything). It's all still better than any store discount. You can even bring up the actual item on the official website to compare to retail item/price if sample doesn't have price/item name on tag--most items are listed & have retail price. On-line, often, the nicest colors are sold out/unavailable and the SAME item is in my hands!!! If you see a one-of-a-kind item, hang onto it until you are certain... otherwise it's GONE. Learned the hard way. I've told dozens & dozens of people over the years & they were thrilled to get amazing bargains. I have several TNF stunning items that still get compliments MANY years later from these sample sales. Some years the colors/styles/graphics aren't my thing (I wouldn't take it if it was free) and I walk away, and other years it's like Christmas on steroids, all week and have to pick &...

I have a coat with failed zipper and just learned from store staff outlet items aren't guaranteed, & was also told by store manager that North Face is cutting back on guaranteeing items.‬

This is crazy and sad, given I was in a North Face store located next to Patagonia and half block from LL Bean, stores which go out of their way to guarantee things they make.

BTW, I wasn't looking to exchange; a free repair would have...

I used to do a lot of my Christmas shopping there, a few years ago. The past 2 trips, over the past 3 years have been very disappointing. There were no sales to be found, or at least not even close to before. Both times I left empty handed. Prior to that I would fill my trunk. This was the last trip I plan on taking there. Not worth the trip. I actually didn't even see anyone purchasing anything...