Screenshot / Ebay / Benjamin Goggin
- Target started selling its Vineyard Vines collection over the weekend, and customers are complaining that certain styles and sizes quickly ran out.
- Many items can easily be located on resale platforms like Ebay and Facebook for double the original price.
- It's increasingly common for exclusive big retail items to be resold online for an upcharge.
- Read more stories like this on Business Insider's homepage.
Target's Vineyard Vines collection made its limited-time debut in stores this weekend, and as Business Insider's Aine Cain reported, some styles and sizes have already sold out with no plans to restock.
Customers took to Twitter to express their frustration with the process. Twitter user @OGPrepster wrote, "the two things I wanted from the vineyard vines for target sold out...it went live 6 minutes ago." @KimmerKims wrote, "seriously, @Target?! it's not even 6:30 am and ALL the plus-size clothing for the new vineyard vines collection is sold out. were there only like 5 of each size?"
So, where did all the clothing go?
Of course, some of it landed in the homes of satisfied customers. Other items have found their way onto resale sites.
The "Girls' Long Sleeve 1/4 Zip Pullover Patchwork Whale Sweatshirt," which is sold out in three of five sizes, can be found on Ebay (see above) for over double the original $20 price.
Similarly, the "Women's 1/4 Zip Pullover Sweatshirt," originally $30 at Target, can be found on Ebay for $60.
Items can also be found on Facebook Marketplace.
A baby romper that was originally $12 can be found for $24 on Facebook. A backpack that was $40 is now $70 online.
The findings are yet another example of how the retail economy has been disrupted and reformed by online marketplaces.
Even if a store like Target seeks to collaborate with Vineyard Vines to make a more affordable option, buyers will quickly sweep in to make a quick buck off of the demand.
As big retailers like Target and H&M have mastered the big-name fashion collaboration, it's increasingly common to find online upcharges like sneakers or concert tickets.