BATTLES DURING THE SALE

For a week now, not a day goes by that I don't briefly visit the Bijenkorf. The sale has started. I'm lucky that I live about 50 meters away from the branch in Amsterdam, so it's still quite manageable, and besides, I'm doing it for a good cause. As mentioned, the sale has started (last week already) and now the trick is to time it just right so that the discounts are at their highest and the selection is still reasonably large. Especially stalking the shoe department is my specialty, because duh.

The thing is that the discounts start at 30%, but by the end of the ride, you're looking at 70 to 80% waiting for you. Of course, a lot is already sold out by then, and this is the only advantage of having a large shoe size (which I have): they stay available longer. And so it happens that with my freelancer and student income, I still have six pairs of Giuseppe Zanotti’s in the closet next to pumps from Céline, sneakers from Isabel Marant, and more beautiful things.

“Sale is a bitter battle that must be fought continuously, and only the strongest will prevail.”

That doesn't go without a fight. It's a bitter battle that must be fought continuously, and only the strongest will prevail. Because if there's one pair of Zanotti’s left, you can bet your bottom dollar that more women have set their eyes on them. Years ago, I was on the hunt for two stunning pairs of Giuseppe Zanotti, see Exhibit A and Exhibit B. Both with an astronomically high starting price, but when we reached the 50% discount round, there was exactly one pair left in size 41 (my size, yes that's big). Even with that 50% discount, they were horrendously expensive, so I went day in and day out (sometimes multiple times a day) to see if The Moment had arrived.

It hadn't.

And still hasn't.

But then, YES! One of the two was on its pedestal with a 70% discount, so without thinking, I grabbed them, ran to the cash register, and now, almost three years later, I'm still wearing them. Mission accomplished.

But that other pair still occupied my mind. A week after The Purchase, I cautiously went back to the shoe department. The woman who worked there, with whom I had built a close relationship (I saw her more than my best friend), immediately pointed to The Other Pair and said, “They're still here! Now even with 80% off.”.

Heart palpitations. Heart palpitations everywhere.

I walked towards them but saw another girl grabbing them right before me and trying them on. Together with her friend, she discussed how beautiful they were and oh what a good price, gosh I'm crazy if I don't buy them. I consider telling a dramatic sob story that I really must must MUST have them but I hold it together and keep my cool. Of course, I keep circling around them and then I hear her say, “but I also wanted that dress from earlier, let's check that out and then we'll come back here.” She puts the shoes back on the shelf, walks away, and before she’s even ten meters away, I throw myself at The Shoes. They are mine.

Cash register. Paying. Going home. Overjoyed and not a shred of guilt. I truly hope for her that dress looked stunning on her, that's just how I am. And otherwise, well, tough luck.

Sale, no one said it would be fun.