READ ME - Ideeli, Rue La La, Revolve, cottup, etc... referral codes, etc . . . .

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

I know
Of course no one means any harm

I'm but a lowly messenger

[glaziersgirl]

Good job Swanky. I personally appreciate you monitoring it so closely. Keeps out the questionable elements.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

Hey fellow N. Texan!

[Luv2BuyBags]

Whats a SNAD at NM.com LOL!!

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

SNAD is overflow from eBay acronyms - significantly not as described at Neiman Marcus.

[pursecandy]

stiiiicky situation. funny how a guy owns tpf! thought i'd throw that in =)

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

actually a couple owns tPF - Megs and Vlad

[EnzaSmiles]

I made a purchase through Smartbargains.com and was given an invitation to join Rue La La. I am already a member, but thought posting the site would be OK since I am not getting any so-called "kickbacks." If this post is not in line with tPF rules, feel free to delete.

www.ruelala.com/sbinvite

[AgelessHarmony]

Originally Posted by EnzaSmiles

I made a purchase through Smartbargains.com and was given an invitation to join Rue La La. I am already a member, but thought posting the site would be OK since I am not getting any so-called "kickbacks." If this post is not in line with tPF rules, feel free to delete. www.ruelala.com/sbinvite

Same here...just got the invite today. Didn't know they send those. I've purchased from them before and didn't get that invite.

[lovebeibei]

Originally Posted by oxyoxy136

Why is so bad to invite others to join these sales? Yeah, we get kickbacks for inviting them, but I'm sure a lot of people want in on these sites because of the fantastic deals.

i actually agree..
it's not a big deal but i don't see why we have this rule. yeah there's a kick back, but its not coming from the pockets of other tpfers and its not like anyone's trying to hide it. if people are asking to be invited i don't think they care..

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

oh well, it's a rule, whether everyone digs it or not
Dislike it? PM Vlad and Megs

[yvalenz]

Originally Posted by lovebeibei

i actually agree.. it's not a big deal but i don't see why we have this rule. yeah there's a kick back, but its not coming from the pockets of other tpfers and its not like anyone's trying to hide it. if people are asking to be invited i don't think they care..

If you look through the deals subforum, there are a few threads with an invite that does not benefit any individual member. they were part of a television promotion / special. These were allowed without a problem.

I think most all of the sites listed have had some sort of membership promo in the past month. If you or anyone else wants the membership, use that promo code as a way in and not via other tPF members. It just avoids all problems and conflicts.

[tatertot]

You can join all of these sites simply by sending an email to their cs or googling an invite. I belong to all of these sites and was not referred by anyone. They will get back to you fast and the sign-up is easy. There is no reason why people should be soliciting when invites are so readily available without breaking the rules.

[cola262]

ITA with tatertot. I just googled "ruelala" and the 2nd result was an invite
xxx

ooops, that actually had a referral link tagged on the end.

[cola262]

^The invite I posted above was from CBS. I hope that is okay, since I'm not the referrer.:
(Invitation links are in the article below)
http://cbs2chicago.com/specialreport....2.747235.html

Finding Big Bargains 'For Members Only'

Reporting
Anne State
(CBS) Everyone's looking for a bargain and now you can find designer clothing for as much as 70 percent off. How? CBS 2's Anne State reports that the secret is online. You need an invitation to join "for members only" websites.

Kim Nelson is a self-proclaimed shopaholic. "It's not that I purchase something every day, but I do go online and shop around everyday," Nelson said.

So when she received an invitation to a "members only" shopping web site, she could hardly wait to start spending.

"I feel like it's a privilege. I feel like it's this exclusive shopping world," Nelson said.

An invitation like that one is the key to sites like ideeli, RueLaLa, and Gilt Groupe, where designer duds are sold at bargain basement prices; everything from clothes, to shoes to jewelry.

"Whether it's past season merchandise, or excess inventory, it's a very discreet way for them to sell goods online without it appearing on Google searches," said Rachel Shechtman with the Council for Fashion Designers.

Here's how it works. Members get an email announcing the opening of a "designer boutique." Pieces are up for grabs for only one or a few days at a time or until they're sold out. You can snag a steal for 70 percent off or more.

"I think it can become addicting!" Nelson said.

Once you receive an invitation, you can invite your friends to join you.

"So if we have a member in L.A., she'll know much better who else out of her friend group might be interested in Gilt Groupe," Alexis Maybank, co-founder of Gilt Groupe said.

Maybank and partner Alexandra Wilkis-Wilson have featured everything from diamonds to dresses.

"We were selling sunglasses that retailed for about $300 at Barney's on our site for about $98," Maybank said.

But to grab the goods, you have to click fast!

"In our Diane von Furstenberg sale, we were selling eight dresses a second!" Maybank said.

Nelson recently struck gold on a site when she found a dress that was sold out in stores.

"I looked through and they had my size, and I was very excited and purchased it right away," Nelson said.

You have to be sponsored or invited to join the sites, but two of them are extending invitations to CBS 2 viewers: Rue La La and Gilt Groupe. (If you are asked for a referring member's e-mail address. Use cbs2web@gmail.com). (© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)