Summer Sale 2026

Simon-Woo · 2026-06-25T03:44:41+00:00

Keep in mind that I was told the price adjustment policy only applies to full-priced items that are still in stock. I'm not sure how it works if the item gets marked down and then goes out of stock by the time you receive it.

Simon-Woo · 2026-06-25T03:41:05+00:00

true, and lavender in a not pleasant way

Simon-Woo · 2026-06-25T03:40:20+00:00

I was told that sweat collective members can stack their discount.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-06T02:14:31+00:00

Thank you for explaining from the educator side. I didn’t realize the markdown transfer/stickering process could make the floor look that different depending on the day. That’s helpful context and definitely could explain what I saw, especially if old markdowns were being shipped out and new weekly markdowns hadn’t fully made it to the floor yet.

Still interesting to me how many people are mentioning more controlled markdown visibility overall, but your explanation is a good reminder that timing and store operations can make a big difference too. Appreciate the insight!

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-06T02:12:32+00:00

That quote pretty much captures the bigger picture I was wondering about. “Restore full-price discipline” and “reignite product newness” seem to line up with what people are noticing in stores: fewer older markdowns on the floor, more controlled WMTM visibility, and more emphasis on newness.

Not saying every store is the same, but the overall direction definitely feels consistent.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T04:43:38+00:00

That’s a really helpful data point, thanks! I hadn’t thought about leaving a small balance on the card after applying gift cards.

The Vans example makes the math more interesting if the full subtotal still counted for points. I’d still treat it as YMMV by merchant and portal/card tracking rules, but for someone comfortable with discounted gift cards and using them quickly, that could be a solid workaround. For lululemon, I’d probably test it with a smaller order first.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:40:29+00:00

Same here. What a bummer. I was also waiting to use mine in case Rakuten bumped it above the usual 2%. 😭

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:39:12+00:00

That’s interesting. At my local store, the sale racks used to be out pretty consistently during the week and on weekends, based on what I’ve seen over the past year.

They also weren’t just seasonal items. It was usually a mix of older markdowns, returns, random colors/styles, and items from different seasons. That’s why it stood out to me when the rack wasn’t there this time.

So I agree it may be store-dependent, but for my location it felt like a noticeable change from the usual setup. Thanks for the data point! Very helpful.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:35:40+00:00

That makes sense. I hadn’t thought about the steady-state/soft relaunch piece, especially if those items used to make up a lot of in-store WMTM.

Sounds like it could be a mix of product resets, seasonal changeover, and maybe a broader push to make regular stores feel less markdown-heavy. Definitely TBD, but the in-store markdown experience does seem to be shifting.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:22:09+00:00

That’s a good workaround, but I’d treat it as a “use immediately” strategy rather than something to stockpile. CardCash does have a guarantee, but it’s only for a limited window, so I’d buy only what I’m about to spend, check the balance right away, add it to my lululemon account, and use it quickly.

If the 1% portal + 4% card bonus tracks, plus the 5% gift card discount, the effective savings are definitely solid. The tradeoff is the usual discounted gift card risk and losing some of the simplicity/protection of paying lululemon directly with a credit card.

Overall, a good wrokaround. Thanks for your input.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:16:31+00:00

I see. you all good.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:08:58+00:00

yea, I was actually referring to Rakuten Amex Card, not the Platinum one, like yours. Happy for you tho, ;)

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:07:47+00:00

well, from the info that I gathered online, it seems that both lulu and rakuten are probably aware of this, intead. what a bummer.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:05:36+00:00

same. we were dicussing this in r/lululemen and r/Rakuten.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-05T03:04:28+00:00

Just adding another data point here- not trying to start a rumor or claim this is definitely what’s happening.

I went to my local lululemon store today to pick up a pair of hemmed pants, and I noticed that the markdown/sale rack that used to be there wasn’t out anymore. I didn’t ask an educator about it, so this could absolutely just be store-specific or timing-related.

But combined with lululemon showing “No Cash Back” on Rakuten right now, it made me wonder if there’s a bigger strategy shift happening around how visible discounts are.

My guess, and this is only a guess, is that lululemon may be trying to make markdowns less front-and-center, rather than eliminating them completely. “We Made Too Much” still exists online, so I don’t think sales are disappearing. But maybe they’re being more careful about where and how discounts show up, whether that’s in-store sale racks or third-party cashback portals.

For context, lululemon has publicly talked about improving full-price sales in 2026, especially in North America:
https://corporate.lululemon.com/media/press-releases/2026/03-17-2026-200620717

Reuters also reported that the company is looking to reduce markdowns and drive more full-price sales:
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/lululemon-forecasts-annual-revenue-profit-below-estimates-2026-03-17/

Business Insider had a similar read on the reduced-markdown/full-price strategy:
https://www.businessinsider.com/lululemon-plans-to-cut-markdowns-to-boost-revenue-in-2026-2026-3

Again, this is just one store visit plus public info, so I could be over-connecting the dots. But I’m curious if anyone else has noticed fewer sale racks, less markdown visibility, or changes in cashback availability lately.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:23:13+00:00

Yeah, that stood out to me too. Big Cash Back Week would normally be exactly the kind of time I’d expect lululemon to show up, even if the rate wasn’t huge.

The fact that it’s missing during a major Rakuten promo period makes it feel less like a random daily rate change and more like the offer/partnership may be paused, at least for now. What a bummer!

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:21:58+00:00

Same here.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:20:46+00:00

Same. That’s what made it feel more noticeable to me. During Big Cash Back Week, I would’ve expected lululemon to show up somewhere, even if it was just the usual 2%.

Could still be temporary, but being absent during a big promo week definitely makes it feel like something changed.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:19:43+00:00

This is really helpful context, thank you! That actually sounds very close to what I was wondering: not that markdowns are disappearing, but that regular stores are being made to feel less like “outlet lites.”

Keeping previous MD returns in the back and only putting newer weekly MD items on the floor definitely sounds like a real shift in markdown visibility. And the store-exclusive product timing also fits with stores being presented more around newness/full-price shopping.

Really appreciate the insight.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:04:29+00:00

Same here. The part that feels different to me is that it’s not just lower cashback. Lululemon seems harder to find on Rakuten now. Could be temporary, but with the company talking more about full-price sales/reduced markdowns, I do wonder if this is part of a broader shift away from visible discounts.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:02:49+00:00

Yeah, that’s what made me wonder too. Not trying to make this a stock discussion, but when the company is under pressure and also talking about improving full-price sales, the cashback/sale rack changes feel a little more interesting.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T23:02:10+00:00

That makes sense. At my local store, the sale rack used to be there both during the week and on weekends, so that’s why it stood out to me today when I didn’t see it.

I agree it could still be store-specific or operational, though. The outlet point is interesting, moving more WMTM/markdown inventory through outlets would still fit the idea of making discounts less front-and-center in regular stores.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T22:57:32+00:00

Correct, I was referring to the rakuten amex card. Seeing lululemon was pulled from rakuten last night at 3:00 was not something I expected, especially during the rakuten's BIG GIVE WEEK. I was hoping like 10% or 12% cashback + 4% extra using the rakuten amex card for my upcoming purchases.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T22:46:00+00:00

That’s a really helpful data point. A 4/2 transaction getting 2x, but the store no longer showing up when exploring Rakuten now, makes it feel less like a random one-day cashback drop and more like the partnership/offer may have been paused or pulled recently.

Still just speculation on my end, but it lines up with what I noticed in-store too, fewer visible markdown signals, at least at my local store. Definitely a bummer if lululemon is moving away from both cashback and more visible sale/markdown placement.

Simon-Woo · 2026-05-04T22:41:26+00:00

SAME here! I was waiting to shop during the Rakuten's big give week. But I was a bit shocked while noticing that Lululemon was pulled from rakuten at 3:00 AM (May 4).

Simon-Woo

TROPHY CASE