Slight International Shopping Rant - YouLookFab Forum

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Slight International Shopping Rant

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I ordered the Halogen seamed pencil skirt in black two weeks ago when it went on sale. It was $42 in price and with the shipping, taxes and duty, I paid $65.51. I guessed based on various reviews and comments on YLFers who own the skirt on the size but alas, it was too tight and I needed to size up. I have since ordered the larger size and contacted Nordstrom to get an international return authorization form to send the other one back. The return shipping and handling charges through Nordstrom's international shipper FiftyOne cost $35.09 resulting in me getting back a credit of only $19.95 for the $65 skirt. To be honest, not worth my hassle to even send it back. I emailed Nordstrom customer service to request they cancel my return authorization for the skirt since the cost was quite exhorbitant and that I will simply donate the skirt to the Salvation Army.

Based on this, I have decided to only order items from Nordstrom that I am 100% sure will fit and flatter. I can't afford these kind of mistakes. And ordering two sizes to determine which one fits still means I have to return the one that doesn't and it just isn't worth it.

I guess my local economy will be happy since I'll be spending my dollars at home. Now I'm wondering if I want to risk ordering the two dresses on my "fun money" list...

Shopping

33 replies

Latest reply was from Jem

Kirti

(website)

Veteran

That sucks shannon! If it were me, I wouldn't get the dresses. No matter how careful you are, if something doesn't fit right, you'll either be stuck with a dud or be stuck spending a huge sum sending it back.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

That is horrible Shannon and the reason why I have not yet ordered anything from the USA. Perhaps Nordies may be best saved for accessories.

Anonymous

Yes, I was going to order that skirt too, but when a $40 skirt became almost $80 with everything factored in, I abandoned my shopping cart. I have decided to cruise Canadian sites and see if I can find most of my purchases here.

ManidipaM

Veteran

Ouch, that sounds like it hurts, Shannon! It's why I don't buy international brands on ebay unless the local price is actually higher because it is imported anyway --- and never buy clothes that way anyway.

I'd be wary of ordering the dresses too, unless you can find an easier (on the pocket) way to try them out.

It IS a pity, but sometimes I'm reminded that for all the talk of the world getting smaller, the globe hasn't actually shrunk in terms of transport distances and nor have the national boundaries gotten more porous in very many places to allow for that much-touted self-identification as a 'global citizen'. :-/

Megan

This is why I always use a shipping service or a friend to forward packages from Nordstrom. If the package has been shipped to a US address you can simply pack it up, fill in the return and post to their regular returns address in the US. Posting a skirt back from Australia would cost you a max of $17 (plus you would've avoided the duty charges).

Anonymous

I have given up on most US sites too. jC penney is ok, but not always interesting, Second Base, the camisole company Kari talks about in the forum, is amazing but the rest, bleh

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Megan - I have asked on two occasions for fellow YLFers to ship an item to their US address and have them send it to me. But personally, I'm not overly comfortable doing that as it's an inconvenience for them. And I'm not interested in having items shipped to a US address just over the border and driving over to get it - that's totally inconvenient for me. But I do appreciate that this works for many others.

Nordstrom has sent me back a lovely email (I do totally adore their customer service) indicating they are sorry that it works out this way and that if in the future I do want to purchase a clothing item, they would be more than happy to help with the sizing issues and ensure I order the correct size. That's all well and good but you still may not like the item on you when you get it, correct size or not.

I think I'm done with any sort of international ordering.

JR

Veteran

I am leery of ordering even locally, because I have been so hard to fit in the past. Adding international hassles on top of it is simply overwhelming. So no.

Do any of you Canadian gals have experience with Beyond the Rack? I have just talked myself out of two dresses there, LOL! I figured the possibility of them not looking good on me was just too high. And I just don't have much occasion to wear dresses, not being an office worker or a party animal.

qpswan

I feel your pain! It has really been hit and miss for me ordering from the US.

I live near the border and we have a place in Washington so I have items delivered there. BUT, many stores that offer shipping to Canada no longer allow me to use my Canadian credit card or Paypal to pay for purchases that are shipped to the US. Frustrating! Thank goodness for Zappos and Amazon.

I have had a great deal of success ordering from the Bay, they offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount and items can be returned to their stores.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Shannon, I would not order any more dresses. You cannot be sure they will fit, and you'll lose money.

I just got a reminder about why I don't order online. I broke my rule and ordered a J Crew silk shirt, and despite reading the size charts very carefully, it totally doesn't fit. I'm swimming in it. I'm sending it back and I don't even think I'm going to ask for an exchange -- I just want my money back. It's sooooo frustrating. I was really excited about that shirt, and now I'm not only disappointed, I'm out of pocket.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I hear you Elisabeth - I had ordered the animal print pencil skirt from J Crew and same thing. It totally didn't fit and I had to send it back.

Websites like Gap and Old Navy (and pretty soon Banana Republic) are safe because we also have their brick & mortar stores so you can return to the store.

JR - unfortunately I don't have any experience with Beyond the Rack.

qpswan - you are right in that many US retailers now will not allow Canadians to pay with Canadian credit cards or from Canadian accounts via Paypal.

I've taken the two dresses out of my Nordie's cart - me soooooo sad

Gaylene

Veteran

Ordering from a US site is definitely a hit or miss thing for me--with more misses than hits. Even using Angie's NAS picks last year, I ended up with a couple of so-so items because it wasn't worth the hassle of shipping them back. One sweater was too big and the other had been stretched out of shape. I gave the too-big sweater to my sister and had to wash and re-block the stretched-out sweater to make it wearable. The whole experience left me less than enthusiastic and seemed a very poor use of my $150.

I agree that ordering accessories might be better, but even then it's hard to judge color and texture over the internet. That's why I am trying to find more Canadian sites, but it's not easy. Wish we could clone a Canadian version of Angie

Anonymous

I have really bad luck with things fitting that I order, so I hardly ever try it. The only solution is you're going to have to come visit me! Better wait for winter though.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I think I remember reading a couple of years ago just how expensive the FiftyOne service was, which is why I've warned my Mom not to order online from Nordstrom.

Meanwhile, Mom has had very good luck ordering from the following US sites: JC Penney, Talbots and Land's End, Land's End Canvas. However, I don't think she's ever had to return anything.

I went researching, and discovered the following on the Land's End site about their return process for Canadians:

1. Use our Easy Return (Canada Post) label for a flat fee of $7.95 US

Securely package the items you wish to return, fill out and include the Return Form and affix the Canada Post shipping label that was included with your original order.

Give the package to your mail carrier or drop it off at any Canada Post location. A flat fee of $7.95 US will be deducted from the amount of your refund.
2. Send your return to us with the shipper of your choice.

If you are returning a purchase that was shipped to Canada, please send your return to:

Lands' End Returns
6220 Westar Drive
LaSalle, Ontario N9J 0B5

In returning merchandise to our Canadian address you authorize the Canadian customs broker to submit a claim for duty and taxes to Revenue Canada on your behalf and to receive, endorse and deposit all such refunds. Lands' End will refund the purchase price, duties and taxes directly to you.

So - you would get your duties and taxes refunded as well.

It sure seems to me like FiftyOne is gouging people on shipping costs and costs of returns. $35 in return shipping and handling is absurd for a $42 skirt. Just ridiculous!

Like I said, my Mom hasn't had trouble with Talbots, JC Penney or Lands End. The shipping was *not* exorbitant (usually free!), and the case of Lands End, the duties were applied to her order by the merchant, and were very reasonable. For instance, Mom ordered a bunch of stuff from Land's End at 40% off, and because the sale was so good, it really wasn't a big deal to see $2.17 (or whatever it was) duty applied to a blouse, for example. With Talbots (she ordered two coats from their US site) and JC Penney (various items of clothing) I believe the duty was applied by Canada Post or courier company (I'll have to ask her) and she paid it upon delivery or something like that. The shipping wasn't exorbitant, and neither were the duties applied.

Meanwhile, because I've heard a few stories like this in the past, I've cautioned my Mom and the rest of my family and friends to never order online from retailers using FiftyOne. Sad, but true.

Victoria

(website)

Veteran

Sounds like major pain in the butt, sorry you have to deal with this:(. I hardly order clothes and shoes online because I am just to hard to fit(and don''t get me started on finding good fitting pants) so I have to shop for these things locally

Jem

Veteran

Ouch, that's expensive! So sorry that it didn't fit you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ugh. I SO feel your pain. My only solution so far is to confine my US orders to times when I will be travelling to the US. I MAY try the border shopping thing one of these days; I'm only a hop and a jump (40 minutes) from the border and could do it. But I would have to REALLY want the items to make it worthwhile. Time is valuable, too.

I hope we get our Nordstrom's soon in Canada.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Shannon; have you ever tried using ShipItTo? My friends SWEAR by it (we use it to get Zara stuff). Of course, returns will still cost money, but it is usually cheaper to get your stuff into the country. I gave up ordering from Nordies a long time ago.

*hugs*

Bagaline

I recently bought a swimdress for my daughter who lives in Montreal from a US site. The shipping cost to Montreal was $27US and $13US to Ireland (where I live). Go figure! Since I was going to Montreal for my annual visit, I got the thing delivered to Ireland and brought it with me. Isn't it ridiculous!

During the same trip, I bought an "Unvelivabra" from a boutique in Trois-Rivieres (a 45 min. trip from Montreal). This marvelous bra that totally eliminates back fat costs $85US plus $27 shipping. I was really interested but ordering online would have been extremely costly if I got the sizing wrong. And sure enough, I would have ordered the wrong size: the one that I got in the boutique is a full size smaller than my regular bras!!

So, from now on, I will by accessories only.

jen

Go online and apply for a us address. The companies are great I am with 'You US Address" after being stung like you from Nordstroms. I did put in a compaint to Nordstrom and they advised they don't have a very good os return policy.

I successfully sold my Nordsrtom clothing on Ebay at a good price.

jen

Shannon we also get stung by paying inflated os prices, having a US address you pay US prices!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Shannon, I so hear you on international shipping! I don't do it often unless I am sure about the size. It also puts a pressure on me to keep less than perfect item because of all expense and hassle of the return.
Just go and have a ball at Danier with your fun money!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Yep - Danier is going to get some of my hard earned cash. And I just got confirmation that our Banana Republic is opening July 26th so going to hold onto what I would have spent on the two dresses and go there instead!

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets frustrated with this issue.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Woo-hoo for Banana Republic! Here are some tips from me:
- shop online - selection is much better than in the store, there are frequent 25 / 30 /40% discounts you get in email when you create an account and shipping / returns are free on over $50.
- in the store check the clearance rack often. For some reason they never have the same prices on clearance items online as in the store. I am talking a difference between $75 and $30...
Good luck!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Thanks so much for the tips Sveta - I've never shopped BR before so this is very helpful. And I'm thrilled that they have a petite line. We're also getting a Michael Kors store at the end of August. Looks like Winnipeg is moving up in the world!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I am quite a known person in my Gap and BR stores as I always return to the stores. I wonder if anybody else ever returns online purchases there but me...:-)

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I do all my Gap online purchase returns to the store so you are not alone!

Ana

(website)

Veteran

That's terrible! How frustrating.

Gaylene

Veteran

Shannon, here's a summary of my online shopping experiences for what it's worth:

I've had a good experience ordering (and returning) online from Banana Republic. They offer free shipping and free returns if the order is over $50. I also get lots of coupons for discounts that I can use online. Lands' End and LL Bean have also been very good, with reasonable shipping costs and easy returns.

J Crew offers a flat rate $9.95 US shipping but returning was costly because I had to insure the parcel and pay for shipping to a US address. On the other hand, J Crew did not bill me for items until they were shipped which I appreciated and my bank card was credited promptly as soon as they received the return. Again, I get lots of discount coupon offers from them. When I visited the J Crew Toronto store, I connected with one of their personal shoppers who offered to check for items in the store and ship them to me directly. She would also handle any returns. I haven't used her services yet, so I don't know how that will work.

I've used Talbot's a couple of times in the past but the shipping and returning costs were high. One of my Talbot's orders never arrived. I have no idea what happened to it in transit, but when I phoned Talbot's customer service, they immediately credited my bank card for the full amount of the order--with absolutely no hassle. That impressed me.

Sad to say, my worst experience has been with ordering from Nordstoms. FiftyOne's shipping costs are high and you pay both ways. I've always liked shopping at Nordstrom's, but will restrict my buying to when I'm in Seattle. I do hear rumors that they may be looking to establish locations in Western Canada--maybe Calgary or Vancouver. Wouldn't that be nice!

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