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Changes at Boden?

LaPed

Veteran

I was browsing Boden's website for the first time in a while, and noticed that it seems their size guides no longer include garment measurements! I'm so disappointed. I'm often between sizes, and sometimes sized out altogether at Boden lately (like Angie, I've tried a couple tops and jackets that swamped me in a size 2). I'll be much more hesitant to order now.

Also, none of the promotion codes I've received from them recently include the "free returns" perk that they used to offer in the US almost all the time. I've had good luck with Boden the last few years, but if this is the direction they're moving I won't be giving them as much of my money. More inclined to order Boden through Nordie's, although the selection is limited.

Shopping

23 replies

Latest reply was from SW prof

Adriana

Veteran

I see what you mean. The lay out is different. I just ordered last week and the measurements were there. I hope it is temporary.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I'm going to write to them. AS someone who has to order from the UK, with expensive returns, and a different sizing system, I really relied on those. Very disappointing.

Astrid

Veteran

I placed an order a few days ago and was also super annoyed that the garment measurements had vanished. The normal sizing chart is useless for me, in most cases. I ordered eight or nine items and I'm keeping only one, the others didn't fit. So it's not just the US page, it's the same for the German shop.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Agreed. It's soooooo annoying

Their size 2's are getting bigger in outerwear and bottoms. Sized out almost two sizes, and have complained about it.

I have though, done very well this season already, and my Boden items fit perfectly. I had the red jeans altered to fit perfectly though. I will keep going back because I eventually find winners that are wardrobe faves - and Nordies does not have the Boden variety.

Boden purchases for S/S 2019 - and two more on the way:

Maisie Jersey Midi Dress

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Top Pick

13

Cambridge Ankle Skimmer Jeans

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Top Pick

21

Maisie Jersey Midi Dress

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Top Pick

9

View Info

Top Pick

19

Arabella Sweatshirt

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Top Pick

14

Marilyn

Veteran

Ugh! I haven't ordered from them yet but I've been tempted by their petite offerings. I will be less inclined to try things if they are no longer offering item measurements. It's just too costly to send things back from Canada. It's a service I use at both Everlane and J Crew.

Anonymous

Rrr! If I'd buy any Boden I'd do through Nordies, less risky.

anchie

Veteran

I haven’t noticed that it is missing and just checked - yup, it is gone. But we have free returns here, so I am not so upset.

athenaak

I’ve ordered from Boden numerous times in the last year based on recommendations here and been sized out every single time, even after ordering a size down from what the site itself suggested (I am a similar size and build as Angie). Worse, I have had to chase down my refunds (>14+ days after they receive my returns) nearly every time. I am disappointed and done with Boden.

Christina F.

Veteran

I am a frequent Boden order-er. Since I'm in the mid-to-larger end of the size range, I don't get sized out. The sizing seems more TTS as you go up. I will say, to athenaak's point, that the refunds take a VERY long time, almost a month in some cases. I win with them more than not, so I just suck it up, but it's definitely enough for someone on the smaller end of the size range to throw up their hands If they're now not offering measurement information, that makes it even worse.

LaPed

Veteran

Like Elizabeth P, I decided it was worth writing a little note to CS. Haven't heard back yet, but I figure it's worth adding a drop to the bucket.

I agree with Christina F and athenaak that returns processing is often quite slow with Boden. I suspect it has to do with the overseas aspect, even though many items ship from US warehouses.

The Nordstrom selection for Boden items is pretty poor, as Angie notes. I bet that's by design. They seem to keep some of their more unique seasonal colorways to themselves, and the Nordies line is very heavy on the basics, like navy/white combos. But it's nonetheless a risk-free way of checking fit/sizing.

I realize how spoiled I am to be complaining about the lack of free return shipping, but it really is what seals the deal for many of my purchases, especially for brands with which I'm not very familiar or who have inconsistent sizing or quality. I live in a place with very limited brick-and-mortar options, so "return in store" is either impossible or very inconvenient for me (I once drove all the way to Connecticut to return a set of snow tires that we ordered in the wrong size -- big oops). I really appreciate online retailers who understand that many of us find the prospect of paying $7 to *not* keep something rather unappealing. I much prefer when that cost is built into the pricing -- I will pay more to have the option of returning for free. *end rant*

Anonymous

I'm with you LaPed. I'll only buy if I can return IRL. Even with free shipping I can't wait a month for a refund-but paying return shipping is salt in the wound.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I wouldn’t call it spoiled La Ped but I would call it lucky. That’s why I like Styletread, they ship free from Australia to here, though you do have to order over $100. You may return for free too. Which I have only had to do once in 4 orders over 2.5 years. When I ordered the Jeffrey Campbell boots from Shoe Connection in a different city in NZ last year, which didn’t fit, they were shipped free to me but it was $7.50 to return. I had my eyes open to that in that case and accepted it because I liked the boots so much. But being a tightwad I wouldn’t like to do that much. Another reason I prefer B&M shopping, but then I live in our largest city.

Gretchen

Veteran

I agree they are slooooow to credit. I've noted this before. One of my new strategies is to email CS when the return is sent. "Just letting you know it's on it's way today", and then setting a reminder for 3 weeks out to check on the refund.

I'm also disappointed on the disappearing sizing chart. I'm between L/XLdepending on their cuts and this will lead to more ordering and returning. But I'm not willing to give them up - they are a key part of my casual wardrobe!

Gigi

Veteran

That's one of my pet peeves: If a shop isn't going to give garment measurements, then it should offer free returns. Otherwise it's like shooting in the dark. I'm often sized out at places (like Angie), so I am very hesitant to order stuff if I can't have a reasonable expectation that it's going to fit.

nemosmom

Veteran

Why would they remove such a useful guide?!?!? So disappointing. I am also sized out on many items. Nodding along with others who say returns/refunds are super slow. I had returned a handful of items back in Nov/Dec and didn't get credited until almost February. There was a period of time where the tracking wasn't showing on their site, either. It's like my packages just vanished midstream. That put me off, but without free returns, AND removal of the garment measurements, I won't shop direct anymore.

Aquamarine

Veteran

When sites starting offering garment measurements, it was a game-changer for me. I have had so much more success ordering things if I could compare measurements to things I already had. This is disappointing, since I’ve come to quite like Boden.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Write to them and keep the customer pressure on — they will likely only change if they see their revenue taking a hit, but in this day and age, you’d think online retailers would be trying to make it easier for their customers, not harder.

LaPed

Veteran

ETA I did receive a free shipping promo in the mail today, good 4/24-4/28. But it's the first one in quite a while! Now I feel like I should place a big order to take advantage (their strategy is totally working on me, hah).

Astrid

Veteran

I wrote to the German customer service and asked about the sizing charts, also mentioning their environmental goals and the higher amount of returns this change will generate. They answered that they are aware of the returns issue if people are forced to order multiple sizes and that the missing size charts were "an accident" and they should be back on the webpage "by the next update". They also offered to sent me some measurements directly if I could tell them article number and my size. Great news, if it's true! I'll keep an eye on it.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I heard back from Boden - looks like it's temporary. Yay!

"I
am ever so sorry to hear that you are missing our garment measurements,
online. Please rest assured that they are only missing
temporarily while we update the security on our website. To ensure that
all pages of our website were secure (HTTPS) we had to implement an
updated version of our website. Unfortunately, this meant that we were
unable to show garment measurements for the time
being. We have our IT experts working on our website all hours of the
day, and we aim to have garment measurements back up and running by the
end of May.

In
the mean time, you are more than welcome to use our Live Chat service,
call us, or to email us to ask for the specific garment
measurements for any item that has caught your eye"

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good news!

Ginger

Veteran

That is excellent news!

I haven't ordered often, but the last time I did, I chatted in to request further details on a couple of dresses. The lady I chatted with literally got up and grabbed the dresses so she could double check both the measurements and stretch on the lining. I have never had that kind of service before. So I'm very glad to to hear that the charts are simply AWOL and will be back. It seemed very strange to remove, since their CS personnel have the clothing at their fingertips to verify things just like that.

SW prof

I also wrote to their Customer Service about this, and received a reply similar to what Elizabeth P got. I wish all sites gave garment measurements; they are so useful.