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Chime in here: Things you would like to say to retailers

April

Veteran

Here's my latest (though I'm sure I've said this before):

Retailers: on computer screens, it is often impossible to tell whether hardware is gold or silver. Please tell us.

Shopping

44 replies

Latest reply was from Greyscale

Bijou

Veteran

Online retailers - please give the specific measurements of garments, it makes knowing what size to order much easier.
Stores - excellent client service is to allow shoppers time to browse your stock and have privacy in the dressing room. It is fine to be friendly, but I don't like it when I am inundated with your "suggestions" as it feels as though I am under siege and even worse when I am partially undressed and you come barging in.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Please fill in the size gap. The least amount of clothing is made in the sizes that the most women in the US wear. There needs to be more available in those sizes between 12-18 straight sizes. We fall into the gap between the pretty clothes for skinny girls and true plus sizes. Our money is real....if you make it, we will buy!

Anonymous

U.S. retailers selling European brands of shoes: show the Euro size too, not just the U.S. size it supposedly converts to. The conversions can be way off and it throws off all the reviews as well.

Anonymous

Enough already with inferior fabrics and workmanship. Demand better quality from your manufacturers.

cindysmith

Veteran

Catty, OMG that infuriates me!!! I order shoes in a 7.5 (as displayed on their website) and they arrive and they're European 37.5 which is NOT and American 7.5. For the love of all that is holy I need to see European shoe sizes on your web site.

Same for clothes. I want to see measurements, I want to see the original sizes as listed on the tag. If it is Italian made and sized as an Italian 46, I wanna know that--NOT that you translate that to an American XL or 10 or whatever you think it translates as.

Bricks & mortar stores, quit trying to force your employees to get me to open a credit card account because it ain't t happening. Quit making them upsell me. I SAW the freaking bins full of stuff that you had them display on the checkout counter and I didn't grab any of it, I'm certainly not going to grab any of it because an employee asked me if I'd like fries with my shake, or accessories to compliment my outfit, or whatever. Quit limiting the number of garments I can take into a dressing room, because the way you vanity size and shrink sizes means that I have to take 3 or 4 different sizes of one garment into the dressing room and there goes 50-75% of my quota which means I'm trying on one item, then getting dressed again to go get the next one in 3 or 4 sizes and guess what? We're not going to that much trouble and you're losing hella sales because you only allow 6 garments in a dressing room at a time

Back to online retailers: QUIT PHOTOSHOPPING YOUR MODELS. We know those women have waists that are bigger than an average human head, and thighs bigger than the average baby's arm, so stop making the garments look chopped up and stop making their thighs look chopped up and stop making black women's skin look like they're of mixed race. They even do this with celebrities appearing in ad campaigns. Like, seriously, retailers and advertisers, we saw these women on the red carpet last week and we KNOW they don't really look like that

OK I'll stop ranting now LOL

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'll passionately second what chewy and Bijou wrote, and add:

PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ONGOING UNIVERSAL FIT CHALLENGES. THEY ARE INFURIATING.

http://youlookfab.com/2016/10/.....hallenges/

Designers, please think beyond supplying your designs in black and shades of grey. It's uncreative.

Retailers, please showcase your merchandise on a diverse set of models that cuts across ethnicity, age and body type.

Nordstrom, go back to supplying HOUSE BRAND merchandise that's a cut above the rest. You're not set up to compete with budget retailers, so stick to what you do best - which is serving the customer who is willing to spend more money for a better product. Stop trying to attract the Millennials who are savvy at social media, but don't want to shop at your store. Focus on the loyal Generation Xers and Baby Boomers who do. Rethink your product strategy and you'll reap the reward - and so will your loyal target market.

Okay. I'll leave it at that. Don't want the day to turn into a plethora of negative karma.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Yes! I'm agreeing to what everybody has said so far. Here are a couple to add:

Online retailers: Please display the back of the garment as well! I always need at least a front and a back view, and preferably a side view, too.

Brick and mortar retailers: Please include a petites section in your actual shop -- not just online. This applies especially to American companies like J Crew, where I have to pay for shipping and duty! I've stopped ordering from companies like you, and I'm focusing on Canadian retailers.

Penny

Veteran

These are all such great comments! I'd like to see more classic pieces, and see them offered in non-black neutral or muted shades.

shedev

Veteran

And add in some not classic things.

lpr200

Veteran

Angie, I second your message for Nordstrom-- enough already! Please keep your stores consistent, so I don't need to drive an extra ten miles to go to the "good Nordstrom" which actually carries the higher quality brands

Designers, please make clothes for women with busts. And tummies. And hips. And all those womanly body shapes you ignore

Bloggers: please have women of all shapes model the clothes and please don't claim to be a size 2/ 24 when you're not

Shoes Designers: can sexy attractive shoes not immediately translate as 4 inch stilettos?

Thank you

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I cosign everything you all have said. Preach!

sylvie55

(website)

1. Please make dresses with sleeves which are neither thigh-high nor black and billowy. Bonus points if some of them are formalwear, which always seems to give me the choice between a. Floozy and b. Granny.

2. Don't pin the back of garments on mannequins or catalog models to make them look like they fit differently than they do.

3. Stop the sale shell game. Offer good quality at a fair price and I will pay it. Instead, have a real sale at the end of the season when quantities are limited. What's the point of buying anything when I know it will be 40% off 2 weeks later?

4. Second the idea to have petite sizes in the store where I can try them on.

All the aggravations above are why my happiest shopping experiences are in thrift stores, despite the limited selection.

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

On-line Retailers:
Please show photos of the product from all angles and on a model. I really want the 360 degree moveable view, or at least a video. (Nordstrom is bad about this--often I do not buy (or do not buy from Nordstrom) because of insufficient product photos.)

Give me actual garment measurements! I always want to know rise and garment length. Also, it might help me to interpret the baffling and inaccurate size charts.

Brick and Mortar Retailers:
I want to see clothes organized by department, not brand. I don't want to traipse all over the store looking for black pants in EVERY. SINGLE. CAPSULE. COLLECTION!

Quit cramming stuff together like it's all on a clearance rack. I'm tired of seeing a variety of mix-matchy items all crammed together without regard for style differences or size. Would it be so wrong to devote one arm of a display to a single style? And what about showing one style in a complete range of sizes? And, don't get me started about the items that are re-hung inside out or backwards on the hanger.

ETA: And this one's for everybody: When is the right time to buy if you never seem to have all the sizes in stock?

Barbara Diane

Veteran

The above, and

Improve the quality of the clothes. Pre-shrink them, so I can know that the length will work after washing. And that they will last. Don't use flimsy fabric. I'd rather spend more and have quality items.

If you make a great basic, don't change it to something cheaper.

Have plus sizes in B&M stores.

Carry blouses that are lightweight but not see through. If it is really hot, I don't want to have to wear a tank or camisole under it.

Have items with elbow length sleeves

State the rise on all pants. In inches, not just low, mid, or high. But low, mid or high is better than nothing.

Don't make me go to a store to get free shipping. It's not my fault you don't carry my size in store. I'd prefer to try it on in store and know right away if it fits. And be able to try on multiple sizes without having to charge them all, then traipse back to return them. This would also save the sales assistants time finding the item, ordering it, then processing the return, and then the costs involved in sending me a refund.

Macy's, what happened to your quality? I used to buy most of my clothes there. Now everything is cheaply made and uninteresting. And a large section of the store is filled with old clearance items. I've found items I bought several years before out on the clearance racks. And I'm not talking about basics.

Why are the colors off when I am shopping online? Am I supposed to know whether to go by the name or the image?

I reserve the right to add more.

rachylou

Veteran

Yes, please, Nordstrom go back to quality house brand wear!

Also, I want the lookbooks brought back. I miss them.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Agreeing with everyone. Accountability for the whole manufacturing process would be nice too

April

Veteran

My word!

I had no idea I was the only one so frustrated.

So many replies that all I can do to respond to you all is to say AMEN.

And just so that it's not all negativity, I will say this as well. Retailers, we notice when you make things easy for us. We really do. We notice when you make returns convenient and pick up the shipping -- and yes, it does make us more likely to buy from you in the future, when there's a choice of where to buy.

Most of my complaints are directed to the experience of online shopping and I know that will lead people to tell me to go shop in stores but guess what -- I almost cannot do that anymore. Many stores have made a deliberate choice not to carry their smallest sizes in their brick-and-mortar shops, which means for me it's online or nothing. (If they don't offer free shipping, this also means I'm paying more.)

I do have one question, directed to my old YLF friend chewyspaghetti. Because I believe strongly that the market should meet the needs of the people who shop there, I want to understand this response: "those sizes between 12-18 straight sizes" -- can you say more about what you mean? I'm intrigued by the idea that this is a market segment not being addressed.

"Our money is real" -- say it loud, Khris. I feel the same about my desire for fashionable shoes for highly problematic feet.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

1) Designers, stop making expensive pieces out of polyester. If you're going to charge $$$ for a blazer, skirt or jacket, then I expect it to be made out a combination of natural fibers, and preferably lined with silk. I'm looking at you, The Row, charging $2k+ for a polyester blazer.

2) Speaking of linings: designers, include them! I was baffled to see $$$$ coats made by Sentaler and Burberry that were unlined.

3) Larger jeans sizes. Sizes 30-35 should be mainstream. Yes, I said 35, even though it doesn't exist.

4) Shoes: More options for women with bigger feet. 41 and 42 designer is still too small for many of us.

L'Abeille

Veteran

I thought you guys had covered it all. But: What's with gloves? I know my size. And it hasn't changed, not in surgical gloves. But leather gloves? In the past couple of years, I can rarely find L/XL/8 gloves that I can get my fingers into. Not even at Danier. Not even in the men's department. Did you outsource all the manufacturing to China and forget to send the sizing information along?

AM

Veteran

Create a moderately priced brand that is minimal, ultra modern, and stretches to the avant garde -- think Rick Owens, Acne Studios, etc.

Sal

Veteran

1) Please offer some variety in colour - we don't all want to be clones.

2) If your target market is professional women/Gen X etc then maybe consider the length of your dresses, mid thigh is just too short.

MsMaven

Veteran

Nordstrom and any other store that does this: Stop spritzing your merchandise with Febreeze or whatever fragrance that is. I hate getting a sale piece in the mail and it smells bad. I can't stand that smell. And what a disappointment when I bought some sale stuff without sniffing and when I put it on at home it smells like Febreeze. There is a reason I haven't been to your store lately.

BR and the rest: quit making tee shirts and knit tops in such thin, thin, knits.

And I second just about everything everyone else has said.

Oh, and please make and sell women's shoes in a size 10 1/2!

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Train your salespeople to recognize which customers look like they want help and which do not!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Yes to gradfashionista's point about denim sizing. I'm not a willowy little thing unfortunately, but I am also a healthy weight. I typically need a size 30 in jeans, but too many styles require some sizing up to accommodate hips or thighs, and 31s are hard to find. What the heck is a 31, 32, etc supposed to do?? Part of the reason I am trying to lose weight again is simply to have an easier time fitting into readily available 6-8 sizes. Merely pushing into double digits makes it harder to find cool options.

Gigi

Veteran

For online retailers: Please don't show pictures of models in strange poses to cover up the fact that the cut of the clothing is unflattering.

Please don't make me pay shipping if you refuse to carry my size in-store. And don't make me pay shipping if you're not going to give garment measurements online so that I have at least a fighting chance of selecting the proper size.

For all retailers: Please make *interesting* clothing in petite sizes. There are a lot of short people out here who want to wear something more than a basic T-shirt and black pants.

Please make more clothing in natural fibers.

April

Veteran

Online retailers: if you must style that top with the sleeves scrunched or rolled -- at least tell us if they're long sleeves or 3/4.

When you name the color "MIDNIGHT" -- tell us if it's black or navy.

And yes, stop pinning or posing or using a wind machine to make that item look flattering in the photos. Irritating your customers is not a sustainable way to build business.

Eliza

Veteran

Nodding with above.

Especially for online shopping:
-give all dimensions of all bags (BR I'm looking at you) and clothing
-if using a model, show how the clothing actually fits and drapes , with height and size model is in. (Hate when online pieces seem transformed with pins or tape.)
- show an item on in at least one picture
-have a good pic of every pattern available
-have and share reviews

And always:
-pay attention to fabric choice (test for hand and pilling, assemble it well, and sew the darn buttons on like you mean it (and make them as nice as the piece itself).

Ahhh, cleansing breath. Great topic!

RobinF

Veteran

Wow, these are great! I will echo the petites here and say please have more petites in the stores! I was so disappointed that our Macy's stopped carrying them. I am much more likely to buy when I can try it on and take it home immediately. And I am much more likely to pay more when it fits well.

LaPed

Veteran

Amen to this whole thread! No wonder so many of us aren't shopping much, or at all.

One to add: brick and mortar stores need to teach their SAs not to stink-eye shoppers who have small children with them. My local J Crew and Talbot's are both terrible about this -- so rude -- and my little guy is well behaved and friendly, and always contained in a carrier. The local LL Bean and TJ Maxx are much more kid friendly, probably because they stock kids clothes.

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