Does 6pm.com sell seconds? - YouLookFab Forum

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Does 6pm.com sell seconds?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can't be certain, but I think they just might.

I ordered a pair of Rory Fryes from there (duplicating the look because my feet are wildly happy in the style) and the same size and style does not fit at all. AT ALL. I can't even get my foot into the boots and the leather isn't nearly as soft. And I never have trouble getting my feet into boots - plus I have had the most perfect pair of Rorys in my possession for almost 2 years - and paid full price.

No free lunch, ladies. You get what you pay for. I know that sounds extreme and it might just be my rotten luck, but I find this type of quality problem highly annoying.

Shopping

38 replies

Latest reply was from Claudia

Barbara

Veteran

Angie, I just looked at a seller's rating website that warned folks about seconds from 6pm.com. One situation described is identical to yours - about perfectly fitting boots in a duplicate style from 6pm.com NOT fitting at all. Sorry you had to deal with this.

Maya

Veteran

I'm confused--what are seconds? Defective? Already worn?

I'm concerned now because I ordered the Cindy boots from there. I have ordered other styles in the past without a problem though. I thought they functioned as Zappos' clearance site.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Oh that's just horrible, I do remember reading a bad review on Clarks website in which the lady claimed the measurements had changed from a previous year, Clarks responded by saying that even if a model is continued they may change the sizing or fabric. I think what is most disappointing from your experience is the downgrade of leather.

also in the UK seconds have to be sold as seconds with the fault labelled, is this the same in the US?

Barbara

Veteran

Maya, seconds are SUPPOSED to have only minor cosmetic flaws that are not readily visible. And the merchandise should be labeled as seconds with the flaw clearly marked with removable tape.

Zappos was mentioned in the article I just perused for Angie as THE BEST source for shoes. Period. I have never had any problem with Zappos. The negative review was for 6pm.com.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Maya, seconds are "good rejects". They didn't pass QC for straight retail (by the buyer and the quality department), but alternative retailers will pick them up for a song and try to sell them anyway. It happens all over the world and its definitely a successful business model.

Barbara, that's very interesting. Thanks for chiming in! I am SUCH a Zappos girl and will remain that way for all those good reasons. I am very fussy about quality as you know, and this type of thing does NOT tickle my toes.

Kari, that's why your Rorys are very hard to pull on and off.

Maya

Veteran

6pm IS Zappos though. They are one and the same.

I don't think it would be legal to sell seconds without explicitly stating so. Century 21 does that, but everything is marked "irregular." Weird.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And the Rack is Nordies. But they do sometimes sell Seconds and worn items - and buying samples!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I just love Zappos too much to shop elsewhere. I can not tell you how many times I've received excellent service (like, bending over backward service) from them and that is worth paying a little extra for. I never have to worry. Plus, the people are so friendly and fun to talk to. Such a breath of fresh air.
If it ain't broke...

Barbara

Veteran

Interesting that 6pm.com is owned by Zappos. Zappos has always had such stellar service; management needs to apply the same standards of excellence to 6pm.com.

Thank goodness for informative forums and blogs!

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Barbara, it is indeed very similar to Nordstrom and the Rack. Or Lancome and L'Oreal, to name a few. Different people value different things and companies are smart to target multiple types of markets. There are some things I'd rather pay less for and am not as picky on quality. Shoes just aren't one of them.

Barbara

Veteran

I agree, Sarah. I NEVER compromise on shoe/boot quality!

Maya

Veteran

I wonder if, as Julie says, it might just be a season issue. I have duplicated items from different seasons only to find the fit/color/quality has changed. I just can't imagine they wouldn't note that somewhere.

Barbara, 6pm is the equivalent of Nordstrom Rack for Zappos. The prices are great, but what you get in savings comes at the cost of customer service. Their customer service isn't bad by any stretch, but they're don't go for 110% like Zappos does.

Drat. I guess my Cindy boots might be going back before they get here

Debbie

Veteran

I didn't order them while they were on sale because I wondered how they could sell them at that price. Now I am glad I didn't.

Christie

Interesting. I just got my Frye Veronica boots from 6pm and am happy with them. I don't see anything wrong with them. I almost ordered them from Zappos that same night ... they were on sale there too, but about $20 more. It took so long for the 6pm order to arrive, I wished I had just ordered from Zappos instead.

Anyway, I love my boots!

Maya

Veteran

I have ordered from 6pm too, with good results. I wonder if you just got a lemon, Angie.

Remember my Fly London shoes did not fit you even though they were the same size as the ones you had? Things like this happen to me all the time...

rae

(website)

Veteran

Hm, I've always been pleased with my 6pm purchases, but I've never used them to duplicate. Has their customer service said anything?

Marigold

Hmm, maybe that was a lemon - I truly hope so. 6pm doesn't ship overnight and returns are out of your pocket, I think. I always thought they clearance the Zappos stuff, or last season's. Never ordered from them, my size seems to be sold out on the best deals..
It's disappointing though.

Megan

I've ordered from 6pm too and been happy with the Cole Haans that I got- they seem to be the same quality as ones I've paid full price for.

That said, my Mum ordered some Frye boots from 6pm and they arrived with white patches where the black dye seemed to have rubbed- she thinks they will polish up fine but I wasn't impressed!

Angie, I think the best way to test would be to order the same pair of Rory's in the same size from Zappos or Endless and compare (since it might be a change of sizing in the new season stock or different dyes effecting the leather differently). Want to do the experiment for us???

Kari

Veteran

What a bummer, Angie. I order often from 6PM with good results - and often with shoes that I've previously tried on in store - and haven't run into a quality difference yet. But that makes me feel less silly about having trouble getting my feet into the boots! What color did you try out, just out of curiosity?
Fortunately my Rorys are still super soft and beautifully made, and they seem to be stretching,

The left boot is definitely harder to get my foot in, but that is also my larger foot (almost by a full size bigger than the right.)
I also had the same trouble getting my foot into the Nine West Cleeo boots, which I ordered from Endless, so I do think there is an instep issue causing a problem.

cloud9

Veteran

although Zappos & 6pm are owned by the same company, they have different business models. such as: Zappos shipping = free, but 6pm charges a fee.

I've had problem with amazon as well (not marketplace, but fulfilled by amazon). Do they sell seconds? I bought a pair of shoe and the left foot is just a bit narrower than the right foot. The reason I know... my right foot is wider than my left, so there is just NO WAY the left shoe would feel more snug.

I do think that in general, the quality control of shoes have gone down. Some brands don't even bother putting the size on the shoe, but instead, just slap on a little sticker.

Mellllls

Veteran

Angie, that is infuriating. I have never heard of this term seconds before but I find it incredibly dishonest to be selling such products online without informing the customer. Does this mean if you ordered them in a 7 and I in a 6 1/2 that I might get a second and you might not?

shana

Veteran

Wow, how frustrating! I do think that a lot of "discount" sites & shops may do this which would be fine as long as customers are informed about this upfront. I'm pretty sure amazon/endless sells returns. I bought a pair of boots (last one in my size) and they promptly disappeared from the site in that size. The color was completely different than it appeared on the monitor so I returned and ordered a different color. A few days after my return was processed, they popped back up in my size.

Maya

Veteran

I'm confused...

Don't all stores sell returns? What's wrong or shady about that? It seems horrifically wasteful not to. As long as they are not visibly used or damaged, I don't see why that matters. I would much rather get someone else's return than not be able to get a pair of shoes I really wanted.

Mellllls

Veteran

I don't see anything wrong with selling a return either, unless it is returned because it's defective.

Steph

Veteran

Angie, why don't you call 6pm, or Zappos, and ask if they sell seconds? I think they would have to give you an honest answer.

I'm like Julie and wonder if it isn't just that Frye has changed their fit and the quality of their materials in the two years since you purchased the boots. I have found fit can vary wildly, even if it is several items in the same store. I am definitely the person who asks the salesperson to bring me several shoes in my size if the first one doesn't fit quite right, and I often take several identical pieces of clothing in the same size into the dressing room. There is no question the size varies, so I figure I want to get the one that works best for me.

As for returns, it would never occur to me that selling something that had been returned was in any way wrong or unethical. If I thought a store wouldn't try to resell my returns, I would return far less frequently and feel incredibly guilty when I did!

Mellllls

Veteran

You may be right Steph, I've certainly had that problem.

shana

Veteran

I was under the impression that Nordstroms doesn't resell returns in store (they send it to the rack or Last Chance).

Anyway, I wasn't making any kind of statement about returns being sold as shady. It just stream of consciousness babble. I guess it's just on my mind with all the other posts about returning. Of course, I do take exception when items that have clearly been worn are sold as new. With all the serial returners out there, you can imagine that this happens alot! I was at J Crew a couple of months back and asked the SA to grab me a shirt in a different size than I had in the dressing room. She brings be back a wrinkled shirt that REEKS of perfume. It's also missing the original tag and has a handwritten one on it. It's being sold full-price - I complained to the manager.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

Yes Nordstrom sells returns. If you look on the back on the price tag and there's an extra barcode sticker it's a return. I've seen stuff I bought online and returned (NWT) and on the sales floor a few days later.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the comments and thoughts, ladies. Glad that you've had some good 6pm.com experiences

Megan, you reminded me that I *have* actually done that experiment. I ordered duplicate Rorys from Zappos several months ago but wasn't happy with the colours so returned both pairs - which were buttery soft and fit perfectly, just like the pair I own.

Julie, quite right. Manufacturers do adjust fit season after season.

Maya, it's possible that I "got a lemon" as you put it, but I've lost interest in the matter to further find out if that was indeed so. Steph, I'm not sure I'd get an honest answer if I phoned 6pm.com.

I cannot handle inferior quality, especially when an expensive quality brand like Fryes dares to compromise what makes them special. As you can hear I am still annoyed :(. Good news is that I can stick with Zappos!

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