Prettylittlething - anyone else FUMING?

[sowhatimangry]

My dd shops online. She frequently uses Prettylittlething, boohoo, asos. She got an email last week (along with hundreds of thousands of other people, it would appear) saying that her account was being deactivated because she returns too many items.

While I think there's a whole host of things unfair with that, my main issue is that for birthdays and Christmas, family members buy her vouchers for this clothing brand. Meaning she's got £80 as her account balance that she can't use.

The account won't let her place any orders so she can't spend it, she's gotten in touch with the customer service who haven't replied (presuming they're swamped with complaints!)

Is there anything we can do?! There's no option to cash out, and get the money back. They have essentially stolen £80 from her. So so frustrating. Maybe we just have to cut our losses and be grateful it wasn't more.

I must admit I've been a bit 🤔 at all the people complaining about this on twitter, saying they wouldn't have to return things if the sizing/quality wasn't so bad - why the fuck are you still buying from there then?!

Then you have a choice. Shop in person or shop in designated plus size online stores. Why would you keep going to places that don't sell clothes in your size, on the off chance you might get something that fits?

Those who order a selection with the intention of returning most of it have caused this issue. If shops put the prices up to reflect this, then those places would probably go out of business.

You’ve got to find a shop first though…..

My city no longer has a centre.

Did you not read my post? This is a new thing with M&S they always used to stock a variety of sizes as did Fat Face. And no I don't order a selection with the intention of returning most, if I order I actually want them. I've ordered exactly 1 top this year, it fitted and I kept it as it was gorgeous, the trousers on the other hand were hideous so I'm afraid they went back. I had ordered some household stuff and a shirt for DH's birthday as well so it was worth the delivery driver coming out.

And no I'm not ordering from plus size online, their garments are made from cheap shitty material and they look shit on as well

I haven't bothered with Jack Wills for years.

The businesses are based on not having bricks and mortar stores, or at least not having a full range available in bricks and mortar stores. That's one reason they're so cheap. It's not the consumers' fault that they didn't price according to their own business model that depends heavily, sometimes solely, on not being able to try things on before buying.

With that said, it's no bad thing that unethical companies go out of business or charge something approximating the real cost of producing their clothes. Shitty customer service is the least we should expect.

They'd kill trade if they did that.

I balk at paying anything for returns. House of Fraser charges £5 for returns and you can't take back to store for free, so I just dojy bother with them.

House of Frasers is owned by Sports Direct now, hence the drop in service rise in charges

Most bricks and mortar stores have limited stock at the shop forcing you to shop online. Maternity is the worst culprit for that - it's not like you know your size then and it's all on line, barely anything unless you go to a flagship store.

Teens are probably in a similar position, smaller than "standard" high street sizes and not fully grown yet so won't know what size they are.

H&M (High Street) are also really inconsistent with sizes, I can be a 10 or an 18 on the same day in that shop.

Unlike men's sizes where you get a standard measurement of neck, waist and inside leg and buy that size, women's sizing is really inconsistent, although it needs to be to cater for different shapes and sizes.

H&M (High Street) are also really inconsistent with sizes, I can be a 10 or an 18 on the same day in that shop.

I've refused to buy from H&M for about 20 years as they've always been notorious for shitty sizing. You can either be a size 10 or a size 20 in the same shopping trip, its utterly madness.

It is interesting though how the shops want to blame the consumer rather than tackle the issue of fluctuating sizes

I’m disabled. So my bedroom has to be my changing room.

There’s another inconsistency I just thought of (sorry if mentioned already)

Loads of these shops will give free delivery if you spend over £X where X is the price of 3+ items. Which obviously encourages people to add items to their order to make up the free delivery spend. I’m betting there is quite a high rate of return on those extra items. But the shop effectively encourages this presumably because every so often someone does keep the extra stuff so it’s worth it?

If they don’t like high returns they need to stop making free delivery conditional on a spend level.

Flame me all you like - but I refuse to pay for delivery if I don't have to, so if there is a free delivery on x spend and free returns, I will add stuff to my basket to get above the minimum with the intention of returning it.

These delivery companies set their charges/ terms in order to maximise profit, they know that a lot of people will not bother to send stuff back and if they spend more they will keep it, so they must have factored this into their pricing. If they now decide they were wrong, fine, they can change how they price delivery/returns. But they know they will lose customers if they start charging for delivery/returns so they need to weigh up which option will be more profitable

Then you have a choice. Shop in person or shop in designated plus size online stores. Why would you keep going to places that don't sell clothes in your size, on the off chance you might get something that fits?
I want to shop in person, I can see the material and quality of the clothes. There's very little choice where I live though so generally end up having to order online.
In the good old days staff knew what was coming in on delivery and could order things into store for you. Now they just tell you to go online.

Those who order a selection with the intention of returning most of it have caused this issue. If shops put the prices up to reflect this, then those places would probably go out of business.
What choice do we have? My bra size is rarely stocked even if I travel to bigger stores there might be a choice of one or two, and even if it's there different styles fit differently so although I try and order what I'll keep I inevitably have to send some back. Why should I pay delivery over and over again because I can't get what I need in store and businesses can't make things properly. I have the same issue with trousers for DC with skinny waist and long legs.

It isn't daft at all.

I buy online all the time. I spent the best part of £800 on Boohoo before I went on holiday and returned about £300.

If they don't want me to do that, then it's up to them to restrict purchases or returns or charge for returns! I don't buy online from Sports Direct because they charge for deliveries, returns AND in store you can't get a refund unless the item is faulty. Not the best for customers but clearly they've written their rules to stop returns.

Don't make things convenient for me and then punish me for it.