anyone know when the Boden sale will be?

[Tartegnin]

I've got a wish list for our DD, but would love to save some pennies and shop the sale ... anyone know when that might be?

Tartegnin -To answer your question, the next big sale will be just before Christmas, I think.

I had a catalogue through recently with "If you buy any 4 items or more, we will give you the cheapest item for just £1. This offer is valid until midnight on 12th October 2004 and is not valid in conjunction with any other Boden, Mini Boden or internet offer. The 4 items must be in stock in order to qualify for the offer. If an item is returned which brings the total amount spent below the qualifying level, the value of the offer may be deducted from the refund. This offer applies to your first order from this catalogue (this being Autumn 2004 in my case). We regret that Boden gift vouchers are excluded from this offer and do not form part of the qualifying spend value. Free postage and free returns only applied to deliveries within the UK. Stationery code: AUTO4A3/1."

If you've got 4 or more items that you wish to buy, I suggest that you ring them and see if they'll let you use this code. I don't know if it's just for certain customers or if it's open to everybody. Hth.

Thanks, Tiptop. I'll call and see if I can also use this offer, which effectively is a 25% discount (but only assuming all items are the same cost!) Otherwise, I will make use of MN 10% off, which is not bad, either.

I've never bought from Boden before, but just got their catalog, and love their stuff. It's strangely hard to find girl's clothing for a five year old that actually looks like a little girl instead of mini-adult. I think Boden strikes a nice balance of cute/practical. How do you find the quality/fit? I don't live in the UK, so returns are a bit tricky.

Tartegnin - You're welcome. What items do you intend ordering? I can look them up in my catalogue and tell you if my dd (aged 9) has them. Then I can advise you a bit more. I've been buying Boden for dd, ds and me for years and I'm very happy with 99% of the purchases I've made. Once I complained about a pair of trousers that I'd bought for me and they gave me a full refund immediately. Dd is nearly 10 and her trousers (aged 9 to 10) are about perfect on the length, but are getting tight on the waist (the elastic is fully let out) and she's certainly not tubby, just nicely rounded. (Do I sound biased, here?! ) I've brought some outgrown girls Mini Boden stuff (age 5 to 6 and 7 to 8) downstairs that I want to advertise on MN. That's my task for this morning as I want to tidy up the spare bedroom. To answer your question on quality, I love them. They wash and wear well, but I do look after them. I don't tumble dry them unless they say you can on the care label and I wash them with similar colours only. Hth.

Tiptop - haven't gotten that far, but am looking at the tshirt dresses (p. 55), brushed baggies (p. 38), stripy dress (p. 18) and pom pom cardigan (p. 10). Also, looking at some pjs, boots and bathing costume ...

Another Boden advovate here...
To my recollection the Winter sale usually starts about a week or two before Christmas with the clearance sale with further reductions at the start of January.
tiptop - that looks like a brilliant offer! Do you have the code from the back of your catalogue to hand? It's a letter followed by three numbers - because that is the only code the website seems to accept.
I've lost my Mini Boden catalogue and I'm hoping another one will come soon with a good offer...
At the moment I'm stock level watching on the website and as soon as it looks as if something will sell out before the sale I will buy it (if I have a good code...)!

sorry, that should be advoCate!

BooMama - The code on the back of my Mini Boden Autumn 2004 catalogue is K951. Hth. Good luck!

Tartegnin - The t-shirt dresses look lovely. Dd doesn't have any. She rarely wears dresses any more. Dd has a pair of baggies but hasn't worn them much (if at all) yet. I haven't bought any hand wash only garments as I wouldn't trust myself to wash them correctly! The pom pom cardis are very pretty, though. Dd has some of their pjs. I think she has a summer version of the ones on page 68 and 69, and a gorgeous nightie like the ones on page 74 (I think it's very long in length, but can't remember if we bought a 9/10 or one size up). I've got pjs the same style as those on page 75 of the kids catalogue (about 4 sets) and I love them! Dd doesn't have any of their one piece swimsuits as I like swimsuits to have a cross over back, but she has several of their bikinis and they are lovely. I usually go a bit mad in the Christmas and summer sales and buy things in the next size up. The only shoe wear we've ever bought was flip flops in the summer sale about 3 years ago and she still wears them as slippers around the house. If you register with them, they'll send you an e-mail and you get advance notice of the sales. Check your e-mails at least twice a day in the run up to the sales so that you don't miss out! The sale catalogue usually arrives in the post the next morning, and by the time you've chosen and you manage to get through on the phone, lots of things have sold out, I find. Hth!

P.S. Does the Boden offer on the homepage of Mumsnet apply to UK residents only? If I go back and check I'll probably manage to lose what I've written so far. If it does, I'd ring them and see if they can offer you something as a gesture of goodwill. I asked for something as a gesture of goodwill in response to poor service from another company recently and got an expensive free gift. It's a different situation, I know, but it's worth asking.

Message withdrawn

yurtgirl - Sorry. I don't live near a Gap store and don't know anything about them. Do they have a website or a local store that could help you? Or maybe someone on MN will come along in a minute!

Thanks, Tiptop - I think the discount would apply, but not the free shipping. When I got their catalog (first one) recently, they sent it to Switzerland, but with a 10% off coupon, so they should honor MN discount. I'm going to make an order soon, so will let you know. Just got a delivery from my favorite US mail order - Lands End (they have pretty good rates to Europe - especially if you choose slow shipping). Now quite as snazzy as Boden looks to be, but pretty good quality and great selection.

BooMama - I signed up to receive email news from Boden, and now they just sent me the buy 3 get one free offer by email, provided I place my order within the next 14 days. Maybe try signing up for email and see what they do? There's no code in the email.

gap seem to always have some sort of sale or another. sometimes there are 15% or 20% offers in magazines as well.

Tartegnin - Yes, I went back to the homepage and checked the website and unfortunately it did say for UK residents only. I hope they do give you the 10% off. Good luck!

Hi - got the Boden (4 for 3) offer in the post and ordered succesfully. Including a gorgeous t-shirt dress for dd. It is a bit on the large size but that's ok because I'm determined for her to wear t for at least 6 months...!
Tartegnin - there is a Lands End mail order company in the UK - is it the same as yours?
lands end\link{http://www.landsend.co.uk/}

ok - link didn't work...

BooMama - yes, looks like the same as the US site - how great. Their quality is pretty good for the price, and we've done best on sporty stuff (really cute polo shirts/dresses) and shoes/boots. Great sales, at least on the US site - check out the "Overstocks" section. Makes the overseas postage worthwhile! In any event, here in Switzerland, the stuffs either gorgeous and mindbogglingly expensive, or else it's cheap and nasty. This is a good compromise, and looks like MiniBoden is another (though looks nicer and a bit more expensive).

BooMama - I'm glad you were able to order successfully and that you like the clothes.

Tartegnin - I used to buy clothes from mail order companies called "Cotton Moon" and "Blooming Marvellous". You could try looking out for these to see if you like any of their clothes. I haven't bought from them for a few years and don't have any details, but I can look out their details if you'd like me to.

Tartegnin - I asked Boden today about a friend living in Switzerland who'd like to order from Boden. They said "Unfortunately, we don't have a free returns facility for orders outside of the UK. All first time customers, including overseas customers, receive an introductory 10% off and free postage on their first order. Also, all orders sent to Switzerland are exempt from a VAT charge, so this further discount will be applied." I hope that helps!

Bump hoping that Tartegnin will see it!

Bump again!

CAT her

Tartegnin - Boden have an internet only sale on at the moment. It may be worth you taking a look. I hope you're lucky!

Oooh - such good info - especially good news about VAT refund. Will also check out the sale right NOW.

I've been travelling (lovely places, but on business, so about 10 minutes to sitesee Rome and 25 minutes to do a mad dash around Waterstones in London!) so didn't get your messages earlier. Thanks for looking out for me.

Tartegnin - Hi! You have been busy! I hope you find some nice things in the sale. Perhaps you should write a book based on you sightseeing fantastic places in minutes! Or perhaps it should be a diary so that you can look back on it and smile!

Just a quick plea to use the button on mumsnet for all your Boden sale purchases please
Thanks,
Justine, Carrie and Rachel