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Welcome to Mumsnet's shopping board. Whether you are after a new family car or a great new coffee machine this is the board for you. Share product recommendations and reviews here. Related: Discuss clothes and fashion on our Style and beauty forum. Check out Swears By to find the products Mumsnetters love and our reviews section to see the best baby and child products put through their paces.
Shopping
Silkies Tights - Warning
maretta · 09/12/2003 10:48
If you ever get a leaflet from Silkies tights saying - 'send for your free pair today' - don't do it.
I got a free pair and then three weeks later got four more pairs and a bill for 12 pounds. I didn't order them and have certainly never signed anything.
They have not provided me with their contact details or any means to return the tights.
I have told them that I am not paying the bill and if they want the tights they are free to collect them at their own expense. I feel that they are trying to intimidate me into buying them.
Angeliz · 09/12/2003 11:15
i fell for something like this with books when dd was born! Remember arguing with a woman and not paying! Strangely enough i still have the books for some reason!
deeno · 09/12/2003 12:04
Maretta, exactly the same happened to me just recently. I couldn't believe it when I got a 2nd set with a £12 bill. Like StressyHead I returned the 2nd set saying no longer lives here. That was about 2 weeks ago and I haven't heard anything yet.
Its really bad that companies are able to do this. It's one thing inviting you to apply for a free pair, but then to send you another package with a bill enclosed I think is terrible. As if people haven't got enough to do without having to return unwanted packages.
Tissy · 09/12/2003 12:14
I've had a look at their website, and the small print does seem quite clear. They say that every time you order some tights they send you 4 more pairs- they don't however say what the cost will be.
There is an address on the website for returns and there is a "Contact" page as well.
Have you still got the leaflet? If none of this was on it, then trading standards would be interested. Suspect it was there but you didn't notice it!
gingernut · 09/12/2003 13:19
Something similar happened to me several years ago with Silkies (instead of receiving just the free pair as I was expecting I got 3 pairs, 2 of which I was billed for). I hadn't kept the original paperwork so couldn't check what it said. I just ignored the bill and have never heard from them since (we did move soon after but paid for the PO to redirect mail for a year and had nothing). I still have the tights in their original packaging, just in case they come after me!
Angeliz, I have also had a similar problem with a book club called Books for Children. I responded to their mailing (something like 7 books for 99p and you only had to order 2 more books over the next year). When all the bumpf arrived, this had changed to me needing to order 5 books in the first year. Luckily this time I'd kept the original mailing so I wrote and complained and they agreed I only needed to order 2 more books.
Janstar · 09/12/2003 13:53
I had bother with Silkies a few years ago. I didn't mind them sending me tights, after all they are really really good tights, but they just keep on and on sending them. They are so good they last a long time and you just don't need so many pairs.
In the end I wrote telling them not to send any more, but it was a shame, cos I've never found any other tights as good for the price.
Pity these people can't soften their approach a bit so we can take advantage of a good product.
steppemum · 10/12/2003 05:32
my mum really likes silkies, and ordered them a couple of times, but then got fed up with them sending her 4 new pairs every 2 months of so. In the end she phoned the company, and they were very understanding, cancelled her order etc. Now she orders one set each winter and it seems to work. She pointed out to the woman on the phone that the tights were so good they last all winter, but I don't think they've changed their marketing!
Bron · 10/12/2003 14:20
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
sunchowder · 10/12/2003 22:49
I had the same thing happened to me here in the states!! I took advantage of the free pair (god only knows what possesed me) and now they have sent me 3 more pairs which I did not order!! They have been laying in the family room for 3 months (unopened)and now they are senidng me a nasty past due letter. There marketing techniques are gross and it is a terrible way to generate revenue for the company. I don't have the energy to deal with it (rather spend it on Mumsnet).
champs · 12/12/2003 22:33
Oh dear.... I have ordered the free tights!!! being plus size and tall so it's hard findin tights-- without spending loads of money on tights that stop way before the crutch!! Well I have been sent three tights with a bill of £2.25. what to do?! I don't want loads and loads of tights!!
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