How can anyone afford to shop in Boden?!

[Elfina]

DH and I are both on pretty good wages, but I'm shocked at how expensive it is! Even in the sale it's pricey.

So who shops there? Maybe I'm just being tight?!

[temporaryusername]

I have ordered some things from Boden that have turned up looking very poor for the price and have been returned. I've also had a few things that have been brilliant and I have worn them so much that the price per wear must be negligible by now!

For children, well I don't have DC but others in my family do and they wouldn't buy Boden as everyday clothes since they are grown out of so fast. The odd item that they really liked they might get though.

Income isn't the only factor - I know one couple who are extremely well off but just don't like to spend on clothes for children and do Asda, with Next for extra special occasions. On the other hand, they have family members who earn far less and stretch to dressing their children in lots of Boden.

[MillyONaire]

My son has quite a lot of Boden - handed down from well-off, generous friend. It is such good quality. Washes (and washes again and again) like a dream. If I didn't have all these lovely clothes from my friend I would be tempted to buy him very few clothes but good quality from Boden. My older DD loves Primark and they look 20 years old after the first wash.

[Elswyth]

These are only approx £50 skirts ( I still have them, one in green which is sewn, another in 'wine' which is not), and it's very securely sewn up, not the looser stitching I've encountered on other Boden garments (usually on skirt linings or coats, I've found).

[Pinkfrocks]

EslwythWith regard to the skirt with the sewn up pockets- are you confusing this this with the security practise? All high-end clothes that have pockets have the opening to the pockets sewn up so that you can't wear then return, and it also keeps the garment in better shape during transport etc.
Almost all men's suit jackets have sewn up pockets and I've had trousers and jackets that have sewn up pockets. You just snip the stitching to open the pockets before you wear.

Generally, the quality has deteriorated. I've bought from Boden for 20 odd years. They used to do mainly natural fibres ( like Next in the 70s) then gradually they have started adding in polyester and viscose more and more.

I think quality is hit and miss wherever you shop. Woollens bobble and wear out - that's what clothes do. What I regard as poor quality are clothes where the seams unravel, the buttons fall off and there are uneven seams etc.

[Elswyth]

Long term Boden shoppers usually comment on the decline in quality, and I noticed that has happened in most areas. Knitwear is particularly bad I agree/ And last year I had a skirt where the pockets appeared to have been accidentally sewn up

You'd be silly to pay full price, there's always, at least, a 15% discount code available. Always. I wish they would scrap the perpetual codes and sell at the more honest price.

Still some nice things to be found amongst the 'fun' prints and frumpier clothes. I managed to buy usual bulk order in the a/w preview this year. Though I'm not keen on any of the dresses and am returning one I'm not impresses with.

[TooMuchRain]

I'm really surprised to see people commenting on how good the quality is. I got a sixties style plain jumper and similar top from there and swore never again - the first completely lost the shape after a couple of washes and the second after about six. Stuff from Hobbs, Toast and even JL's own lines have lasted far longer.

[lottieandmia]

I have never once bought anything from Boden at full price in all the years I've been buying clothes for my dc from there.

[LightastheBreeze]

Agree with Pinkfrocks If Boden didn't keep having discounts, they wouldn't hold my attention to keep going back to them, as it is they feed my internet clothes shopping with discounts, deal of the days etc. If they just lowered their prices overall I doubt they would do as well.

[Pinkfrocks]

Of course it's a ploy.....

Some people will be foolish enough to pay full price, but most wait for discounts.

The discounts are frequent because this too is another ploy- to keep you coming back to the site and keep 'Boden' fresh in your mind when you need clothes.

It's clear by their sale prices how much mark up they make- probably around 75%. They have found a good business model- no shops ( just 2), mail order from a cheap area of the UK ( they moved out of London) and garments mostly made in China or India- cheap labour.

I compare then price wise with the likes of Jigsaw and Hobbs- Jigsaw has sales when you can find a dress that was £129 for a third of that and they will still make a profit on it , so all clothes companies have huge mark ups.

I don't find Boden hugely expensive but then I know people who only dress in designer clothes and think nothing of buying 3 jumpers for £150 each.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Not for the first time find myself completely out of step with MN! I have a few kids' bits and pieces from Boden and find them no more durable than clothes from Next, Matalan, M&S etc. Think it's all a bit emperor's new clothes, if I'm honest. They are lovely but def. not worth the £.

[Greengardenpixie]

I agree, the prices are outrageous! I bet their garments dont cost all of that price to make. No wonder they can afford to discount so much. i think its a ploy. It has become extremely expensive especially for their dresses. I reckon they do that as a way of saying hey we are giving you 30% off, so in actual fact, what may seem to you as a bargain was actually what they would normally charge and they still make their profit.
I agree with the quality though. Its always very good. Some of it is frumpy but if you choose carefully and mix and match with other brands..it can look funky!

[Elswyth]

"actually i was thinking more why has it turned into everyone apologising for be able to afford to shop in Boden, or making excuses about discounts and quality - circumstances vary, one person's 'good wage' represents hard up to someone else - the answer to the OP is because they can afford it, there is no mystery."

I agree, Charlie.

I shop at Boden and didn't think it wasn't particularly expensive, just one of the middling priced high street shops. I think the quality can be hit or miss, and it's very identifiable and becoming ubiquitous nowadays. So I don't buy as much as I used to.

[LightastheBreeze]

Ooh, remember that clearance weekend well, I got 2 pairs of cords for £9 each and a jumper for £14, both for this autumn. Iirc there were cashmere jumpers for about £20.

Hope there's another like that

[WitchWay]

What I like about them is that they will accept returns for any reason up to a year after purchase, even if you've just decided you don't like it.

I sent back a dress last year as I realised the nasty drab brown colour did nothing for me. It had been worn & washed several times - I had even cut out the scratchy label. Full refund.

I suppose this could be abused by people deliberately planning to send stuff back after a few wearings.

[TheScottishPlay]

DS Mini Boden and now Johnnie B clothes have been fantastic quality. His Winter jackets especially have all been superb.DH loves the jeans. I have had a few bits too. All wash and wear very well.
I usually manage to come across a 20% off too.

[Laundryangel]

Last year they sent me a £10 voucher & there was also a 30% sale on. The coat I had had my eye on for DD went down from £34 to about £14. Waterproof, fleece lined, a fantastic pattern & bought large enough to do this winter too.

[BarbaraPalmer]

I wait for a code - ideally 30% - or sales. the codes come out so often you'd be mad to buy anything without at least 20% discount.

agree that the kids' stuff lasts well and makes excellent hand me downs, so quite cost efficient.

[imsureineverdo]

The clearance section is fab, I've just got some skinny cargos for £11. T be fair, sizes and colours are limited but there are bargains to be had.

[alemci]

most designers do as well. phase 8, monsoon, east all do

[Elfina]

My goodness - do they use viscos? I'm really shocked now!

[alemci]

me neither I don't want to buy viscose full stop as it makes me sweaty.

[ouryve]

I could afford it, but I'm not willing to pay those prices for viscose.

[BaconAndAvocado]

OP I completely agree!

I lust after some of their dresses but couldn't justify spending that amount!

Having said that, I've been after a good Breton top (timeless, classic!) for ages and notice that Boden's is £25 and free P and P.

I'm hoping the quality is good!

[alemci]

also using natural fibres in some things as oppose to synthetics on high street at similar prices. as a 40 something there are a make that have things which suit me and don't date too much,

even my dds like it and borrow the odd thing, dd has a bretton top