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Is Boden overpriced?

33 replies

QueenSpartacusOfTheAndals · 14/09/2016 20:38

I've just received the latest catalogue and there's some lovely stuff in it, but am I alone in thinking it's overpriced for what it is? £90 for this jersey dress? It's a nice dress but I'd pay £50 tops!

Is Boden overpriced?
OP posts:
AppleMagic · 14/09/2016 20:40

I like a lot of Boden kids stuff and find it washes and lasts really well but will only buy it on sale.

WipsGlitter · 14/09/2016 20:41

I only buy with a discount code. I think the quality is generally good.

HermioneWeasley · 14/09/2016 20:45

Massively overpriced at full price, which is why they always have sales and discounts on

notnowbernadette · 14/09/2016 20:45

I only buy in a sale as I like their clothes but not the prices!

lazyleo · 14/09/2016 20:46

Yes and No. I think its massively overpriced for what it is, BUT, when I have ordered the stuff I fall in love with the stuff, it usually fits perfectly (although I have had a problem with shorts) I've just found perfect jeans for the first time EVER. I got a jersey dress and I've had it on so many times, its so comfy and easy to wear and seems to fit every occasion, from school drop off /pick up (just thrown on) to paired with heels for a meal out. I judge if it something is worth it on how often I wear it /them now, and how long it lasts and Boden stuff usually passes that test (sadly, this leads to further pain in the purse department!!!) but I do look out for the deals - they are very frequent.

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 14/09/2016 20:47

Yes it is overpriced considering the materials as you point out OP.

Personally I have found the quality disappointing - hit and miss for the children's clothes and rather poor for the women's. Because of that I would think twice before buying from Boden again.

I understand that quality and durability used to be better a few years ago.

AmeliaJack · 14/09/2016 20:49

I tend to buy in the sake for myself (I think the kids stuff is overpriced)

I do find that their jersey stuff washes really well though - holds its shape and doesn't fade.

Artandco · 14/09/2016 20:50

Yes and huge. A size 8 Boden is about a 12 in real life

fruitatthebottom · 14/09/2016 20:54

It's hit and miss.. Some things are great but a lot of it is very over priced. It's not poor quality, it's just not any better quality than you'd find somewhere like h & m in my opinion. Jeans are good, Breton tops are good however I have some other t shirts that are so thin and see through and lost the shape within one wash. I would never pay full price and always use discount codes, never less than 20%. I do think the children's clothes are better in terms of quality.

Hockeydude · 14/09/2016 21:01

Yes it's a nice dress but nobody pays£90 for it. With 20% off, it's £72. I've never had anything from adult Boden but have had lots of kids stuff. The quality of the kids stuff is generally brilliant IMO. I have items that I have washed hundreds of times, I do really mean several hundred times. I generally get a very small amount of clothing and do washing every day. Boden stuff lasts ages, the only thing my dcs have destroyed is the knees of track suits but ds has destroyed the knees of Teflon school trousers so nothing escapes!

AnyTheWiser · 14/09/2016 21:06

£18.50 for a small child's long-sleeved top?
Yes, I'd say so, and I've bought a lot of Boden in the past.
I've stopped now. The quality is far inferior to that of five years ago, cuts getting skimpier, clothes becoming more 'logo-ey', prices astronomical. Meh.

I'm not short of a bob or two. My children love colourful clothes. But I'm not feeling the Boden love any longer. (apart from girls knickers. They are the business, even if they cost £28.50 for 7 pairs Shock)

banivani · 14/09/2016 21:10

Yes. The clothes don't wear or wash very well at all IMO. That said, philosophically speaking, we pay "too little" for clothes these days so perhaps this is what we really should be paying for that quality yada yada.

WhooooAmI24601 · 14/09/2016 21:10

Their children's clothes are exceptionally great quality so I have no hesitation in spending money on their jeans and coats because they last forever.

The women's clothes aren't my cup of tea, but for the DCs the only place I can compare it to is Polarn o Pyret for durability.

LostAtTheFair · 14/09/2016 21:11

**Anythewiser where are you getting kids' clothes as an alternative to Boden? I agree with your comment on Boden's quality diminishing, but I don't know where else to get kids (small boys) clothes which are playful and colourful but "good"...

fruitatthebottom · 14/09/2016 21:16

Lost how about JoJo Bebe? They are very similar to mini Boden but much better quality for about the same price.

avocadosweet · 14/09/2016 21:17

Yes all overpriced so I only buy with 20% discount, there's always a code floating about. Also buy on eBay as is good quality it's still worth it secondhand.

burnishedsilver · 14/09/2016 21:22

It's overpriced at full price but nobody is expected to pay full price. They add extra on to the rrp so they can knock it off again with a discount code and make it seem like you're getting a deal.

MadisonMontgomery · 14/09/2016 21:29

Yeah I like Boden but I don't think I've ever paid full price for anything. TBH I wish they'd scrap all the discounts and just knock all the prices down 20% for good and have done with it.

Nearlyadoctor · 14/09/2016 21:38

I think it is quiet expensive but again only buy with discount/ sales etc and mainly clothes for dd. I have had some amazing bargains over the years eg: 2 gorgeous summer dresses £4.40 a pop last year originally £36 a piece, 70% off in clearance then a further ?% for one day only type of thing.
I started buying for dd when she was 2 and she is now 9.5, nearly all her clothes have been mini Boden including underwear. I think the quality is fantastic and know that some bits of hers are now just going to the 5th child as hand me downs. I also like Joules which wears well and John Lewis ( not so hard wearing but cheaper).

I find it very interesting that when I first started buying from them everyone said ' the quality isn't what it was five years ago! ' and that comment is still being banded around 7 years later. Yes occasionally there have been the odd issues like loose appliqué or twisted elastic but their customer service is amazing.

Nearlyadoctor · 14/09/2016 21:38

Quite not quiet obviously!

AnyTheWiser · 14/09/2016 21:38

I think that even £14.80 (20% off) is too much for a child's long-sleeved top. They aren't the nice thick cotton they used to be, they're thinner and slobber, and just not as hard-wearing. I had the card through about the discount last week, looked, put a few things into my basket then thought 'nah' and closed the window.

I always buy DS the baggy plaid trousers, but they changed the cut to a 'skinny' cut last year, which just isn't comfy. The ones on their site now are back to old cut (yay) however, several reviews refer to the fact that the fabric is thinner than previously (boo). They cost £28.50 a pair. Little boys tend to need several pairs of trousers. I have noticed also that the ones DS is outgrowing now have faded quite a bit- the pairs he had previously (we've had them for last 7 years) hadn't faded at all really.

woodhill · 14/09/2016 21:42

I used to love it but haven't bought anything for over a year.

MrsLogicFromViz · 14/09/2016 21:44

I think that Boden is flipping overpriced. I only buy stuff in the sale, or via eBay. The dress and leggings I was wearing today were both Boden, the former has developed a hole in the pocket and the latter fell down all day.

AnyTheWiser · 14/09/2016 21:44

lostatthefair I tend to get things from Gap, JL (but not much, as DD is too tall now for most of their stuff, and their clothes are cut on the short side), Sainsburys, Fat Face. Sometimes H&M, depends what they have in, it can be v hit and miss. DS has the 'lived in chinos' from gap- they're pretty comfy. Their long-sleeved tops are ok too- not as thick as the H&M organic cotton ones, nor the old-style boden ones, but fine for the price (sales abound at gap!) Sainsburys haven't been as good recently, but I haven't been in for a few months. JL have nice plain bright basics usually, and the bonus is it can be delivered to nearest waitrose too.

rollonthesummer · 14/09/2016 21:48

Maybe if they spent less on sending me their catalogues every ten minutes, they could reduce the price of their clothes!

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