A New Year and a new Toast thread 🎊

[IlovePond]

Welcome to the Toast thread where we talk about what we love, (and what drives us mad 😹), about all things Toast.

As usual, pictures are welcomed, as are comments, questions and info about Toastie topics.

Thanks @ScallopShellWalk , that's interesting if unenlightening! I'm still slightly miffed that my kindred membership was revoked last summer and have only ordered 2 (sale) items since. I have been ordering from Toast for many years and have only once returned something so I'm curious as to what the other factors might be.

They do it twice a year in January and July. I don't know why though!

Yes, I wonder what other criteria are?!
I think Kindred membership begins/ends either January or July…based on others in this group and historic chats we’ve had about this?
I wonder if distance from a Toast shop is a factor? So, if you’re nearer a shop, less need for free postage? Not saying it should be, but I can’t think of what else?
Maybe a ratio of full price v. Sale purchases?
🤔

I already had paid for the annual postage in December or perhaps November, I’m not sure that’s why I got offered kindred though. I have had a lot of activity on the website also reviewed every item I’ve bought. I have also bought a lot of things full price, reworn and sale but “a lot” for me doesn’t mean it’s a lot for them. I’ve bought twice in the shop, first time was high as I bought an expensive coat and trousers plus a shirt and a jumper. I’ve not returned much. But I’m new to toast so perhaps it’s given to me for encouragement. It doesn’t make sense to take it from people if they are still buying, actually it doesn’t make sense to take it from people at all. If your not buying then there’s no loss and if you are it can cause bad feeling. It’s a nice idea to offer it but not nice to take it away.

It doesn’t make sense to take it from people if they are still buying, actually it doesn’t make sense to take it from people at all. If your not buying then there’s no loss and if you are it can cause bad feeling. It’s a nice idea to offer it but not nice to take it away.

Absolutely this, I think it's very poor PR.

Adding to the kindred chat; I had my first invitation yesterday. Chuffed. Mind you, I’ve spent enough on it last year, as well as buying in various shops and online.

Absolutely love the look of the crockery dress in small and the fab crockery print shirt. I’ve worn my last season ink shirt so much, a real wardrobe staple. Since I’ve gone grey after growing my hair post-chemo, the blues suit the colour. And, well, little treats and good clothes are needed.

Rural area here, no Toast shops in this county or the neighbouring one. Every year on the last day of the January sale I finally sacrifice the laziest delivery driver whom I capture over the Christmas period. I find the work wear apron style clothing really earns it's keep.
The Gods are happy and my Kindred pass is renewed.
I appreciate this is not a route that those without a large garden or an impeccable public persona can get away with which is why you might want to spring for the postal pass.

Mine has always been January, was renewed on the 31st

Bit petty to revoke it if you have previously been a good customer imho

@TosstTastic similar access to shops issues here. I think about a 2 hour drive to the closest one. However, it is nice to be wearing something a bit different locally.

Sorry to hear of those losing kindred - not the best thing for customer relations.

Hi all, my Kindred is a July renewal. As I bought very little in the last sale and couldn’t get to the most recent sample sale, I am fully expecting to be removed from it this year!

However, as the gifts appear to have gone to just once a year and the free ‘Kindred only’ events seem to have disappeared, (I’m talking about the lovely ‘come to the shop for lovely food, a gift and to talk about clothes’ events from 2023/24), losing Kindred isn’t perhaps as big a deal as it once was 🤷‍♀️

At the risk of stating the obvious - if buying in-store, do remember to give them your email address so they can link purchases to your account. They virtually never ask you at the till and I get do annoyed with myself if I forget!

@IlovePond thank you for reminding me about receipts and linking to accounts when buying in store. My email receipt must have gone astray from yesterday. I’ve emailed customer services to ask about it and if they’ll add it to my account so I can have a receipt.

I managed to get my receipt but they can’t link it to my account now. Good to know.

That’s a shame @ScallopShellWalk - worth a try, though.

@IlovePond yes always worth a try. They were nice though. So that’s good. I’ll try remember next time. Meanwhile, I ordered some reworn fracap boots in midnight, kind of excited about them.

Yes, good point about linking to account. The York store always asks me/checks but none of the 3 London ones I've bought from asked. Can't remember if Cambridge does.

Just had the email to say I'm booted off Kindred. I'm in NI so no way of shopping in store. The gifts were extremely sparse lately and being in Ireland no way of attending the kindred events etc but I did appreciate not having to pay postage on my sporadic homewares orders, which would never meet the free delivery threshold. Will certainly be buying less as a result.

Why don't you respond to them and put your case for remaining within Kindred? I think drawing their attention to the lack of a shop, plus that you're a longstanding customer would help. I would give you mine if it were transferable because I'm trying to cut down on clothing purchases 😒

My order arrived.
The Linen tunic dress is a keeper. So easy to pull on. Flattering fit. Good pockets. Probably not worth the money but I will wear forever.

The crockery shirt, very disappointing. I hate the fabric, it feels cold and was not at all as expected. Generous fit though. Dare I say it feels cheap? 🤦‍♀️

Name changed for something else, but I’ve been on this thread for yonks.

Came back to see if anyone else lost their Kindred membership this morning like I did. It was to be expected I suppose as I haven’t bought anything in a year now as the prices just got too high for the items I wanted but I’m still sad. I’ll miss the Christmas card and will not be inclined to buy from Toast now at all.

I’ve got it in green, size M and was thinking about selling it on eBay as I’ve not worn it.

I’d want to try for near on £500 for it though, at least at first, as that’s what the going rate seems to be and it was, as you say, nearly £700 new and is still perfect. Still a huge amount, I know.

I’m in Aberdeen, so no chance of in person shopping, my nearest would be Edinburgh which is over 200 miles away.

I lost Kindred this morning as I’ve not bought anything in a year after probably spending about £3000 a year with them before that. I just don’t need any more clothes.

So its not a big deal to have lost Kindred, I did enjoy having it though when I was buying - I have to say losing it will make me less likely to buy Toast when I do need clothes again.

They say you can buy a ‘Post Pass’ for £15 a year but does that come with any Kindred benefits or is it just ‘free’ postage on items that would be free anyway because of their price?

Me too. I had one gift, a pair of holly pattern socks when I bought the Frankie coat. I’ve never done a Kindred event but as I’ve already said, I’ll miss the Christmas card, that was always a lovely thing to receive.

@Countmeout is that the blueberry one? Sounds really useful. Could you tell me what the sizing is like please, it’s recommending me a S when I would expect to be M.

@TheBogPeople - all you get with the post pass is postage - which is free anyway with orders over £150. (Not hard to reach given Toast prices.)

Kindred is not what it once was, but I don’t think they should remove it from customers once it’s been allocated. All that does is annoy people and lose them custom!

@IlovePond Thanks for the info. No post pass for me - if I buy it always comes to way more than £150.

I was in Kindred for five years, having been a keen customer since the very beginning in the late 90’s - and it didn’t cost them anything but one pair of socks with a £700 purchase and a card once a year.

I admit that I haven’t bought in a while as I’m trying to reduce my wardrobe and enjoy fashion in ways other than buying but I hope Toast think that withdrawing Kindred membership was worth them having lost my future custom.