De-influencing thread - reasons why NOT to buy things

[Whowhatwerewolf]

Like quite a few people on here I have been trying to reduce or eliminate buying new clothes or beauty treats in 2026. For the most part I've failed miserably but I'm going to keep trying. One thing that helps me greatly is being de-influenced from a purchase. Unfortunately I'm very easily influenced by advertisements but my saving grace is that I can be easily dissuaded from buying things also.

Recently two lovely posters (@Johanna and @Cortietat ) managed to stop me from buying overpriced Sweaty Betty pilates socks and a potentially somewhat wonky Eribé fair isle cardigan respectively by telling me what wasn't so great about these items. I'm so appreciative as this has saved me heaps of money. So I was wondering whether anyone else has anything they'd liked to be talked out of purchasing?

The idea is to post something on this thread that you're considering buying despite trying to save money via a no buy or low buy commitment or simply because you're not sure about a purchase. Other posters respond to say why you shouldn't buy. If anyone thinks what you're considering getting is the best thing since sliced bread and you should definitely proceed they keep quiet about it please as this isn't the thread for that.

So...is anyone in?

I am not at all offended 😉don't worry. You are right about the craving for colour! Off to buy some daffs!

Though I actually do need a cardigan as I have sadly put on weight. I need to find a better one though. Maybe charity shop.

Of course you wouldn’t but the wool or cotton one doesn’t end up on your plate and the plastic one does.

I have already lived long enough and don’t care but I am not happy that my children are forced to eat increasing amounts of plastic.

The only thing I can do as a consumer is to vote with my wallet and not buy shite that ends up as tiny shards in my brain and joints.

Someone upthread (yesterday?) wanted to buy a new jumper, but already had thirty. The de- influencer advised her to wear one of the thirty each day, and then we’ll be heading into Spring and she’ll no longer need it.

That response has saved me money! I saw a lovely jumper reduced, with an ‘Extra 20%’ off as it was the final sale weekend. However, to get free postage, I found myself browsing and adding extra to the basket… .

i realised my jumpers just about fit into my cupboard and an extra one one would be one too many, and I don’t wear every jumper regularly I have, so resisted.

I entirely agree with you, but why is it the wrong way? 🤔

The composition (50% recycled nylon) is shockingly bad for the price. Nylon is very bobbly, I expect that recycled nylon is going to be bobbly and worn after a few wears.

That is SUCH a naughty trick the free postage thing.

It really does make you hunt a second item.

It's boring, unflattering, overpriced and is sure to go down in the sale.

I am boycotting Brora too, as a knitted cotton dress I bought kept on getting longer and longer, especially around the seam, so it dipped dramatically. I thought it was faulty and should be refunded. They disagreed. So a lot of potential sales went pouf for them, as I had bought quite a lot of dresses from them before, and would probably have kept on shopping there.

Pure wool always bobbles……I handknit with only natural fibres and have a bobble shaver - I’d rather that than yucky acrylic. I won’t use scratchy wool though I want the super soft stuff.

Virtually £1,000 for brass with gold plating 🙄
It’s nothing but overpriced costume jewellery that you’re paying for the name.
You could buy a Stirling silver one with or without gold plating for less & add some charms. The gold plating rubs off eventually & you'd be left with a tarnishing brass chain that would take a lot of fiddly work to try to keep clean with a rag & tin of Brasso. I have to polish our brass door knocker every week or it looks horrible.

I'm (possibly slightly irrationally) a bit pleased to read your post, as I, too, have been so disappointed by their customer service as to feel almost insulted.

Their cashmere is nice, and I am a sucker for cashmere, but it is up to twice the price of other brands I have bought that are also nice quality. I have (sucker that I am) bought thousands of pounds worth of their stuff over the years, but every time I have hit an issue their customer service response has basically been "we don't care." (One was when I was a few days late to return just one of several expensive items on the same order because of hospitalisation) and they refused. (And no, it wasn't sale season). It was a definite, "Well the hospital thing is your problem, not ours, isn't it."

I kind of wondered what level of loyalty is needed to make that very small concession.

On top of that, despite literally thousands of pounds of spend with them, I always notice at checkout the "Discount code" box and wonder just how much needs to be spent to be offered such a code. Never once. I compare this with Chinti Parker and also The White Company who constantly offer me discounts - and who have lovely cashmere that actually washes really very well.

Also, just generally snappy and disgruntled staff. With so many other companies producing cashmere that is more affordable, I think they need to rethink some of this. I have since decided against quite a number of purchases I would otherwise have made.

Anyway, at least it's not just me! They just come across as tight and greedy.

ETA even N Peal in the Burlington arcade who do lovely quality things compare quite favourably in terms of pricing, and they have lovely quality items with "properly chic" styling.

The only occasion to wear a short ruched tartan skirt is a 1970s punk nostalgia theme party. Very Polly Styrene, Kings Road, 1977. When you get the invitation buy the skirt.

Blast from the past! Hilda Ogden’s flying ducks in Coronation Street years ago

£500 for a skirt??!!! that looks like a couple of screwed up teatowels?! Looks awful-hope that puts you off OP! What would you even wear it with? The girl in the photo doesn't even look good in it! What a rip off.

I had been looking at Brora, the tales of bad customer service have successfully steered me away from a costly and poor quality mistake!

I’d never heard of Roka bags until I looked at the lucky dip thread today and I think ‘Garden Centre Sale’ is a very apt description.

To me they are practical bags for adolescents and teens who want something more grown up than a child's bag, but are not ready to look like their mum.

Elevate collagen? Do I try it? Or am I throwing yet more good money after bad in the quest for eternal youth? It keeps being advertised to me, drip drip drip.

Oh see I think they look very ‘mum has packed a practical bag of wipes and snacks for a trip to the park’.

Thanks for this info. With some other comments about poor quality, weird sizing and difficulty in returning items, I think I’ll steer clear!

Actually, yes, that too!

I guess both versions say "functional but not at all stylish!"

quooker fizzy water is not fizzy enough. Buy yourself an attractive aarke instead

On kilts. I have a lovely one. It’s Zara’s posh line. It sold out before I could buy it a few years ago then I stalked vinted / eBay and eventually found one in the US. I snapped it up, and I’ve not worn it once because I look like I’m cos playing Claudia and although she’s fabulous I don’t want everyone saying “I’m a faithful” every time I wear it.

Which is of course completely fine, but the excited threads here every year blow my mind. Customers, please buy all of our unsold shite in the worst colour ways, and they all fall for it every time. It’s wild.

Pure cotton knitted does stretch unfortunately….though should goes back to size after a wash - like jeans do.