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Original poster

moan about Boden

91 replies

girlnextdoor · 02/08/2008 12:57

I have returned part of my latest order- new catologue.

I wrote a review of a couple of things but they are not upon the site yet- but there is a glowing review of the spotty coat that I thought was crap.

Do you think old Johnnie makes up a few reviews?

OP posts:
BetteNoire · 02/08/2008 12:59

I'm not sure he'd be doing himself any favours by adding the reviews that said his stock was crap!

Did you mention your favourite things to do in the rain, your best experience with a cauliflower, and that your name is Xanthe?

If not, you don't stand a chance.

Original poster
girlnextdoor · 02/08/2008 13:15

Oh that is where I went wrong!

However, there were plenty of negative comments on the previous season's clothes on the Review section.

OP posts:
rainbowface · 02/08/2008 13:22

What have you sent back ?(Being nosy.)Ordered a few things myself back when they were 20%off and got the email today saying they were on their way...I usually end up sending most of it back - material has become quite thin recently has anyone else noticed this??

Original poster
girlnextdoor · 02/08/2008 13:28

I sent back the spotty coat- very thin material ( as stated by 1st review on website!!)and just TOO spotty.

Weekend trousers- cotton was quite stiff and had an M&S jeans look about them, though they did fit well.

Chunky cardi- too wide at hem and looked shapeless.

Cashmere cardi- too short even for cropped.

I have kept- Studio trousers- nice peachy cotton, and an everyday V neck cardi.

Want to exchange cashmere cardi for sloppy jumper- see what it's like.

Got 20% off too so presume it's 20% off exchanges as well.

OP posts:
GrapeJelly · 02/08/2008 13:34

I've stopped ordering anything from Boden because i always end up sending most of it back. When it arrives it looks cheap and badly made, nothing like it looks in the catalogue. And.... whenever I see anyone wearing Boden it nearly always looks a bit frumpy and not at all elegant like it does in the catalogue. Sorry if I've upset all the Boden fans, but nobody in Boden looks remotely like the models and that's Boden's big selling point isn't it? Johnny wants us to believe that if we buy his product we will all look like Jocasta, Kerenza and Fleur with elegant, successful, wonderful lives. It's called clever marketing and it's how retailers sell very average products in huge quantities and make massive profits.....enabling them to live elegant, successful, wonderful lives.

Flightputsonahat · 02/08/2008 13:42

How did you get 20% off GND?

suzywong · 02/08/2008 13:44

oh I am cheered immensely to read this! I often toy with Johnny as he is one of the only English firms who will deliver to Australia. But the one and only time I did it gave all but one of the 8 items away for the frumpy/wrong shape/too short reasons you state.

Carry on, as you were

Gobbledigook · 02/08/2008 13:44

I send lots of things back but keep quite a bit too.

I have to say, I don't look remotely frumpy and always get complimented when I'm wearing something from Boden (particularly summer dresses and tops).

Everyone on MN slagged off the hotchpotch top last year but every single time I wear it someone tells me how lovely it is.

Gobbledigook · 02/08/2008 13:45

AND someone stopped me when I was out shopping to ask where I got my dress from and that was a Boden one.

SO ner.

JonahTakalua · 02/08/2008 13:46

I found that the trousers for boys were OK.
Everything womanly was returned due to being too long, too flimsy or too wide.

Johnny is resting on his laurels, I feel.

Flightputsonahat · 02/08/2008 13:46

I always worry when people tell me something looks lovely. From experience it is usually the really odd, outrageous things that people immediately notice and feel compelled to mention but can't say 'Oh my god what are you wearing' so instead they say 'Oh how lovely'.

That's just me though, I do wear some awful stuff

WideWebWitch · 02/08/2008 13:47

I jsut got the autumn catalogue and didn't see a single thing I wanted in it.

JonahTakalua · 02/08/2008 13:48

Some items are striking.
But the value for money is often not good.
Even in the sale.

Flightputsonahat · 02/08/2008 13:48

And I got stopped and indeed followed by some Japanese students once to ask where I got my skirt. It was ankle length, A-line, grass green woolly fluffy carpet type material. It was truly abhorrent and I only wore it a couple of times as I needed a long skirt and it was all they had in the charity shop.

Gobbledigook · 02/08/2008 13:50

ha ha!

No, last summer I was wearing hotchpotch top with wide leg jeans and birkies (I think) - a mum from nursery came over to me and said 'I just wanted to say how much I like your top, you always look really nice and have loads of nice clothes'.

On that occasion at least, it wasn't out of politeness!

In fact the same mum said the same thing to me the other week but I was wearing a Joules top that time - this one in fact, in summer garden

zippitippitoes · 02/08/2008 13:52

i cant understand the attraction of buying online

and on the occasions that i have looked at boden because of a thread on here it all looks yuk

i find that trying things on they always look different

i always associate the idea of catalogues with crapness

mylovelymonster · 02/08/2008 13:52

I have ordered a shed-load of stuff from the Hobbs sale (shoes, boots, a gorge new bag, jacket, couple of necklaces and tops). All fabulous, and all utter bargains for quality/fit.
Gave up on Boden after two failed orders. Just had to accept I'm just not the Boden shape (knitting needle), but quality not great IMHO, certainly considering the price/hype/'smart' catalogue.

Shop elsewhere if you're not happy. Why do you continue to disappoint yourselves?? WHY??

Ouch

Countingthegreyhairs · 02/08/2008 13:54

I've definitely noticed the materials becoming thinner -

And I'm a bit disappointed because I love their stuff for children and I was poised to buy dd a padded jacket but they only come in brown & purply colours. Am I the only mother out there who doesn't want to dress their dd in sludge colours???

Also I'm not sure Johnny has been reading all the Mumsnet threads on the holy grail item of smart anorak for school run

NOt sure this cuts the mustard:
www.boden.co.uk/col.asp?segname=Women&styid=WE202&segid=6&gpname=Coats+%26+Jackets&desname=Urban+Mac &gpid=11&gen=1#img

lulumama · 02/08/2008 13:54

i ordered for the first time from there around 4 months ago, and sent back the things i had ordered as the material was thin and quality was not what i expected

ordered swishy skirt in sale, reduced to £16 from £55, am blardy glad i did not pay £55 for it, some of it is lovely, but it is so lifestyley.... IFYSWIM.

Flightputsonahat · 02/08/2008 13:54

Ooh! Gobble you honestly really do look fantastic, if that top is anything to go on

I want, I want...

Countingthegreyhairs · 02/08/2008 13:55

So, meant to say, why do the adult coats come in bright colours and the children's coats in dull ones?

Don't get it ....

Gobbledigook · 02/08/2008 13:55

www - agre, nowt in winter brochure for boden

Flightputsonahat · 02/08/2008 13:56

Lulu I agree - the quality doesn't always match up. Like the wool mini skirt that actually feels all sparkly and crackly like it is mostly polyester.
You kind of expect nice, soft stuff that does wonders for you whatever shape you are, not to have to provide the sloaney figure (and name) yourself

Gobbledigook · 02/08/2008 13:57

Mmm, you see now HObbs I think is very frumpy (apart from the odd gem)

lulumama · 02/08/2008 13:58

nor do i want to pay £29 for a 'fun scarf', when a jumper or cardi is not much more... i think they just pick a number