Let’s be honest. Some of the boutiques in downtown Halifax (as in other cities) are intimidating. Online shops have been appealing to me lately because a) I don’t have a lot of free time and b) I want to look at my options on my own time without someone shadowing my every move.
An added benefit of shopping online is not having to deal with snobby shop girls. Having worked in clothing retail, at upscale locations like Hazelton Lanes in Toronto, I can make this statement without impunity. Granted, some of the clientèle were equally as snobby (please, don’t get me started). And really, if I’m going to be spending my money on anything, I don’t need to feel like I have to bring in my pedigree papers just to get through the front doors.
By DKNY
Back in December I discovered Bluefly which dubs itself “the ultimate hookup for the fashion obsessed.” Now, that’s not exactly me but I’d been searching for the perfect winter coat to replace an almost decade old one that I finally had to admit was outdated. So, here’s what I’ve got to say about the online shopping experience so far:
I caught a Boxing Day sale and was very excited to save a whopping 57% off retail value. Since it was my first order with them I found a promotional code that covered the shipping cost too. Then, recently there was a President’s Day sale at Bluefly and Cokebaby treated me to two tops and a dress as a Valentine’s gift (yes, I know, I’m a very lucky girl and he’s a very sweet boy). Both shipments arrived at my doorstep in under a week and were everything I was hoping for.
Even though we paid a fraction of the retail price, once the $30 shipping and then brokerage fees are factored in, the savings aren’t what you see at face value. At least not within Canada. You’re still getting good quality designer brands for about half the cost but I’m going to have to shop around to see if this is really the best value for my dollar. Not that I shop that much anyway but I like to feel that my dollar is going as far as it can for what I’m buying.
On a side note, an interesting tool they have on the site is an online shop assistant. If you’re ogling a piece of merchandise for too long a little pop-up box appears asking if you require assistance. For those who are intimidated by technology this is a very helpful tool. It’s also nice to know that if I ever have a question there’s help just a click away. Plus, unlike real shop girls she won’t judge me for slumming it in my regular clothes (or, more likely, my pyjamas).
Overall, I’m not totally convinced that smaller items are worth it unless you buy a number of items together. However, for big ticket pieces like my winter coat, I think for the quality it’s a bargain compared to what I might have paid otherwise.
Have you shopped for clothes online before? If so, what’s your experience been?
[Next week, as a special treat, I'll be having fashion & style week on East Coast By Choice. A few lovely bloggers have agreed to post about their views on style (or lack thereof). Check back from March 2-6 to see what East Coasters have to say about the topic.]
Kimberly Walsh is a social media and online community manager. You can follow her on Twitter @AliasGrace.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve shopped online for clothing once, when I needed to order a dress for a formal event. I’m a bigger girl, and the plus-size dress options nearby are slim or very expensive. I snagged some promotional codes, too. I paid a pretty penny, but far less than if I’d bought anything at a local store, and it was a much more comfortable experience than having to go to a boutique to try anything on.
That said, for normal clothes, even though I hate shopping, I’ll still have to rely on stores rather than the online method. I need to make sure the clothes fit if I’m going to be spending a lot of coin on them.
I’ve never even bought shoes online. Some of my girlfriends swear by Victoria’s Secret.com and Shop It To Me e-mails, but I need to see something on before I’ll buy it.
The only thing I can see buying online are t-shirts with cool graphics or whatever, but I’m not really a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl, anyway (I look bad in jeans. Yeah. I’m that 1% of the population.)
I’ve had to order a lot of specialty art supplies from the states often available much cheaper in the states or not available at all here. I discovered I could save a fortune shipping USPS.com clip and ship, “international priority 6-10 days instead of UPS it took a little convincing some of the stores to do this and that it would be good for business as it was fairly new system.
This may not be as big as saving for very tiny light items though.. and doesn’t save customs. In one week on two orders from New York for rare pigments and solux lighting (these bulbs are used in all major museums as the best lighting for art, being the closest to natural light) I saved over two hundred dollars in shipping which buys a lot of brushes. I even had one supplier from Georgia (realgesso.com) who produce a unique and highly prized product send me free samples just to try out clip and ship. Nothing was damaged and the sales lady who sent the samples thinks it will do wonders for international business. I’m promising to use the samples to earn the money to send more more. (-:
one of these days blue fly is on my dreaming of list… after i sell a few more paintings and rrsps (or maybe arts a better investment these days. (-: )
I use a prepaid credit card for online security, but paypal is a better option when possible as it saves many fees including the ones for currency conversion.
p.s. love the coat! (-: very cool.
The only time I have bought clothes online was when Puella had a grab bag sale–the prices were too good not to turn down. I am so glad I did, because now some of those shirts are my favorites! Otherwise, I am too scared to buy online for fear of poor fits and the expense of shipping for exchanges.
I might shop online for a coat but never trousers or shoooz. They are hard enough to find a good fit in the store, much less on line. Dunno bluefly – but will check out as funky little spots are my thing
Jenn: Promotional codes I’ve discovered are the wonders online shopping. I do agree that the fit is a concern when ordering online. That’s why I haven’t ventured into the pant/skirt areas yet.
Racquel: Maybe you just haven’t found the right pair of jeans yet? I have to admit being concerned about fit but the tops and dress were jersey fabric so I figured I was pretty safe. The coat was more of a risk but the sizing chart was pretty accurate (and I usually get a size larger in winter coats due to layering) so it worked out fine thankfully.
Jen: Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comments. It’s great to hear about so many choices in the online world. I never would have thought to shop for art supplies online. Bluefly is great if you keep subscribed to their newsletter and catch the big seasonal sales. And, yes, I love the coat too.
Elizabeth: Shipping costs seem to be the biggest part of the expense. That’s definitely why I’m torn about the value in the end of shopping online. I might just have to suck it up and go to shop in person the next time I need something.
Gifted: I think trousers are hard enough to find in real life. If it’s not the fit around the derrière then it’s the length. Or sometimes the thighs. Or the pockets stick out funny…you’ll have to let me know if you decide to purchase anything through Bluefly. It’s a bit higher end but you’re more likely to find pieces you can’t in Halifax, I think.