* Going French with my Catalogue * (La Redoute)

Member Name: Nickycool

Product:	La Redoute
Date:	16/03/07 (1535 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free gifts, big selection, easy to order and prompt delivery

Disadvantages: Junk mail

La Redoute. I've always loved their clothes. As I used to live in Belgium, we had their catalogues all the times. From tiny tot to 23, I've always worn clothes from La Redoute. La Redoute have been in UK for 11 years now and are part of the Redcats' group, who are the world's 3rd largest home shopping organisation. Others in this group in the UK are Empirestores, Daxon and Vertbaudet. But what is La Redoute?

La Redoute is foremost a catalogue company. Then they branched out online and got their own website. In France, they even have shops, which means you can actually try on the clothes in the catalogue but unfortunately, they don't in this country. La Redoute is known all over the world. They have their catalogue and websites in 15 different countries including USA.

Nobody knew what I was talking about when I said Oh yay La Redoute has a catalogue in UK. Even after 11 years, they aren't a big catalogue in this country compared to what they are in France and Belgium.

+ How to get a catalogue? +

Well, there's two ways. Find their flyer in a magazine. You know the ones that you always throw in the bin. Just send in the coupon and that's it! Or a lot easier way than trawling through all the mags, just order one off their website, www.laredoute.co.uk. It took two weeks for my catalogue to arrive and it's free!

+ What's in the catalogue and online? +

Online and in the catalogue, it's broken down into different sections.
Femme (Woman's wear), Homme (Men's wear) Lingerie (knickers, bra …) Enfant (Children's wear), Teens, Sport, Homeware (curtains, sheets, towels…)
I would say that on the website, it's easier to find items that than the catalogue.

In every section except Homeware, they have something called "Mini Prices", where they take a basic items like a t-shirt and make it in lots of different colours and then sell it for very reasonable price.

They sell brand names like Adidas, Nike, Puma in sports wear section. In woman's wear they have brands like Best, Soft Grey, Active Wear, Tipster, Miss Sixty etc… In the men's wear, they have brands like Scott, Lee Cooper, Dockers, Converse, O'neill, Billabong … As a lot of the brand names aren't known over here, which is great as I don't want to look everyone else. The kids clothes are very French and unusual! There's a lot of choice for everyone.

They also cater for size 16 - 34 with their "Taillissime" section. They have a few pages in the La Redoute catalogue but also have especially made a catalogue called "Taillissime, which you can request along with the La Redoute catalogue

Also, they have a mum-to-be section with some very fashion but comfortable looking clothing.

On online, sometimes they will have things that aren't in the catalogue. Just take a look at New in!

+ How to order? +

Post, telephone or the website. Like in every catalogue, they are numbers that correspond with the item that you want.

For post, write everything you want on the Priority Order form that you get with the catalogue. Page Number description, catalogue number, size code, price each, how many you want and the total price.

For telephone, just ring 0870 0500 455 and tell them the items you want. I would actually fill in the part of the priority order form when telephoning them so you're not flicking back and forth through the catalogue.

The Online option is what I use as I find it easy and it's available 24/7. Just search for the catalogue number, put your size in and add it to your basket. Sometimes, it will tell you no stock so you can't actually order it at that time.

+ Paying +

Once, you're finished shopping. Click on the checkout button. (Postage is £3.95 btw) You get two options. One is for existing customers, just type your customer number and email address and you're off. Other option is for new customers, you have the choice between "buy now, pay later" and just "pay now" with your card. I like to use the pay now option as I like pay for my goods when I know I can not getting a bill weeks later when I can't pay.

Buy now, Pay later makes it so you can pay up to 52 days after purchase and gives you the choice if you want to pay it in one go or spread the payments out.

They accept all major credit cards and also cheques. For the Buy now, Pay later account, you can also pay at your local Post Office or Bank.

+ Delivery +

If you're not happy with your items or they don't fit, all you have to do is ring the parcel and they will come and collect it or you can take it to the post office. Also if you want another size or item sent in its place, you don't have to pay for P&P.

They always seem to arrive on time. There's only been once where I was email telling me that the top I'd order, was out of stock and that they were waiting for a shipment from France. They asked me if I want to cancel the item of the order or wait for it and they also said that my card would not be charged until they actually shipped out the item. They still send me my other items and even gave me free postage for me having to wait for my top.

+ The best thing about La Redoute +

Even since I was a little kid, the thing I remember La Redoute for is free gifts. La Redoute always send you freebies when you order with them. When you're existing customer, you get send order codes that gives you either £10 off you're next buy, free P&P, or free items. Lately, I've had a free package of multi coloured towels, a tassled throw, a handbag, an iron (which is still going a year later)…

Also if you refer a friend, you can get even more freebies for you and your friend. At the moment in the catalogue, your friend can get £25 off her order if over £50 or stylish 4-piece luggage set and you can get £25 off your next order if over £50 or coffee machine, digital camera, mini stereo system, hand held vacuum or DVD player.

+ The one annoying thing about La Redoute +

The junk mail. It's the only thing I can fault them on and it's not just here in the UK. My dad still get the catalogue in my name over in Belgium when I haven't lived there for 3 years but then again, I think he likes to flick through the catalogue. Every month or 3 weeks I seem to get some mail from La Redoute but it doesn't bother me that much and it doesn't make me what to buy more.

+ Overall thoughts. +

I love La Redoute. They are different. They are quite cheap especially Mini Prices. They have a big selection of everything. They are prompt in delivery the items and they are easy to use. The only thing is the junk mail but I can live with that!

Contact details
By Post
Jean Gibson, Customer Care Manager, La Redoute, PO Box 777, Bradford BD99 4WY

By Phone
0870 0500 455
Lines are open 8am - 10pm, 7 days a week, or until 9pm for enquiries.
Calls to our Customer Care Team from BT landlines cost no more than 10p per minute. Other providers' charges (incl. mobile companies) may vary.

Online
www.laredoute.co.uk

Summary: A brilliant catalogue with lots of selection