La ReDON'T (La Redoute)

Member Name: Silverwillow

Product:	La Redoute
Date:	01/02/09 (270 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free Gifts, Great Choice, Hassle-Free Returns Policy

Disadvantages: Low Stock, Awkward Sizes, Become More Costly In Recent Months

LaRedoute is a catalogue mail order company based in France. Basically, you view the website or the catalogue and submit an order. The order is then posted to your front door, where you then have 7 days to decide if you wish to keep or return the items.

When you open an account which can be done online or by post, LRD will perform a credit check and only if you pass will you be able to use 'an account' system where you order now and pay in full or in instalments later.

The catalogues used to be free of charge but recently have been increased to £3 each which is automatically charged to your account when the catalogues are released twice a year. Needless to say I have cancelled my account.

I will warn you now that this is as positive as it gets.

Firstly stock levels - I don't think anyone at LRD has a clue how the system works. They can tell you over the phone it is in stock or the website will tell you they have several in your size available but a few days later you will receive an email saying that it could be up to 6 weeks before they have your item in stock again. This is not great when you have a night out fast approaching and the point of the using LRD was to avoid dragging yourself through the shops trying to find something.

Secondly is sizes - You can buy several things in your size (from the LRD ranges, not the brand names) to find that some fit perfectly, some are too small and some are too big. This basically makes it pot luck when you're ordering different items because you will have no clue as to whether it's going to fit you or not. As an experiment I ordered two of the same top, in the same colour and the same size, one fitted and one was too large.

Thirdly is the mail - Both my home address and email address are bombarded with offers, discounts and details of products that I may be interested in. Despite telling them that I will shop when I need something and I don't want their promotional mail it still keeps coming. My recycling bin is full of LRD junk at the end of the month.

Fourthly, increasing prices - Now I know that as time goes on manufacturing and shipping costs are going to increase but in the space of two catalogues LRD has gone from affordable to downright expensive unless you stick to their Mini-Prices range which isn't particularly great unless you're looking for plain t-shirts. The high street is definitely a better options these days.

Finally is the quality - Again like the sizes it is very hit and miss. I have one top that I wear all the time and comes out the wash perfectly where I've had other items fall to pieces the first time I've worn them. Generally faults come from missed stitches on seams and hems, probably a result of the sheer mass production that is involved with their clothes. Although the staff are very apologetic and helpful, always offering to replace the item or refund it does get a bit tiresome when you're constantly having to have items replaced.

So I have paid off what I owed and I will not be using them again after all of this. I would definitely not recommend this company.

Summary: A Waste Of Time, Money & Paper!