TKMaxx - My Heaven....And My Hell (TK Maxx)

Member Name: xhoneybeex

Product:	TK Maxx
Date:	08/10/09 (81 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Heaven: Designer, Good Quality Stuff At Discount Prices...

Disadvantages: Hell: I'm Not Exactly A Neat-Freak, But This Is Wayy Too Messy And Disorganised!!

My laptop has let me down and run out of charge, and I can't remember where I put the charger! It's late at night and I have the impulse to write, so I am scribbling away in an old notebook, although by the time you read this I will have typed it up and found the charger! Obviously. Anyway, enough sidetracking! On with the review...

**What _is_ TKMaxx?**
TKMaxx is a discount store which sells high end designer products at low end budget prices! It sells everything from clothes to toys and from homeware to toiletries!

**_Where_ is TKMaxx?**
TKMaxx is not available on the web, for obvious reasons: the products sold there differ from day to day, and store to store. I suppose they could have an online warehouse, but, well, they don't! Ooh, actually just had a look (am in the middle of fine-tuning the review, found laptop charger!) and they actually do now have an online store. Tuh, now I'm going to have to write a whole new paragraph on that! However TKMaxx stores are also available widely across the UK. I even thought about supplying a store list for you, because I'm that nice, but concluded it may confuse you, so I thought I'd rather give you a link to their very well set out store locator page, so you can find your nearest store yourself.
http://www.tkmaxx.com/page/storelocator

**Why Is It Dubbed 'Tacky Maxx' ?!?**
Yes, sadly not everybody sees TKMaxx for what it is, and it has been given the nickname 'Tacky Maxx' by some people. I wouldn't mind, but most of the people who call it that are the snobbish-types who refuse even to set foot in the store and give it a chance. I mean, if you've been in and hated it, then fair enough, but I just can't stand people who judge! But, for those who have visited it and disliked it, I can totally sympathise with you! My mum first introduced me to the shop, after finding out about it from a friend, and I must admit the first few times she dragged me in I stood stubbornly in a corner and refused to try on, or even browse through anything. There was just something about it I couldn't stand (more about that soon!). I will also say that yes, some of the stuff they sell is quite nasty and tacky, but you have to look past that...

**My Heaven**
As I said in my Style review, I quite like labels although I am not obsessed by them. But I like having a few designer pieces, which TKMaxx definitely stock! But my favourite part of style, and something that goes along with TKMaxx hand in hand, is the gift of being able to treat fashion as a type of art, and putting what you are feeling and who you are on the outside. TKMaxx is fabulous for this as it has so many different styles of clothing, because of the fact it gets stock from all different retailers! Some of the stuff is last season, but I really couldn't care less about that; if I like something, I buy it and nothing will stop me! I love seeing what's available, even checking out stuff I would never normally buy! My best purchase would definitely be my Tommy Hilfiger skinny jeans, down from £90 to just £30. They fit better than any jeans I have ever owned, and I loved the fact I was getting them for a third of the RRP! I also adore my little black dress I got for an amazing £17, my Xti (yeah, I'd never heard of the make either until TKMaxx) black kitten heels which I love as they go with everything; they can do dressed up or dressed down! I also got a beautiful exquisite ornamental elephant for my Mum for Christmas -ssh! - she collects them and will love it! It was an absolute bargain at £7! I also regularly get my Tigi hair products from here; they are so much cheaper than at normal retailers! I love all these products, and many more, and as TKMaxx normally show you how much you've saved, you can walk around with a grin like the Cheshire cat!

**My Hell**
I may have just been singing their praises, but TKMaxx definitely has its flaws! It takes some getting used to, especially for someone like me, who likes everything to be easily accessible and clearly stated where it is. Hmm...TKMaxx is definitely not the best at that. It is set out like a jumble sale, with everything only loosely categorised and stacked randomly on shelves or on rails. Also it isn't like most other high street stores, where you can find everything you are looking for in the space of ten minutes after looking around a little bit, or look on the website beforehand; sometimes you never know what your even looking for until you see it! But that's the beauty (and the irritation!) of it! And as the stock changes all the time, you could visit on a bad day and find absolutely nothing that you like!

**I'm In The Mood For A Bargain...**
I'd say to go to TKMaxx and enjoy it you have to be in the mood! You need a lot of patience to browse through all the products, because, as mentioned before, it is poorly set out. And don't be disheartened if you visit one day and find absolutely nothing, there's normally something for everyone!

**Customer Service**
At my stores there aren't actually much staff around, apart from at the tills. The few that I've spoken to are friendly and helpful, apart from one lady manning the changing rooms one day in Harrogate who kept giving me filthy looks and speaking to me like I was a piece of dirt, in a dull monotone voice every time I tried to try something on...but that's my only complaint on this front! Honestly, shop assistants have to do their job, so why don't they do it with a smile and a friendly personality - it'll make both them and the customer happier!

**At The Checkout**
At the checkout you can purchase a beautiful gift card from any amount from £5 to £250. They make the perfect gift for family and friends! You have to buy your own shopping bags for a small fee, which I think is fair enough as we really are ruining the earth and all that, and it will encourage people to reuse their own bags. You can choose from small, medium or large bags, either in standard or bag for life.

**The Online Store**
They just had to go and get all high-tech by putting some of their stock online just as I thought I'd be coming to the end of my review, didn't they? The online store is definitely not as good as the proper shops, as it only sells handbags and men and women's accessories. It is still good, and you still get massive discounts, plus you don't have to rummage around the shop for hours on end to find what you need!

**Returns**
Instore, you only have two weeks to decide whether to return the product or not! You can choose from an exchange or refund. If you want to return something you ordered online, you have 21 days from when you receive the email confirming dispatch to decide. Full details are on the website.

**All In All...**
If you like labels, love different styles, don't mind taking your time to shop and adore bargains, I would definitely give it a shot!

**By The Way...**
I think I outlined all the main points here, but if you'd like to find out more visit:
www.tkmaxx.com

Summary: Good if you don't mind taking your time!