As much as I heart the Internet I’m not a big fan of buying apparel and shoes online. I’ve adjusted to it; I’m resigned to it. Often though it is a failure. It would be one thing if clothing sizes were standardized and brands stayed true to those standards. But when a size 6 is true to size one season; far too small the next and hugemongous in a third I’m not really into playing guessing games online and paying expensive shipping fees only to find out an item doesn’t work. My idea of fun is not paying $12 for the honor of trying something on.
Me? I am quite tactile and I touch every piece of clothing before I try it on. If a piece doesn’t feel good it’s a pass. You can’t feel clothing online. I want to investigate and interpret the colors and mentally match it to clothing I already own. Colors aren’t always represented truly online.
All of the hemming and hawing stems from this: I’ve noticed that much of Leifsdottir’s Fall 2009 line is online-only on Anthropologie’s website. I can’t figure out why. For clothing at a higher price point I’d expect to see it in-store. But no, if you want to try on the Pleiad Shirtdress ($328), the Cosmos Constellation Skirt ($228) or the Still-Life Blouse ($228), too bad! You can’t at Anthropologie. Is this some sort of experiment for online sales metrics? All this really does is drive me to another store that is carrying these items. And if I can’t find it in-store somewhere else I’ll look for an incentive such as free shipping to close the deal. If no other store is carrying these items I suppose my foundational argument isn’t as solid but it still seems like unfair taunting. I think every savvy shopper knows ecommerce shipping charges are at least partially administrative fees.
This online-only stuff isn’t a recent development but this is the first time I’ve seen Anthro be so blatant about it. Many of their accessories, bags and shoes never make it to the store. The results for me are pretty clear-cut: I’ve bought maybe one handbag off their site; I’ve only bought shoes during the free shipping or free return promotions and I have not bought any of their jewelry unless I see it in-store first. Again, I hate the idea of losing money if I don’t like the item.
During Anthropologie’s most recent free shipping promotion I placed 4 orders. That’s easily more than I would have ordered without the promotion. Once the friction of shipping charges was removed I was much easier to sell. I realize Anthropologie makes money off the shipping but I hope they think about this carefully. If a product is going to be online-only and over $200 I think some kind of incentive is warranted. Since Anthro doesn’t do any kind of rewards points, credit card or regular promotions program there is no value proposition that pushes me to buy. I won’t pine for an item I’ve never seen.
Then again, maybe this is silly and I need to just get with it. How do you feel about online-only items from Anthropologie?
Roxy, I really only buy sale items online-it's my way of justifying the shipping. The good thing about online only items is that they generally go on sale-and even if I have to pay shipping–I'm still getting a great deal. Leifsdotter almost always goes on sale-so while yes it's a pain to not see it in the store-I win anyway. I do often pine about something online and when I see it in the store I'm disappointed because the color and quality isn't up to par. But that is generally on tops and NOT on dresses. You have the right to be discerning but I don't want you to miss out on something great because you don't want to pay shipping!
I live several hours away from an Anthro, so I make sure to make an Anthro store a priority when I travel. However, I shop online a lot. I bought a ton of stuff when there was no shipping. I am with you with the no shoes policy. You have to try shoes on. All of the reviews are wonderful for an Anthro lover like me… I am grateful for all the time people spend writing them and helping others get the right size and color.
Roxy, I totally agree with you. I appreciate that a lot of bloggers post comments about the the items they bought from the online store and I think this is a great way to find out about those items. But if something is only gonna be available online, it kind of sucks that we have to pay shipping and then have to return it if it does not work. If I order online, I try to read reviews about the item and then make a decision on whether or not buy the item. I guess, having to pay for shipping makes me think twice about whether or not I will place an order.
If they are going to have online exclusive items, they should not charge shipping and allow free shipping for returns. It is only fair.
Roxy, Anthro really burns me with the high shipping rates they charge. I find them and Jcrew ridiculous and behind the times when it comes to shipping. Seems most online companies offer free shipping or $5 shipping, why not Anthro? It deters me from ordering things online that I would have bought if shipping were free. There are several pairs of shoes I would like, that aren't in any stores by me, but I don't want to pay $12 to ship a pair of shoes.
I live 3 1/2 hours from the closest anthro store,which only opened up in recent months and as an added negative I live in Canada. My anthropologie life is through on line purchases. I made the decision to live with the shipping, handling, and taxes that get added onto every order, totaling close to 100$ sometimes to have the unique items that aren't available to everyone I know. Namely my sister who dresses exactly like me, we have even showed up at an event wearing the same outfit… But becoming a part of the blogging world has made me realize just how much I am getting ripped off. Canada is considered as international sales and as such we NEVER get free shipping, sales items are not posted on the international website, the only contact we have for online orders is a website – no real people to talk to ever!- and the only information we have about an item is what is on the website. Thank goodness for the new item reviews but I have used those to my detriment to many times already. I have to stop with online purchases and it is very sad I must admit. I agree with you totally but at the same time envy the availability you do have for items. Sorry for the huge vent by the way but I am on my way to the post office to return yet another item I thought would be perfect
Hi Roxy, I just sent you an email. Just wanted to let you know just in case it shows up in your junk mail folder. Thanks!
I wish that Anthro would join in with other high end retailers (Saks, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, etc.) and either offer shipping promos for certain dollar amounts purchased (e.g. free shipping over $150), and/or offer some sort of flat rate deal (I think Nordy's is $8 if your purchases are under $200).
I agree about the shipping promos. They need to offer something like that? It surprises me that they obviously don't feel the need to keep pace with other retailers. On another note, I love reading your reviews, seeing them on you and also reading the reviews on their website. I love how thoughtful they are!
That's the main reason why I don't order from J. Crew because of the high shipping rates. For Anthropologie, I try to always shop in the store if possible. I've also started to call the stores directly instead of ordering on line because most stores will ship for free. I wish they would do a flat rate and I've sent an e-mail suggesting that. Answer — they will think about it.
Excellent points all around. I didn't think about the location issue when I was writing the post and that's an oversight. Because if I did not live near a store (or if Anthro was mail-order only) the narrative changes. I wonder how sales are in places where the closest Anthro is more than 200 miles away. I wish Anthropologie would consider some kind of discounted shipping, or bring back free shipping.annie cat — got your email! Thanks for the heads up. 🙂
I totally agree Roxy. Lack of free shipping promos is such a deterrent to me ordering. I usually end up hesitating and putting off orders forever (can I add something to this order to make the ridiculous $20 shipping charge worth it? Wait, is it worth it even now?) and then usually only feeling motivated to buy around sale time, if then. I usually order all my Leifsdottir pieces through Bloomingdale's and Nordstroms because of their great free shipping over a minimum policy.
I think its because they have high prices and anthro wants to limit the high priced pieces in thier store selection so people wont get turned off? I think its a silly move, but maybe they have high theft or somthing?New Sneak peeks on my blog this morning if you're interested 😉
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Online-only items are annoying – I ordered a "cheap" $112 online-only Leifsdottir skirt (red one with blue fleur de lis pattern), and had to return it because the fit was off. If there were free shipping, I would have ordered a size up immediately, but the shipping deterred me. Because of the iffy pleating on the front of the skirt, I didn't want to be burned with shipping charges twice in the event it didn't fit ($24 to just try something on in two sizes? no thank you). Ugh.I am with everyone else in that I wish Anthro had a flat shipping rate like Banana or Nordstrom ($7 and $8, respectively), or free shipping/exchanges above a certain price point. Their sister store Urban Outfitters has free shipping & exchanges over $150 – so why can't Anthro?During the free shipping promo I spent (eek, I hate admitting this) over $1500 at Anthro. No joke. That includes returns. (Cringes. Wow that looks bad.) Despite the economy I'm doing okay and had switched from J.Crew to Anthro as my retailer of choice, partly because of the free shipping that Anthro offered. But now that the promo is over I'm finding it hard to pull the trigger on ordering more items. If anyone from Anthro is out there, I just want them to know that the free shipping was a really big incentive for me to buy so much, and returns from the internet got me in the store to shop around more. Now that the free shipping is gone, I'm not so itchy to hit that "place order" button.
When I went to Anthropologie last week, I thought I saw theat Tangled Ladder skirt by Leifsdottir hanging in the sale section, even though it is listed as an online exclusive. I thought that was odd, but I went back today and checked, it's definitely the same skirt. And there were at least five of the skirts there so it seemed like it was something the store had stocked rather than just returns.
I agree with you Roxy. I really hope they offer free shipping again. Like you and others mentioned you're already spending hundreds of dollars on a couple of pieces of clothing, why not give us break with no shipping fees.
Goodness! I am just like "Diana Draw"! Bought way too much during the free shipping days. Yes, there were 3 returns at the stores, but I picked up more store visits often too! Bring back Free Shipping Anthro (yes, I wrote to Anthro).Anthro Customer Service (they are 99% good and 1% bad):Last week I was at my local store in CA. Bought a marked down skirt ($9.99). Only while trying them on, I realized that there were black smudges all over. I took it over to the register and the Sales Rep didn't even offer a discount! She said that it's already being sold at a sale price and suggested that I dry clean it. I was annoyed, I must admit. Probably the first time since my 3+ years of shopping at Anthro, I had to be annoyed with the service (that's not bad, hey). Aren't they supposed to offer 40% off any 'defect'. It was not a smudge at one place, but all over — at least 10 big black smudges!I was telling this to a friend at work, showing the skirt. (yah – I reluctantly bought it without any smudge discount). She told me about her annoying online customer service experience. You know how Anthro's 14-day price adjustment policy works? She had bought a sweater on sale for $60.99. Two days later, she was at the store (same store where I shop) and found that sweater was marked down to $29.99 and only size was left (not her size). She called Anthro online (she was yet to receive her order delivered at that point) customer service and asked for price adjustment, explaining what that sweater was selling 2 days after she placed the order. The customer service rep searched online (it was sold out online by then) and at the store inventory, and told her that since the size she order was no longer available in any stores in the US, she couldn't get the price adjusted! It's ridiculous.(She waited until the parcel arrived, took it to the local store, returned it and then rebought it! So it ended well)
I hate anything that is online only because I really need to try things in person first and hate dealing with returns!
I DEMAND MY ANTHRO MEMBER FREE SHIPPING BACK! NOW!! No but really, when the promo was running I placed about 10 orders- waaaayy more than i normally do. Even if I do buy mostly from the sale section, I haven't ordered since the free shipping promo ended. Even if I'm spending $100 or $200, i still can't bring myself to part with $10 or $15 in shipping. That said, I think online only items are a good idea ONLY if you offer free shipping!
Agreed with every comments above. When the free shipping offered, I spent way tooooo much money on unnessary items online. Some of the items that I bought 2 months ago are still in the packages. Anyway, when the promotion ended, I found myself stop shopping online. I headed to WHBM since (as a Black book member) I got extra 5% off and free shipping.