Everything5Pounds: Quality Problems, Issues With Sizing?

LouLou

This me venting slightly, so forgive me for the long post, first of all. I've bought from e5p for a while and been generally pleased with their offerings, but in the last month or so I've had a few disappointments. It's really starting to put me off doing further orders!

Here is an (edited) email I sent earlier, via their Contact Us page:

"(Today I received) Two items, Multi Stud Gladiator Flat Sandals, one pair of each in Teal and Black, size 7. Both pairs have a gem missing on each sandal. One was meant to be a gift for my niece.

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh185/damedavid/CameraZOOM-20140726144729919-1.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh185/damedavid/CameraZOOM-20140726144758513-1.jpg

These are from an earlier order, also Out Of Stock quickly, so I decided to keep it. But still a bit disappointed at the irregularities in the print:

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh185/damedavid/CameraZOOM-20140726144900261.jpg

http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh185/damedavid/CameraZOOM-20140726144929604-1.jpg

As there is nowhere on your site mentioning irregularities or the fact these may be seconds, as Im starting to suspect, I am one very disappointed customer."

The reason I'm starting to suspect they sell seconds is from recent purchases: I bought a blue crossbody bag that had scuffs all over the gold metal, but they weren't too bad and I decided to keep it.

The "Graphic Stripe Hem Dress" above is gorgeous on, but there's irregularities in the print when you look closely. Another disappointment.

There's also the fact they cost £5. You think, okay, they're not going to be top-notch. And, also, the items are often out of stock, as the decent stuff disappears off the site once they've went online.

My sister ordered "Size Medium - UK 10" jeans recently for my teenage niece and they were huge!! They have quite a few dresses/trousers listed as "Medium - UK 10" so I'm starting to think there are issues with sizing too.

Just interested in other people's experiences. And if they DO sell seconds, shouldn't they have an additional "Items may be slightly irregular or seconds" added to the listings?

tomtontom

You get what you pay for - in this case, tat.

LouLou

tomtontom wrote: »

You get what you pay for - in this case, tat.

Hm, I thought I was on Hotukdeals for a minute. Thanks for your considered response, but I was hoping for friendlier replies!

Also, many e5p items are from places like Dorothy Perkins, River Island, ASOS, Mango, etc, etc, with the labels cut out, so they're not ALL tat.

smileygill

Sizing is a big enough gamble in the High Street, so when you're buying from a shop that sources its stock from multiple suppliers, there are bound to be wide variations. I'm not into the skimpy little frocks they have in large numbers, but as they're clearly aimed at a younger market I'd probably order the next size up - unless there were reviews about the fit to suggest differently. More "classic" items I'd go for my own size.

I've played it safe and only bought items that would be ok if the fit was slightly off, or that could easily be altered. That said, my best "score" so far has been a 100% silk dress from the M&S Limited Collection. Their shoes are very tempting but I'm over struggling with ill-fitting footwear these days. I wouldn't be surprised to find factory seconds among their stock alongside the ends-of-lines, so I'd bear that in mind.

But to echo LouLou's second post, it's not all rubbish by any means. You just need to apply an educated eye and crossed fingers. It would probably be easier to re-sell or pass on anything that really didn't fit than to mess about returning it.

LilElvis

LouLou wrote: »

Hm, I thought I was on Hotukdeals for a minute. Thanks for your considered response, but I was hoping for friendlier replies!

Also, many e5p items are from places like Dorothy Perkins, River Island, ASOS, Mango, etc, etc, with the labels cut out, so they're not ALL tat.

Depends on your definition of tat - none of them are brands that I would purchase.

Must be a reason those brands couldn't sell the items in their own stores.

LouLou

Well, High Street doesn't necessarily mean rubbish, and I have bought very expensive down to well, e5p (which I've looked on before, over a year ago and wasn't impressed with at the time).

It's true a lot of it is "market stall" quality, but there's some nice things if you're prepared scour and bide your time (a bit like TK Maxx, not quite the same brands, though).

These are all gone, but a few examples:

http://www.everything5pounds.com/bright-floral-maxi-dress-p-30013.html

http://www.everything5pounds.com/encrusted-statement-necklace-p-31745.html

http://www.everything5pounds.com/bejeweled-halterneck-butterfly-maxi-dress-p-701.html (that one's quite an ancient link, though).

My sister has a few of these (they're Dorothy Perkins, actually really nice on her): http://www.everything5pounds.com/waterfall-blazer-p-30556.html

http://www.everything5pounds.com/perspex-wedge-slingback-heeled-sandals-p-32425.html

Bought these two for my niece last night:
http://www.everything5pounds.com/stud-mesh-insert-sleeve-dress-p-33319.html

http://www.everything5pounds.com/cream-print-dress-p-33014.html

Thanks for the helpful reply, smileygill. These threads either provoke empty "it's rubbish" replies, or suspect raves from new posters defending the company. Sigh.

Also, not *all* of my orders have been disastrous. I've either been unlucky or they aren't that aware of the grade variations with their stock.

AnnieO1234

I don't work for them but can I recommend you try miss rebel. They have an under £5 section as well as everything else. Sizing is only generally available in 4 sizes iirc although they are now doing plus sizes too.

Only problem I find with them is buying one of every colour if I really love an item, and just generally overspending. Not sure where their stuff is made, and don't get me wrong it's not exactly Ralph Lauren but it's a great fast fashion site. The only "identifiable" thing I've had is a denim jacket for £5 that was originally badged as new look.

X

LouLou

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

I don't work for them but can I recommend you try miss rebel. They have an under £5 section as well as everything else. Sizing is only generally available in 4 sizes iirc although they are now doing plus sizes too.

Only problem I find with them is buying one of every colour if I really love an item, and just generally overspending. Not sure where their stuff is made, and don't get me wrong it's not exactly Ralph Lauren but it's a great fast fashion site. The only "identifiable" thing I've had is a denim jacket for £5 that was originally badged as new look.

X

This "Boy" sweater can't be real, haha. http://www.missrebel.co.uk/product-Allover-Boy-Sweatshirt-in-Grey-33661 I'm old enough to remember Boy London first time around! (Actually, I see similar ones on Aliexpress, so that answers that question!!).

http://www.missrebel.co.uk/product-Bow-Front-Maxi-Dress-in-Wine-29201 This is quite cute, though. I have a bit of bother with some bandeau dresses staying up (!), it's something I really need to try on first.

It's a good site for bits and pieces for my teenage niece, though, I've passed a few links on to her.

LilElvis

High Street doesn't necessarily mean rubbish, but it has been heading in that direction for years. When Next first opened their women's workwear was all lined wool suits and now it is cheap, sweaty polyester. It used to be easy to find a decent jumper in Marks and now you have to wade through racks of acrylic before you can find a natural fibre. Even Hobbs, where I've shopped since I was 16, have pretty much lost me as a customer because all they seem to do now is workwear or stuff suitable only for a wedding or Ascot. Now I'm a stay at home Mum I would feel too guilty spending like I used to on clothes, but I still would rather buy well made items from natural fibres than most of the stuff on the high street. Bicester Village (outlet) and eBay get most of my custom these days.