Shirt bought from Flannels poor quality - MCOL?

Okell

user1977 said:

Okell said:

dv123 said:

...  After our wedding in November 2024 I was gifted this, and upon trying it on a few times, 2 of the buttons came off. The size of the shirt was correct, so it wasn't as if it was a lot smaller size....
... Where do we stand with this? Our bank can't investigate a chargeback as its over 120 days. Is MCOL the only way forward? (Shirt value is close to £500)...

Incidentally, "gift" is a noun not a verb.

You'll need to take it up with the OED then:

gift

verb

[with object]

1 give (something) as a gift, especially formally or as a donation or bequest: the company gifted 2,999 shares to a charity

1.1 present (someone) with a gift or gifts: the queen gifted him with a heart-shaped brooch

1.2 (gift someone with) endow with (something): man is gifted with a moral sense

1.3 informal inadvertently allow (an opponent) to have something:[with two objects] : the goalkeeper gifted Liverpool their last-minute winner

It's the beginning of the end...

Aylesbury_Duck

dv123 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Its over 6 months old so the responsibility is on you to prove its faulty and not either fair wear or user damage which will be the same if you go to court. 

Given it's over 30 days old you have no right to a full refund, undoubtedly it will cost a lot less than £500 to get someone to restitch the buttons. 

Dont understand why someone would pay £500 for an off the shelf shirt just because it's got some blokes name on the label. There are travelling shirt makers from Naples that will make a bespoke shirt uniquely for you for a lot less. 

Only thought process of going down small claims was, if we win, we would (hopefully) get a refund on the shirt.

What's your preferred outcome here?  Do you want the shirt?  If so, the easiest thing is just to sew the buttons on. 

If you no longer want it and want to use the button fault as a reason for getting a refund, I'm not sure you'll succeed.  As DullyGreyGuy points out, you would go through all the hassle, delay and cost of letters threatening court action and find that the retailer meets your consumer rights by paying a few quid to have the buttons sewn back on and you're stuck with a short you no longer want.

If you think you might get a refund and keep the shirt, I suspect that's highly unlikely.

kinger101

Sew the buttons back on. Life's too short.

pinkshoes

dv123 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Its over 6 months old so the responsibility is on you to prove its faulty and not either fair wear or user damage which will be the same if you go to court. 

Given it's over 30 days old you have no right to a full refund, undoubtedly it will cost a lot less than £500 to get someone to restitch the buttons. 

Dont understand why someone would pay £500 for an off the shelf shirt just because it's got some blokes name on the label. There are travelling shirt makers from Naples that will make a bespoke shirt uniquely for you for a lot less. 

Thanks all. So just to clarify, we contacted Flannels about the problem within the 6 months of purchasing the item, so even though right now we are outside the 6 months, we informed the retailer within the 6 months.

Yep we can re-stich 2 of the buttons that have broken, but our main gripe was for the price of this, buttons shouldn't fall out when you first try it on. Because my wife bought it in advance of our wedding, it was sitting around for months before I even tried it on.

Only thought process of going down small claims was, if we win, we would (hopefully) get a refund on the shirt.

I appreciate it's within 6 months but from their POV it's unlikely it has only just been tried on almost 6 months later, hence their stance that the damage is misuse. 

Did you take photos of the shirts in store with missing buttons?

The best solution would be to sew the buttons back on, then leave factual reviews online saying it is of poor quality, and that others in store had buttons that had also fallen off, but the store accused you of damaging it yourself. The reviews might put othet people off and cost the business far more than the cost if a repair. Think of it as karma...

And remember for future reference, expensive doesn't always mean good...

Grumpy_chap

I thought Flannels were only a retailer, not an actual fashion / clothing brand in their own right.
Regardless, for the sake of a few pounds, the solution here is to sew the buttons back on or, if preferred, pay a local tailor to sew the buttons back on (quite commonly, dry cleaner's offer this service).

If the OP wants quality shirts, my current "go to" is Charles Tyrwhitt - it is worth visiting a store to get measured and then you can order up shirts with the correct fit which makes them look far better than a more expensive brand but the incorrect sleeve length.

Pollycat

dv123 said:

DullGreyGuy said:

Its over 6 months old so the responsibility is on you to prove its faulty and not either fair wear or user damage which will be the same if you go to court. 

Given it's over 30 days old you have no right to a full refund, undoubtedly it will cost a lot less than £500 to get someone to restitch the buttons. 

Dont understand why someone would pay £500 for an off the shelf shirt just because it's got some blokes name on the label. There are travelling shirt makers from Naples that will make a bespoke shirt uniquely for you for a lot less. 

Thanks all. So just to clarify, we contacted Flannels about the problem within the 6 months of purchasing the item, so even though right now we are outside the 6 months, we informed the retailer within the 6 months.

Yep we can re-stich 2 of the buttons that have broken, but our main gripe was for the price of this, buttons shouldn't fall out when you first try it on. Because my wife bought it in advance of our wedding, it was sitting around for months before I even tried it on.

Only thought process of going down small claims was, if we win, we would (hopefully) get a refund on the shirt.

What brand was the shirt?

From Flannels' website, it sounds like they stock brands rather than make their own.
Although I have to admit, I've never stepped inside a Flannels shop (and am unlikely to in the future)

Stocking the biggest names in luxury fashion and beauty, as well as an evolving roster of new and emerging labels, FLANNELS is a super-inclusive, multi-category retailer that's reviving in-store experiences and bringing luxury to everyone.

TBH, the bit in bold in the OP's reply (quoted) does sound like buyer's remorse.

Alderbank

Probably off-topic but my emotions are a little conflicted by this thread.

This is a gift carefully chosen months in advance by a bride specially to give to her husband on their wedding day.

My wife didn't give me a shirt but if she had I think I might have kept it, wonky buttons and all, wrapped in tissue paper to show the kids and grandkids, and probably in the same wardrobe where her wedding dress still hangs.

I'm a keen moneysaver with most things but it doesn't seem quite right to be eager to drag the seller through the courts of MCOL pointing out what a load of tat it is and I would sooner have the money instead.

Am I losing my MSE-fu and turning into a fuddy old romantic?

dv123

Hi All,

Answering a few of the above questions, brand is Balmain.

Yes we did take photos of the two shirts in store that also had missing buttons.

After reading everyone's reply, I think the best course of action is to just sew the buttons back on, and to leave a review for that item on Flannels website / Google reviews.

Thank you everyone