This Site is Great for Authentic Designer Jeans but Watch that Returns Policy!
Designs by Stephene
Got a couple of hundred dollars to spend on top name brand jeans? Me neither but I did get a very generous paypal gift from friends of mine for my birthday to buy a coveted pair of Seven For All Mankind Jeans. I must have whined about wanting those certain jeans for so long that they were willing to pool their hard-earned money together to shut me up. Bonus!
I checked all over the net and found the jeans I wanted were selling on Designs By Stephene Online Store. They were priced slightly lower than other sites and had many incentives to give me the confidence to spend a lot of money on a pair of jeans on a site I never visited before. In addition, they had the shade I wanted that wasn't sold anywhere else. I figured if I was going to drop a couple hundred dollars on a pair of jeans, I would get the exact color I wanted!
Everything was wonderful from start to finish but there is one policy I don't like.
What the Site Sells
Many styles of top of the line designer jeans as well as some designer clothing and accessories for both men and women.
Navigation
This site is easy on the eyes (but not the wallet). There is a photo in the middle which changes with promotions and a long list of brand names on the left side. On the right side are three different search boxes (price, designer, style), several ongoing promotions, and informative links. Everything is very easy to get to and the site is uncluttered.
You can search for the item you want or browse brand names. I knew I wanted a certain pair of Seven Jeans and my search revealed a few color choices in the style I wanted. My coveted Nikita color was available to me on this site which cinched the deal.
If you aren't sure what you want, you can browse and see styles on models as well as read a description. One thing I didn't see on the site were size charts or sizing info for each brand. Brands run very differently and, while they do give you a choice of inseam lengths up to 36 inches and they give the rise of most jeans, they don't give you the waist and hip measurements. Even if you order by waist size, you won't really know what they consider your waist area so it is best to know what your size in the jeans you want is before shopping on the site.
If you see an item you want, choose a size and color and add it to your cart.
The rest is standard online store fare. You go to checkout, fill in your address and email, and pay by major credit card.
You can choose to register with the site or skip that and provide your billing and shipping information. Shipping is free for orders over $100.00 (Second day air) and $7.00 for orders under that amount. There are expedited shipping options for a fee.
Once you pay by major credit card or call in the order, you will get a confirmation email. The shipping email will arrive very quickly and your order will be on your doorstep in two days.
My Experience
I wasn't 100% sure of my size so I wrote to customer service to get sizing advice. I got an email the next day with the measurements I needed to make my order. The jeans were painfully expensive but less so than other sites I investigated and no offline stores carried the exact jeans I wanted. They charged no shipping nor tax so that saved me quite a bit over buying the jeans from a local store or website.
I received a 10% new customer discount which is clearly marked on the site and I also got a free gift (a necklace) with my purchase of over $150.00. Free shipping rounded out the order.
My emails arrived promptly and the jeans are to die for. Seriously, they were expensive but they sure are hot!
I had no problems at all with any part of the order process, the quality, authenticity, customer service, or navigation. The prices are shocking but all designer jeans are expensive. I just rarely pay more than $80.00 for jeans and usually stick to $50.00 ones if I can. (My favorite Levi's skinny jeans are only around $35.00 so this purchase was a major leap of faith.)
Shipping and Returns
Shipping is $7.00 for orders up to $100.00 and free for orders over that.
There are a few expedited shipping methods for a fee.
You can return items within 21 days of invoice. You should call customer service for a Return Authorization Number. If you make an exchange, there is no cost to mail the item to you. You still have to pay to return the item, though.
If you got free shipping and return something that puts you under $100.00, they will charge you $8.00 (which stinks since regular shipping to you is only $7.00) for one pair of jeans returned, $12.95 for two and it goes up from there. THAT is bogus and it brings down the integrity of the site. I don't mind paying for shipping if I go under the free shipping threshold but paying MORE than shipping is and per item is really not a good policy. It's too bad because this is a 5 star site with a 2 star return policy.
If you order there, be sure to either know what you want or make an exchange rather than return items.
Contact Info
Returns/Exchanges: returns@stephene.com
Other Inquiries: questions@stephene.com
Technical assistance/difficulties: moody@stephene.com
Phone: 1-866-693-JEAN OR 316-630-9935
Conclusion
I had a 5 star experience on this site but I hate their returns policy. I understand charging shipping for returned items but they overcharge shipping. If only that part were different, I would easily give this site a solid 5 star rating and highly recommend it.
As it is, I still think this is a good site and has authentic, quality designer brands for prices that are not inflated (more than designer brands already are). Customer service was attentive, I got a discount and they often have good sales, my order came fast, and the jeans fit like a glove.
Had they not it, I would have exchanged them for the right size but not returned them for a refund because of the wacky returns policy.
This site is 4 stars worth of good if you know what you want and are willing to pay to get top designer names. Do your research, know your size, read the descriptions, then order. You will have a fine experience as long as you don't haphazardly buy a bunch of stuff you will end up not wanting. But who has that kind of money?
If you are unsure of anything, I encourage you to call before ordering to clarify. Otherwise, splurge a little and get a pair of overpriced jeans. After all, you can go a while without eating or paying your bills can't you? Ha!
Recommended:
Yes
