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| My coat on its way... |
Let the buyer beware!
I took two years of Latin and never learned the meaning of caveat emptor, but I know it now. I was recently bamboozled by my love of fashion and a bargain. I also learned "you get what you pay for", and there was no way I was going to get a lavishly embroidered coat for $43.90.
I fell victim to a rather extensive internet scam— Chinese manufacturers who get your attention on Instagram or Facebook with striking fashion pieces for ridiculously low prices. Every model seems to be headless, shot crossing the street, and from an angle where they all look like Melania Trump.
Among the many plying this trade are Vavaspace, Romwe, SheIn, YesStyle, ChicNova and Front Row Shop.
I fell for a coat from Vavaspace as I am a sucker for anything "folkloric"— kimonos, kurtas, cheongsams, you-name-it. Several years ago I bought a beautiful embroidered jacket at H&M for about $90. The same coat was on the Vavaspace website "on sale" for $36.76, so I figured there was a good chance things were on the up and up. Here are pictures of what they showed, which looks exactly like my H&M coat:
Yes, the text says "Autumn and Winter Fashion Ethnic Printing Warm Coat", but it sure looked embroidered to me. Without a magnifying shot it was impossible to know for sure.
What I was not expecting was a garish design printed on Aunt Tillie's polyester house coat. It actually fits pretty well, and if there were buttons I might even use it for a house coat. As something to wear in public, however, it failed miserably.
The coat is gone now from the Vavaspace website. With some difficulty I found this listing. Different wording and a doctored photo with an obviously printed coat, which is what I got.
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| Doctored photo, printed coat |
It took over six weeks for my package to arrive from China (though the return address says "Chino, California"). While the website has instructions for returning unwanted items, I'm afraid I will never get my money back— in which case I will have lost $44 and Aunt Tillie's house coat.
It will be worth the humiliation of this confession if I save one more damsel from making a fool of herself. Crave not lest ye caveat emptor.
what a shame, i was also tempted by the cool photos and excellent prices. but i did not place an order. so sorry, michelle, but as nora ephron's mother used to say- everything is copy...
ReplyDeleteI almost bought one but decided there was no way it could be embroidered for that price. Thank you for this post! I do want to add that I've bought from Front Row Shop before and the two items I received were good quality, although they run super small. This was a few years ago, so maybe things have changed, but the skirt I have from them is worn in heavy rotation in the summer and I get a lot of compliments on it.
ReplyDeleteI bought a blouse that came from China several years ago. It was fine, and arrived in like four days, Chinese postage and all! I think time may have produced some shady players though. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteI've fallen twice! First time a lace sheath made to measure. It was great, boning stitched in for plus size, decently made, except the "rose lace" was more fuschia and the fabric the 99 cent a yard stuff used in Halloween costumes.
ReplyDeleteSecond time was a princess seamed winter coat, difficult to find for my short round self. Matched measurements to size chart carefully, only to receive a very nice coat which might fit a nine year old girl.
Neither was dirt cheap, and the lace sheath wouldn't take dye. The coat went to charity. Caveat emptor indeed, but those photos are so appealing.
We must both be optimists, though I've learned my lesson now.
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