I need all the motivation I can get, so after reading Blurbubble’s account of the immense trauma experienced whilst trying to order from Kays Catalogue I decided to let everyone know not all home shopping is destined for disaster!
I have held a Debenhams card for some time now – ... Read review
Advantages: Great choice Disadvantages: You have to wait more than 5 minutes before wearing them!
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I have held a Debenhams card for some time now – and have advanced through the ranks to a Gold card (with a credit limit of nearly £5,000 - Aaargh the temptation!). With the customary bumf you get sent with this kind of thing there was an advert for the Debenhams Direct catalogue so I sent of the form to try it. You could also order the catalogue via the website or customer services in a Debenhams store.
The catalogue will ... ...
The Designers at Debenhams are prolific in here, with Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Pearce II Fionda amongst many others – all providing affordable and highly fashionable designs. Also, from personal experience, the quality of this ‘designer’ merchandise is of the highest class, though I haven’t tried all of them! Prices do vary, but you can easily get items from all their ranges starting at about ... more
I need all the motivation I can get, so after reading Blurbubble’s account of the immense trauma experienced whilst trying to order from Kays Catalogue I decided to let everyone know not all home shopping is destined for disaster!
I have held a Debenhams card for some time now – and have advanced through the ranks to a Gold card (with a credit limit of nearly £5,000 - Aaargh the temptation!). With the customary bumf you get sent with this kind of thing there was an advert for the Debenhams Direct catalogue so I sent of the form to try it. You could also order the catalogue via the website or customer services in a Debenhams store.
The catalogue will arrive within a few days; it used to be lovely hardback – very like the Next catalogue (but free) – but these days it’s the slightly more eco friendly regular catalogue style.
Not because I think you’re all stupid, but because I want to be sure not to miss anything important, I’m now going to go through the buying stuff process step-by-step:
Browsing
This is the easy bit – there are several hundred pages of merchandise, mainly women’s wear, but with kid’s, men’s, home and some electrical too. Obviously, being a woman (apparently) with no kids or man, my main area of perusal is lady-clothes and home stuff.
The Designers at Debenhams are prolific in here, with Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Pearce II Fionda amongst many others – all providing affordable and highly fashionable designs. Also, from personal experience, the quality of this ‘designer’ merchandise is of the highest class, though I haven’t tried all of them! Prices do vary, but you can easily get items from all their ranges starting at about £25. The designers also do items in the other departments too and Jeff Banks has a mainly nice (though somewhat pricey) home range.
There is also the Debenhams stuff in the catalogue, including Trader, The Look and Maine. These are rather cheaper and of good (though not always excellent) quality.
You might be thinking that there’s not a lot of point getting the catalogue cos the stores sell all these things too, plus that huge array toiletries and cosmetics that the catalogue is missing. (Is there another word for catalogue? I’m getting sick of typing it out!) But there is reason, as follows: • They often have special offers, such as buy three items from this page save £10, or save 20% on home goods. • They often also have free gifts – I recently got a lovely storm lamp by buying something from Home; that would make a great present. • There are quite a lot of items that are exclusive to home shoppers only; I’ve just bought a gorgeous Levi denim skirt and the muslin curtains I recently bought certainly weren’t available in my local shop (though it does have a very small home department). • They also do a small range of ‘Tall’ clothes in The Look – 34” inside leg trousers – hurray! – I think I bought their entire stock. • There are obviously all the usual home shopping benefits too, like shopping from the comfort of your own home – and especially trying on there!
Buying
This is easy too. Once you’ve chosen your no doubt extensive list of items all you need to do is make a note of the order number, size and colour. You can order in 3 ways: by telephone – just phone them up – they’re very helpful and you will find out immediately whether your item is in stock, by post – an easy to complete order form will be issued with your catalogue, or by internet (you have to be registered) – just enter the catalogue number in the search box – your item will come up and then add it to your basket.
Paying
I know none of us like this bit, but it’s easy I promise. I use my Debenhams Gold card – so it’s even easier! I just give them my number (either over the phone or on the relevant form) and my Nectar card number too and they do the rest. You can pay using pretty much any card (Visa, Switch, Mastercard, Amex etc) or by cheque if ordering by post. I don’t think they offer any kind of credit option (though they may on larger objects – sorry don’t know).
Delivery
I have a nice friendly local delivery man and it’s never taken longer than 3 days for my goods to be delivered (provided they’re in stock). As I’m never in at his delivery time, I requested that they amend my information to show packages are to be left in a safe, designated by me, place – and they are without fail.
Returns
So once your stuff has been delivered and you’ve danced around the house in it demanding everyone, including the dog’s, approval, you may find that leopard print leotard doesn’t look quite as good on you as it did on the model (strange that) and wish to return it. This really couldn’t be easier – even I can do it and I’m the girl that makes my mum book my dentist appointments for me.
You put the items back in the bag, along with the delivery form that came with them, marked as necessary for the returns, sellotape it up and stick the return address (that also came with the delivery) to the front. Then either call up your friendly neighbourhood delivery man (you can get his name by calling the Debenhams help line) to come pick it up or pop to your local Post Office and they’ll take it off your hands for free – that’s right all returns are that easy and completely free.
Any Downsides?
I honestly can’t think of any. The only possible one is the £3.95 p&p, though with all the special offers and excellent service I think this is a very small price to pay and happily do so.
Recommended?
Absolutely – to everyone. The women’s wear is, I think, unparalleled in quality and diversity for one store/catalogue – so it’s the kind of place you could get yourself a top for going out in and your mum a sweater for her birthday in the same place. The price is definitely right too. The men’s and kid’s wear also seems well presented and with something for everyone’s tastes. Most of the home stuff is really lovely – John Rocha has a gorgeous suede bean bag that I’m dying to get – but it’s about £90 – well, I do have that 5 grand credit limit!
Advantages: Great intro offers! Friendly staff! Disadvantages: Bit pricey!
Debenhams Direct is a new, or perhaps, not that new now, service from Debenhams, the countries leading department store. (Their words not mine!)
I received their Spring Summer 2004 catalogue within a week of ordering. It is not as massive and chunky as other mail order catalogues can be, with less than 550 pages of clothes for all the family, and items for the home.
I was offered 10% off my first order and 250 Nectar points. (See later on in review!).
... ...In my opinion, the Debenhams catalogue would perhaps suit the 'professional woman', if that is the right phrase to use. Although there are a few casual items, they are always on the verge of being classy! The majority of the catalogue is very smart or elegant wear, with evening dresses to die for. I consider the new range of swimwear to be the best I have seen this season, with basic styles in basic colours along witht the new tankini sets.
The ...
kerryzach 03.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Debenhams Direct
...purchase my bridesmaid dresses from Debenhams and very quickly hit a few snags so I had to use the Debenhams To You service, so it is that aspect of "home shopping" that I am reviewing.
First off, I did manage to buy 3 of my required dresses from local stores (which is when they got me to join the Store Card program and get 10% discount for the next 7 days, thus ensuring that when I found the other dress I could still use the discount), but the ... ...break, I rang up the Debenhams To You number. According to the spiel, they will:
"Can't find what you want in your size or colour? With Debenhams To You order service we can help you find the item and send it straight to your home or even reserve it in the store of your choice for collection."
There is, of course, a delivery fee of about £4, but with the store card if you spend over a certain amount on the order, there is no delivery fee. I rang ...
elisemarie9 28.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Debenhams Direct
Advantages: Great fashion, brilliant catalogue for all ages and a broad range of prices Disadvantages: £3.50 postage and packaging , bad associated couriers, Returning goods doesn't seem as simple as advised.
...do I think of the Debenhams direct? One of the best catalogues on my floor. With great up to date fashionable clothes, colourful, exciting well presented wearable combinations. I'd rather look in here then a fashion magazine. The clothes are for all ages, from different suppliers such as Jasper Conran, John Rocha, Jeff Banks, The Look, Wallis, Principles, Warehouse, Spirit, Anne Brookes amongst many others From formal to casual. All the relevant ... ...most affordable are from the debenhams own branded range and the most expensive is the formal wear and the Jeff banks range. Prices on ladies clothes can vary from above £10 (t-shirts) to over £100 (formal dresses). Ordering on the internet or through the catalogue allows you to receive regular offers of discounts such as 10% of your first order. Debenhams tends to have various one day sales in stores. You are able to benefit from these sales when ...
Tricity 13.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Debenhams Direct
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Quick review of Debenhams Direct
I am disgusted at the service I have received. I placed an order, it arrived in part. Some of it was wrong, the rest was very poor quality. I then wanted to send everything back, but it took over a fortnight before Debenhams got their act together and collected my goods. For that collection I had to stay in all day Saturday and the parcels were finally collected at 4.00pm. I am a gold card customer and that used to mean something at Debenhams, but not with Debenhams Direct. I will never buy anything from Debenhams on line again. ...
Stefa 27.10.2007
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Debenhams Direct
Advantages: None so far Disadvantages: They took our money, no delivery, no product, 4 months later.
...metal frame sofa bed from Debenhams Direct in July 2007. The sofa bed was supposed to be delivered in two weeks but after two weeks nothing had arrived and we phoned Debenhams. They said that the sofa bed was on it's way and would be delivered in the next few days. More time passed, no sofa bed. More excuses, more promises about it being delivered at specific dates. It is now the 12th of October and we have not heard anything from Debenhams for two ... ...we have phones. After phoning Debenhams today we were told the same old story of unavailability of the product coupled with delivery problems. We told them to just refund us the cost of the sofa bed as we are now fed up with their excuses.
I will not buy from Debenhams Direct again and will write a review on every website I find as I feel other people should be spared the grief of such pathetic service. ...
tiredofdebenhams 12.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Debenhams Direct
Range of products
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