val2525
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Post by val2525 on Apr 11, 2015 0:38:07 GMT
Rant ahead.
Bought a maxi, website says 54" length, and on the model it's floor length and she has on platform heels. Buy the dress at the store, it's 51", which is now 50" after washing (rayon/spandex, does it every time). I don't mind, I'm short and I can wear flats with it. But reviews on website ALSO mention the much shorter length. Why would it photograph at one length but be shorter in reality? I have some of the other maxis this same model wears on the website and they're long, so I know it's not her. Do retailers take photograph with samples maybe, before the actual order is received and shipped to stores/put on website? Just curious, as this has happened several times now.
Another retailer has a maxi listed, says it's 41". Store manager at my store knows the model wearing the dress in the picture, says the model is tall, about 5'10" and no way is a dress coming to HER ankles 41". More like 51" or even 54" in the picture. I use the online chat, customer service says yes, it's correct, it's "41 inches from the waist". Except it's a column maxi and has no defined waist. So how is a buyer supposed to know the 41" is from the (nonexistent) waist? Why would a retailer give a useless measurement like this? It's not the first time this particular retailer has done this, either.
Those of you who may have worked with retail ordering/websites - why do they do this?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 0:41:29 GMT
They're doing photos to make the clothing item appear at it's best. Same as when sellers clip a blouse behind the back to look more fitted, where you can't see it, and take photos.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Apr 11, 2015 0:43:24 GMT
In the case of the shorter than expected maxi, I don't see how they could. The model has platform heels on, and the dress almost hits the floor. So it's not like they picked a short model with flats on, so it would look longer. I wonder if the retailer took pictures with the sample dress, but the manufacturing plant cut some cost corners on actual production by shortening the dress a couple of inches. That's why I was asking if anyone had ever worked in the ordering/buying side of retail - does this ever happen?
On the other one, this retailer has given length "from the waist" several times. They NEVER indicate in the listing that the length is from the waist, that's just their stock answer when you ask 'what is the correct length?". They did it on a couple of floor length formal dresses over the holidays. Only way I know that the "true" length was depicted in the picture (formal, floor length) is I tried a few on at the store (once they came in). Had I gone by the stated (incorrect) length on the website I'd have been very annoyed.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Apr 11, 2015 0:44:44 GMT
I don't think they measure every different style and size or at least where I buy, they are apparently not doing it.
They have a size chart for Misses etc. with a standard measurements but the measurement is not the same for all the dresses that I have ordered there.
Sometimes the medium fits through the bust and sometimes it is too small because it is measuring 2" less than the size chart states.
Sometimes the Large fits and sometimes the bust measurement is 3" bigger than the size chart.
I think I have finally got the sizes for the different styles I am buying. We will see when they get here on Monday.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Apr 11, 2015 0:48:05 GMT
Example, the retailer says this one is 41" in length:  Yet all the other maxis are between 51" (petite length) to 56", and usually fairly accurate. Supposedly this one is "41 inches from the waist". So where the hell is the waist that they meaured from? Why not just correct the measurement on the website? |
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Apr 11, 2015 1:01:34 GMT
Eh, just a vent. Usually both retailers are pretty reliable in their sizing and the length they give (they don't give any other measurement, just length).
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Post by atdahop on Apr 11, 2015 1:13:10 GMT
I bought 2 maxi dresses last year from the same retailer. Both the same manufacturer, same style, different colors. One dress was great and the other was 4 inches longer. They were both regular length not petite.
I can not believe that your dress it 41 inches in length with no mention of where the measurement is taken. Care to share the online retailer?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 1:26:30 GMT
With all this talk about maxi dresses I decided to give them a try. Today they had this at Costco. I purchased it along with a plain black. They are very generously cut in fact I will need to return the L for a M. I will also probably have to still hem it after washing, since I'm 5'2". Anyway for those who are looking I would recommend it. www.costco.com/Fever-Ladies%E2%80%99-Belted-Maxi-Dress-Green.product.100146947.html |
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Apr 11, 2015 1:47:40 GMT
Cute, deb! Atdahop, that particular dress is from Catherine's. I contact customer service via chat to ask about the length, though it might be a typo….was told no, it's correct, length is 41" from the waist. So I asked "and where exactly is the waist?".  |
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Post by treetop on Apr 11, 2015 16:48:29 GMT
Let's say the manufacturer designs a pair of jeans and takes photos of samples. Let's say it is a pair of women's jeans with a 17" straight leg opening. They show the photos and some samples to several retailers and get feedback from them that they love the fabric, love the color, love the pockets, but they do not like the straight legs. They would totally buy them if they were skinny pants, 2" shorter with a 14" leg opening. The item is revamped and produced. The photo on the manufacturer's website is the original photo. (Possibly on the retailer's website also). The description may or may not be accurate. I've seen it happen where I work. It is sloppy.
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Post by jellybeanscloset412 on Apr 11, 2015 17:40:34 GMT
Not much help as to why they do it but I have a hard time buying online. I am 5'8" so I get things and they are too short. I don't want another pair of "cropped" floods pants.
They just have to make it look good no matter what the size. I wish they would use "real life" models.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Apr 11, 2015 17:46:40 GMT
Let's say the manufacturer designs a pair of jeans and takes photos of samples. Let's say it is a pair of women's jeans with a 17" straight leg opening. They show the photos and some samples to several retailers and get feedback from them that they love the fabric, love the color, love the pockets, but they do not like the straight legs. They would totally buy them if they were skinny pants, 2" shorter with a 14" leg opening. The item is revamped and produced. The photo on the manufacturer's website is the original photo. (Possibly on the retailer's website also). The description may or may not be accurate. I've seen it happen where I work. It is sloppy. That makes sense. I wondered if the retailers took pictures with the samples, so they'd have the whole 'collection' ready to pop up when it hit the store, which would make the snafu with the one dress at Avenue make sense. I know when I first moved here, Catherine's corporate had to 'cancel' about half the of the 'summer collection' because what came in was not the same quality as what they ordered (which I guess is the sample?). Customers weren't thrilled but they understood. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2015 17:55:14 GMT
On my break from feeding the masses but that could explain it. It could also just be the manufacturer's factory cutting corners & the retailer just stuck using whatever info the manufacturer had originally intended the dress to be. That "waist to floor" thing truly is a "thing that makes you go hmmm..." though.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Apr 11, 2015 17:55:44 GMT
Not much help as to why they do it but I have a hard time buying online. I am 5'8" so I get things and they are too short. I don't want another pair of "cropped" floods pants. They just have to make it look good no matter what the size. I wish they would use "real life" models. I am just the opposite and thing are always longer on me than the models. I see the dress on the model as hitting them about 4" above the knee but when I have it on, the dress hits me at the knee or right below. |
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Post by treetop on Apr 12, 2015 10:53:49 GMT
It's another reason not to use stock photos for auctions. They aren't always accurate. I love websites that take their own photos and then list info like, "Model is 5'10" and size 4."
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Post by denise15601 on Apr 12, 2015 16:29:24 GMT
Happens with draperies too. I just bought on eBay from a big seller, drapes to match a new bedding set. They were supposed to be 84" long, so I thought I would have to hem them.
The package was marked as 84", but they are 81".
So my sheers are now too long, which I shall ignore...
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Post by pyrexandpearls on Apr 13, 2015 0:47:27 GMT
Not much help as to why they do it but I have a hard time buying online. I am 5'8" so I get things and they are too short. I don't want another pair of "cropped" floods pants. They just have to make it look good no matter what the size. I wish they would use "real life" models. I too wish they would use real models and list the models measurements and height like some sites do. I am 5'7" but have long legs. Regular length is almost always too short but the tall length is too long. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2015 16:07:53 GMT
Actually I think if that model was standing up straight you'd see the maxi was much shorter on her. She has that slouch bent forward pose and has her knees bent, that's making it appear like it's hitting near her ankles. Just a bit of trick posing and photography to get the look they want.
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Post by Emerald_Door on Apr 13, 2015 19:43:15 GMT
I ordered a long bathrobe from Soma for my dd for Christmas. The picture showed it just a bit above the model's ankles. My daughter is just a bit under 5'6", so definitely not as tall as a model, yet the robe is noticeably shorter on her. She loves the robe, but it's annoying that the picture was inaccurate.
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