A rant - sorry. Nothing to do with the garden either.

[HeyWayne]

Why can some companies just get it right and some get it so wrong?

Around a year ago I decided to treat myself to some Levi 501's as the Jeans from Next started to get a bit "trendy", and getting some decent looking jeans in my size was getting tough (as it does periodically for some reason).

LadyWayne said, "why don't you get yourself some Levis - they'll last foreever, and you will get use out of them". I replied that they were chuffing expensive, to which LW replied that as I only buy jeans once every 4-5 years, they'll work out well. Besides, Levis last "forever".

Well, a few weeks ago I noticed that there were patches worn through around the seam near the crotch.

Not happy, given that I've had jeans from Next at half the price that have lasted for 5-6 years before the same thing happened to them.

So, I contacted the local store - who said they couldn't help as they don't stock my size in the stores, and as I'd purchsed them online I'd need to contact Head Office. They gave me the number, and I called.

Oh, you'll need to speak to someone in "Consumer Relations" she said - and put me through.

Nobody available in Consumer Relations to speak to, but by the sounds of it you'll have to speak to Germany as they deal with all online purchases/queries.

I call Germany.

I speak to "Michael". Michael tells me that he'll need to send me a UPS label and send the jeans back to them for "evaluation" to see if there's a fault, or if it's just wear and tear.

I wait for the label.

I wait a little more (appreciating that Christmas is happening at the same time).

I receive a hand written envelope.

Inside the envelope is a UPS label - nothing else.

I trawl through the UPS site trying to find a number.

I speak to someone at UPS, but there will be a charge for arranging the collection over the phone. You can do it online for free.

I attempt to book the collection online. I fail.

I call UPS again - they tell me that the label is invalid.

I am told to call Levis again.

I speak to "Louisa".

Louisa is going to send me another label....

Tune in next time for the next installment of "10 Reasons I Will Never Buy Another Pair Of Levis"

[ginger ninger]

The denim they use now compared to what they used to use is basically crap, years ago I use to make "Paul Smith", "Wrangler" and Lee Copper Jeans and the only ones that are anything like what they were are Wrangler but even they go thin in the crutch area, OH won't wear any other make, Good Luck with them Wayne.

[bobleponge]

I sympathise with your plight big fella, but I was having a discussion only a couple of days ago with a large brained person about such things.
There must be N fora like this all over the interweb, and I find it staggering that the bosses of companies such as the one named in your post dont do their research properly.
I would have staff engaged to search all such fora, even ones as diverse from jeans as a gardening site, to see what the feedback is from us, the purchasers.

There is a certain make of greenhouse that has been mentioned on here in generally bad tones since I joined here, and probably will continue to be so. Quite clearly the manufacturers of said greenhouse dont give a fig for public opinion, or someone would have Googled the name, and read through all the results. Several would link to the Vine, and to general dissatisfaction.

I wish you luck in your quest "wiz ze Germans"



N.B. Take N to mean a large positive integer.

[bubblewrap]

The last pair of Levi's I bought were carp I have found the jeans from M&S (£9.50) are better value & even the cheapos from Tesco (for the lottie) are better than Levis.

[SlugLobber]

I won't buy Levis OR Next Jeans. The former don't fit (made for androids, not women) and the latter fell apart after a couple of months - two pairs of differing styles.

Have gone back to good old Primark. £11 for a decent pair of jeans, that FIT me and I know will last for years, despite the equestrian and work abuse they have to put up with!

[ginger ninger]

Have gone back to good old Primark. £11 for a decent pair of jeans, that FIT me and I know will last for years, despite the equestrian and work abuse they have to put up with!

If they fit and last it doesn't mater how much you pay, you can't put a price on comfort SL....Great that there only £11 and not £40 plus like Levi's, it make it even sweeter .

[Snadger]

Always buy my 'used' 501's and Lee Cooper jeans off eBay and have had no problems up til now.
Waiting of a couple of pair coming at the mo so I'll let you know how it goes.
Made the mistake of buying Levi bootcuts once...........they are waiting to be LISTED on eBay!

[pdblake]

I've got cheap £4 pairs from Tesco that I've had for years. They're stained with paint and all sorts of muck but none of them are dropping to bits.

[Alison]

Made the mistake of buying Levi bootcuts once...........they are waiting to be LISTED on eBay!

I've got a lovely old pair of Levi bootcut which I've had for about 10 years, they're a bit thin all over due to washing etc, a lot lighter than they used to be and some of the stitching on the back pocket has come undone but they're still in one piece. Too scruffy for out and about but still doing great service up the lottie (although not at this time of year as they're a bit too low waisted and my back gets cold). Am about 99% certain that they were seconds from the retail park and therefore half price too - would never pay full price for them

[Two_Sheds]

There is a certain make of greenhouse that has been mentioned on here in generally bad tones... the manufacturers of said greenhouse dont give a fig for public opinion

No, they don't. I wrote to them after our bad experience and never received a reply.

I recently bought a rabbit hutch, which failed to go together in the right places, had missing screws and the screwdriver-supplied just snapped: I wrote to the supplier, who didn't bother to reply.

I ordered whisky for Xmas delivery .. it finally arrived a week late. Another letter: again, no reply.



Good luck Wayne. These companies know you don't want to pay a courier to return the item.

[HeyWayne]

Anyone ever tried getting a pair of 36x36" jeans from Tesco/Primark/M&S/et al?

You lot don't know how lucky you are.

I ended up buying some GAP jeans from a dude on ebay who seems to specialise in catering for those of us vertically blessed.

[Two_Sheds]

Wayne, you prolly know all this, but I'll repeat it anyway.
The retailer, not the manufacturer, is responsible for your faulty jeans. Contact the head office of your retailer.

Online Rights
"Goods that are covered by the Distance Selling Regulations (ie online retailing) — such as clothing, furniture or electrical items — and which arrive faulty or not as described should be sent back by recorded delivery with a request for a full refund, as well as reimbursement for carriage costs.

Under the DSR, companies must give a full refund within 30 days. If you discover that goods ordered online are faulty after your cooling-off period (of 7 days), you can gain redress under the Sales of Goods Act."

Consumer Rights, Faulty Goods
Goods have to be fit for purpose, and of satisfactory quality (Goods are of satisfactory quality if they reach the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking into account the price and any description).

Jeans that last less than a year before falling apart are not of satisfactory quality

[HeyWayne]

Thanks for that TS, yeah all stuff I'm familiar with but thanks anyways.

The jeans were purchased directly from the Levis online store, and the request for me sending them back is for them to "evaluate" them - to assess if they're faulty.

I agree - jeans that barely last a year (and cost £70!) is not acceptible, but I'll have to see what their assessment is I guess.

Leaving a bad taste in my mouth though.

Wayne, you prolly know all this, but I'll repeat it anyway.
The retailer, not the manufacturer, is responsible for your faulty jeans. Contact the head office of your retailer.

Online Rights
"Goods that are covered by the Distance Selling Regulations (ie online retailing) — such as clothing, furniture or electrical items — and which arrive faulty or not as described should be sent back by recorded delivery with a request for a full refund, as well as reimbursement for carriage costs.

Under the DSR, companies must give a full refund within 30 days. If you discover that goods ordered online are faulty after your cooling-off period (of 7 days), you can gain redress under the Sales of Goods Act."

Consumer Rights, Faulty Goods
Goods have to be fit for purpose, and of satisfactory quality (Goods are of satisfactory quality if they reach the standard that a reasonable person would regard as satisfactory, taking into account the price and any description).

Jeans that last less than a year before falling apart are not of satisfactory quality

[zazen999]

Urm; and this is hard for me being an ex punkish type - but I now get all my jeans from M&S.

[HeyWayne]

Urm; and this is hard for me being an ex punkish type - but I now get all my jeans from M&S.

Conformist!