Cheapskate Finds the End
Written: May 3, 2007 (Updated May 3, 2007)
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Lands’ End is a direct merchant of quality, casual clothing, luggage, and home furnishings based in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Most of their business is generated over the Internet or via their mail order catalogs. Lands’ End began as a sailboat equipment company in 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. They eventually moved to Wisconsin with their identity and line of merchandise evolving with the move. Sears bought the company in 2002. Not long afterwards K-Mart bought Sears along with the Lands’ End division.
In addition to online and catalog sales, Lands’ End merchandise may be purchased at many Sears stores and at the Lands’ End 15 Inlet® and NQP™ stores in four states.
The misplaced apostrophe in the name was originally a typographical error kept in place to save the expense of reprinting promotional materials.
Getting Around the Site
The home page does not overwhelm with a myriad of choices like some other shopping destinations. The home page is clean, uncluttered and refreshingly simple. A few pictures greet the visitor with a special item of the season on sale and links to several special or new destinations. At the very top of the screen is the company phone number, and links to customer service, my account, sign up for e mail, sign in and shopping bag.
Below that are links to merchandise categories: Outerwear, Women, Men, Girls, Boys, Home and Travel, Overstocks, Gifts & Gift Cards.
Within the major categories are additional links to more specific areas For example, after one clicks on Home and Travel the following categories are presented for casual exploration: bath, holiday, home, home furnishings, Kids’ home, pets, luggage, attaches, backpacks, totes and bags, outdoor living, beach towels, great deals.
In the overstock category are great deals for limited items in the categories men, women, girls, boys, home and travel.
It’s fairly ease to move from link to link, from category to category. Oddly there’s not a link for the Lands’ End Home page on the many sub link pages. When it is available, it appears as Landsend.com, not Home. I also had difficulty finding the “My Model” feature from many pages.
What Can I buy at Lands’ End?
The Spuds mostly shop Lands’ End for jeans and shirts, classic, tailored to fit, and durable. A shopper may also find suits, dress shirts, swimwear, and footwear here in a variety of styles and price ranges. There is clothing for the kids here and even a line of pet items including jackets and booties for your pooch. For the home Lands’ End offers bedding, bathroom accessories, furnishings, drapes and rods, outdoor furniture and covers, even monogrammed towels. Of course also available are backpacks, attaches, and luggage. The outerwear collection includes coats, jackets, sweaters, vests, scarves, hats, gloves, rainwear, thermal wear, heavy socks, shoes and boots. One may shop by collection or department within the main categories.
What about quality and pricing?
Though Lands’ End is now sold within Sears stores, the pricing is higher than the general merchandise. Men’s jeans for example can run from 30 to 70 dollars plus shipping. Footwear prices vary also, from $20 dollars for suede slippers to $150 for penny loafers.
Women’s sweaters, as another barometer of price, are mostly over fifty dollars going up to $329 or more. From our experience the quality is impeccable.
What About Service?
Help and advice is available from many avenues. Products are described in detail with accompanying photographs. The photos may be enlarged and many items can be viewed in different color choices. Email questions are usually answered quickly. A toll free number can be used to speak directly to a company representative. A live, online shopping assistant can help advise about coordinating pieces and colors. You can even “try on” clothing using a virtual model that will rotate 360 degrees for your viewing.
As an example of the unparalleled customer service at Lands’ End, the company’s Lost Mitten Club will replace any child’s mitten lost in the same season as purchase at half the price of a pair with free shipping. Trousers are hemmed free of charge. Fabric swatches are available free of charge for many items.
How About Returns and Shipping
Most in-stock orders are mailed the next business day after the order is placed. Returns are accepted with no hassle. The price of an item will be refunded but not the cost of postage. If an item is returned for an exchange, the new item will be sent to the customer postage paid. Items may be returned using the flat fee $6.50 label ($6.50 is deducted from the refund) included with merchandise or the customer can use the shipper of his choice.
Recently a Sears employee told me that Lands End merchandise can be ordered via internet right at the Sears store and postage will be waved. This doesn’t apply to overstock items though.
To avoid paying postage($6.50) for a return, one has the option of bringing the item to a participating Sears store with the receipt. Sears can’t accept returns from Lands’ End stores or Amazon.com.
Our Experience
Not far from my place of employment is a Sears store which carries Lands’ End merchandise. However, the selection is meager compared to the full Lands’ End line, so mostly I shop the catalog and/or Internet. We’ve always received a prompt email confirmations for each order, and the order arrives at our home in a very timely manner, well packaged and in good condition. Mrs. Spudman has made a couple returns over the years, but they were smooth and painless.
I like shopping the Overstocks category which carries merchandise from most departments. The availability of colors and sizes can be limited as are quantities. Several times I’ve hesitated too long, only to return and find the item I’ve decided to buy is now out of stock. Just recently I bought a $45 pair of jeans in the overstock section for 20 dollars. They were even hemmed to the exact size I specified 㪷 and a half inches, and fit perfectly. I’ve also bought pants, shirts, and shoes from the overstock area for fabulous discounts.
Recently I requested fabric samples online for an article of clothing I’m considering. Within the same week I received the swatches, each two inches square and mounted on heavy stock paper. Beneath each piece of fabric is its color name, color code number, and the name of the matching clothing article with reference number.
We are like the classic look and quality of Lands’ End merchandise. Items can sometimes be pricier than items found elsewhere, but shoppers can be assured of receiving high quality clothing tailored with care and the best customer service.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Jeans
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About the Author
Member: Spudman
Location: Maryland
Reviews written: 1028
Trusted by: 235 members
About Me: Looking for a good biographer
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