I was never one to shop designer brands. Sure, I love looking at designer items in fashion magazines, but owning luxury items was never something I particularly thought about. I first heard about The RealReal from a Brad Mondo video, and I was curious to see what it was all about. The RealReal is an American online luxury consignment store. They have 17 physical stores across the US for in-person shopping. New items are added to the RealReal’s website twice a day, and you can find everything from vintage to recent fashions from MULTIPLE designers. Think of it as fashion recycling: you’re saving the planet, and doing your wallet a favor! Everything is authenticated, so you can rest assured you are getting the REAL deal.
My First Order: Luxury Pants
Maybe it was lockdown induced madness, but I thought why not order something? The deals are fantastic, and I was in the market for some new pants anyway. I ordered a pair of jeans from True Religion, and a pair of black snake print trousers from Barbara Bui. I got incredible deals on both items, and I even received a $25 store credit as part of a promotion for new members. The shipping to Canada was a bit pricey. However, it was tracked and my order arrived super quickly.
My order was packaged in a recycled plain cardboard box (good for the planet!), and the items inside were secured in a dust bag, which I thought was a nice touch. The quality was definitely as advertised. I felt special holding real designer items in my hands! Unfortunately, both pairs of pants did not fit me at all. Perhaps I gained a little more weight than I thought during my days of working from home and being a hermit…
My Experience with Returns and Customer Service
Luckily, most items can be returned within 25 days of the date the package is received. If the date has passed, the items can be re-consigned back to The RealReal, so you are not completely out of luck. Some items are final sale, however, so be sure to check if you decide to make a purchase yourself.
As per the RealReal’s suggestion, I returned the pants with tracking, to ensure they would be received on time. After being notified by the tracking that the items were received, I waited for my refund. I hadn’t heard anything for a few business days, so I sent an email to customer service. I received an immediate response. Staff at The RealReal were just working through a small backlog due to pandemic restrictions. Afterwards, my credit card was promptly refunded. I received my money back, and I was only out the shipping fees and customs, which weren’t that much compared to the great deal I would have got if the pants fit!
My Second Order: A Designer Bag
I decided to try ordering something else, since I now had an urge to own a luxury item. To avoid any more sizing issues, I chose to order a handbag. After taking my time and scrolling over the extensive and ever changing selection, I finally found the one. I chose the GORGEOUS Kate Spade Cedar Street patent leather satchel in Pearl Pink. The quality is impeccable. It came with it’s own dust bag from Kate Spade, as well as the standard dust bag provided by The RealReal. It will be my special occasion bag. I’m saving it for going out to nice restaurants, or perhaps traveling. Even after the shipping and customs fees, I still paid about $100 CAD less than the regular price.
If you’ve ever been interested in shopping in a luxury consignment store, check out The RealReal. I was not disappointed!
