Bloomingdale's

Full review
An argument can be made that Bloomingdales may be the most recognized department store around, but however famous they may be, there are vast areas of the country that lack the fun of a department store in their locale. You'd think that Bloomingdales.com would be the logical choice to fit that bill but then you'd be sadly mistaken. Read on to see why this might be the single biggest disappointment I've come across yet in a major store's website.

The Site--
When I titled my review Flashy, Slow and a Time-Waster I was referring directly to the website and it's performance. It is the single slowest loading e-tailer's website I've ever visited. The graphics are crisp, flashy and Sloooooooooow to load. They are the streaming variety and I didn't see an option to turn them off. Every single page I clicked on took ages, and it was almost enough to cause me to stop browsing before I began.

The Products-
I don't have a Bloomingdales department store in my area, so years ago when I got a Bloomie's store charge card I did all my ordering from the frequent catalogs. They are essentially a typical higher end department store, with offerings for the whole family and in all size ranges. Famous makers abound. They also sell cosmetics, shoes, accessories, and the whole range of home products. I should clarify here, that's what the stores & catalogs offer, the website for some odd reason offers decidedly less selection.

Where's All The Stuff?-
I know that Bloomingdales has tons of great things, and I've got the bills to prove it, but where oh where is everything on the web? It appears that all they offer online is wedding services and registry. When I clicked into the gifts section I was able to get suggestions by gender and upcoming holiday, but once I found a product I liked all I got was the catalog number to call and order from. Hummph, I could already to that before! There is also a tab to take you to a catalog quick order section where you can place a catalog order online, provided you actually have a catalog in your possession. This is not a practical website, nor is it comparable to many other major stores like Kohl's or Macy's that offer almost all of their products online.

Shipping-

Hold on to something, because shipping is steep! It is calculated by item price and begins at $5.95 for items less than $25.00! It goes up from their at approximately $25.00-$50.00 intervals. Items come by standard UPS delivery.


Notably Absent-
--Gone from the site is a search feature. I never knew how much I used them until there was NONE!
--Also missing is a customer service section. I truly appreciate a merchant that lays out in one place what and how shipping will be done, the costs incurred, gift wrapping options, and contact information. These things can all be found, but in keeping with the vibe of this site, it'll be difficult going!

Final Thoughts-
Please take me advice and just skip this disappointing site. The only thing I find it useful for is marveling at how badly a big company can design a website. Stick to the catalog and your shopping will go much more smoothly!