Lane Bryant Catalog

Full review
I have ordered from Lane Bryant, (now called Woman Within) for years. I always complain about it because the service is pathetic, but many of the items in the catalog, you can't find locally, so I'm stuck.

Here's what you can expect:

#1 Long shipping time, can take weeks to get your order. Once you place your order, they hold it for several days before they even ship it. Then the shipping time is long.

#2 Out of stock, without exception EVERY time I have ordered in the past 8 years, something if not most of my order has been back-ordered. Many times I have ordered something as soon as I got the catalog and still never received it. Case in point: I received a catalog in August. There was a sweatsuit I wanted. I knew they are backordered frequently, so I ordered right away. Naturally it was backordered. In February, I was still getting the item is back ordered. Finally in April, they had one piece of the sweatsuit available. Mind you, they never say that the item is out of stock in the numerous catalogs they keep sending w/the same items in it. Sometimes online when you place an order it will say backordered and give you the option to order anyway, but many times it doesn't mention it. You just find out 3 weeks later when some of your order arrives.

#3 Phony sales. If you check your catalog, it will have all these sales prices, was $$$, now $$. Untrue. The catalog has that price (the alleged sale price), all year. I guess it's to make you think your getting a deal.

#4 Quality. Don't expect a high quality item. Expect Walmart quality and you won't be disappointed. I've ordered identical items, same color even, and gotten different measurements, different quality. I ordered a 3 pk of aprons in one size, on 2 different occasions. Both times, one apron was several sizes smaller than the others, (even though labeled the same). Both times at least one apron had a broken hook. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

#5 Lane Bryant, Woman Within, Roamans, they're all the same people and all have the same issues.

Pros: items you don't necessarily find locally, easy to order from catalog
Cons: items out of stock, never in stock to begin with, slow shipping, phony sales

UPDATE: I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, because last night I attempted orders again w/both Lane Bryant aka Woman Within and Roamans. Here's how that worked: At Lane Bryant (or as my kids call it LAME Bryant, I attempted to order 2 cotton shirts, 2 stretch shirts. Of the 4 only one was in stock. On the stretch shirts they listed the price of the teal shirt as $17.99, but I could buy the lilac one for $22.99. Huh? I decided to go to Roamans. I ordered 2 pair of sandals, both were out of stock. I ordered 2 shirts & 2 pair of coordinating pants. Only one pair of pants was in stock and only one shirt. Typical. They say the items may be in at the end of the month, but if it's like my other experiences, I can expect a notice in the mail saying it's still backordered in a couple weeks.