Woman Within

Full review
It is convenient at gift-giving times when people hand me a list and an internet shopping site. That way I can pick and choose from the list, and the person will like what I purchase for them. A win-win situation! That’s how I’ve come to shop at the Lane Bryant Catalog Online.


What is Lane Bryant?

Lane Bryant is a company that sells clothing and accessories for women (sizes 14W to 44W). They offer a variety of clothing and a selection of shoes.


Preamble -- How I Log onto Lane Bryant’s Website

I usually visit the Lane Bryant Catalog website after receiving their paper catalog in the mail. My mother is the person I purchase for when shopping from Lane Bryant. Armed with her battalion of Post-it Flags, she marks various pages of the print catalog with notes on color and size preferences. I can then log onto the Lane Bryant Catalog website and go shopping!

The print catalog lists the website address as: www.lanebryantcatalog.com; however, this same website can be entered using www.lbcatalog.com.


Navigating the Website

The Home Page is loaded with colorful graphics and filled with helpful links to various departments. At first glance the links might seem overwhelming since there are so many of them. However, the links are logically organized so that the website is easy to navigate.

The Top

The top of the Home Page offers various links: Request a Catalog / Lane Bryant Catalog Credit Card / Order Status / My Info / Register-Login / Help. There is also a shopping basket at the upper right that shows how many items are currently in the shopping basket and offers the choice of viewing the items or checking out.

Beneath these options are more links: Welcome (which is the Home Page) / Departments (opens a page of text links by category, broken into subcategories) / What’s New / Size Shop (explains sizing) / Clearance.

To the Left

The left side of the Home Page is filled with links. The first option, however, is a Search Box where one can search by keyword. For instance, I typed in the words “split skirt” and a page opened showing one result. I typed in the word “bathrobe” and a the page showed 8 bathrobe choices. I typed in “suede shoe” and 10 products were displayed.

Beneath the Search Box is another box where you can type in the catalog order number. This is a quick way to shop if you have a Lane Bryant print catalog.

Then a list of Department links is provided: Maternity / Knit Tops & Tees / Sweaters / Shirts & Blouses / Bottoms / Jackets & Blazers / Outerwear / Dresses / Special Occasion / Suits / Shoes by Brand / Shoes / Sets / Swim 365 / Robes & Sleepwear / Bra Finder / Intimate Apparel / Petites / Talls / Uniforms / Woman Within / Web Only Specials

Beneath the Departs are a few more links: Email Offers / Apply for Our Credit Card / Size Charts / Fashion Glossary / Gift Certificates. There is also a section of Features such as the Coat & Boot Sale currently being promoted.

To the Middle & Right

The middle and right of the page are devoted to colorful graphics that advertise various sales and clearance items. There is also a large banner that states they ship via UPS.

The Bottom

The bottom of the Home Page is filled with even more links! These links are divided into five columns. The first column lists the various Departments. The next column offers Shopping Tools (ex: Track Delivery / Track Return). The third column is called My Info where you can access your personal information such as shipping address and payment method. Next is the Help column, which offers all sorts of helpful links (ex: Billing-Payment / Shipping & Handling / Returns-Exchanges). The last column offers a variety of links to various Lane Bryant enterprises such as their home decor catalogs as well as their other businesses such as Roaman’s, Chadwick’s, Lerner and KingSize.


Filling my Shopping Basket

During my latest online shopping excursion, I knew the catalog numbers of what I needed to purchase. So I typed the item numbers into the “Order From Catalog” box. That brought me directly to the item page where I could select size and color.

Other times I have browsed through the department links, and it is always fun to check out the clearance items just to see if a bargain is available. I have made a few purchases that way.

Each item page offers a large color photo of the item. There is also a button to press that will show an even bigger photo; one that you can zoom into to see details. There is a text description of the item, too, including fabric content and washing instructions (if applicable). If the item comes in a variety of colors, there are color swatches to show the various choices. Beside each color swatch is a drop-down menu of the sizes with prices that are available. To select an item, choose the size and click “Add to Basket”.

A downside to this website is that to change the quantity of an item, or to check availability, you have to click on the “View” Shopping Basket icon at the top of the screen. When an item is placed in the basket, the quantity is automatically entered as one item. Viewing the Shopping Basket is easy and changing the quantities is also easy. I just wish they had an option to select quantity on the item page. It is also easy to delete the entire basket of merchandise or to update quantities and items in the View Shopping Basket area.

On each item page are also sizing charts and a Fashion Glossary. The Size Charts break down various measurements (ex: bust, waist, hips, height) and show which size to order. The Fashion Glossary will explain any term that is unfamiliar. For example: “Ballerina Neckline” is “a wide scooped neckline that shows off the collar bones”. The glossary is arranged so that it is easy to click on a letter A to Z to easily find a term definition.

Going to the View Shopping Cart icon, it is easy to see a summary of what has been selected. A small photograph is at the left of each item listed. There is even an order subtotal and the shipping & handling charges are shown. I love it when a website is open about shipping costs.

The costs of items is good. As with everything, I comparison shop for value. However, I have no complaint in general about what Lane Bryant Catalog Online charges for items. For instance, the items I purchased for my mother: 1 skirt, $12.99 and two shirts at $14.99 each.


Gift Certificates

I have never ordered a gift certificate from Lane Bryant. The gift certificates can be used to place orders online, via phone or by mail. Gift certificates can be ordered as paper gift certificates that are mailed to you or the recipient, or as gift certificates that are sent via e-mail. There are detailed instructions on the website that explain how to use a gift certificate online (under the Gift Certificate link on the Home Page). Gift certificates can be ordered in $5.00 increments starting with $5.00. The website does not give a limit on how large a gift certificate can be.


Checkout, Payment & Shipping Options

To check out, click on the “Check Out” icon at the top of the page. A screen opens requesting that return customers log in with their e-mail address and password. If you are not registered, another link prompts you to register with Lane Bryant before continuing the order process. As you can guess, they require the usual information of name, address, telephone, e-mail address. You will also need to select a password, and if you are ordering from a catalog, they request the ID Number in the yellow box on the catalog cover.

Once logged in, a new screen appears that asks if the billing address is the same as the shipping address. If not, you can type in the shipping address information. You also have the option of selecting whether the order is a gift, and a gift invoice will be included with the shipment that does not include prices.

Also select the shipping method; there are three choices. Note that Lane Bryant ships via UPS. If orders are placed before 2:00 p.m. EST, the following shipping schedules apply:

Standard – 6 to 10 business days
Express – An expected delivery date is given (about 3 to 4 business days)
Superfast – An expected delivery date is given (about 2 business days)

For Standard Shipping, you can expect the following charges:

up to $19.00 – $5.99
$19.01 - $39.00 – $6.99
$39.01 - $59.00 – $7.99
$59.01 - $79.00 – $9.99
$79.01 - $99.00 – $11.99
$99.01 - $119.00 – $13.99
$119.01 - $139.00 – $14.99
over $139.01 – $16.99

For Express Shipping, add $7.99 to the regular shipping & handling charges. For Superfast Shipping, add $16.99 to the regular shipping & handling charges.

Click “Continue” to advance to the next page, which summarizes the order. At this time, if there is any tax, it is added to the subtotal and shipping & handling charges.

Of course, Lane Bryant wants to push its personal credit card. So a large notice at the bottom of the screen announces: Great news! You have been Pre-Approved for a LaneBryant Catalog Credit Card Account with a credit limit of $xxx. I skip over this congratulatory announcement to the payment method area.

The major credit cards accepted are: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa. Lane Bryant accepts a variety of credit cards, many of them associated with their various sister-businesses. Those other credit cards include: LaneBryant Credit Card, BrylaneHome, Chadwick’s, Jessica London, KingSize, La Redoute, Lerner Catalog, Roaman’s. There is also an area to add a promotion code such as a gift certificate or discount offer.


E-mail Notifications

This is where the website really lets me down. I like receiving notification that my order has been received and is in process. I also like to know when it ships. It would be great if Lane Bryant e-mailed me a tracking number for the shipment.

I have never received an e-mail from Lane Bryant. They even request an e-mail address at registration ... so why not send out simple e-mail notices about an order.


Tracking an Order

It is possible to track an order via the Home Page on the website. At the bottom of the page is a link “Track Delivery”. The order number is displayed as a hyperlink. Click on the order number to view details about the order.

For instance on my last order, I see that it shipped the day after I placed the order. The page shows my payment method, but not the credit card number. It also details the three items I ordered and the costs (shipping and handling was $6.99). There is a UPS tracking number, and next to it a link that says “Track it via UPS”. Click on the link to view details on where the package is in transit.


Receiving the Shipment & Returns

I ordered three items of clothing for my mother (a skirt and two shirts). The package arrived in a timely fashion. The items came in a large soft-sided, yet durable, blue plastic envelope. The clothing was well packaged in individual plastic bags. Included in the shipment was a packing list that detailed the order. There were also return instructions and labels should a return shipment be necessary.

Once I returned something ... a long time ago. I forget the reason. But it was simple to package up the item and send it via UPS back to Lane Bryant. They do charge for return shipments. Their website says that it costs $4.50 to return a shipment by dropping it off at a UPS center (or handing it to a UPS driver). Or you can request that UPS stop at your residence to pick up the shipment for a $6.00 return cost. Either way, make sure you keep the UPS tracking number so that you can track the return shipment.


Customer Service

On occasion I have phoned Lane Bryant and spoken with a service representative about products. Sometimes I needed to know more about a garment or have asked if they carry a particular type of clothing that I couldn’t locate. Other times an item may have been out of stock, and I wanted to know an approximate restocking date.

In every conservation, Lane Bryant personnel have been courteous and helpful. Even if they don’t know an answer, they do their best to track it down.


Summary

My mother likes Lane Bryant clothing. She is pleased with the quality of their items and still owns Lane Bryant clothing that she purchased many years ago. I’m glad my mother gave me a wish list of items that she wanted from Lane Bryant. It made shopping a breeze, and I know that she’s happy with her presents. I even selected a few surprise items for her based on other “like” items she had on her list! I will shop at Lane Bryant Catalog Online again.

I hope that you have found this review useful.

Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com


Additional Information

Lane Bryant Catalog is completely unassociated with Lane Bryant retail stores. The two are separate business entities.

Lane Bryant
P.O. Box 4408
Taunton, MA 02780-0433

Toll-free Phone: 800-677-0216


Please read my other reviews:

Best Buy Online Store

Buy.com Online Store

Staples Online Store

Hogwild Online Store

Harry and David Online and at the Mall

Betty Crocker Online Catalog

Cooking.com Online Store

The Republic of Tea Online Store

Burpee Online Store

Keepsake Quilting Online Store

Joann.com Online Store

Writer’s Digest Book Club

Uproar.com Online Games

Pogo.com Online Games



Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart