The bugbears of buying what you wear in NZ

Forums › Off topic › The bugbears of buying what you wear in NZ

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

networkn

Networkn
32351 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2070486 9-Aug-2018 10:16

blackjack17:

networkn:

I could certainly understand RE ordering online, but I can't imagine buying something without trying it on, ESP shoes.

These days you can barely trust that if you reorder something it will fit as places are changing their styles. A very small change can take a perfectly fitting shirt completely unwearable.

This is why places like the iconic are so good, free returns. I order several things, try them on, and anything I don't like put in the return bag, drop it off at the front reception at work and the courier picks it up. My credit card is refunded a couple of days later.

I would find that a huge PITA. I can do a years shopping for everything I want/need in an outlet mall in a day or less.

I have learnt handy tricks like buying 10 pairs of identical socks so pairing is easy.

martyyn

1971 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2070494 9-Aug-2018 10:40

I'm 6'5 and having a right laugh at you guys struggling for 34" length trousers ;)

I haven't worn a suit to work for nearly 20 years and as I work for myself I can do what I like. I live rurally, most of my clients are in the classic kiwi stubbies and t-shirt combination and having a Kathmandhu outlet in town means I walk in there every time they have a sale and pick up quality merino items for peanuts. Bought a nice coat last year down from $450 to $80.

For jeans I just buy a couple of pairs online from Gap, but given the climate I spend most of the year in jeans shorts and t-shirts. If I find something I like, that fits well, I'll buy a couple and be done with it.

Life is great when you don't have to worry about what people will think of you in an office for wearing jeans :)

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79287 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2070540 9-Aug-2018 10:47

A few years back I found a couple of nice shirts in a store and got them. The problem I found later is they were short - they would keep inside trousers but get all up around the waist. I since found 3 Wise Men shirts are a very good lenght and fit well - also you have options for nice cotton fabric that irons easily and look good. So now I buy sets of three each time I visit the shop.

I used to wear jeans when younger but now I am wearing suits every day. I bought five sets, rotate them over the week so to not wear the same one over two days. Prices here aren't good but I can't imagine having custom suits made overseas without being there to at least one try.

I buy shoes on Amazon - both dress shoes and sneakers. I took a pair of five year old shoes for repair and was told it was NZ$100 to apply a new sole and it wouldn't last long because of the leather split at the seam. I got a new pair for US$100, free shipping...

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79287 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2070542 9-Aug-2018 10:49

@networkn:

I have learnt handy tricks like buying 10 pairs of identical socks so pairing is easy.

I buy three or four pairs of socks at a time, same colours. I have a few dress up socks with patterns (Hugo Boss, $35 each pair) and wife can't understand why I am so confused when pairs disappear in the wash...

networkn

Networkn
32351 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2070544 9-Aug-2018 10:51

freitasm:

@networkn:

I have learnt handy tricks like buying 10 pairs of identical socks so pairing is easy.

I buy three or four pairs of socks at a time, same colours. I have a few dress up socks with patterns (Hugo Boss, $35 each pair) and wife can't understand why I am so confused when pairs disappear in the wash...

For that price Hugo better come and put them on my feet each day! :)

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79287 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2071144 10-Aug-2018 10:44

networkn:

freitasm:

I buy three or four pairs of socks at a time, same colours. I have a few dress up socks with patterns (Hugo Boss, $35 each pair) and wife can't understand why I am so confused when pairs disappear in the wash...

For that price Hugo better come and put them on my feet each day! :)

They go really well with the shoes I buy on Amazon and receive in New Zealand, free shipping, in about a week. The shoes are half price of NZ retail so there's a bit of room in the finances for that. And for the weekly coffee.

networkn

Networkn
32351 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2071168 10-Aug-2018 11:16

freitasm:

networkn:

freitasm:

I buy three or four pairs of socks at a time, same colours. I have a few dress up socks with patterns (Hugo Boss, $35 each pair) and wife can't understand why I am so confused when pairs disappear in the wash...

For that price Hugo better come and put them on my feet each day! :)

They go really well with the shoes I buy on Amazon and receive in New Zealand, free shipping, in about a week. The shoes are half price of NZ retail so there's a bit of room in the finances for that. And for the weekly coffee.

Interesting. Can I ask, are these re-orders of shoes you already buy? Or did you buy them sight untried?

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

langers1972

1039 posts

Uber Geek

#2071181 10-Aug-2018 11:28

SteveC83:

kryptonjohn:

langers1972:

www.sportsdirect.com is awesome too and has really great brands at super cheap prices, delivery is less than a $ no matter what you order

Interesting - it asks me if I want the UK or NZ website - which do you pick?

Choose NZ. Prices are all in NZ dollars that way.

They usually have a code for either 20% off clothing or another code for 20% off footwear.

Shipping is $1.99 and takes about 7-10 days.

You'll find that the price is often higher on the NZ site though as it doesn't seem to convert at any current FX rate. I always use the UK one and have ordered everything from T-Shirts to ski boots and it's all shipped for the same rate which is great if you're buying oversized/heavy. The prices on some things are nothing short of ridiculously cheap. Nike Airmax for $60

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79287 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2071187 10-Aug-2018 11:34

@networkn:

freitasm:

They go really well with the shoes I buy on Amazon and receive in New Zealand, free shipping, in about a week. The shoes are half price of NZ retail so there's a bit of room in the finances for that. And for the weekly coffee.

Interesting. Can I ask, are these re-orders of shoes you already buy? Or did you buy them sight untried?

I tyry doing reorders but I found out the models disappear - I still have a pair of Bostonian shoes that I bought from Amazon five years ago and when I tried to reorder week before last they didn't exist anymore. So I just ordered new Florsheim - if I get size 9M they pretty much fit well, regardless of brand - wearing these ones for the first time today.

I try to have four or five pair of shoes. A couple are leather soles, others are rubber soles. Never wear rubber soles in wet weather (Metservice is your friend) and make sure to not wear a pair of shoes two days in a row, so they can dry. Also I tend to put the shoes in the bathroom for a couple of hours when I get some, where we have a dehumidifier. I then use a cedar shoe tree (not plastic) because these absorb any dampness left behind and keep the shape. Every month I apply some shoe polishing and keep then clean (interesting there aren't many shoe cleaners in NZ streets, like there are in the USA - they are everywhere in hotels, airports, malls, etc).

My shoes tend to last years this way.

networkn

Networkn
32351 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2071226 10-Aug-2018 12:18

freitasm:

My shoes tend to last years this way.

I have flat feet, makes buying shoes a nightmare. When I make my trips to singapore I buy slip on's which aren't the best. They cost like $60, look smart and I normally buy 4 at a time and have 2 in rotation. My last 2 pairs lasted a couple of years. They aren't very supportive (at all), but they are comfortable, and so long as they look good and are comfortable, that's quite a win for me. I bought a pair from a menwear store, can't recall the brand, popular and high end. They cost $400. They were comfortable but fully closed in with laces, and whilst they were undoublably better quality, couldn't justify another pair, as they certainly won't last the distance, taking into account cost, of my cheaper pairs.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#2071480 10-Aug-2018 18:27

When I travel now I try to go with a pretty empty suitcase, and hit the US outlet shops and Walmart while I'm over there. Compared to NZ I find the quality is generally better, they range of sizes and other choice is greater, and the pricing is vastly better. Jeans that I find here for circa $NZ 150 are around $US29 there, and were available in quarter sizes (we seem to go up in half sizes at best) and in a wider range of cuts.

shk292

2855 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2071493 10-Aug-2018 19:25

Just wanted to thank @langers1972 for pointing out that sportsdirect deliver to NZ. I just ordered a bunch of stuff from there for $107, including $1.99 for delivery, that would probably cost $250 here. I did a load of shopping there last year on a UK trip.

If I was running Rebel sport and saw this thread I'd be crapping myself

1 | 2 | 3 | 4