A couple years ago I did this experiment where I decided I'd only buy clothes and fashion accessories from portuguese brands. Truth is I buy new stuff not because I need it I just see something I really liked and I get it, so what if I can support local companies? The experiment lasted 1 year and then I gave up and went back to fast fashion. I don't know how it's like in other countries but a lot of the small portuguese companies are clearly amateurs when it comes to customer service, and you don't even need to spend any money to learn how to treat customers. Here are some examples:
- Shop is supposed to open at 10AM: It's 10:15AM and the door is still closed. I send them a Facebook message and the owner pops up, coming somewhere from the basement.
- Buying online: OK I like this dress I saw on Facebook but it doesn't say how much it costs, what sizes there are or shipping methods. So I send a private message to the store. Hours later they reply with the cost, sizes available and shipping method. I ask how can I order the dress. Hours later they reply I need to transfer the money and send them my address. I ask: What's the bank account number? Hours later they reply. Sometimes from the moment I've seen the address to the moment when I have all the info I need to make the purchase, it's been days, and maybe I've decided I no longer want that item after all!
- Buying online: store said the jumpsuit I bought was 100% cotton but it's a cheap polyester. I complain, and they say: OK send us back the item if you don't like it I can sell it to someone else!
- Buying online: I ordered and paid for a customized swimsuit. After I paid, there's silence from the company. 1 week goes by, 2 weeks, all my emails go unanswered! My messages on their instagram are deleted! One day I get a terse email: we sent you an email but just found out it got stuck in draft, somehow we forgot your order, we're short staffed but we'll take care of it. How about APOLOGISING to your paying customer?????????????
- Brand owner bought a 2€ tshirt and a 0,5€ bow from Aliexpress, glued them together and is selling the tshirt for 50€
- Brand is all posh and much loved by the fashion bloggers, their clothes are expensive and poor quality and they're selling for 60€ a dress I saw on Aliexpress for 12€ and trust me it's the same dress!
And the deal about local shops catering to customers better? Depends. In some stores either you're one of the old customers or you'd be ignored. Every time I go to the seamstress she's there chatting someone and I need to wait until she's done chatting before she even says hello to me.
I got to know some really good portuguese brands that I'm faithful to. And some of the companies I've had bad experiences with have (in some cases thankfully!) closed so far. But I get a lot less stressed out buying from Zara or Primark so that's what I'm back to!