Advice sought: Where to purchase my next new Mulberry from?

[Neat87]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully offer some advice!

I have been considering a new Mulberry for a while and am now saved up and ready to purchase. After much consideration I have decided I will get the most use out of a small Antony in oak- I spend most of my time in the countryside, walking the dogs etc and want something less formal than my beloved chocolate bays. It will also match my Effie purse and blackberry case (yes, I know they are rather out of date but I *just* about know how to use it now…) I have also decided to buy new as I have been put off by all the fakes on ebay and can afford a new one now.

My problem is that I don’t know where to purchase it. I had a bad experience in 2012(?) with the Mulberry website. My husband bought me a Daria hobo for my birthday, my first mulberry bag, and it was packed very decadently in their special Fantastic Mr Fox campaign packaging- fake bird and all- and was all very lovely and special. Unfortunately under all of this they had sent me a bag with a complete circular indentation and two deep indents in the back, made from the front disc of another Daria bag- presumably they had been packed to close together at some point. I was gutted that someone had picked and sent this to me as it was so obvious! Mulberry were not helpful and due to stock take refused to even confirm receipt of the bag back to them and then my husband had to chase for a refund- twice. So this has put me off buying directly. Maybe I'm wrong about this now?


I don’t live near a Mulberry store but we do have a HOF and JL in Norwich, my nearest city, and I believe that Collen and Clare in Southwold sell them too. I am currently leaning towards ordering from JL online- they will make a 3% donation to the charity I support through easyfundraising. My only hesitation is am I going to be missing out on the mulberry packaging experience that makes the occasion of a new bag feel more special? I know it is a bit shallow but I do love a bit of indulgent packaging!

Are there any other websites and I should consider? I have browsed the shopping section- but this doesn’t give opinion on the whole buying experience that I am looking for, if you know what I mean.

Many thanks for any opinions and advice anyone can offer.

 

[Mooshooshoo]

Hello Neat87,

Welcome to the Mulberry forum.

Sorry to her your first Mulberry experience was not as you had hoped, but glad this has not put you off.

There is a thread which contains lots of information on places which sell Mulberry here:

http://forum.purseblog.com/mulberry...ebsites-for-authentic-mulberry-no-724821.html

It's also worth mentioning the Mulberry outlet stores at Cheshire Oaks, York, Bicester and Shepton Mallet, which sell mulberrys at around 30% off RRP and provide a mail order service.

I'm sure other members will be able to advise of their experiences too..

 

[Ukpandagirl]

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully offer some advice!

I have been considering a new Mulberry for a while and am now saved up and ready to purchase. After much consideration I have decided I will get the most use out of a small Antony in oak- I spend most of my time in the countryside, walking the dogs etc and want something less formal than my beloved chocolate bays. It will also match my Effie purse and blackberry case (yes, I know they are rather out of date but I *just* about know how to use it now…) I have also decided to buy new as I have been put off by all the fakes on ebay and can afford a new one now.

My problem is that I don’t know where to purchase it. I had a bad experience in 2012(?) with the Mulberry website. My husband bought me a Daria hobo for my birthday, my first mulberry bag, and it was packed very decadently in their special Fantastic Mr Fox campaign packaging- fake bird and all- and was all very lovely and special. Unfortunately under all of this they had sent me a bag with a complete circular indentation and two deep indents in the back, made from the front disc of another Daria bag- presumably they had been packed to close together at some point. I was gutted that someone had picked and sent this to me as it was so obvious! Mulberry were not helpful and due to stock take refused to even confirm receipt of the bag back to them and then my husband had to chase for a refund- twice. So this has put me off buying directly. Maybe I'm wrong about this now?


I don’t live near a Mulberry store but we do have a HOF and JL in Norwich, my nearest city, and I believe that Collen and Clare in Southwold sell them too. I am currently leaning towards ordering from JL online- they will make a 3% donation to the charity I support through easyfundraising. My only hesitation is am I going to be missing out on the mulberry packaging experience that makes the occasion of a new bag feel more special? I know it is a bit shallow but I do love a bit of indulgent packaging!

Are there any other websites and I should consider? I have browsed the shopping section- but this doesn’t give opinion on the whole buying experience that I am looking for, if you know what I mean.

Many thanks for any opinions and advice anyone can offer.

OMG My main purchases are from Norwich HOF and Courtney, Katie and Beth are just the best ever SAs. Go to see them as they will look after you. Go go go.....

 

[Ukpandagirl]

To be fair Collin and Claire are good too and if you shop there regularly they will give you 10% off but you don't get any packaging or frills if you get my drift x

 

[Neat87]

OMG My main purchases are from Norwich HOF and Courtney, Katie and Beth are just the best ever SAs. Go to see them as they will look after you. Go go go.....

Oooo I notice you are norfolk-suffolk borders- not near Bungay, my home town, by any chance? What a coincidence if you are! I don't meet many people locally that appreciate a really nice bag Although we do have a new shop on Earsham street that sells really nice pre-loved clothing. They had a mulberry Antony but sadly I wasn't paying attention when the owner told me (they had a half price off everything to clear for sinter sale on so my mind was otherswise engaged...) and it had sold.

 

[Neat87]

To be fair Collin and Claire are good too and if you shop there regularly they will give you 10% off but you don't get any packaging or frills if you get my drift x

I don't shop there regularly, it is so chaotic to park in Southwold duing the summer months and holidays. We are going to a beach hut there next weekend that we have got for my father in laws birthday but I don't think I have the confidence to pull off 'Hello, how have you been since my many previous visits...' line! 10% off would be nearly a quarter of the way towards a new oak organiser to match though....

 

[Ukpandagirl]

Oooo I notice you are norfolk-suffolk borders- not near Bungay, my home town, by any chance? What a coincidence if you are! I don't meet many people locally that appreciate a really nice bag Although we do have a new shop on Earsham street that sells really nice pre-loved clothing. They had a mulberry Antony but sadly I wasn't paying attention when the owner told me (they had a half price off everything to clear for sinter sale on so my mind was otherswise engaged...) and it had sold.

How funny, I live just outside Bungay in Homersfield! I have been in the preloved shop but not recently as I've been a big bogged down with work.

If you live nearby am happy to have a mulberry coffee catch up in the Earsham street cafe if you'd like. Always nice to meet people with the same hobbies/interests. I know what you mean about southwold. It's always a mare and I try not to go there too much but the sale at Collen and Clare is worth the grief for a mulberry bargain

 

[Neat87]

How funny, I live just outside Bungay in Homersfield! I have been in the preloved shop but not recently as I've been a big bogged down with work.

If you live nearby am happy to have a mulberry coffee catch up in the Earsham street cafe if you'd like. Always nice to meet people with the same hobbies/interests. I know what you mean about southwold. It's always a mare and I try not to go there too much but the sale at Collen and Clare is worth the grief for a mulberry bargain

Out of all the people on this world wide forum I would never expect to speak to someone who lives within a few miles! I use to drive past Homersfield daily to work and occasionaly visit the Black Swan for dinner.

It would be nice to meet at Earsham Street cafe- oddly I have never been. I was discussing the merits of where we live with someone last night, they couldn't understand why anyone would want to live anywhere except Norwich and insisited anyone not wanting to live there just hadn't lived on the 'right' (Thorpe) side. I love this area with the querky little towns and easy access (and exit) from Norwich!

 

[Neat87]

So.... bribed the husband with the promise of a costa and we went off to Southwold after school today so I could have a look in Collen and Claire. It turns out they don't stock Antony anymore but offered to order one in for me and when I said don’t worry I can go to HOF in Norwich for one they offered me 5% off, so I couldn’t refuse could I?! Fingers crossed they can get one for me now

 

[Ukpandagirl]

So.... bribed the husband with the promise of a costa and we went off to Southwold after school today so I could have a look in Collen and Claire. It turns out they don't stock Antony anymore but offered to order one in for me and when I said don’t worry I can go to HOF in Norwich for one they offered me 5% off, so I couldn’t refuse could I?! Fingers crossed they can get one for me now

Oops! Looks like you'll have to bring your new lovely out for a coffee then. There is another purse forum member across the road from me in my village, mind you I did put her on the site and enabled too many of her bags and she of me. Meeting a new fellow follower of the mulb would be nice. The cafe is apparently fab. I too have never been!

Norwich is nice but being born there, I was glad to get out. And I agree, it's nice to go there but nicer to come home to piece and say parking

Don't forget a cheeky reveal when you get her!!

 

[Mulberrygal]

Sorry to hear your first Purchase from M.com wasn't a good experience. I'm also miles away from stores, my nearest are London. I mostly buy from M.com or the Outlets by post and I've never had a bad experience. I think you must have just been very unlucky. Online they do also offer easy free returns which are picked up and I find hassle free. If you're returning the whole order within 14 days they also refund your postage.

If it were me I'd definitely wait for the sales, 20-30% off is well worth having. Most concession stores will also post out from store. It's probably also worth ringing round the Outlets, they quite often have specials. I purchased an Antony from the Outlet several years ago. It's a good idea to get the SA to give it a good look over before they post it. I've always found them very obliging when I've placed a mail order.

If you do ever decide to go down the "pre-loved" route. There are alternatives to EBay, NPN is a trusted seller, she gives an in-depth description and masses of close up pics. Labels most wanted is also very good.