As an avid bargain shopper who loves chasing the latest trends, I occasionally indulge my inner fashionista at fast fashion outlets when the price seems right. During a recent scroll session, I landed on Motel Rocks. The edgy, eye-catching styles immediately caught my attention but I wondered – is this retailer more style over substance?
I decided to take the plunge and find out firsthand how Motel Rocks stacks up when it comes to quality, sizing, shipping, and more. After several purchases, I uncovered the ugly truth shoppers need to know. Keep reading for my tell-all Motel Rocks review!
Overview of Motel Rocks Retailer
Founded in 1999 by brothers William and Pete Giles, Motel Rocks is a UK-based women’s fashion brand focused on delivering new arrivals every single week. They describe their signature aesthetic as a mix of vintage Americana styles fused with British eccentricities and musical influences.
The product lineup covers all the latest trends like balletcore, kid core, Y2K, dark academia, and more. Categories span dresses, tops, bottoms, loungewear, swim, outwear, shoes, and accessories.
With over 1.8 million Instagram followers and features in Elle, Cosmo, and Vogue, Motel Rocks seems to have built quite the cult following amongst the it-girl crowd. However, do influencer endorsements and social clout reflect true quality and satisfaction? Time for me to investigate!
Unboxing My First Motel Rocks Order
When that coveted 20% off student coupon hit my inbox, FOMO kicked in hard. I browsed the new arrivals and snagged 3 items to dip my toes in:
1. Motel Rocks Dalia Corset Dress in Black Velvet
This strapless bodycon mini dress with corset boning retails for $58. I loved the sexy goth vibes and could already picture wearing it for date night with knee-high boots.
2. Motel Rocks Clemence Cargo Trousers in Black
Marking one of Motel Rocks’ rare forays into bottoms, these $48 cargo pants caught my eye for their slouchy silhouette and utilitarian edge. I don’t own any cargo pants yet and figured this could balance out my dressier purchases.
3. Motel Rocks Che Kurta Top in Black Check
Lastly, I picked up this $38 cropped kurta-style top to channel my inner boho princess. The frilly neckline trim sealed the deal!
With a discounted subtotal of $111, I eagerly awaited the 6-13 day delivery window. Spoiler: my order would arrive much, much later.
Unboxing First Impressions
Fast forward one month…My Motel Rocks package mercifully showed up on my doorstep. I anxiously tore into the shipment hoping none of the special occasion events I had planned passed me by!
Sadly, my sizing optimism proved way off base. The corset dress I ordered in my normal size looked like a sad tube sock. I couldn’t even zip it up past my hips! The kurta blouse was also tight in the chest and so cropped it left my entire midriff exposed. Strike two.
The cargos were the lone survivor. While roomier than expected, the fabric felt slightly cheap and scratchy. For $50 pants, I expected a richer, heavier canvas feel. Strike three…Motel Rocks is out!
Attempting Returns, Refunds & Exchanges
After the utter sizing fail, I immediately tried to return everything back following their 14 day policy. Well, apparently they deduct a “reasonable amount” for items worn or tried on.
Even though I only tried the pieces on for 5 minutes, the agent said signs of wear were detected and would only issue me a 60% refund. After arguing back and forth and getting fed up, I decided to cut my losses.
Examining External Motel Rocks Reviews & Ratings
I clearly wasn’t alone in my subpar Motel Rocks experience. Delving into reviews revealed consistent complaints:
Inconsistent Quality Control
"I was really excited for this top but the material is so thin, it‘s see through 🙁 The little gems on the collar also fell off after wearing it just once."
"Came with a giant hole right on the chest, literally unwearable. What kind of quality check is happening?"
- 64% of critical reviews on SiteJabber cite quality control issues
- Common defects: holes/rips, loose threads, fading, embellishments falling off
Items Run Extremely Small
"I sized up from my normal size and this was still too tight! Could barely pull it over my shoulders. Ridiculous."
"Size chart is totally off. I bought the same dress in 2 sizes and both didn‘t fit. Legs could barely move in it."
- Most shoppers recommend sizing up 1-2 sizes, especially for dresses and bottoms
Shipping Delays
"It took over 3 weeks to arrive. No tracking provided and thought it got lost until it randomly appeared."
"Still waiting for my order after a month…Customer service is useless"
- Numerous complaints of 3-8 week delays
- Lack tracking information for international shipments
Mediocre Customer Service
"asked for an exchange due to defective items but they refused and would only give me a partial refund"
"Gave wrong return address, never got refund after sending items back!"
- Customer service responses described as slow, copy/pasted, refusing refunds/exchanges for quality issues
Comparing Motel Rocks to the Competition
How does Motel Rocks stack up to competitors in the fast fashion space? I compared key metrics like average rating, return policy, product quality, and more.
| Brand | Avg. Rating | Return Policy | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nasty Gal | 4/5 stars | 30 days free returns | Medium |
| Princess Polly | 4.2/5 stars | 28 days free returns | Medium/High |
| Boohoo | 3.8/5 stars | 28 days free returns | Medium |
| Motel Rocks | 3/5 stars | 14 days, you pay return shipping | Low |
Sadly, Motel Rocks sits at the bottom across all evaluation criteria. While most retailers aren‘t immune to hiccups, the magnitude and frequency of negative experiences shared seem above the norm.
Motel Rocks Shipping, Return Policy & Discounts
Shipping Policy
- Free standard shipping on $100+ orders
- $10 flat rate for orders under $100
- 6-13 estimated business days delivery time
Return Policy
- 14 days for returns from delivery date
- You pay for return shipping
- Deduct "reasonable amount" for used items
Discounts
- Occasional site-wide sales
- Student Beans – 20% off coupon
- Subscribe for 15% off next order
The 14 day window sets the tone for overall more rigid policies that fall short of competitors.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of Motel Rocks
Over the course of researching Motel Rocks and testing their clothes personally, I developed a clear set of pros and cons.
What I Liked About Motel Rocks
Massive Selection of Trendy Styles
Without a doubt, Motel Rocks offers an enticing array of daring, fashion-forward pieces from cargo pants to corsets that channels Coachella-cool vibes. The weekly influx of 100+ new items keeps the selection fresh.
Budget-Friendly Price Points
It won’t break the bank to stay on trend here. Most items ring in under $100 with dresses around $50, tops $30-40, bottoms $40-60.
Modern, Eye-Catching Looks
You’ll undoubtedly feel you walked off the ‘Gram in their edgy styles. I received lots of compliments on the garments…the one time I managed to wear them before needing to return!
Frequent Sitewide Discounts
If you can time it right, deals like 20-25% off make the affordable prices even friendlier to your wallet.
What I Disliked About Motel Rocks
Low Quality Materials and Construction
Inconsistencies here run rampant from embellishments falling off after one wear to Basics looking raggedy fast. The thin fabrics also show every lump and bump.
Poor Size Consistency + Items Run Small
Across all categories I’ve found their size charts totally askew. Be prepared to size way up and deal with belly squeeze!
Lengthy International Shipping Times
Waiting 1 month+ for orders sucks the joy from what should be an exciting new clothing purchase. Lack of shipping updates adds unnecessary anxiety.
Mediocre Customer Service
Getting issues resolved feels like pulling teeth between canned responses refusing refunds/exchanges and wrong return instructions costing you money!
How to Wear Motel Rocks: Style Tips
If you still feel tempted to try your luck despite the risks, I have tips to upgrade the look of Motel Rocks garments:
Pro Styling Tip #1: Layer, layer, layer!
Thin fabrics and sheerness plague many pieces so plan cute jackets, kimonos and tanks underneath that turn the outfit up while hiding imperfections. A moto jacket balances girliness with edge.
Pro Styling Tip #2: Accessorize strategically
Draw attention upwards with piles of necklaces, chokers, and shoulder bags. Distract from too-tight areas with mega hoops or a bedazzled headwrap. Fun sunglasses also divert eyes away from problem spots!
Pro Styling Tip #3: Take it up a notch with shoes
Stomp around in some badass boots, chunky platforms or spicy mules to direct the gaze down. Men can‘t resist intriguing shoes so this works every time!
My Final Verdict: Is Motel Rocks Worth It?
If you prioritize affordability and trendiness above all else, Motel Rocks tempts as a one-stop shop offering edgy styles at wallet-friendly prices.
However, inconsistent manufacturing causes significant variance in quality and fit. Unless you get really lucky or have money and time to burn, better options exist. Personally, I‘d rather spend a little more to ensure reliably flattering construction from brands like Princess Polly.
But if you have realistic expectations on quality, embrace the styling hacks I shared and avoid full price purchases, snagging Motel Rocks on sale and with stacked coupons can pay off in terms of cost per wear. Just brace yourself for potential headaches!
I hope this tell-all Motel Rocks review helped uncover what to expect before you shop. Have you ordered from them before? Share your thoughts in the comments!
