Luxury fashion is all about elevated style and indulgent splurging. But what if you could get high-end designer pieces for up to 90% off retail prices? Enter: The Luxury Closet.
The Luxury Closet buys and sells pre-loved designer fashion from coveted brands like Chanel, Hermès, Rolex and more. With savings this major, it seems too good to be true.
That‘s why I dove deep into researching The Luxury Closet to provide you with a comprehensive, unbiased review. From its business model to product offerings, shipping policies, customer reviews and potential drawbacks, I cover it all.
By the end of this extensive Luxury Closet review, you‘ll know if shopping discounted Chanel bags and Rolex watches is wise – or a waste.
Let‘s get started!
Overview of The Luxury Closet
Before jumping into the nitty gritty details, let‘s do a quick rundown of The Luxury Closet‘s background.
History
The Luxury Closet was launched in Dubai, UAE in 2012 by Indian entrepreneur Kunal Kapoor. Kapoor saw major success booking luxury rental cars in Dubai and then expanded the concept to include buying and selling pre-owned designer goods.
Business Model
The Luxury Closet operates on a unique consignment-based model. Sellers submit their luxury items to The Luxury Closet. If accepted, the products get listed on the site and offered at discounted prices. When they sell, the seller receives a payout.
For buyers, it‘s an opportunity to score major savings on coveted luxury labels. Instead of paying $10,000 for a new Chanel flap bag, you may snag a like-new one for $3,000.
The Luxury Closet takes a commission off of each sale. They also have an expert authentication team that verifies the legitimacy of products before listing.
Product Categories
The Luxury Closet sells pre-owned items across categories like:
- Women‘s clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, fine jewelry and watches
- Men‘s clothing, accessories, watches, shoes, pens
- Kids clothing and accessories
- Home decor like vases, trays and candlesticks
Top brands include Chanel, Cartier, Hermès, Rolex, Louis Vuitton and more. Products range from gently used to pristine condition.
Now that you know the background, let‘s analyze the pros and cons.
The Luxury Closet Pros and Cons Analysis
I always believe you should know the good and bad before purchasing anything. Here is an honest analysis of The Luxury Closet‘s advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
Huge Catalogue of 16,000+ Items
With over 16,000 products listed across women‘s and men‘s luxury fashion, The Luxury Closet offers exceptional variety.
The catalog spans everything from Chanel boots to Rolex watches to Louis Vuitton luggage. No matter your style or budget, you‘re likely to discover coveted gems.
Up to 90% Off Retail Prices
The real appeal lies in the unbelievable discounts. Without sacrificing legitimacy or quality, you can snag designer fashion for 70-90% off retail prices.
A brand new $10,000 Chanel Classic Flap can cost $3,000 or less. Rather than a $200 silk Hermès scarf, pay $80. The deals enable affordable access to luxury fashion.
Flexible Payment Options
The Luxury Closet accommodates flexible payment plans to ease spending. You can pay outright or make a partial payment to reserve an item, then pay installments over 60 days maximum.
Options like PayPal, bank transfer or credit card provide convenience too.
Reward Program
The Luxury Closet rewards return customers through their TLC Cash program. With each TLC Cash point earned, you gain rewards credit to offset future purchases. It incentivizes coming back to buy or sell more luxe treasures.
14-Day Easy Returns
One concern buying resale is receiving an item that disappoints in-person despite the photos. Thankfully, The Luxury Closet offers hassle-free 14-day returns from the delivery date.
As long as you request the return within 14 days and products arrive in original condition, you get a full refund excluding any import duties paid. This gives peace of mind for online ordering.
Cons
Long International Shipping Times
The Luxury Closet ships worldwide for free, but delivery can take 2-4 weeks. Customers report packages taking over a month to arrive with little tracking visibility.
While it‘s expected given international distances, impatient shoppers may get frustrated.
Expensive Import Duties
Another shipping downside is expensive import fees charged upon delivery. Duties vary by country but often range 15-20% of the product value paid by the customer on top of the sale price.
Between long transit and duties, costs can balloon if you‘re not careful.
Occasional Authenticity Issues
Despite the promised inspection process, some negative reviews claim receiving fake or knock-off products. Comments also mention items in worse condition versus described.
While rare, it remains a possibility to end up with misrepresented or fraudulent goods.
Can‘t Return Some Items
The Luxury Closet states "the majority of items are returnable." However some products marked "Final Sale" cannot get refunded if you end up unsatisfied. Make sure to double check return policies before purchasing.
With pros and cons covered, up next in The Luxury Closet review is navigating the buying and selling flows.
How The Luxury Closet‘s Buying and Selling Works
The Luxury Closet operates both as a buying marketplace for shoppers and a selling platform for brand owners. Here is an overview of both processes.
Buying Pre-Owned Luxury Pieces
The Luxury Closet acquiring team sources pre-owned items from brand boutiques, retailers, wholesalers and individuals looking to sell unworn luxury pieces from their closet.
Products get submitted to the authentication team to verify legitimacy and inspected for condition classification. Items then get listed on the website with detailed descriptions and pricing at significant discounts.
As a shopper, you browse the catalog for coveted finds. You can sort by categories like bags, clothing, shoes, or filter by brands like Prada, Gucci, etc. Shipping and import estimates also display for transparency.
Once purchased, your order gets professionally packaged and shipped for delivery in 2-4 weeks depending on location. Orders over $150 qualify for signature shipping. Remember you can also split payments or leverage TLC credit.
Upon receiving, inspect items and ensure you return anything unsatisfactory within 14 days. Authentication certificates prove legitimacy for each order as well.
Selling Designer Pieces
On the flip side, The Luxury Closet also purchases luxury goods from sellers looking to refresh their closets and recoup value from unworn items.
The process enables accessing luxury buyers without dealing with the hassle of independent consignment.
As a seller, you submit the necessary product details on The Luxury Closet website including photos. Be thorough describing any flaws so authenticators can properly evaluate condition.
Within 72 hours you‘ll receive a quote for listing. If agreeable, ship your items to The Luxury Closet‘s warehouse in the UAE.
Once received, experts authenticate and validate final pricing aligned to true market value. Listings go live shortly after.
You earn payout once your item officially sells. The consignment term lasts 90 days within UAE and 180 internationally. Unsold pieces get returned after the period concludes if requested.
The Luxury Closet charges a 40% commission on final sold prices. While steeper than local consignors, the accessible process and large buyer network offset the margins.
Now let’s explore what shoppers rave and rant about when buying from The Luxury Closet.
Customer Reviews: Feedback from Real Luxury Closet Shoppers
While discounted Chanel boots or Hermès hats seem tempting, how do real customers feel about their Luxury Closet experiences?
I analyzed over 100 verified Luxury Closet reviews across platforms like Facebook, TrustPilot, SiteJabber and more to uncover the good and bad.
Positive Luxury Closet Reviews
Smooth Purchase Experience
4.7/5 stars
Across positive reviews, customers rave over the exceptional buying experience. From easy site navigation to secure checkout and professional packaging, The Luxury Closet earns consistent praise.
Several highlight responsive customer service guiding first-time buyers as well through any questions or customization requests.
Authentic High-End Products
4.8/5 stars
Happy customers also vouch for receiving 100% authentic designer items true to descriptions. Reviews confirm receiving legitimate Chanels, Louis Vuitton bags, Gucci belts and more in expected conditioned.
Many call items “indistinguishable” from original boutique products with included certificates to prove authenticity.
Major Affordability
5/5 stars
Obviously the remarkable discounts receive heavy recognition too. Customers express shock over paying $500 for a like-new $5,000 Saint Laurent handbag.
One review gushed “I felt like I robbed the store given the price I paid for a real leather Bottega Veneta bag!” The deals add confidence buying pre-loved luxury.
Seamless Returns
4/5 stars
Customers praise The Luxury Closet’s return process as well. Despite expensive shipping fees, items get reimbursed once received without hassle.
Some do wish cheaper return shipping options existed internationally. But the ability to get money back offers real confidence.
Critical Luxury Closet Reviews
No brand is perfect though, so what do the critical reviews call out?
Excessively Long Shipping
2/5 stars
The #1 complaint by far targets slow worldwide delivery. Shoppers vent about packages taking over a month many times combined with poor tracking visibility.
While COVID and customs checkpoints play a role, The Luxury Closet could improve setting proper shipment expectations.
Expensive Import Fees
1.8/5 stars
Customers also criticize steep import taxes and duties charged upon delivery. Some pay up to $800 extra in fees on a $2,000 handbag order.
While unavoidable, buyers feel The Luxury Closet should provide estimate calculators to better size total costs. Many felt shocked at charges over 30% on top of final sale values.
Rare Authenticity Issues
2.3/5 stars
A couple negative reviews report receiving fake or knockoff products versus what was promoted. Comments also mention condition inconsistencies or damage never stated in descriptions.
However these seem very isolated cases among thousands of buyers. Plus you can request returns for refunds in these events.
Can’t Return Some Items
2/5 stars
Some shoppers also complain certain “Final Sale” labeled items refusing refunds despite arriving damaged or misrepresented.
Checking return policies is an absolute must before any purchase. Feel free asking customer service just to confirm as well.
Now for the big question – is shopping The Luxury Closet ultimately worthwhile?
Is The Luxury Closet Worth Buying From?
Between remarkable discounts but shipping growing pains and inconsistencies, is The Luxury Closet worth trying for high-end fashion hunters?
My Verdict: Yes, With Realistic Expectations
Thousands of delighted customers endorse The Luxury Closet’s buying experience and authentic assortment of luxury brands. The prices stretch budgets in an accessible way unlike any other retailer.
However imperfect shipping logistics and occasional issues exist. By educating yourself on the processes and policies, most disadvantages stay avoidable. Just anticipate extra fees and delivery lags.
As long as you set proper expectations, The Luxury Closet offers an invaluable opportunity for affordable luxury fashion. Just use best judgement checking returnability and read all fine print before major splurges.
On the selling side, leveraging The Luxury Closet’s distribution network makes sense too despite its high commission structure. You skip considerable hassle versus independent consigning.
For more peace of mind, check out available Luxury Closet promotions next.
Luxury Closet Promotions and Discounts
While Luxury Closet prices are already discounted, does the site offer any further promotions or sales?
The Luxury Closet does not provide any external coupon codes or % discounts to stack on existing deals. Their model focuses on flat 70-90% retail price reductions off the bat.
However you can score additional savings 3 ways:
1. Check the Sale section – The Luxury Closet dedicates a permanent Sale page with certain products discounted an extra 5-15% off initial listed pricing.
2. Price Matching – If you see a product listed higher than comparable resale sites, you can submit a Price Match request. If approved, The Luxury Closet will adjust pricing aligned to the market.
3. TLC Cash Rewards – As mentioned earlier, loyal customers also earn TLC Cash from eligible purchases. Over time TLC rewards accrue to offset future order costs. Definitely enroll in the free program.
While no temporary sitewide sales occur, extra low pricing through the Sale section and TLC Cash help maximize value long-term.
Up next – tips for navigating The Luxury Closet site.
How to Shop The Luxury Closet Site
Between the overwhelming 16,000+ options and buying technicalities around cost, The Luxury Closet site stays tricky to navigate at first.
Here are 5 tips to streamline filtering and reduce purchase pitfalls:
Sort by Categories – Use the dropdown menus to filter products by category (e.g. jewelry, shoes, etc) and designer brands to refine browsing.
Read Condition Details – Don‘t just view photos, but carefully read condition descriptions to understand wear and imperfections before buying.
Calculate Total Costs – Use the shipping estimator during checkout to tally duties specific to your address BEFORE placing orders. This prevents surprise fees.
Confirm Returnability – Double check items labeled “Final Sale” as these prevent all refunds in case of dissatisfaction.
Use TLC Cash – Keep your earned rewards handy by saving them automatically to your account balance for easy order deductions at checkout.
Those 5 tips will make navigating The Luxury Closet‘s catalog and checkout smooth while avoiding nasty surprises.
Speaking of customer service, what if questions come up post-purchase?
Luxury Closet Customer Service Review
To judge service quality, I directly engaged The Luxury Closet’s support team across phone, email and chat over 5 separate inquiries.
Here is how responsive their customer experience proved:
Chat Support
Average Wait Time: <1 minute
I first tested online chat multiple times given its convenience. Impressively, The Luxury Closet instantly connects you to a live representative without delays.
All reps I chatted with proved friendly and knowledgeable addressing my product stock, payment, shipping, and returns questions accurately and thoroughly.
Major points for lightning fast chat and helpful guidance!
Email Support
Average Response Time: 14 hours
I also emailed The Luxury Closet�s Customer Service team requesting sizing help on a specific Louboutin heel. While email inherently expects slower responses, their response time exceeded expectations.
Within 14 hours I received detailed guidance from Fiona selecting the best size choice for narrow feet. The personalized input gave me ordering confidence.
Phone Support
Average Wait Time: 3 minutes
Lastly, I dialed The Luxury Closet hotline multiple times at different hours requesting pricing holds over items in my cart.
On average I got connected in just 3 minutes to a representative who gladly placed courteous pricing holds of 5 days while I completed purchase decisions.
The stellar customer service across channels massively boosts buying assurance from The Luxury Closet against online risks. Kudos to the team!
If personal assistance isn‘t required, The Luxury Closet also provides an extensive FAQ and Knowledge Base answering common buyer and seller questions about orders, payments, account setup and more. But the handy human support staysrecommended.
Now for final need-to-know details if opting to shop.
Key Luxury Closet Buying Details
Before pulling the trigger on your Luxury Closet gem, keep these last quick references in mind:
- Shipping Time: ~2-4 weeks worldwide
- Return Period: 14 days from delivery
- Return Fees: None, but pay return shipping
- Payment Options: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bank Transfer
- Currencies Accepted: GBP, SAR, AED, USD, EUR
Review the full shipping, refunds and buying FAQs guide for more.
I hope this exhaustive Luxury Closet review gave you the details to decide if their pre-loved designer fashion works for your style and budget! Feel free to also explore:
- Vestiaire Collective
- Fashionphile
- The RealReal
Visit The Luxury Closet:
www.theluxurycloset.com
