As a long-time member, I‘ve purchased more than 30 tech gadgets, home goods, clothing items and accessories through Touch of Modern since 2015. What began as curiosity in their unique inventory quickly became an exercise in hunting down deals on modern lifestyle essentials I haven‘t found anywhere else.
And while some hiccups occasionally surface around shipping times, returns and inventory availability, the consumer experience proves well worthwhile overall through Touch of Modern‘s compelling positioning. Let‘s explore what to realistically expect as shopper.
Overview of Touch of Modern‘s Offerings
Founded in 2012, Touch of Modern seeks to connect consumers with individually curated lifestyle products focused specifically on serving the urban professional male demographic.
Product Categories
The online retailer stocks over 10 department-store sized categories spanning tech devices, clothing, travel accessories, home goods and more. Daily inventory updates ensure something fresh hits the virtual shelves.
Business Model
As a members-only site, Touch of Modern operates via discounted wholesale product aquisition direct from designers and manufacturers which then gets marked up for consumer sale. Restricting access helps them secure inventory at reduced rates.
Competitive Advantage
Don‘t expect to find Touch of Modern selling commodity goods easily purchased through Amazon or big box stores. Instead they focus exclusively on curating cutting-edge, innovative and otherwise hard-to-find products in line with their target audience.
Growth Trajectory
Launched in 2012, Touch of Modern hit over $100 million in annual sales by 2015. They now boast over 14 million members. While starting with a male focus, their diverse inventory holds mass appeal.
My Perspective: After joining in 2015, I find myself visiting Touch of Modern weekly to browse new arrivals. Their product selection stands unmatched, though stock fluctuates. And prices often beat rivals for similar goods.
Strengths of Buying Touch of Modern Goods
As someone whose purchased everything from wireless earbuds to designer coffee table books through Touch of Modern, a few noteworthy advantages emerge.
Price
Thanks to direct from manufacturer sourcing, many Touch of Modern products sell at 40-50% off standard retail, with some discounts reaching 70% off. Even big ticket items over $500 see major cuts.
Discovery
Beyond bargain prices, Touch of Modern excels at stocking brands and products simply not found through mainstream ecommerce channels like Amazon. Discovering innovations stays core to their mission. Expect cutting-edge, unique goods.
Variety
With over a dozen distinct lifestyle product categories covered, Touch of Modern spans wide appeal. Tech gadgets, clothing basics, barware – there‘s an array meeting virtually any taste.
I often finditems that catch my eye to replace aging goods or fill a needed niche.
Functionality
The mobile app provides intuitive access to Touch of Modern‘s inventory and account management functions. I can browse, purchase and track orders all through my iPhone just as easily as on a laptop.
Referral Rewards
Recommending Touch of Modern to friends offers mutual incentive. Existing members get $20 account credit after a referral‘s first $50 order. Plus you gain another shopping buddy!
My Perspective: I regularly discover innovative watches, small leather goods and blue-tooth speakers otherwise impossible to find through Amazon or big retailers. While pricier items sometimes lack stock, persistence pays off.
Weaknesses to Consider Before Buying
In the name of transparency around the consumer experience, a few areas for improvement stand out regarding Touch of Modern‘s operations.
Return Policy Confusion
Touch of Modern keeps return policy specifics frustratingly opaque. Some items have restocking fees, some don‘t. Others permit returns only for store credit. Lack of policy clarity at checkout muddles budgeting for worst case scenarios.
No International Shipping
Despite over 14 million global members, Touch of Modern restricts shipping exclusively to United States and Canada. That eliminates many potential customers.
Lagging Customer Service
Email response times average 2-3 days in my experience. And they lack phone or chat support options. Simple inquiries around order issues or stock can eat up days better served browsing more attentive retailers.
My Perspective: Slim return policy transparency and lagging customer service undermine the otherwise quality offerings. I now cautiously avoid higher priced purchases in case prompt communication proves necessary.
Spotlight on Top-Selling Touch of Modern Goods
Beyond generalized strengths and weaknesses with Touch of Modern, drilling into details around some of their top products better grounds the consumer experience. Let‘s examine a handful of best-rated goods attracting buyer buzz.
iPhone 14 CamKix Lens Kit
Transforming smartphone photographs gets easy with CamKix‘s magnetic snap-on lens kit for the latest iPhone 14 series. It ships with both macro and wide angle lenses for capturing crisp landscape and extreme close-up shots. At under $50, it costs far less than upgrading into a flagship iPhone Pro.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars (Excellent value expanding iPhone photo creativity through quality optics and clever magnet design.)
Retro Bluetooth Speaker
Part vintage radio, part modern wireless speaker, this Bluetooth device from Good Goods looks retro but performs with contemporary connectivity. Stream audio from any phone while adjustable knobs let you fine-tune volume and bass on its analog face. It fits smaller spaces at just 5 inches wide.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars (Compelling aesthetic design backed by robust sound in a compact form factor.)
Atmos Home Air Purifier
Touch of Modern‘s Atmos Home air purifier combats indoor toxins through a four stage filtration system capturing allergens, smoke, odors and airborne bacteria down to 0.3 microns via HEPA-13 grade filters. Its quiet fan also helps reduce humidity while refreshing up 500 square feet of space.
My Rating: 5/5 Stars (Medical-grade air filtration noticeably improves indoor air quality discreetly and effectively.)
My Perspective: By spotlighting top-ranked goods, we better understand Touch of Modern‘s mission around modern merchandise discovery through an exacting inventory emphasizing value.
Key Customer Feedback on Shopping Experience
Curating consensus views from buyer reviews paints an accurate picture of purchasing experiences through Touch of Modern. Let‘s examine positive and negative feedback.
Aggregate Review Rating
| Review Site | Rating |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 4.3/5 Stars |
| Better Business Bureau | A+ Rating |
What Customers Like
- Unique/innovative products unavailable elsewhere
- Deep discounts below normal retail pricing
- Large variety spanning tech, home, apparel + more
- Referral program earns account credits
Customer Complaints
- Confusing/inconsistent return policies
- Lagging email response times
- Small batch products quickly go out of stock
- No phone or chat customer service options
My Perspective: Reviews reinforce my own experiences regarding one-of-a-kind modern goods attracting buyers through competitive pricing paired with occasionally cumbersome policies and support.
Evaluating Overall Value of Buying from Touch of Modern
Given in-depth looks at Touch of Modern‘s product range, pricing, business model, key buyer feedback and more, what‘s the verdict on the retailer‘s overall value?
The Good
For professionally-minded men specifically (thoughuniversal appeal exists), Touch of Modern zones in on desirable goods innovating across men‘s lifestyle categories like tech, fashion and home. The model works by focusing exclusively on modern, cutting-edge merchandise rather than mainstream commodities, delighting urban male shoppers.
The Bad
Inventory gaps, shipping delays, cumbersome returns and communications lags undermine parts of the buyers journey. detail pages lack sufficient product availability specifics and policy fine print. And small batch products quickly go out of stock.
The Bottom Line
Guys aiming to outfit an aspirational modern lifestyle should absolutely shop Touch of Modern for hot finds dropping daily. But occasional consumer experience hiccups might restrain larger purchases. Still the product selection can‘t get matched elsewhere.
My Perspective: I genuinally enjoy browsing and purchasing through Touch of Modern as their inventory mirrors my tastes. But scaling buys beyond smaller items gives me pause based on prior order issues. Still I recommend joining for discovery!
Maximizing Savings at Touch of Modern
While everyday prices often beat standard retail on niche modern goods, further savings get possible through Touch of Modern promotions.
Refer a Friend
Recommending new customers to Touch of Modern remains the singular on-going promotion. After getting a friend to sign-up and place a $50 order, existing members get $20 in account credit.
I‘ve earned over $100 off orders through referrals to coworkers alone.
Sale Section
While no coupon codes get issued, the Touch of Modern site features a Sale page stocking discounted overstock items at up to 70% off original pricing. Items here change daily, making routine checks worthwhile.
Abandon Browse Session
I‘ve had Touch of Modern trigger 10-15% off entire order promo emails when leaving items idling in my cart over multiple sessions. Don‘t overbuy just to trigger discounts, butknow abandon cart save offers sometime surface.
My Hot Take: Referring like-minded friends nets the most bang for your buck. Beyond that, persistence checking the site surfaces deals through the Sale section and targeted discounts.
Expert Tips for Stress-Free Buying
After years purchasing through Touch of Modern across dozens of orders, I‘ve gleamed best practice advice for smooth transactions free of issues.
Stick Under $100
Given sometimes inconsistent inventory and the risk of complications requiring customer service contacts, cap order totals under $100. Steep restocking fees can kick in above that threshold if needing to return items.
Use PayPal
PayPal purchases through Touch of Modern simplify initiating returns or raising issues to PayPal‘s resolution center compared to credit cards when problems do arise.
Insure Valuables
When buying select high ticket designer goods exceeding $500, opt for added shipping protection through carriers. The rare damaged item occurs in shipping which insurance swiftly remedies.
Refer Diligently
I‘ve earned nearly $250 off purchases thanks to referred friends joining Touch of Modern. And as a close contact, I know trusted individuals referral that further ensures their positive onboarding.
My Take: Sticking to lower cost goods while referring friends minimizes purchase risks for stress-free transactions while maximizing savings on specialty modern merchandise.
Wrapping Up My Touch of Modern Experiences
Having spent over three years frequently purchasing products through Touch of Modern across 30+ orders, I‘ve experienced the highs and lows of their unique business model.
The Good
When sticking to lower priced tech gadgets, small accessories and apparel, the sheer modern specialty of their daily updated inventory delights again and again thanks to deep discounts. Discovering everything from electric skateboards to graphite necklaces through Touch of Modern continues providing novelty.
The Less Good
Hiccups around stock fluctuating, order cancellations and lagging post-purchase support undermine buying confidence. And while inevitabilities for smaller retailers, the problems persist years running.
Yet through smart purchasing behaviors prioritizing smaller amounts and preferred payment methods, I happily recommend Touch of Modern for sourcing modern lifestyle gear available exclusively through their sharply focused inventory model. Just know occasional hurdles accompany the otherwise joy of discovery.
My Final Take
Join Touch of Modern without overextending initial purchases to determine if their cool finds mirror your tastes enough to warrant working around occasional inconveniences plaguing parts of the buying journey. When staying aware of downsides, informed shoppers get rewarded through persistently stellar daily deals.
