Win some, lose some - my posture support garment online purchase was not a success, outfit 449

 I wanted back support. I have had support bras before. Then I saw a support vest - that seemed a good idea. 

I like the idea of all in one, Then the band under your chest is not pressing on a bra. Admittedly, vests with built in bust support don't work on me. The padding slips sown so I end up looking like I have four breasts, no support. But this is different.

I really do need posture help. The garment was quite expensive.  But I found one on ebay. Second hand. 

Price

The price was good. Until I saw the postage. Why so much? Postage from the USA and Ukraine can be large. This was from the Ukraine. I felt I would be lucky if it arrived at all.

I like items from China, free postage. No nasty surprises at the end of the payment process. 

However, I was by now psychologically committed and I had pressed the buy now button.

Days passed. Finally it arrived!

Size Uncertainty

The confusing thing was the sizing. Was a PK size 5 a US size 5, really a UK seven? I reckoned I could probably wear it loose.

27 inches across. My bust is 34. Allow a bit for stretch. Supposing I am 32. And it stretches to nearer 20, which doubled is 40.

However, the tight built in band supporting below is fixed at stretching to 15, seam to seam, doubled to 30 all around, too small to pull on.  

The waist band is also really tight at 13. The waist stretches to 15 inches, which makes 30 across.

Too Small?

When it arrived, I was shocked how small it was. But I have had small items before, namely a bra which looked ridiculously small, yet it stretched enormously.

 Bu this support garment would not go over my head. I did not want to get stuck in it as I was alone.

Poppers

I saw what looked like three poppers at the waist. Eventually I pulled. And one gave way! I got all six poppers opened. Hurray. Progress.

However, although the garment was larger around the waist, I could see no change at neck and shoulder level.

An improvement. But not much.

The seller does not accept returns. When I looked at what I paid, I paid only 10 dollars for the garment, over twenty five for the postage. Whilst I would like some money back, I would not get the majority. I would have to throw good money after bad, on the postage, with uncertainty about whether the seller would refund my money. Consider it a donation to war-torn Ukraine, whether to a civilian on one side or the other. Somebody trying to do business. 

But should I write to them and complain? Really, the problem is the sizing of the garment. 

I decided to look more carefully at the manufacturing company's own website. 

A Philosophical Buyer

I had bought in a hurry because it looked like a bargain. It's not the biggest catastrophe in the world. You can spend more on cars, lose more on burglaries, lose an airfare or holiday if you fall ill.

When I consider all my purchases, I take a risk every time I buy. I do get some protection from Paypal and credit cards and ebay Nine times out of ten, I am pleased. One in ten does not work. That's life. Same with not enjoying a book or film or restaurant meal.

I do think that all garments should say the measurements in inches. For stretchy garments, unstretched and stretched.

I may tell eBay that, ask them to ask for sellers to list measurements.

I looked at the reviews on Trustpilot. It seems to me that if you have issues with pain, it is very difficult to find a good fit from an item which does not adjust all the way round horizontally, as well as opening vertically at the shoulder, bust and waist level. 

The garment website does warn you that the project is not suitable for certain medical conditions. 

Are Your Medical Problems A Contraindication For Such A Product

I have a spinal problem, from a slipped disc, and broken bones. They mention that if you have had various problems recently, I think it was within the three months, the product might not be suitable. That doesn't apply to me, but something else does. I have ongoing pain from earlier injuries from car accidents.  I don't want to risk pulling myself about. 

In future I shall look for a product which is adjustable, or at very least is not pulled over the head, involving twisting your arms up and down. I have gone into front fastening bras. Firstly, front fastening is what I need, and shall look for, in a back brace, or posture support garment. Secondly, I need something opening all the way down. Or adjustable all the way, like a traditional  lace up corset of the olden days.

Could I adapt it by putting in a zip, asking a sewing repair shop to do so? Or cutting it and adding eyelets and laces? More work than I am prepared to do. 

Two other members of my family, one male, one female, are getting very round shouldered. If I had found the perfect product, I could have passed on the idea of this product and the links to them.

Could I give it to somebody else? Or sell it on ebay, mentioning the exact measurements. (In both centimetres and inches.)

At least by buying second hand, I saved wasting money on an expensive product, and the difficulties which those who left poor reviews had in trying to get refunds.

If you want to check out their website, you can see that the product appears to come from France, based in Paris, although my garment appears to be supplied from the UK office.

This is not my dress of the day. Dress of another day, for someone else. It's a waste of a garment to take up space and not be worn. Any offers? Hunchback midget needing help?

Useful Websites

https://percko.com/gbp/en/shop/

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.percko.com?stars=1&utm_medium=trustbox&utm_source=MicroCombo

See update - a few days later I managed to wear it.

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