SSENSE vs Farfetch: The Battle of The Online Luxury Retailers

When it comes to luxury fashion, there are two primary e-commerce destinations that stand out above the rest: SSENSE and Farfetch.

Canada-based SSENSE is one of the longest-established online retailers specializing in high-end designer labels.

Farfetch, on the other hand, is a relative newcomer. But in spite of this, its site has quickly become one of the most popular places to shop for luxury fashion online.

So, what sets these two e-commerce giants apart?

Price

There is not a significant difference between the prices of items at Farfetch and Ssence.

For example, the Gucci Silver GG Marmont Heeled Sandals are $850 at both stores, but Moschino Bubble Teddy sneakers $570 at Farfetch and $560 at Ssence. Similarly, the Balenciaga Le Cagole XS shoulder bag is priced at $2950 at Farfetch and $2700 at Ssence.

During sales, shoppers can save hundreds of dollars on designer items from both stores.

What Do Customers Say About SSENSE

Сustomers seem to be happy with their purchase experience from SSENSE. They appreciate the helpful customer service and fast shipping:

“Customer service was helpful and my shipment arrived quickly and safely. I was disappointed with the difference in price between the stated price and what I actually ended up paying, but customer service corrected that for me.”

“I love their products. Easy to order, get updated with tracker. Checkout was so easy and my order arrived really fast. Package came in a nice condition and timely manner. Very good timely service – cool site!”

Some were disappointed with the packaging of their items:

“This is my first time ordering from this site. I was a little surprised when my items arrived stuffed in a box with no poly bags. A site like this should be mindful of its packaging because people are ordering expensive goods and should receive them in a nice box!”

SSENSE Shipping and Return Policy

Shipments of goods valued at 800USD or less may be imported into the United States without paying duties and taxes, but there are certain restrictions that apply. These restrictions include: a single contract or order cannot be split into multiple shipments; individual orders can’t be consolidated if the total value exceeds 800USD; and if there are multiple shipments, they will not qualify if the total value of all shipments is over 800USD.

It is SSENSE’s position that all goods purchased from their site should be imported into the United States without paying duties and taxes, but it is ultimately the buyer’s responsibility to comply with US customs laws.

SSENSE has a variety of different shipping options available, depending on what type of order you are placing. For the USA the shipping is free for “full-price orders” over $150 and takes 2-3 days. For “other orders”, the shipping fee is $14. “Restricted orders” have a shipping fee of $17. SSENSE also provides special info about fees on their website for Canada, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Malaysia, Philippines, and other countries.

The return policy at SSENSE is customer-friendly, giving shoppers several options for returning merchandise. If an item is damaged or defective, customers can contact customer care for help. If a customer simply wants to return an item, they can fill out a return form and send the item back within 30 days. However, shipping fees and duties will not be refunded. Finally, if a customer needs to return a dangerous good, special instructions must be followed in order to do so safely. Overall, the return policy is fair and provides customers with enough time to decide whether or not they want to keep an item.

SSENSE Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Large selection of designer brands
• Affordable prices
• Easy-to-navigate website
• Good quality clothing

Cons:

• Some sizing issues
• Complaints about customer service
• Some return policies can be confusing

What Do Customers Say About Farfetch

Customers have praised the ease of use on the website, the fast shipping times, and the overall professionalism of the company:

“I re-ordered from Farfetch when I saw that the deals were on again. Even though my last order was canceled due to “out of stock,” the refund came back quickly. My experience with Farfetch has been good so far easy, safe, fast responses. I will definitely buy from here again. The price was good and shipping was fast; it arrived days before the estimated delivery date. It was packaged very well with all of the receipts included.”

“Enjoying my new gorgeous pair of shoes. Product is excellent. The price was unbeatable, and the delivery was professional. Recommend shopping on Farfetch – the entire experience was wonderful! I didn’t have to worry about shipping or customs, which was a huge relief. I was able to track the shipping status and they arrived even sooner than expected. Packaging was perfect.”

There have been some complaints about damaged packaging, but this seems to be an isolated incident:

“The t-shirt arrived quickly after the order was placed, which was great. Item was exactly as described and fit well. But the packaging it arrived in was damaged, due to being left outside in the rain!”

Farfetch Shipping and Return Policy

Farfetch offers a variety of shipping options to suit your needs. For example, in the US, there is free shipping for orders over 145USD; in China Mainland – for orders over 3500CNY. There are also express and standard shipping options available for selected countries. “Same-day delivery” is also an option for some locations.

They have express delivery for most of Europe and the US, which is delivered within 2-4 days. For the rest of the world, standard delivery is 3-7 days. They also offer same-day delivery in selected countries for orders placed by 11:00 am. And for selected countries, they offer F90 delivery, which is delivered within 90 minutes from when the order is placed.

Farfetch has a pretty good return policy. You have 14 days to return items, as long as they are in the same condition you received them and with all tags attached.

Some items are final sale and cannot be returned, but if an item arrives damaged or faulty, you can still return it. Be mindful when trying on items you intend to purchase, and only remove tags or packaging once you’re certain you’ll be keeping the item. Always return items in the same condition in which they were sold to you!

If you cancel your order under the Consumer Contracts Regulations, you have 14 days from the date your order arrived to notify us. You will be responsible for the cost and arrangement of returning the items back to Farfetch.

Farfetch Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Curated selection of clothing, accessories, and home decor items
• User-friendly website and mobile app
• Excellent customer service
• Free returns within 14 days
• Has a “same-day delivery” option in some locations

Cons:

• Prices can be high, especially for designer items
• Shipping costs can add up, depending on location
• Items that are final sale cannot be returned

Conclusion

Farfetch and SSENSE are great online retailers for high-end fashion. They both have user-friendly websites and offer excellent customer service.

Farfetch offers free returns within 14 days, while SSENSE has a 30-day return policy. Shipping costs can add up for both retailers, depending on location.

However, Farfetch offers a “same-day delivery” option in some locations. Prices at both websites can be high, especially for designer items.

So if you’re looking to save money on your next luxury fashion purchase, be sure to check out Farfetch and SSENSE.

Check out other comparisons: Italist vs Farfetch, Mytheresa vs SSENSE and Cettire vs SSENSE.