Caliente Fashion

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Shame on me, then.

I tried to consign items with Caliente twice. With regard to the first time, after the prescribed period, I was told that none of my items sold. As I did not want to donate them (I was going to sell them on eBay), I went to pick everything up. At well-​organized consignment stores, they keep your unsold items for you in a bag or at least in the back. Not here. The woman at the cash informed me that I had to search for all of my clothes and shoes. Okkkkkaaayyy. I located some of the items, but not all. I found the $ 700.00 shoes I was trying to consign but they were not in their original box. When I asked if I could have the box back, I was told that it had been thrown out. Great. How was I going to sell them on eBay now?
Anyways, the same woman told me that if any of my items resurfaced, she would call me. I never received that call. I figured hundreds of dollars worth of clothing had been «donated». Hmmmm.
Well, silly me, I decided to return about a year later and give it another go. I brought in five high-​end sweaters and a pair of Theory pants. A different woman accepted every item, took down my account number and told me to check back in about a month or so. I did. None of my items had been recorded on my account! NONE. So, this woman took all of my clothes and never entered them into the computer. Once again, I was told to look around the store for my items. Guess how many I found? Yup. None. The owner never contacted me as I was told she would and I was never even offered an apology.
Be very careful about bringing your clothes here. You’re better off on eBay or on one of the free Facebook pages such as «North Shore Secondhand Closet».

I recommend this for buying — some good finds.
I definitely do not recommend Caliente for consigning (for selling). I tried a number of times to get reimbursed for my sold items, but they always had an excuse. At that stage they owed me only $ 15, but they’d say oh even for that amount you have to always call ahead, then oh we haven’t made sales yet so don’t have enough in the cash today to reimburse, it’s a weekend we only reimburse on weekdays (don’t most people have jobs?), etc. etc., and finally that it had been too long to be paid.
Keep meaning to report them to BBB.

Six things that recently delighted me at Caliente:
1. A baby-​pink BeBe sweater that fits as if it were made for me.
2. Adorable black and white Betsey Johnson pumps — too small for my size 8s, but delightful nonetheless.
3. Shoes arranged thoughtfully by colour and size.
4. The girl working there who was helpful but not pushy, informed but not condescending, and truly knew what looked good on me and what didn’t.
5. Yogawear! Lots and lots of it… in pricey designer labels… and perfect condition.
6. Spacious clean changerooms with decent lights and mirrors.

Caliente is hot hot hot. Well actually it’s a second hand store in West Vancouver that let’s you sell used clothing and buy it. One condition? It has to be brand names, and since you’re in West Vancouver you can find Gucci, Prada, Citizen for Humanity, BCBG, you name it. Whatever the pretty housewives don’t need this season can be yours for a fraction of the cost. They also have shoes, jewellery, hats, sunglasses. And the best part is if they don’t sell your clothes, all the donations go to charity to a women’s shelter.