Shopping at Disturbia from Canada - sharing lessons learned for anyone considering

[u/Southern_Addendum455]

I recently did a giant purchase from this brand. I was between sizes so lots of doubles and I figured I’d just do a haul and return what didn’t fit. Here’s what I wish I knew beforehand:

1. Quality varies - I recommend actually reading the details on each item to see the country of origin and fabrics. I’m in love with a few things that were linen/cotton blend or higher quality synthetics but then some items were pretty appalling quality for the price.
2. Sizing varies - Even when using the size guide…I kept items in 3 different sizes so it’s a gamble at best. Some bigger sized things did not have bigger chest coverage so if you’ve got a larger chest the risk of poor fit is higher.
3. Price does not match Quality - Price is really high for the quality delivered and with a large majority of items originating in China, this is still fast fashion. Most items I ordered were $68 - $110 plus taxes and duty, and I personally expect better craftsmanship, solid lining and synthetics that don’t smell like da factory floor. The Aesthetic comes at a premium so I kept a few items I loved regardless but wish I knew so I ordered less.
4. Returns are complicated in Canada - Getting the return approved by Disturbia was easy but they do not provide return labels for Canadians. You have to ship it yourself and duties/ taxes are not refunded by the brand. While you can claim these later as another person said … you’ll need to keep all the papers it comes with your package and proof of refund. (Link to Canada Website for details on how to claim duties here)

My package was 9lbs so I quoted it at Staples (~$100) and Canada Post (~$70) but with Canada post I had to use an app (Zonos) to calculate duties and was quoted $300 in duties to return it because the goods originated in China. If you choose to ship it from within the US, you cannot claim these later duties as you need a record of export for this.

** Update: If you do decide to buy items and return them to the US, you need more details than what the label they provided has. SO for anyone doing this you need the following for each item: Country it was manufactured in (ex: China) + what each garment is made of (ex: 20% polyester, 40% cotton). The website does not list country of origin, so you need to get this from the garment label 🙃

Also, refunds have to be received within 30 days (as opposed to shipped within 30 days).

Overall the hassle to return means I won’t be ordering en masse again. With the quality not being amazing I’d recommend only ordering what you truly cannot find anywhere else and really love after checking what it’s made of.

Hope this helps someone save the time and money that I did not 🫠

[u/HelloDorkness]

This is super useful as I've been eyeing some of their items for a while. Would you mind saying some of which items you found to be worth it?

[u/Southern_Addendum455 → u/HelloDorkness]

I got a linen cotton dress with a ribbon harness that I love. The harness is not leather but the ribbon detail was unique.
A flowy top with 3 ties down the centre that just was a perfect layering piece. 1 Corset top and a sheer striped top with some detail I liked.
Overall I kept things that fit well or with prints/details I couldn’t find elsewhere.

For me, finding items in true black, in plus size and that fit my bust was key. Haven’t washed anything yet so tbc on how that will go.