Quince

Quince, a San Francisco-based online retailer known for its bargain-priced cashmere, claims to offer consumers $20 off their first purchase.

But before you start getting the warm fuzzies, you may want to take a closer look at this deal.

What this ad fails to mention is that consumers must meet a few conditions before getting the advertised $20 off. First, consumers must submit their email address.

Next, consumers are prompted to submit their cellphone number and consent to receiving “recurring automated promotional and personalized marketing text messages (e.g. cart reminders) from Quince.”

And then, consumers need to spend over $200 in order to get the $20 off.

In addition, while Quince’s website shows almost every product as having five stars or close to five stars, and claims to have a 365-day refund policy, Quince’s 1.78 BBB star rating and customer reviews tell a different story. There, many consumers report issues, ranging from shipping and refund problems, to the company exaggerating the quality of its products:

Finally, while Quince claims it offers “sustainable luxury for all” and “high-quality products with minimal environmental impact,” several other sources have criticized Quince for greenwashing, something that a number of other fashion retailers, including H&M, Nike and Lululemon, have been accused of too.

Quince did not respond to TINA’s request for comment.

The bottom line

Consumers should always read the fine print, peruse third-party reviews when possible, and be wary of companies whose claims seem too good to be true.