River Island Reviews

3.3 Rating 427 Reviews
56 %
of reviewers recommend River Island
3.3
Based on 427 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Courier, Postal Service
Average Delivery Time
Within 5 Days
On-time Delivery
Greater than 35%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders
Greater than 85%
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Over A Week
Customer Service
1.6 out of 5
Returns & Refunds
Refunds Process
Difficult
Returns Process
Could Be Better

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River Island 1 star review on 15th April 2024
Skylar
River Island 1 star review on 2nd February 2024
Anonymous
River Island 1 star review on 1st November 2023
Anonymous
River Island 1 star review on 1st November 2023
Anonymous
River Island 1 star review on 21st May 2023
Eleonora Morariu
River Island 5 star review on 31st October 2022
Dave Johnson
River Island 5 star review on 31st October 2022
Dave Johnson
16
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Disgusted that I have just been refused an exchange in one of their stores!  l bought my daughter a dress for her birthday in March, which she was also bought off another relative (we know her taste well)!  We then went into lockdown so couldn't return the dress l got for her, complete with receipt.  Yesterday was our first opportunity to return the item, so went to the Burnley store, chose new items for a swap, only to be told that we couldn't do this, apparently because it is 'out of date'.  The dress in question is still for sale in the shop at the full price so I don't get why we can't exchange, especially given the current Covid19/lockdown circumstances that l don't need to go into detail about.  We were not asking for a refund, just an exchange!  We have been able to swap or return other items recently that we couldn't do before now no problem and think this is pretty disgusting that we couldn't do it in River Island!  Not only this but I now have a disappointed child to contend with who doesn't really understand why we couldn't swap the items.  To make matters worse, the shop assistant gave us the customer service number, which is an automated message and therefore a complete waste of time! Terrible policies and I would avoid at all costs!
Helpful Report
Posted 3 years ago
Went to river island Brent cross on 5th July , My first experience out in the shops due to Pandemic, the young boy was lovely who served me BUTTTT the manager Liz was awful She was rude to me and even walked away from me as I was speaking to her. I brought sandals in Feb to keep going on holiday in May as we all know we had covid and everything was cancelled, I decide to take my sandals back even to get an exchange Liz said I was out by 3 days from there policy .OMG are you joking River island considering we spend a fortune and have on line account with you there should be exceptions due to conditions we have all faced regardless, the manager walked away as I was trying to explain my story , I am a professional my self and I have never wrote a bad review ever until now , the manager was awful absolutely awful character the young Sunday staff deserve a medal
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Posted 3 years ago
I was realy happy that I could shop online Now I'm really desappointed I had done an order, but the sizes had to change I had to pay the whole order again (4 clothes) Then the code to return the order didn't work and now I had to pay the international shipping cost my self because River Island doesn't pay this If I order something online I have try it on at home and there can be a chance that it would't fit Then it's a shame that it takes so much money to return the items I don't think that I will order again ☹
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Posted 4 years ago
My 1st and last order made with RI website. The courier company used (GLS and co-share via PostNL?) were absolute rubbish. Total disaster. I regretted not choosing the traceable package deal and therefore my purchases went "untraceable" and MIA. Tried contacting all parties concerned but no one can do anything just because I did not pay extra for traceable delivery. What a daylight robbery!
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Posted 4 years ago
I brought a top for a freind within the Christmas extended returns period, it didn’t fit and I went in to exchange it (st Helens store) to be told by a very rude member of the team that I needed to have asked for a gift receipt to be within policy, there was no management in (eg manager or assistant manager) just an equally as rude team leader or whatever they are named. I asked to speak to her and she said there’s no point as she would say the same, my normal receipt isn’t enough. There was a board that confirmed their policy and this was incorrect! Then emailed the complaints team who said that they would refund the money if I took it into store, this was in black and white. The really nice store assistant (wish I remembered her name!) said this would be fine but she needed to check with her assistant manager, the assistant manager refused, read the email and said he doesn’t care what it says it’s his policy and it will flag back end, I asked when his store manager would be back and he would not give me her first name or when she would be back. Just that she wouldn’t be back for a while. He was EXTREMELY rude!! How he is a manager I do not know. I then continued with my complaint on email, they asked me to return the item by post and keep proof. I lost the purse with the proof which is fair enough for a few months as it was in a purse that I miss laid, I then found it and sent it off to be told I could only have a gift card of the amount, I have sent numerous pictures of a refund being promised and the company are out right refusing to do anything but a gift card! It’s appalling!! It’s £21 which is no biggy it’s just the pure principle that such A big company are atrocious!!!
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Posted 4 years ago
I ordered my daughter some clothes to play in the garden which should have come to £89. I did not know that the company is struggling due to the economic crisis because they are misleading on there website. I have tried to cancel the order which I cannot do because they don’t have the staff. I have now waited 7 days and I have been charged another £89 for what I do not know. I can not contact anybody, I have sent numerous emails to cancel the order which I have not even received an automated email reply. I have had to inform my bank what has happened and that I require my £178 refund I am so disappointed and think it’s disgusting how no one is available to contact but you are available to take two amounts of money which is not yours to take.
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Posted 4 years ago
Why are there only skinny fit mens trousers to view online? Some of us still want trousers that aren't skin tight. I weep for the future of men's fashion.
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
Not impressed by wording of an email regarding a recent delivery . Very obvious the person had no interest at all and probably wouldn't have helped even if she could have .
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
My 2 year was given a gift which was a white jumper and leggings. Iv only washed it once and its already got bobbles on it. Quality is absolutely rubbish... stay away. Iv also brought clothes in the past which once washed have been covered in bobbles. Dont waste your money. I have learnt my lesson.
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
I purchased a pair of men’s trousers online, in the store, with the help of the shop assistant as the store did not have the item in the store. She mentioned that the item could be returned, as normal online purchases, for a full refund, if it was not suitable. The item did not fit and so I returned it, via mail, at my own cost, using their labels etc. It took approximately 14 days for River Island to send me a notification and a GIFT CARD in lieu of a refund to my card!!!! Apparently the store assistant failed to inform me that if you make an online purchase in store, you have to return it TO A STORE to get your refund. This is outrageous!!! Last time I ever purchase anything at River Island. No wonder the High Street is dying!!
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Posted 4 years ago
I have been ri customer for years. I'm pregnant so decided to order some maternity jeans from them and huge disappointment, I believe person who designed jeans never was pregnant and don't understand than jeans without zip or any type of closure not useful. If you would like to step in to maternity market you should have someone who knows what maternity is. Impossible to put jeans on or after take it off as there is no zip and button made just to look better
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Posted 4 years ago
Dudley River Island so rude when Thursday with granddaughter I asked if she could use changing rooms try some clothes on item didn't fit her so when she get a smaller size for her to try on one of the staff room passed me saying she needed help because somebody was acting suspicious by the counter felt like she was talking about me made me feel so uncomfortable as I asked if I could use changing room and showed her what I was taking in there if she wasn't talking about me she shouldn't have been shouting that in the first place on Friday I have to change one item as granddaughter change her mind the lady who said me didn't smile didn't greet me just stood there looking miserable also coughing and sneezing also cleaning lady was there mopping the floor should have done that when shop was shut avoid Dudley river Island's so Rudy me he they don't like your job then leave
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
OrderEd a bag on hear for a secret Santa present, was suppose to be delivered to store on 15th dec, still not delivered and it’s the 26th dec, monies been taken from my account, every time I contact customer services there answer is it’s Christmas we’re busy, when logging onto my account to track delivery I can’t. This is the 1st time I’ve ordered from River Island and will definitely be my last horrendous service!! One extremely unhappy customer!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
I have ordered a lot from river island on line, and have been very pleased, however this Christmas has been very very bad , I ordered a dress for Xmas day when received there was a big rip down the back of it, the second dress was suppose to have pleats in it but was like a rag, and to now I don’t know how to return it as no return sheet or recipes were put in delivery, no t at all happy this time and will let it be known 😡
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
I worked in River Island for a whole year and I would DEFINITELY NOT recommend it whatsoever. I worked in the Cardiff store in St Davids. Managers (mainly the higher up managers) were extremely rude on shifts. I came onto shift the one day and two of the managers stood on shop floor at the front of the store in front of customers and other staff and made me cry. They shouted at me for not taking overtime on a certain day and made out that I was lying that I had agreed to do it. I started to cry and they told me to carry on sorting shoes. I went to the back stock room and told a manager I trusted and cried to her out the back, the one manager that made me cry then came and told me that it wasn't just me and that they expect all staff to pick up extra shifts during the sale period. Two other managers that I walked past looked at me crying and turned a blind eye. I continued to cry on shop floor and the one manager that made me cry at the beginning of my shift pulled me to the very front of the store and told me to stop crying because "nobody died" and that she did not agree with me saying no to overtime because I was meeting a friend that evening and said that my priorities should be with River Island, even though I had also made these arrangements beforehand and they expected me to cancel on my friend. I didn't do this and after that I went home crying my eyes out wishing I had quit on that shift. My mum was absolutely disgusted with how they treated me and wanted to complain but I thought that would make my shifts awkward and even worse so this is the first time I am telling this story now that I have quit. On shift, managers would be rude, handing you rubbish they find on the floor and demand you to put it in the bins with no please or thank you, they would favour other staff and get you to do the worst jobs, there was constant bitching and snide comments done about staff that I sometimes over hear. They bully you into overtime and say that you must pick up overtime, and even have suggested of "getting rid of" the staff that "aren't pulling their weight" and "shipping out the bad" because of this, this was said right in front of me and another member of staff at the time, to suggest that they were talking about us. I have spoken to other members of staff and the majority feel exactly the same and are fed up of being treated like this, it is mostly the quiet ones who aren't gobby and feel too scared to stand up for themselves, like me. I would have loved to speak with head office about this and especially about the incident I spoke about at the start, but was too afraid that the managers would make my working life even worse. I really would NOT recommend working there or even buying from the shop, the amount fo clothing that comes back because of rips and bits falling off is insane, the quality is terrible and the prices are a rip off. Go shop somewhere where they treat their staff well because this shop does not deserve to even be open.
Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
River island customer services are not helpful at all. I ordered paying extra next day delivery for my parcel. On their delivery page it does not say if you are not in they will not leave parcel I do understand policies but the driver took a photograph of my front door maybe he could have taken a photograph of my parcel in a safe place himself. However he took it away I contacted DPD as soon as I had notification they booked it for the following day guess what unexpected error you parcel is being delivered in two days time. GREAT rang customer services in River island I did say it was an emergency but they were not prepared to help at all. An excuse for everything !!!!!!Very disappointed and very annoyed. So please when ordering even if you are in, please state an option of safe place because if you dont the driver will not leave your parcel.
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Posted 4 years ago
Sent me a voucher via email but instore they wouldn’t accept it because I did not have driving licence or passport. Email and bank card wasn’t enough.
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Posted 4 years ago
I ordered a size 11 shoe. They shipped a size 10 and ignored my request for a return shipping label. I think they did it deliberately because they probably lied about stock. Completely inept company. Don't do business with them!
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Posted 4 years ago
River Island use to be one of my favorite international shopping stores until recently. I received merchandise that was damaged. I was told by more than one representative that I would be refunded for shipping costs when I return it. Now, the company is stating that will not refund me for shipping costs. I received damaged merchandise and they think I should pay for it. They are out of their mind.
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Posted 4 years ago
Very poor quality clothes.
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Posted 4 years ago
River Island is rated 3.3 based on 427 reviews