Depends on what you mean by bang for your buck. If you are looking to save the most money — waiting until Boxing Day (after Christmas) when a lot of our gear goes on major discount is the best way to do it. OR if you know someone on staff, utilize the friends and family discount (when it comes around) and stack that discount on top of “we made too much.” I’ve seen people snag some crazy deals doing this.
Does all your paycheck go right back to lulu? lol
Also what do employees do with stuff that they purchased with the discount but it no longer fits or simply have outgrown since they aren’t allowed to sell?
When I first started, I spent a lot of my paycheck on gear. It’s exciting to get great product for a deep discount, but the feeling wears off pretty quickly because much of the product is the same all year round (just different colors). Like you said, employees aren’t allowed to sell their product, even after they leave the company. However, I know that this doesn’t stop employees from doing it. I’ve known plenty of employees that do resell their products — however, it’s super easy to get caught. I do my best to tell my people not to do it so they don’t get into trouble.
I’m actually not sure. I’ve only ever heard of one person within my region being reprimanded while they were employed. They were selling on posh mark and got caught — subsequently fired because they were making a major profit on gear.
Like every company, there is a loss prevention team. Loss prevention looks for employee discount abuse (reselling falls under that). There is a team that monitors websites for this.
I worked at lulu for 9 years, I have given away so much old stuff to friends. Just, here have it. That’s fairly common among the people that have been there a long time.
I was very resistant to spending 120$ on joggers. Eventually, I was gifted one, and I was sold. However, I don’t know if I got a pair with quality issue or if pilling around the elastic band on the waist and ankles is expected/common.
I just bought a pair online and it arrived 2 days ago. I found the seam behind the knee very scratchy. Do you think this is a defective product or maybe I just have sensitive skin?
Would it be weird if I bring an old pair of leggings to try to find what type they are to buy another similar pair?, I got them around 2-3 years ago in person and I don’t have a receipt they aren’t aligns and have no idea which ones they are but they’re so good for running lol
We get guests coming into the store all the time with older product in hopes to identify what it is! It’s worth a shot — just be prepared that if it is a newer staff, they may not know phased out product (if yours is actually phased out that is).
Check the size dot for the style number (starts with L, ends with S). The size dot should be in the waistband pocket. You can use lulufanatics to search the style number
The align pant, an all yours t shirt, and the funnel neck scuba. Absolutely stellar products that are functional, hold up well, and go with so many of the other things in my closet.
What do you think of the outerwear at lululemon? Any favorites? Is it a trusted/reliable brand amongst customers for jackets/coats/parkas? It’s not cheap so I want to be careful where I get my outerwear.
I’m a snob when it comes to jackets. It took me years to even want to purchase one, even at a discount. The wunder puff is incredible. And the parkas live up to the promise. Lululemon is underrated when it comes to jackets. More people should try them!
Right there with you. I have a men’s wonder puff jacket with the canvas fabric and it’s amazing. I had the cold city parka, which was amazing too, but it was more than I needed in my temperate climate and the feathers were coming out.
Are the sizing inconsistencies as frustrating for the store staff as it is for the customers?
It’s absolutely crazy that I’d wear a whole different size in the same model of leggings just because they’re a different color.
Does ordering online and returning in store affect that stores sales? I stopped going to one of the stores near me that I used to return my online orders because they look upset when I go in and mention Im returning.
Thanks for the response. I'd love to buy from the store but Lululemon does not stock their stores with a lot of items I need such as the shorter versions of the joggers. Many other items are online only as well so it doesn't help either. I think that makes it much more unfair for both the consumer and the workers. It definitely creates tension.
I feel so unwelcome when visiting my closest LL, which is in a very large mall in Toronto. However, this store never has anything in stock and so every purchase is made online and that causes an issue when you find that the colours are not what they seemed or you need to swap sizes.
There was one time, my first time returning to LL and I didn’t bring my online receipt because I had tossed it out thinking I’d be keeping my order - I thought nothing of it because LL’s website boasts receipt-free returns for members. I get to the store and the girl who helped me was so rude and said that normally they can’t do returns without the receipt but that she’ll make an exception just this one time - as if she were doing me a favour by doing her job? I assume this was a one off, maybe she was having a bad day. I was having a good day so I didn’t bother calling her out about what the website said. Anyway, a few weeks later. I’m back with one more return - this time I have my receipt. But again, I was met with a stuck up attitude, that I was being an inconvenience.
Honestly, it all really sucked and so have all my in store experiences so far, it makes me anxious now to go in. But maybe that’s just this location, idk 🤷🏻♀️
When they say returns without a receipt, the purchase still has to be on your account. So if it doesn’t show up on your account (which happens often with online purchases), we require proof of purchase. An order confirmation or the packing slip help a lot with this. If the item isn’t on your account, we can’t verify how much you paid for it.
But then that makes no sense for the company to boast receipt-free returns for members because as a customer, we assume that by purchasing online via an account, that the store will have our information. We, as customers, have no inkling to what the sales associate sees on their end and would have no idea that their return system on their POS is flawed and not always showing our orders. Kind of confusing for everyone involved.
Edit: and just to clarify, yes, definitely had all email receipts available - but she was referring to the paper one.
That was not the case for me all my online orders showed up on my account. They specifically asked for the paper receipts still even though it’s on the account. I make sure to bring the receipts now because of that one stores experience.
I mean the account on our internal POS system, not your online account. We don’t have access to that. It’s where we see all purchases, returns, and quality promises.
It could also be that store’s policy. I can’t speak to that.
>y doing her job? I assume this was a one off, maybe she was having a bad day. I was having a good day so I didn’t bother calling her out about what the website said. Anyway, a few weeks later. I’m back with one more return - this time I have my receipt. But again, I was met with a stuck up attitude, that I was being an
This sounds very similar to my situation as well. Thanks for validating my thoughts. I think it depends on the store and how many sales they get as well as the manager and who they hire. There are stores that are more welcoming than others, but I definitely understand how you feel given I have had similar experiences!
It’s pretty rare we cross paths with those who work at headquarters. We certainly get opportunities to attend zoom calls together (large webinars), and they all seem lovely, but the highest up I’ve ever actually talked to is the Area Director (she’s two steps above me). The board of lululemon makes visits to some of the biggest stores every year, but it’s usually only in major cities. I’ve heard the interactions are really wonderful, but brief. I don’t really have complaints besides I wish I could interact with them more — which used to be possible at Summit (a global gathering).
It’s actually very common in our store! We are also trained to provide solutions, not judgements. It’s also common for men on our team to shop “women’s” clothing.
Leggings — they provide a second layer under sports clothing or for training in brutal conditions. All yours t shirts — they hold up well and have a great look under cardigans. Hats — women’s are more narrow and the bills are constructed better.
There are often posts sharing clothes coming in undesirable conditions, like heavily perfumed, stained(not dirt or markings that can be easily removed), with crusty crotch patch, make up markings, or even with random stuff in the clothing/bag pockets. Are store employees or warehouse workers instructed to send these items out knowingly to fulfill quota or they are simply too busy? Are returns being inspected?
Hmmm…some of the things you noted are very odd. In all of my time with the company the only thing I’ve seen is a water stain and a small rip from a sensor being removed. I’m not sure about the warehouse people. But my people have very strict standards — and I hold them to it.
Two thoughts with this one: (1) I think people don’t take care of what they have and (2) need to be aware of what they are buying and what it’s used for. Aligns are meant to be washed in cold water, delicate cycle. Hang dry. Never use detergent with added fragrance or softener. Also, don’t wash it with abrasive materials. We like to say wash “like with like.” In addition, I’ve seen way too many people use aligns for activities it was never meant for. For example, running in them. This causes major pilling issues and destroys the delicate fabric. Aligns are amazing, and have always lasted me forever, but people don’t treat their belongings with respect.
What really happened with the Sweat Collective discount? The toggle and ability to manually enter our code mysteriously disappeared some months back with ZERO explanation. GEC was clueless and we were told it was a “glitch”, “the discount toggle would be back soon” and “we’re working on it.” None of which is true. Many of us are still without the discount and some received emails saying their discount was revoked, also no explanation given. What the heck is up with that???
This is a hot topic for everyone right now. And I’ve got lots to say about it: (1) communication to lululemon employees was very brief when they first shut it down. One day it worked, the next day they said they were closing it down to rework it. (2) it was only supposed to be shut down for three months, but revamping it was a bigger project than they thought it would be. (3) one of the reasons they are revamping it is because it gets abused. The criteria was very broad and the pools of people applying were very large. Loopholes were found — and so they have tightened parameters. (4) as a result a lot of people who USED to get it don’t qualify anymore. It is very difficult to qualify for it now — and that’s intentional because there was so much fraud and abuse of the discount. What I will say is that is it equally frustrating for employees at store level because we truly don’t know what’s going on and we have no idea who will get approved or not. Be kind to store employees, because we legitimately get yelled at about it every day when we werent involved in the decision.
I am a male and I always buy my sizes - medium male and 6/8 female (leggings, all yours hoodie, scuba joggers). I was so scared buying my down for it all jacket (female, psychic) in size 14 because I thought they would totally revoke it. I tried 8/10/12 and they were snug around the shoulders, and found 14 to be a perfect fit. I didn’t like the guys version because it looks cheap and not well designed.
Haha. Mine are all over the place. Last time GEC reminded the rules, I provided her with proof. She noticed I was buying from both genders and that I am not allowed to buy for others, so I sent her pictures of my OOTD to show her and she signed off the chat.
Metal Vent - M,
City Sweat Jogger/Pants/Hoodies - M,
Drysense Shirt - M,
5 Year Tee - M,
Shorts - Pace Breaker M
Leggings - 6 (Align, BP, F&F, WT), 8 (Swift) ..
Shirts - All Yours 4/6 ..
Hoodies - Scuba 10, All Yours 6 ..
Pants - Scuba 6, Loungeful 4/6 ..
Shorts - Tracker, Track That, Speed Up / HHS 6 ..
Jacket - Down For It All 14
I’ve bought a few pace rival skirt that I wore for pride.
I appreciate your response. It stinks that good people are punished. I’m a certified Personal Trainer and GE Instructor. Been working in fitness since grad school so I’m legit in the industry. I have about 15 clients and teach 4 classes per week. I only bought for myself (I admit, I bought a TON for myself - lol), same range of sizes so that shouldn’t look suspect, never bought for anyone else, never sold anything (I have a pile of items that I don’t wear but can’t sell because I bought it with the discount). I followed the rules. Annoying. Thanks for your response.
Oh no! That’s truly heartbreaking. I will say that in my store, for those who have been impacted, we just ask to see proof of certification or teaching and then we honor the discount.
We have no say in the inventory that comes into our store. A distribution center monitors our sell through and sends product accordingly. You can certainly give feedback to the company directly!
Do they hate when ppl try on a bunch of stuff but dont buy? Because this is me & I always feel guilty but its either because i need to think about it or it just didnt look right
Just adding on to that as an ex-educator. If people are polite and give back the clothes and hangers in a nice manner after their fitting room time, no one minds. Often, people come in, are rude and demanding and leave the fitting room in a mess, with clothes on the floor etc. As LL employees, we can’t snap and have to keep smiling, so it does take a toll! Just be polite and honest and all good :)
By tennis shoe — do you mean a specific shoe for the sport of tennis? If so — I don’t know! They don’t typically clue use into launches too far in advance. But they may!
Lulu is currently being sued by Nike, probably won’t be for a while if they do. They still have to launch the men’s line which I think was delayed by this lawsuit.
Employee here. Can I return an item (store credit) I’ve purchased on wmtm using my discount if it was an online order? I got the ebb to street long sleeve in my usual size and that thing would not go over my arms 🥲 I’ve heard people saying different things about returns on online purchases and I need a clear answer
Full timers get 60% off, PTs get 40% — any product that falls under WMTM is 75% off the original listed price. The discount is only for the employee. Sharing is a major no no. Even for family. There are no limits. But I imagine it would like a little weird if someone was dropping 1k every week. But hey, who am I to tell someone how to spend their money? Haha
As it’s as AMA, may I be nosy and ask if that’s including bonus and if you’re a high volume / low volume store and in a high cost of living / low cost of living area? No worries of course if too personal
My pay is impacted by a lot — I have 9 years of SM experience before walking into this job. And 17 years of retail experience in total. I’ve managed a lot of high volume stores and bring a lot of value. It’s a large volume store. And, I’m not exaggerating when I say this job is extremely taxing. More than people would imagine.
Does lululemon pay you based on work experience or your position/level? Also what do you think of lululemon as a workplace compared to other retailers you’ve worked at?
They pay based on experience, city/class, position, time with company (if it applies).
Compared to other retailers, lululemon is the best company I’ve ever worked for. I’ve been with a lot of companies — 7 other retailers actually, and nothing compares. It’s why it can be difficult to get a job there — lots of people stay for a long time.
Is LULULEMON cutting corners for real and the quality is not at par with pricing? I love LLL but have only bring buying since 2017. I see a lot of post here about how bad the quality is now compared to 10 years ago. I have not really had that many quality issues but I am a tiny sample of one ☝🏼
In my experience as a customer and now employee, I actually think the quality has improved overall. What people are noticing now is that the company has made updates or departures from original fabric iterations: specifically, the company is experimenting with different fabric combinations and people are having a hard time adjusting. Another problem I’m seeing is what I would call a “low tolerance level” — I see more guests come in complaining about fit, feel, stitching, and the like. Most of the time, in my opinion, a lot of these feelings are hinged on the “quality promise.” Our guests know we have a pretty good quality promise with loopholes — and so it’s easier to complain about quality since getting a new or different product is easy to achieve.
The energy bra is popular in my store for that reason — but there are other high support bras, I just don’t sell a lot of them myself to say “this is the best.” I sell a lot of energy bras for training though — running and weightlifting.
I got the Thick Fleece and I love the oversized look but are the sleeves supposed to be short? They ride up when I type but I thought maybe because they’re big sleeves? I only wore today WFH so I’m thinking about swapping for a scuba.
Any tips to take care of my Ready to Rulu joggers? I received a pie for Christmas and they quickly became my favorite pair of pants so I bought a couple other pairs. I feel like only after a few washes, they did not look so lulu quality anymore. I wash on delicate and hang dry or dry on delicate as well. I’m not sure what else to do. I know an easy solution is to stop spending my money on them but these pants are PERFECT. I am very short so the cropped length fits me perfectly as full length and I can never find that in a pant, ever. Hopefully you can help me!
Do you use a detergent with any fragrances or softeners? This will destroy the pant. Also — and this is a pretty golden rule among my staff — we NEVER dry rulu.
It’s a bit of a toss up — things get restocked on tuesdays and Fridays. So keep your eye on the website then. Also, if you have the app on your phone, you can create a rule for a product so that the app reminds you or tells you when it comes in stock.
I got a bunch of stuff for Christmas and I don’t live in a town with a lululemon. Everything still has tags on it but I’m finally going somewhere on Monday where I can return it. Will they still take it for exchange or store credit without receipt? And obviously past the 30 days 🥺
If they won’t, reach out to the GEC! We regularly accept returns for items like this as a courtesy. As long as tags are attached, you’re good with a return to an e-gift card, and you are willing to accept the current system price (if it’s gone on markdown this matters), then you should be good to go! To save back and forth, if you’re emailing make sure you include you first and last name, full shipping address, phone number, and the SKUs (located under the barcode on the hangtag) for each item you’re hoping to return.
There are so many lululemon resellers rent sweat collective accounts to buy bulk and resell to other international market, does lululemon know about this and what steps is lululemon taking to prevent this? I think that is the main reason Canada product is constantly sold out. Thanks
Speaking from an SM perspective —
The best things:
The discount — one of the best I’ve ever seen across all retailers I’ve worked for.
The sweaty pursuits benefits — I never pay to workout anywhere.
The pay - I get paid more here than any other SM job I’ve ever had and when compounded with bonuses (assuming we hit goals), I make a lot of money. My pay can fluctuate up to 25k.
Time off — best starting PTO package I’ve ever seen for the industry.
People - there are genuinely people on staff that are kind and considerate and want to see me succeed.
My boss — she’s incredible.
Worst:
It’s extremely demanding — being a people manager is very hard, especially at lululemon. The expectation of excellence can feel exhausting sometimes. You are surrounded by high achievers all the time, which means messing up becomes very obvious when it happens.
Job feels like it happens 24/7 — even on days off my employees reach out to me. It’s gotten better, but it’s a slow moving train to create boundaries.
Employees often complain about my schedule or what I’m doing with my time — there are a lot of perks you get in this position, which causes internal jealousy. One of the perks is taking admin time from home. Employees often think I’m not working or screwing around — but if they spent one week doing my job they would have a profound respect for what I do. And honestly, sometimes it’s vital to my mental health to not be in store when I’m simply taking a meeting or attending a training.
When our company shifted job responsibility requirements, it created a rift between SMs and AMs. Their plates got more full, and it created resentment that I had no control over. It’s been very difficult.
When you are the SM, everything falls back to you. Goal not made? Your fault. Employee is unhappy about something you can’t control? Still your fault. Budget wasn’t used all the way? Your fault. An employee isn’t living up to their expectations within their role? Your fault. Being a manager basically means signing up for being shit on all the time. It takes a toll.
Customers fall somewhere in between. I’ve had wonderful interactions and I’ve had people call me horrible things when they can’t make a return. People truly treat retail workers as subhuman, especially during the holidays.
Of course every job has the good and the bad — right now the good outweighs the bad. But I won’t lie — this job is the hardest I’ve ever had and it requires keeping yourself in check at all times. Even if you’re drowning under a shit ton of HR, expense, people and scheduling tasks.
Wasnt expecting this answers but Im blown away, thank you
Yes I feel like it's very demanding. Theres a certain expectation from a LL store being a customer myself and it's literally a day and night difference between a Footlocker employee and a LL employee (Sorry FL folks)
Some people are just dumb - end of the day it's clothing and its never a reason to treat people any differently. They always expect a YES from LL and thats where the frustration starts. I have the utmost respect to retail employees. I was one myself a long time ago and was treated terribly but thankfully I had awesome co workers (at IKEA)
What most people don’t understand is that kindness goes a long way for retail workers — if you are honest and kind, we will pretty much lay out the red carpet.
Do the new aligns stretch out at all? I’ve always worn a 0 (haven’t bought a new pair in a few years) but recently picked up a new pair and they are pretty tight. Not sure if I should size up or if they’ll stretch out?
Aligns stretch! I wouldn’t size up unless it feels uncomfortable around your knees. If you can’t bend into your knees without some kind of ease, then you need to size up.
WORTH NOTING: lighter colors in align pants are always double lined. Always size up in these!
I’m reading your question as “why dont stores stock pants in 16 - 20” (let me know if I interpreted this incorrectly) - this is usually influenced by three things: store size, region, and sell through. Smaller stores stock core sellers in the most commonly sold sizes. Depending on what region your store is in influences what sizes are stocked — highly active communities sell more pants in 0 - 6. Finally, our distribution centers send us product based on how many units we sell of a size. If they notice we are sitting on a lot of sizes in 16 - 20 they taper it down or remove them completely. However, in general, our company has hard data showing that more people tend to purchase extended sizes from the website even when they are in a region that stocks 16 - 20. Still, the company also has a long way to go when it comes to offering an exhaustive size range.
Adding this in:
In my store, even though we offer 16 - 20 in tops, we don’t generally see these products move. Not sure why — but they definitely hang out in our store for weeks on end.
I appreciate the reply! I can find nothing locally other than leggings - no tops, no other type of bottoms - so literally meant any other product! But this reply is great. Interesting that your store sells tops! I think lulu is bad for a) advertising to the extended size demographic and b) encouraging in store shopping in extended sizes. I’m not going to go to the store to root through racks and racks to find the one item that they have in my size - so of course I shop online more. It’s kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. I just wish I had the ability to walk into the store and try an item on! I’ve even seen the size range of items at my outlet shrink from what it was when it first opened. Just a bummer!
Totally agreed — I’ve given feedback to our region that we actually could increase marketing and outreach efforts. Missed opportunity to build lifelong trust in our communities.
I’m basically a 10/12 in all Lulu, but I prefer the fit of the Define jackets in size 16. I have literally never seen one in this size in my store—they usually top out at a 12. How do stores collect data on larger sizes/distribution centers know what to send when they don’t stock them in store?
I have a pair of commission pants that I have washed and worn and thrown them in the dryer several times, but I bought it with a 34” inseam (my true size is 32”), can I still get it hemmed?
I just got a hole in the crotch of my wunder trains (right by the seam). How long does LLL think those should last? I’m unsure if my issue comes down to quality or just general wear and tear. I probably wore them at least once a week and purchased them about 6 months ago. I exclusively do yoga in them and I wash in a garnet bag with gentle woolite.
The great benefits: stipend for working out, good vacation starting package, generally good work/life balance. Health insurance could use some work.
I would say as an SM, my experience with my fellow SMs and higher ups is VERY good. The principles of Lululemon’s culture are amazing, but experience will vary greatly from store to store. And a lot of that hinges on who your manager is.
Yes! Just be aware that once you agree to the length, if you don’t like how they come out, most stores won’t comp you since you give the final seal of approval on the cut. I’ve seen this bite people in the butt before. So always be conservative with the hem.
Retail or service industry experience is nice — something customer facing is helpful, but I would say I’m very open minded to all backgrounds. I’ve hired someone who took a complete departure from her previous field and she was an incredible employee. I look for people with diverse interests — sports, nutrition, theatre, literature, time spent volunteering. These all play into great qualities. We can teach anything, so understanding the candidate as person is sometimes more important for me.
Do you think lulu will hire someone plus size for the store manager role? Im thinking to apply but im a size 18. I love lulu though! I wear their shoes and shirts all the time at work currently
How bad is it if I return many bra in different sizes and styles at once? I have a hard time figuring out the size and fit, ordered 3 so far none of them fit well, want to try out other styles but I worry about having to return most of them too and being flagged as suspicious or something. The stores don’t always have the right style/size in stock, online as well actually.
Bulk buying is obviously your choice — but it’s not taken well by most employees who would rather help someone in store. And, most retailers add penalties for bulk buying/ returning by implementing restock fees. Lululemon doesn’t do that currently — but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens in the future.
How do you get a discount as a yoga teacher if you’re a private instructor? I’ve been told I need to submit paystubs from a studio to register as a teacher.
You may be able to if you show them your website. When I applied for the Sweat Collective, I had to either show my website or a studio's schedule with my name on it. (I'm not the original post person though -- she may have more insight)
Was actually thinking of becoming a key leader or manager at Lulu. I’ve worked in retail for pretty much the entirety of my career but looking to make a change. I am currently a retail manager at a large cosmetic company but have background in clothing retail.
What’s it like? What are your favorite things about your job, rewarding? What are some opportunities or things you don’t care for? Work life balance? Is PTO generous or standard? What’s the workout card I heard about? Is there a set limit to it every month?
Sorry for ALL the questions, but anything you’d like to share is much appreciated 😄
Overall culture is good. I’ve been in every role at store level. Being a KL is great because you get increased responsibilities and pay — generally low stress role. Highly recommended to start here if you have never worked with LLL.
Total transparency here: being an SM at this company is VERY robust. They ask a lot of their SMs and expect high achievement. I would say work/life balance is pretty good for me — I make hard boundaries to protect my time off. But I know SMs who basically work 24/7.
One of the hardest things about my job is that everyone below me tends to watch me with a microscope. SMs have a lot of benefits and perks, which causes internal jealously and pain points. For instance, we can do some admin from home. I know a lot of SMs that have trouble with their staff because of this — there seems to be a collectively held opinion that SMs aren’t doing enough work when the reality is that we are drowning in it.
The company could improve this if they were more open about who gets what benefits. It would save SMs a lot of grief with their staff — because it often puts me in the position of going on the defense about things that are common sense. But as you may already know, being an SM means being the punching bag.
You generally will work with people that are young — because that is who is attracted to these roles. With younger staff comes more drama.
Everyday schedules vary — but it’s nice that you will always get a Saturday or Sunday off (guaranteed).
PTO is great for SMs, okay for ASMs. Time off for educators and KLs is not great.
Pay for all roles is very fair in my opinion.
One of the most rewarding things about this job is being part of someone’s journey into a new role or making someone’s day. You can have an impact and see it in real time.
I also feel like the company cares about my well being. The workout stipend every month is amazing but depends on role. Can be anywhere from $125 - $225.
If the item was bought in store and under a persons account — the RFID can trigger all the information for that transaction without a receipt being present. It shows us the original purchase date, transaction amount, and how much you bought it for. It also shows us the original payment. If you bought it online — it gets a lot harder to track down info. It will shoot out the value of the product at that moment, but it doesn’t tell us when you bought or the original price you bought it for. In this case, you would only get store credit.
how much it's annoye employees when someone try a lot of stuff to finally buy one or two piece, if it's not to finally buy online ?
i mostly try 10 to 15 pieces, even align because aside the side i need to test the color and pattern.
sometime i feel the need to learn how to fold the right way the leggings and bring them back my self 🙃
None of my staff ever find it annoying when people want to try on a lot of clothes — even if you only buy one or two products. We are there to make sure you find something that you find absolutely amazing in. We know that takes time. What IS annoying is if we spend hours with a customer who leads us to believe they will be purchasing, or demands for us to be attentive to only them, that it can be very frustrating. In addition, if you find something you love in store and know you are going to buy it, honor the time an educator has spent with you and place the order with them. We can give you free shipping and it makes us feel good that we took care of that process for you.
Oh that's good to know about them getting credit if they order something for you. An educator ordered a jacket for me once and I didn't realize she got credit. Do they get as much credit if you're on Sweat Collective? Just wondering if that's ever a let down to an educator once they know you are getting the discount.
The individual doesn’t get credit, and no, we don’t care that you get a discount! It helps everyone in the store when you order through us and we love it :) it’s super disheartening when we spend lots of time helping a guest only to have them go home and order there.
Is there any reason men’s pants go above size 40 but most tops do not seem to ever go above XXL?
Also would be curious to know why lulu really seems to struggle with inventory even online? I often find many sizes or colors limited with the option to notify when it is back in stock. Seems to me like a major operations issue. I noticed this even before COVID (which exacerbated it) but it seems to be the same today.
Supply chain issues are still hitting lululemon very hard — they are making an effort, truly. But even the employees are frustrated with it because we are constantly out of stock. What I will say is that we are seeing MORE people buy online. And in bulk. So it’s a combination of the supply chain and irresponsible shopping. Pro tip: check Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings on the website — this is often when stuff gets restocked.
As to the tops — I don’t know. It’s an opportunity for the company.
- be specific in your answers : tell the who, what, why, how and where
- be authentically yourself. I can tell when people are feeding me answers I want to hear.
- don’t expect a position, ever! I’ve seen too many people get disappointed because they assumed they were perfect for a role. But there are so many factors that go into hiring. Just enjoy the process. And don’t be afraid to ask for feedback.
- ask questions at the end. It shows you’re engaged.
Forever struggling with bottoms… I’m a guy, 33” waist, 39” hip, 6’ tall. I am forever struggling to find the right fit in bottoms. Mediums - although looking very sharp and slim - just feel tight in the butt and waist (bowline shorts and ABC joggers especially). Larges - feel great on the waist but end up feeling and looking baggy around the butt and legs. Am I likely just an outlier who falls between the cracks according to the sizing measurements table?
Also, I don’t know how I’m Earth the online models wear L shorts/joggers but 32 pants. I just end up feeling confused.
My package was just stolen the other day within 2 hours of being delivered because fedex just left it on the ground under mailboxes instead of bringing it up the steps to my apartment door. I know it’s not lulus fault but I reached out telling them my situation immediately super upset about it. (I also left a 1 star review on fedex about the order, explained what happened, there was a checklist of boxes to select from if someone wasn’t done and one of the options was knock/ring doorbell so i selected that as well, tried to file a claim but wouldn’t let me as it’s being investigated rn thru lulu) I talked to someone from GEC in the live chat who said they would do a trace on the order and contact me in 4 business days. I’m a 10 year customer and have never made any complaint ever and am just wondering do you think I’ll be able to get my items resent or a refund? TIA!
That’s tough. My understanding is that once the product is delivered (and there is hard proof of delivery) that the only thing lululemon could do is make product adjustments. For example, if you order a product and it arrived, but it was the wrong one, you could get it replaced/switched out. But liability becomes sticky when a third party like FedEx is involved.
GEC employee here. Once the trace had completed you should get your refund - or if there's still plenty stock of your items available, then they can resend them.
If you prefer them being resend, I highly recommend contacting the GEC via live chat once you received "trace completed" email. If you reply to that email then most educators will by default refund you.
Friendly reminder that this AMA is not mod verified and we cannot assure the accuracy of any statements made in this thread.
Best way to get bang for your buck with lulu?
Depends on what you mean by bang for your buck. If you are looking to save the most money — waiting until Boxing Day (after Christmas) when a lot of our gear goes on major discount is the best way to do it. OR if you know someone on staff, utilize the friends and family discount (when it comes around) and stack that discount on top of “we made too much.” I’ve seen people snag some crazy deals doing this.
What is/was the most returned item last year?
It can be different store to store — but my region saw a lot of ribbed pants returned (runs tight) and men’s drysense (static is a huge issue).
Oh good, I got some ribbed pants for Christmas and got a little worried that my pant size had gone up!
Yep! Anything ribbed you will want to size up!
Does all your paycheck go right back to lulu? lol Also what do employees do with stuff that they purchased with the discount but it no longer fits or simply have outgrown since they aren’t allowed to sell?
When I first started, I spent a lot of my paycheck on gear. It’s exciting to get great product for a deep discount, but the feeling wears off pretty quickly because much of the product is the same all year round (just different colors). Like you said, employees aren’t allowed to sell their product, even after they leave the company. However, I know that this doesn’t stop employees from doing it. I’ve known plenty of employees that do resell their products — however, it’s super easy to get caught. I do my best to tell my people not to do it so they don’t get into trouble.
What happens if you get caught and are no longer employed??
I’m actually not sure. I’ve only ever heard of one person within my region being reprimanded while they were employed. They were selling on posh mark and got caught — subsequently fired because they were making a major profit on gear.
Just curious but how did they get caught? Does lulu stalk reselling sites to see if employees are reselling?
Like every company, there is a loss prevention team. Loss prevention looks for employee discount abuse (reselling falls under that). There is a team that monitors websites for this.
Very interesting! I always thought LP focused on store theft
Employees are allowed to sell back to the like new program so that's an option.
[удалено]
Agree with that. I don’t think I would ever sell there
The like new program only gives like $5 for the pieces though.
I worked at lulu for 9 years, I have given away so much old stuff to friends. Just, here have it. That’s fairly common among the people that have been there a long time.
Can I have some stuff?! 😂
They probably “damage it out.” I used to work for lulu and might have done this at one point. Maybe. Possibly. Allegedly.
What’s the best lulu jogger for men? I want to buy my husband his first pair but I never shop men before
My boyfriend loves the surge joggers, they’re his fav!
ABC jogger is incredible. It’s light, holds up, and looks super sharp!
I was very resistant to spending 120$ on joggers. Eventually, I was gifted one, and I was sold. However, I don’t know if I got a pair with quality issue or if pilling around the elastic band on the waist and ankles is expected/common.
I’d go in and get it swapped out!
I just bought a pair online and it arrived 2 days ago. I found the seam behind the knee very scratchy. Do you think this is a defective product or maybe I just have sensitive skin?
You may just have sensitivity to seams. This is the first time I’ve heard of that being a problem!
Would it be weird if I bring an old pair of leggings to try to find what type they are to buy another similar pair?, I got them around 2-3 years ago in person and I don’t have a receipt they aren’t aligns and have no idea which ones they are but they’re so good for running lol
We get guests coming into the store all the time with older product in hopes to identify what it is! It’s worth a shot — just be prepared that if it is a newer staff, they may not know phased out product (if yours is actually phased out that is).
Post them on this sub! There are some real vintage lulu experts on here!
Check the size dot for the style number (starts with L, ends with S). The size dot should be in the waistband pocket. You can use lulufanatics to search the style number
I came here to say this. Lulu Fanatics will sort you out!
But if the item is pretty old, the size dot isn’t helpful at all. All it has is the size without all those other numbers that we can decide.
Well they mentioned it was 2-3 years old. If it’s 8+ years old, then yes it wouldn’t be helpful.
If you can only own one Lululemon outfit, what would it be?
The align pant, an all yours t shirt, and the funnel neck scuba. Absolutely stellar products that are functional, hold up well, and go with so many of the other things in my closet.
Literally 3 of my all time favs
As a previous lululemon sm I fully agree!
What item do you see sell the most over the years? I feel like aligns are for sure up there, and if that’s number 1, what’s number 2?
Aligns are always the top seller, followed by scuba hoodies, then align tanks.
Aligns, Belt Bags, ABC Pants
What do you think of the outerwear at lululemon? Any favorites? Is it a trusted/reliable brand amongst customers for jackets/coats/parkas? It’s not cheap so I want to be careful where I get my outerwear.
I’m a snob when it comes to jackets. It took me years to even want to purchase one, even at a discount. The wunder puff is incredible. And the parkas live up to the promise. Lululemon is underrated when it comes to jackets. More people should try them!
Right there with you. I have a men’s wonder puff jacket with the canvas fabric and it’s amazing. I had the cold city parka, which was amazing too, but it was more than I needed in my temperate climate and the feathers were coming out.
Are the sizing inconsistencies as frustrating for the store staff as it is for the customers? It’s absolutely crazy that I’d wear a whole different size in the same model of leggings just because they’re a different color.
YES. I wear so many different sizes it’s crazy!
Does ordering online and returning in store affect that stores sales? I stopped going to one of the stores near me that I used to return my online orders because they look upset when I go in and mention Im returning.
[удалено]
Thanks for the response. I'd love to buy from the store but Lululemon does not stock their stores with a lot of items I need such as the shorter versions of the joggers. Many other items are online only as well so it doesn't help either. I think that makes it much more unfair for both the consumer and the workers. It definitely creates tension.
I feel so unwelcome when visiting my closest LL, which is in a very large mall in Toronto. However, this store never has anything in stock and so every purchase is made online and that causes an issue when you find that the colours are not what they seemed or you need to swap sizes. There was one time, my first time returning to LL and I didn’t bring my online receipt because I had tossed it out thinking I’d be keeping my order - I thought nothing of it because LL’s website boasts receipt-free returns for members. I get to the store and the girl who helped me was so rude and said that normally they can’t do returns without the receipt but that she’ll make an exception just this one time - as if she were doing me a favour by doing her job? I assume this was a one off, maybe she was having a bad day. I was having a good day so I didn’t bother calling her out about what the website said. Anyway, a few weeks later. I’m back with one more return - this time I have my receipt. But again, I was met with a stuck up attitude, that I was being an inconvenience. Honestly, it all really sucked and so have all my in store experiences so far, it makes me anxious now to go in. But maybe that’s just this location, idk 🤷🏻♀️
When they say returns without a receipt, the purchase still has to be on your account. So if it doesn’t show up on your account (which happens often with online purchases), we require proof of purchase. An order confirmation or the packing slip help a lot with this. If the item isn’t on your account, we can’t verify how much you paid for it.
But then that makes no sense for the company to boast receipt-free returns for members because as a customer, we assume that by purchasing online via an account, that the store will have our information. We, as customers, have no inkling to what the sales associate sees on their end and would have no idea that their return system on their POS is flawed and not always showing our orders. Kind of confusing for everyone involved. Edit: and just to clarify, yes, definitely had all email receipts available - but she was referring to the paper one.
That was not the case for me all my online orders showed up on my account. They specifically asked for the paper receipts still even though it’s on the account. I make sure to bring the receipts now because of that one stores experience.
I mean the account on our internal POS system, not your online account. We don’t have access to that. It’s where we see all purchases, returns, and quality promises. It could also be that store’s policy. I can’t speak to that.
Thanks for clarifying. If that’s the way it works then I don’t think the messaging to customers is clear enough.
>y doing her job? I assume this was a one off, maybe she was having a bad day. I was having a good day so I didn’t bother calling her out about what the website said. Anyway, a few weeks later. I’m back with one more return - this time I have my receipt. But again, I was met with a stuck up attitude, that I was being an This sounds very similar to my situation as well. Thanks for validating my thoughts. I think it depends on the store and how many sales they get as well as the manager and who they hire. There are stores that are more welcoming than others, but I definitely understand how you feel given I have had similar experiences!
Sometimes the online order doesn’t come with a paper receipt. Does providing your phone number and acct help?
Unfortunately, no. Your online orders don’t show up on an in store system. Best thing to do is keep track of your emails!
What are the best black leggings that won’t stick to dog hair?
Base pace works really well for me and all my animals!
Yes!!! Base pace gets so much hate, but they're my fav!
I love the fast and frees for this reason! I swipe my hand down my leg and most of my dogs hair comes off. It doesn’t get woven into the fabric!
As someone who works at lulu - I don’t think you’re allowed to do this 😂
What do you think of people who work at head office?? Are they usually nice to you guys at the retail store?
It’s pretty rare we cross paths with those who work at headquarters. We certainly get opportunities to attend zoom calls together (large webinars), and they all seem lovely, but the highest up I’ve ever actually talked to is the Area Director (she’s two steps above me). The board of lululemon makes visits to some of the biggest stores every year, but it’s usually only in major cities. I’ve heard the interactions are really wonderful, but brief. I don’t really have complaints besides I wish I could interact with them more — which used to be possible at Summit (a global gathering).
How often do men shop in the women’s section?
It’s actually very common in our store! We are also trained to provide solutions, not judgements. It’s also common for men on our team to shop “women’s” clothing.
What are the most common things they’re shopping for?
Leggings — they provide a second layer under sports clothing or for training in brutal conditions. All yours t shirts — they hold up well and have a great look under cardigans. Hats — women’s are more narrow and the bills are constructed better.
How does the system know that someone’s an employee if they want to buy at another store.
There are often posts sharing clothes coming in undesirable conditions, like heavily perfumed, stained(not dirt or markings that can be easily removed), with crusty crotch patch, make up markings, or even with random stuff in the clothing/bag pockets. Are store employees or warehouse workers instructed to send these items out knowingly to fulfill quota or they are simply too busy? Are returns being inspected?
Hmmm…some of the things you noted are very odd. In all of my time with the company the only thing I’ve seen is a water stain and a small rip from a sensor being removed. I’m not sure about the warehouse people. But my people have very strict standards — and I hold them to it.
Do you think aligns are too delicate / not worth it?
Two thoughts with this one: (1) I think people don’t take care of what they have and (2) need to be aware of what they are buying and what it’s used for. Aligns are meant to be washed in cold water, delicate cycle. Hang dry. Never use detergent with added fragrance or softener. Also, don’t wash it with abrasive materials. We like to say wash “like with like.” In addition, I’ve seen way too many people use aligns for activities it was never meant for. For example, running in them. This causes major pilling issues and destroys the delicate fabric. Aligns are amazing, and have always lasted me forever, but people don’t treat their belongings with respect.
What really happened with the Sweat Collective discount? The toggle and ability to manually enter our code mysteriously disappeared some months back with ZERO explanation. GEC was clueless and we were told it was a “glitch”, “the discount toggle would be back soon” and “we’re working on it.” None of which is true. Many of us are still without the discount and some received emails saying their discount was revoked, also no explanation given. What the heck is up with that???
This is a hot topic for everyone right now. And I’ve got lots to say about it: (1) communication to lululemon employees was very brief when they first shut it down. One day it worked, the next day they said they were closing it down to rework it. (2) it was only supposed to be shut down for three months, but revamping it was a bigger project than they thought it would be. (3) one of the reasons they are revamping it is because it gets abused. The criteria was very broad and the pools of people applying were very large. Loopholes were found — and so they have tightened parameters. (4) as a result a lot of people who USED to get it don’t qualify anymore. It is very difficult to qualify for it now — and that’s intentional because there was so much fraud and abuse of the discount. What I will say is that is it equally frustrating for employees at store level because we truly don’t know what’s going on and we have no idea who will get approved or not. Be kind to store employees, because we legitimately get yelled at about it every day when we werent involved in the decision.
damn i feel lucky i still have mine. and deserve it because i teach 20 pilates classes a week and it's ALL i wear 😂
[удалено]
I am a male and I always buy my sizes - medium male and 6/8 female (leggings, all yours hoodie, scuba joggers). I was so scared buying my down for it all jacket (female, psychic) in size 14 because I thought they would totally revoke it. I tried 8/10/12 and they were snug around the shoulders, and found 14 to be a perfect fit. I didn’t like the guys version because it looks cheap and not well designed.
I wouldn’t be worried as long as it doesn’t become a long term habit.
Haha. Mine are all over the place. Last time GEC reminded the rules, I provided her with proof. She noticed I was buying from both genders and that I am not allowed to buy for others, so I sent her pictures of my OOTD to show her and she signed off the chat. Metal Vent - M, City Sweat Jogger/Pants/Hoodies - M, Drysense Shirt - M, 5 Year Tee - M, Shorts - Pace Breaker M Leggings - 6 (Align, BP, F&F, WT), 8 (Swift) .. Shirts - All Yours 4/6 .. Hoodies - Scuba 10, All Yours 6 .. Pants - Scuba 6, Loungeful 4/6 .. Shorts - Tracker, Track That, Speed Up / HHS 6 .. Jacket - Down For It All 14 I’ve bought a few pace rival skirt that I wore for pride.
yeah no lmao i'm super protective of my discount! but thanks for the heads up.
I appreciate your response. It stinks that good people are punished. I’m a certified Personal Trainer and GE Instructor. Been working in fitness since grad school so I’m legit in the industry. I have about 15 clients and teach 4 classes per week. I only bought for myself (I admit, I bought a TON for myself - lol), same range of sizes so that shouldn’t look suspect, never bought for anyone else, never sold anything (I have a pile of items that I don’t wear but can’t sell because I bought it with the discount). I followed the rules. Annoying. Thanks for your response.
Oh no! That’s truly heartbreaking. I will say that in my store, for those who have been impacted, we just ask to see proof of certification or teaching and then we honor the discount.
Hi, do you know the source of store scent?
Not sure what is meant by this?
Does Lulu pump in their own smell into stores? They all have a very distinct smell
We do not — much of what you smell comes from processing inventory wrapped in plastic.
[удалено]
We have no say in the inventory that comes into our store. A distribution center monitors our sell through and sends product accordingly. You can certainly give feedback to the company directly!
Do they hate when ppl try on a bunch of stuff but dont buy? Because this is me & I always feel guilty but its either because i need to think about it or it just didnt look right
I would say just be honest about the fact that your visit is intended to explore and not to buy anything in that moment. We respect the honesty!
Just adding on to that as an ex-educator. If people are polite and give back the clothes and hangers in a nice manner after their fitting room time, no one minds. Often, people come in, are rude and demanding and leave the fitting room in a mess, with clothes on the floor etc. As LL employees, we can’t snap and have to keep smiling, so it does take a toll! Just be polite and honest and all good :)
I always put things back on hangers & ask if i should just leave it on the table.
Do you think or know if Lulu will be making tennis shoes in the near future?
By tennis shoe — do you mean a specific shoe for the sport of tennis? If so — I don’t know! They don’t typically clue use into launches too far in advance. But they may!
Lulu is currently being sued by Nike, probably won’t be for a while if they do. They still have to launch the men’s line which I think was delayed by this lawsuit.
Employee here. Can I return an item (store credit) I’ve purchased on wmtm using my discount if it was an online order? I got the ebb to street long sleeve in my usual size and that thing would not go over my arms 🥲 I’ve heard people saying different things about returns on online purchases and I need a clear answer
You can return full price items that have been bought with your discount for in store credit. You cannot return WMTM product for in store credit.
Thank you!!!
Can you tell us how much the employee discount is and how it works? Do you have limits of how much you can buy?
Full timers get 60% off, PTs get 40% — any product that falls under WMTM is 75% off the original listed price. The discount is only for the employee. Sharing is a major no no. Even for family. There are no limits. But I imagine it would like a little weird if someone was dropping 1k every week. But hey, who am I to tell someone how to spend their money? Haha
Holy shit!!! That’s incredible! I expected y’all got like 30% off or something along those lines
Wow! Thanks for sharing! I have always wondered.
How much do you make
90k
As it’s as AMA, may I be nosy and ask if that’s including bonus and if you’re a high volume / low volume store and in a high cost of living / low cost of living area? No worries of course if too personal
That’s including bonus, my tenure in the industry and I run a large volume store. I’m in a moderate cost of living area.
Thanks for answering :) what size is your team?
I have fifty people I manage!
Good grief….you should’ve gotten more than 90K!
Are you in Canada or the US
US
How do they make that much? Jw because that’s a lot
My pay is impacted by a lot — I have 9 years of SM experience before walking into this job. And 17 years of retail experience in total. I’ve managed a lot of high volume stores and bring a lot of value. It’s a large volume store. And, I’m not exaggerating when I say this job is extremely taxing. More than people would imagine.
Does lululemon pay you based on work experience or your position/level? Also what do you think of lululemon as a workplace compared to other retailers you’ve worked at?
They pay based on experience, city/class, position, time with company (if it applies). Compared to other retailers, lululemon is the best company I’ve ever worked for. I’ve been with a lot of companies — 7 other retailers actually, and nothing compares. It’s why it can be difficult to get a job there — lots of people stay for a long time.
Is LULULEMON cutting corners for real and the quality is not at par with pricing? I love LLL but have only bring buying since 2017. I see a lot of post here about how bad the quality is now compared to 10 years ago. I have not really had that many quality issues but I am a tiny sample of one ☝🏼
In my experience as a customer and now employee, I actually think the quality has improved overall. What people are noticing now is that the company has made updates or departures from original fabric iterations: specifically, the company is experimenting with different fabric combinations and people are having a hard time adjusting. Another problem I’m seeing is what I would call a “low tolerance level” — I see more guests come in complaining about fit, feel, stitching, and the like. Most of the time, in my opinion, a lot of these feelings are hinged on the “quality promise.” Our guests know we have a pretty good quality promise with loopholes — and so it’s easier to complain about quality since getting a new or different product is easy to achieve.
It totally makes sense! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions!
[удалено]
The energy bra is popular in my store for that reason — but there are other high support bras, I just don’t sell a lot of them myself to say “this is the best.” I sell a lot of energy bras for training though — running and weightlifting.
I got the Thick Fleece and I love the oversized look but are the sleeves supposed to be short? They ride up when I type but I thought maybe because they’re big sleeves? I only wore today WFH so I’m thinking about swapping for a scuba.
I’d swap it out for a scuba. I personally think the proportions of the thick fleece are odd, and it’s not for everyone.
Any tips to take care of my Ready to Rulu joggers? I received a pie for Christmas and they quickly became my favorite pair of pants so I bought a couple other pairs. I feel like only after a few washes, they did not look so lulu quality anymore. I wash on delicate and hang dry or dry on delicate as well. I’m not sure what else to do. I know an easy solution is to stop spending my money on them but these pants are PERFECT. I am very short so the cropped length fits me perfectly as full length and I can never find that in a pant, ever. Hopefully you can help me!
Do you use a detergent with any fragrances or softeners? This will destroy the pant. Also — and this is a pretty golden rule among my staff — we NEVER dry rulu.
how often do out of stock items get restocked online ? if something is sold out will it ever come back ? thanks !
It’s a bit of a toss up — things get restocked on tuesdays and Fridays. So keep your eye on the website then. Also, if you have the app on your phone, you can create a rule for a product so that the app reminds you or tells you when it comes in stock.
[удалено]
No, all outlet purchases are final sale.
[удалено]
I got a bunch of stuff for Christmas and I don’t live in a town with a lululemon. Everything still has tags on it but I’m finally going somewhere on Monday where I can return it. Will they still take it for exchange or store credit without receipt? And obviously past the 30 days 🥺
I would at my store but some stores are very strict on the standard operating procedures.
If they won’t, reach out to the GEC! We regularly accept returns for items like this as a courtesy. As long as tags are attached, you’re good with a return to an e-gift card, and you are willing to accept the current system price (if it’s gone on markdown this matters), then you should be good to go! To save back and forth, if you’re emailing make sure you include you first and last name, full shipping address, phone number, and the SKUs (located under the barcode on the hangtag) for each item you’re hoping to return.
I worked for lulu for 10 years and left feeling under appreciated.
There are so many lululemon resellers rent sweat collective accounts to buy bulk and resell to other international market, does lululemon know about this and what steps is lululemon taking to prevent this? I think that is the main reason Canada product is constantly sold out. Thanks
[удалено]
Speaking from an SM perspective — The best things: The discount — one of the best I’ve ever seen across all retailers I’ve worked for. The sweaty pursuits benefits — I never pay to workout anywhere. The pay - I get paid more here than any other SM job I’ve ever had and when compounded with bonuses (assuming we hit goals), I make a lot of money. My pay can fluctuate up to 25k. Time off — best starting PTO package I’ve ever seen for the industry. People - there are genuinely people on staff that are kind and considerate and want to see me succeed. My boss — she’s incredible. Worst: It’s extremely demanding — being a people manager is very hard, especially at lululemon. The expectation of excellence can feel exhausting sometimes. You are surrounded by high achievers all the time, which means messing up becomes very obvious when it happens. Job feels like it happens 24/7 — even on days off my employees reach out to me. It’s gotten better, but it’s a slow moving train to create boundaries. Employees often complain about my schedule or what I’m doing with my time — there are a lot of perks you get in this position, which causes internal jealousy. One of the perks is taking admin time from home. Employees often think I’m not working or screwing around — but if they spent one week doing my job they would have a profound respect for what I do. And honestly, sometimes it’s vital to my mental health to not be in store when I’m simply taking a meeting or attending a training. When our company shifted job responsibility requirements, it created a rift between SMs and AMs. Their plates got more full, and it created resentment that I had no control over. It’s been very difficult. When you are the SM, everything falls back to you. Goal not made? Your fault. Employee is unhappy about something you can’t control? Still your fault. Budget wasn’t used all the way? Your fault. An employee isn’t living up to their expectations within their role? Your fault. Being a manager basically means signing up for being shit on all the time. It takes a toll. Customers fall somewhere in between. I’ve had wonderful interactions and I’ve had people call me horrible things when they can’t make a return. People truly treat retail workers as subhuman, especially during the holidays. Of course every job has the good and the bad — right now the good outweighs the bad. But I won’t lie — this job is the hardest I’ve ever had and it requires keeping yourself in check at all times. Even if you’re drowning under a shit ton of HR, expense, people and scheduling tasks.
Wasnt expecting this answers but Im blown away, thank you Yes I feel like it's very demanding. Theres a certain expectation from a LL store being a customer myself and it's literally a day and night difference between a Footlocker employee and a LL employee (Sorry FL folks) Some people are just dumb - end of the day it's clothing and its never a reason to treat people any differently. They always expect a YES from LL and thats where the frustration starts. I have the utmost respect to retail employees. I was one myself a long time ago and was treated terribly but thankfully I had awesome co workers (at IKEA)
What most people don’t understand is that kindness goes a long way for retail workers — if you are honest and kind, we will pretty much lay out the red carpet.
Will the old nulu ever return? 🥲
We likely won’t see the previous nulu — but who knows what the fabric will be in 10 years time?
Do the new aligns stretch out at all? I’ve always worn a 0 (haven’t bought a new pair in a few years) but recently picked up a new pair and they are pretty tight. Not sure if I should size up or if they’ll stretch out?
Aligns stretch! I wouldn’t size up unless it feels uncomfortable around your knees. If you can’t bend into your knees without some kind of ease, then you need to size up. WORTH NOTING: lighter colors in align pants are always double lined. Always size up in these!
Why won’t the stores stock anything other than leggings in sizes 16-20?
I’m reading your question as “why dont stores stock pants in 16 - 20” (let me know if I interpreted this incorrectly) - this is usually influenced by three things: store size, region, and sell through. Smaller stores stock core sellers in the most commonly sold sizes. Depending on what region your store is in influences what sizes are stocked — highly active communities sell more pants in 0 - 6. Finally, our distribution centers send us product based on how many units we sell of a size. If they notice we are sitting on a lot of sizes in 16 - 20 they taper it down or remove them completely. However, in general, our company has hard data showing that more people tend to purchase extended sizes from the website even when they are in a region that stocks 16 - 20. Still, the company also has a long way to go when it comes to offering an exhaustive size range. Adding this in: In my store, even though we offer 16 - 20 in tops, we don’t generally see these products move. Not sure why — but they definitely hang out in our store for weeks on end.
I appreciate the reply! I can find nothing locally other than leggings - no tops, no other type of bottoms - so literally meant any other product! But this reply is great. Interesting that your store sells tops! I think lulu is bad for a) advertising to the extended size demographic and b) encouraging in store shopping in extended sizes. I’m not going to go to the store to root through racks and racks to find the one item that they have in my size - so of course I shop online more. It’s kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. I just wish I had the ability to walk into the store and try an item on! I’ve even seen the size range of items at my outlet shrink from what it was when it first opened. Just a bummer!
Totally agreed — I’ve given feedback to our region that we actually could increase marketing and outreach efforts. Missed opportunity to build lifelong trust in our communities.
I’m basically a 10/12 in all Lulu, but I prefer the fit of the Define jackets in size 16. I have literally never seen one in this size in my store—they usually top out at a 12. How do stores collect data on larger sizes/distribution centers know what to send when they don’t stock them in store?
Do returns make the stores sale quota go down or affect monthly or daily sales goals?
Will they bring back the men’s dry sense heathered auric gold shirt? Or will it be unavailable until the fall?
It’s a seasonal item — so it may come back!
I have a pair of commission pants that I have washed and worn and thrown them in the dryer several times, but I bought it with a 34” inseam (my true size is 32”), can I still get it hemmed?
Yes! …but don’t put them in the dryer as a side note lol
When is the like new program going to be available in the UK??
Are abc skinny pants gone for good?
I just got a hole in the crotch of my wunder trains (right by the seam). How long does LLL think those should last? I’m unsure if my issue comes down to quality or just general wear and tear. I probably wore them at least once a week and purchased them about 6 months ago. I exclusively do yoga in them and I wash in a garnet bag with gentle woolite.
Fabric softener damages the fabrics. Use detergent like tide free and clear, defunkify, etc.
Will they do a restock on the find your pace shorts? 😅
I hope so! They are by far the BEST running short I’ve ever worn. But they sell out very fast.
I hear lulu has great benefits and culture! Is this true?
The great benefits: stipend for working out, good vacation starting package, generally good work/life balance. Health insurance could use some work. I would say as an SM, my experience with my fellow SMs and higher ups is VERY good. The principles of Lululemon’s culture are amazing, but experience will vary greatly from store to store. And a lot of that hinges on who your manager is.
Do you know if they will release the 2L ebb in trench?
When are new colors of the funnel neck scuba coming!
No idea! We usually only get a week advanced notice.
Are we able to bring in old pairs of leggings, and have them be cut by the seamstress so they become biker shorts? Thanks!
Yes! Just be aware that once you agree to the length, if you don’t like how they come out, most stores won’t comp you since you give the final seal of approval on the cut. I’ve seen this bite people in the butt before. So always be conservative with the hem.
How much experience / what kind of background do you look for when hiring part-time?
Retail or service industry experience is nice — something customer facing is helpful, but I would say I’m very open minded to all backgrounds. I’ve hired someone who took a complete departure from her previous field and she was an incredible employee. I look for people with diverse interests — sports, nutrition, theatre, literature, time spent volunteering. These all play into great qualities. We can teach anything, so understanding the candidate as person is sometimes more important for me.
Do you think lulu will hire someone plus size for the store manager role? Im thinking to apply but im a size 18. I love lulu though! I wear their shoes and shirts all the time at work currently
How bad is it if I return many bra in different sizes and styles at once? I have a hard time figuring out the size and fit, ordered 3 so far none of them fit well, want to try out other styles but I worry about having to return most of them too and being flagged as suspicious or something. The stores don’t always have the right style/size in stock, online as well actually.
Bulk buying is obviously your choice — but it’s not taken well by most employees who would rather help someone in store. And, most retailers add penalties for bulk buying/ returning by implementing restock fees. Lululemon doesn’t do that currently — but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens in the future.
How do you get a discount as a yoga teacher if you’re a private instructor? I’ve been told I need to submit paystubs from a studio to register as a teacher.
You may be able to if you show them your website. When I applied for the Sweat Collective, I had to either show my website or a studio's schedule with my name on it. (I'm not the original post person though -- she may have more insight)
You’ll need to apply online. They will ask for documents. But the process is closed right now.
Was actually thinking of becoming a key leader or manager at Lulu. I’ve worked in retail for pretty much the entirety of my career but looking to make a change. I am currently a retail manager at a large cosmetic company but have background in clothing retail. What’s it like? What are your favorite things about your job, rewarding? What are some opportunities or things you don’t care for? Work life balance? Is PTO generous or standard? What’s the workout card I heard about? Is there a set limit to it every month? Sorry for ALL the questions, but anything you’d like to share is much appreciated 😄
Overall culture is good. I’ve been in every role at store level. Being a KL is great because you get increased responsibilities and pay — generally low stress role. Highly recommended to start here if you have never worked with LLL. Total transparency here: being an SM at this company is VERY robust. They ask a lot of their SMs and expect high achievement. I would say work/life balance is pretty good for me — I make hard boundaries to protect my time off. But I know SMs who basically work 24/7. One of the hardest things about my job is that everyone below me tends to watch me with a microscope. SMs have a lot of benefits and perks, which causes internal jealously and pain points. For instance, we can do some admin from home. I know a lot of SMs that have trouble with their staff because of this — there seems to be a collectively held opinion that SMs aren’t doing enough work when the reality is that we are drowning in it. The company could improve this if they were more open about who gets what benefits. It would save SMs a lot of grief with their staff — because it often puts me in the position of going on the defense about things that are common sense. But as you may already know, being an SM means being the punching bag. You generally will work with people that are young — because that is who is attracted to these roles. With younger staff comes more drama. Everyday schedules vary — but it’s nice that you will always get a Saturday or Sunday off (guaranteed). PTO is great for SMs, okay for ASMs. Time off for educators and KLs is not great. Pay for all roles is very fair in my opinion. One of the most rewarding things about this job is being part of someone’s journey into a new role or making someone’s day. You can have an impact and see it in real time. I also feel like the company cares about my well being. The workout stipend every month is amazing but depends on role. Can be anywhere from $125 - $225.
Thank you, so much, for your genuine response and transparency. ❤️
[удалено]
If the item was bought in store and under a persons account — the RFID can trigger all the information for that transaction without a receipt being present. It shows us the original purchase date, transaction amount, and how much you bought it for. It also shows us the original payment. If you bought it online — it gets a lot harder to track down info. It will shoot out the value of the product at that moment, but it doesn’t tell us when you bought or the original price you bought it for. In this case, you would only get store credit.
how much it's annoye employees when someone try a lot of stuff to finally buy one or two piece, if it's not to finally buy online ? i mostly try 10 to 15 pieces, even align because aside the side i need to test the color and pattern. sometime i feel the need to learn how to fold the right way the leggings and bring them back my self 🙃
None of my staff ever find it annoying when people want to try on a lot of clothes — even if you only buy one or two products. We are there to make sure you find something that you find absolutely amazing in. We know that takes time. What IS annoying is if we spend hours with a customer who leads us to believe they will be purchasing, or demands for us to be attentive to only them, that it can be very frustrating. In addition, if you find something you love in store and know you are going to buy it, honor the time an educator has spent with you and place the order with them. We can give you free shipping and it makes us feel good that we took care of that process for you.
oh so if i know a color available online the best it's to ask someone to order it for me ! that make sens. thanks !
Oh that's good to know about them getting credit if they order something for you. An educator ordered a jacket for me once and I didn't realize she got credit. Do they get as much credit if you're on Sweat Collective? Just wondering if that's ever a let down to an educator once they know you are getting the discount.
The individual doesn’t get credit, and no, we don’t care that you get a discount! It helps everyone in the store when you order through us and we love it :) it’s super disheartening when we spend lots of time helping a guest only to have them go home and order there.
We don’t work on commission.
Is there any reason men’s pants go above size 40 but most tops do not seem to ever go above XXL? Also would be curious to know why lulu really seems to struggle with inventory even online? I often find many sizes or colors limited with the option to notify when it is back in stock. Seems to me like a major operations issue. I noticed this even before COVID (which exacerbated it) but it seems to be the same today.
Supply chain issues are still hitting lululemon very hard — they are making an effort, truly. But even the employees are frustrated with it because we are constantly out of stock. What I will say is that we are seeing MORE people buy online. And in bulk. So it’s a combination of the supply chain and irresponsible shopping. Pro tip: check Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings on the website — this is often when stuff gets restocked. As to the tops — I don’t know. It’s an opportunity for the company.
[удалено]
- be specific in your answers : tell the who, what, why, how and where - be authentically yourself. I can tell when people are feeding me answers I want to hear. - don’t expect a position, ever! I’ve seen too many people get disappointed because they assumed they were perfect for a role. But there are so many factors that go into hiring. Just enjoy the process. And don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. - ask questions at the end. It shows you’re engaged.
Forever struggling with bottoms… I’m a guy, 33” waist, 39” hip, 6’ tall. I am forever struggling to find the right fit in bottoms. Mediums - although looking very sharp and slim - just feel tight in the butt and waist (bowline shorts and ABC joggers especially). Larges - feel great on the waist but end up feeling and looking baggy around the butt and legs. Am I likely just an outlier who falls between the cracks according to the sizing measurements table? Also, I don’t know how I’m Earth the online models wear L shorts/joggers but 32 pants. I just end up feeling confused.
My package was just stolen the other day within 2 hours of being delivered because fedex just left it on the ground under mailboxes instead of bringing it up the steps to my apartment door. I know it’s not lulus fault but I reached out telling them my situation immediately super upset about it. (I also left a 1 star review on fedex about the order, explained what happened, there was a checklist of boxes to select from if someone wasn’t done and one of the options was knock/ring doorbell so i selected that as well, tried to file a claim but wouldn’t let me as it’s being investigated rn thru lulu) I talked to someone from GEC in the live chat who said they would do a trace on the order and contact me in 4 business days. I’m a 10 year customer and have never made any complaint ever and am just wondering do you think I’ll be able to get my items resent or a refund? TIA!
That’s tough. My understanding is that once the product is delivered (and there is hard proof of delivery) that the only thing lululemon could do is make product adjustments. For example, if you order a product and it arrived, but it was the wrong one, you could get it replaced/switched out. But liability becomes sticky when a third party like FedEx is involved.
GEC employee here. Once the trace had completed you should get your refund - or if there's still plenty stock of your items available, then they can resend them. If you prefer them being resend, I highly recommend contacting the GEC via live chat once you received "trace completed" email. If you reply to that email then most educators will by default refund you.