I placed an order with Marini Clothing (Order #4652) in April. Unfortunately, the items were of very poor quality – the fabric felt cheap, the cuts were irregular, and the sizing did not match what was shown on their website. For this reason, I exercised my legal right of withdrawal and returned the entire order in good condition, within the legal timeframe.

From that point onward, the experience was extremely disappointing:
1. Initial refusal of refund
Marini claimed that discounted or bundled items cannot be refunded. This is not permitted under EU Directive 2011/83/EU, which protects consumers’ right of withdrawal for online purchases.
2. Unlawful €25 deduction
They then offered a refund minus €25 for so-called “free shipping”. EU law (Article 13(1)) clearly requires traders to reimburse all payments, including delivery costs. If shipping is advertised as free, no retroactive deduction can be made.
3. Contradictory excuses
Later, Marini claimed that one pair of trousers was missing its tag and that the items were wrinkled. They offered either:

• Option A: refund all items minus €25, or
• Option B: exclude one item completely.

These two positions directly contradict each other. If all items are refundable, the “missing tag” argument is irrelevant. If one item is allegedly not eligible, then the €25 deduction has no legal basis. Both options are unfair and unlawful.
4. Ignoring consumer authorities
I escalated the matter to the European Consumer Centre (ECC). Even after official involvement, Marini has ignored the authorities’ communication and still refuses to process the full refund.

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Conclusion:
The products I received were poor in quality, and the company’s handling of returns is in breach of EU consumer law. Even official consumer protection bodies have been disregarded.

Until Marini changes its practices and respects both consumers and EU law, I strongly advise against ordering from them.


Edit 1:
I must correct your statement: the return was not sent in a “fruit bag.” Each garment was placed back into its original plastic sleeve, then additionally protected with a regular shopping bag, and finally packed into a new, sturdy DHL cardboard box — which I had to purchase myself, since you did not provide a return label or suitable packaging for the return.

The items were shipped safely and with care. As for the alleged “wrinkling”: this is an inevitable effect of international transport and does not indicate misuse or neglect. Any retailer handling returns knows that garments may need steaming before resale — this is normal business practice and not a valid reason to deny or reduce a refund.

What matters most: although you repeatedly claim to be “ready to refund,” the fact is that almost six months have now passed since the return and no refund has actually been issued. Under EU Directive 2011/83/EU, refunds must be processed within 14 days of withdrawal. Failing to do so is not only unfair but also a clear violation of EU consumer protection law.

Instead of focusing on misleading descriptions of the packaging or minor, inevitable wrinkles, I would expect Marini to respect its legal obligations and finally process the full refund without unlawful deductions.

Edit 2:
After posting this review publicly, Marini finally processed a refund — but only with an unlawful €25 deduction.

It is telling that this refund came only after nearly six months of delay and public pressure, and not because of respect for consumer rights. Under EU law, refunds must be issued within 14 days of withdrawal, not half a year later.

For €25 I will not start a formal lawsuit — and I suspect Marini is counting on exactly this: that customers won’t pursue legal action over a relatively small amount. This, however, highlights the real problem: a business strategy that relies on discouraging consumers from enforcing their rights.

Edit 3:
Marini has now attempted to report my review as “defamatory content” in order to have it removed from Trustpilot. Fortunately, Trustpilot reviewed the case and very quickly rejected this claim, confirming that my review complies with their guidelines.

This attempt to silence legitimate customer feedback only reinforces my negative experience: instead of taking responsibility and improving their practices, Marini invests energy in trying to suppress criticism.

Please stay away from this „business“.