I really wanted to love this brand. The designs are beautiful, the overall aesthetic feels premium, and I was genuinely excited when my first order arrived — a coat worth over €330. Unfortunately, my experience with their customer service completely ruined the impression.
When I reached out about a €17 return shipping fee, I wasn’t demanding anything unreasonable — just a gesture of goodwill for a first-time customer. The response I received was a flat “it’s our policy,” with no effort to understand the situation or show flexibility.
Policies exist for a reason, but good brands know when to make exceptions to retain loyal customers. For me, this small refusal said everything about their mindset: rigid, transactional, and lacking a sense of genuine customer care.
The coat has already been returned to the U.S., and I won’t be ordering again. A shame really — both my partner and I (he’s a large European influencer who had discovered the brand) were ready to invest in several more pieces. But after this experience, I can’t recommend California Arts to anyone who values service and customer respect as much as design.