Lord & Taylor Relaunches Again and Includes Resale

Lord & Taylor Relaunches Again and Includes Resale

Lord & Taylor, the iconic retailer that was left a shell of its former self before closing its stores a few years ago, is once again back in business, operating as a purely online store under yet another new owner.

However, this relaunch is distinguished by confusing merchandising and pricing strategies that attempt to blend a focus on resale with what appears to be an overall off-price approach for higher-end and luxury fashion and home goods.

Confusing Pricing and Merchandising Strategies

The banner “CURATED LUXURY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS” is posted prominently; yet, the actual pricing strategy is bafflingly unclear.

The website avoids labeling its offerings as officially "off-price," but the merchandise suggests an inferred markdown strategy, with many individual items shown as being marked down. This implied off-price approach, however, is immediately undercut by contradictory listings. For example, the site includes women's skirts and dresses, both appearing to be in new condition, listed for $69 and $98, respectively, and are not marked down from a higher price. Additionally, these prices clearly do not align with a "curated luxury" positioning.

Compounding the confusion is the presence of just one price and no markdowns alongside items with full, non-discounted prices, such as a Gucci horsebit flat mule for $1,241.90 and a Ferragamo Castagneto L chocolate handbag for $4,079.90. On the other hand, examples of deep markdowns include items like Gucci cat eye-frame sunglasses, with a sale price of $179.99 (regularly $590.00), and a Ferragamo Vara bow smooth leather tote, with a sale price of $899.99 (regularly $2,100.00).

A surprising finding during my review is that a significant number of items, assuming they are identical on other websites, are priced higher on lordandtaylor.com. An example of this is shown in the section below called “A Surprising Pricing Premium.”

The sheer range and inconsistency of these listing types make the actual pricing and merchandise strategies difficult to definitively pin down.

Strategies Vague by Design?

The "About Us" section offers zero clarity regarding the website's strategy or current positioning. Instead, the section is nothing more than a nostalgic history lesson. It emphasizes the heritage of Lord & Taylor with scrolling boxes and black-and-white photos pertaining to the company's past from 1826 until the 2000s, leaving customers to guess the current business model.

While the site itself is strategically vague, the push to include resale was openly underscored by Reflaunt's CEO, whose company is powering the effort. In a post last week on LinkedIn, the CEO stated that Lord & Taylor "is returning with a bold vision: putting customers at the center and building resale into the heart of its relaunch." The program is called Resell by Lord & Taylor.

Disclaimer Integrated into Item Descriptions

After clicking on each item, there is a detailed disclosure that states:

“What to know before buying: Lord & Taylor is a platform that hosts sellers of authentic luxury brands. Neither Lord & Taylor nor its sellers are affiliated with or authorized retailers of any brand. You should assume that warranties, packaging, return policies, and other brand services do not apply or are different from those offered directly by brands. Please review the product details carefully before making a purchase.”

Critical Lack of Transparency in Authentication and Returns

The "What to know before buying" section simply asserts that all goods come from sellers of authentic luxury brands. However, this statement provides little practical assurance because it fails to disclose two critical pieces of information:

1. The specific details of the authentication process.

2. The explicit policy for returns and refunds if the item is later confirmed to be inauthentic by a third party.

Obviously, authenticity is a top concern for buyers when purchasing a $4,000+ handbag on this website.

This lack of transparency aligns with a broader industry challenge, evidenced by a comparative analysis I conducted about six months prior across approximately 25 luxury resale platforms. While a number of platforms guaranteed authenticity and promised a refund if the item were deemed inauthentic, this analysis demonstrated a significant systemic problem: very few resellers explicitly detail their procedures for such scenarios, often necessitating follow-up inquiries that frequently yield an incomplete or vague response. In a few instances, persistent follow-up emails were required to finally obtain the company’s process for honoring the authenticity guarantee.

Inventory and Condition Categories Not Stated

A critical deficiency is the absence of a clear condition designation (e.g., new, deadstock, or pre-loved) for items. The platform appears to mix inventory without clear designation, which forces the consumer to infer the state of the goods.

This ambiguity is compounded by the absence of condition ratings (if the item is pre-loved) commonly found on most resale sites. Shoppers are given no indication if the item is new or pre-owned, and if pre-owned, the item's condition (e.g., Excellent, Very Good, Shows Wear) is missing.

While the website tells those wishing to sell items through this platform that it will only accept items in "brand-new, excellent, or very good condition," this internal vetting grade is not visibly carried through to the customer-facing product page. (Note: The content in Resell by Lord & Taylor does not specifically mention that items sellers submit through here are sold on lordandtaylor.com. It states: your items will be listed on Reflaunt’s global resale network, reaching over 300 million buyers.")

A Surprising Pricing Premium

Further investigation into the buying side on lordandtaylor.com generated an alarming concern regarding the final prices. Given that the most recent Q3 2025 Lyst Index ranked Coach highly among fashion’s hottest brands, at number five I decided to search for a Coach handbag.

As of the writing, the website lists over 50 Coach handbags, many of which appeared to be current styles, and my assessment is that none of them have been worn, though there isn’t a confirmation. As previously noted, the broad disclaimer was posted next to each item, but there was no clear indication if these bags are new or used.

The most startling discovery is the significant price premium on the lordandtaylor.com listings compared to the prices on the Coach website:

Coach Bag Style Name	Price Coach Website	Price Lord& Taylor Website	How much more expensive on Lord & Taylor website
Juliet Shoulder Bag	$350	$622.90	$272 or 79% more
Bleecker Bucket Bag	$450	$831.90	$381 or 85% more
Quilted Tabby with Chain Shoulder Bag	$595	$1,102.90	$507 or 85% more

The explanation for this startling price structure might lie in the FAQ’s, which outlines an additive pricing model that could be confusing for shoppers. It states:

“To determine the listing price shown across our resale network, we add shipping, a reduced marketplace fee negotiated by Reflaunt, operational costs, and our commission on top of your payout. This full amount is paid by the buyer, not deducted from your earnings.”

This fee structure is designed to maximize the seller's payout. However, it results in final prices that, based on my product reviews, look to be highly non-competitive. The website explanation is lacking in detail, such as what a marketplace fee is and what operational costs cover. This approach, where the price is marked up dramatically to cover all logistics and fees paid by the buyer, creates significant confusion when comparing a Lord & Taylor listing against an official retail price.

On November 10, 2025, I sent an email to Lord & Taylor’s customer service, along with the relevant screenshots, asking why the prices on their website were so much higher compared to the Coach website. I am awaiting a response.

A Consignment Model, With Two Exceptions

A review of how individuals can sell pre-loved items via the Resell by Lord & Taylor website was easy to follow. Though the words “consign” or “consignment” were not used, for the most part, selling here follows the consignment model. The process and logistics are run by Reflaunt, which has extensive experience with this type of business, including working with NET-A-PORTER and Balenciaga.

After clicking a tab on the home page called "Resell" it clearly notes: (1) The items the person wants to sell are shipped to Reflaunt for free. (2) Reflaunt authenticates, takes the photos, and writes the descriptions. (3) The price is set by Reflaunt, and the items are listed.

The FAQ’s further states: "your items will be listed on Reflaunt’s global resale network, reaching over 300 million buyers." Though no specific retailers in the global resale network are noted, I’ve come across Reflaunt being the supplier for other companies pre-owned luxury handbags. For example, the Saks OFF 5TH website has pre-owned luxury handbag listings, and next to some of them, it states: Sourced & Shipped by Reflaunt. Fashionphile is also a supplier for Saks OFF Fifth pre-owned luxury handbags.

Points to Keep in Mind

To reiterate, with two exceptions explained below, this is a consignment model, so payment occurs only after the item has been sold. The payment can be in the form of cash via a bank transfer or a Lord & Taylor credit worth 20% more than the cash option.

Instant Reward Option Instead of Consigning

The exceptions of getting paid prior to the item selling are applicable for select models of handbags and sneakers, for which a Lord & Taylor credit may be received immediately. This is called an Instant Reward. For handbags, the seller clicks a link and uses two drop-down menus to find the brand and category, where they can see eligible models and the dollar amount they "could earn." The website does not specify the sneaker brands or models that qualify. Once the bag or sneakers are received by Reflaunt and evaluated, a pricing agreement will be sent, with the option to receive the Instant Reward, or list the item and await a sale.

Commission, Fees, and the Fine Print

As with working with any consignee, it is essential the consignor (seller) read all the fine print. The FAQ’s confirms the seller's payout is net of all costs, with the final consumer price being marked up to cover all operational and marketplace fees. Note there are no details about the operational and marketplace fees.

It seems that reestablishing the Lord & Taylor brand online presence is difficult enough, so adding the resale business could only make operations even more challenging. However, the resale partner, Reflaunt, has experience with other brands’ resale operations, including Balenciaga and NET-A-PORTER. When comparing the Balenciaga ReSell program with Lord & Taylor’s Resell program, it looks like there are a number of similarities, such as a 20% bonus over the cash amount when opting for payment with a Balenciaga voucher.

Conclusion

As a former employee of Lord & Taylor, it is heartening to see the name continue. However, the current iteration of Lord & Taylor is struggling to capture the essence of its past. The merchandising and pricing strategies appear muddled, and clarity is needed regarding item transparency and authentication policies. These factors present significant hurdles to delivering the "curated luxury" experience the brand promises. On a positive note, the incorporation of resale is a timely and strategic move, and the program benefits from the expertise of its technology partner, Reflaunt. Ultimately, establishing a competitive foothold in the digital luxury market will require the new Lord & Taylor to address these foundational inconsistencies.

Full Disclosure: Although I worked at Lord & Taylor more than 15 years ago, this post is based entirely on my recent experience with the current Lord & Taylor website. My opinions reflect only my current interactions with the company's website and are not influenced by my previous employment. The content in this post is based on my personal opinions and experiences. It is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. Specific research for the items mentioned in this post was conducted between November 10, 2025 and November 14, 2025 and it is possible they are no longer on the website. I have not received any compensation for writing this post.