Review: Tervis White Daisy Water Bottle

UPDATE:

I stand corrected!
The TERVIS water bottle IS leakproof.
....but.

YOU MUST PUT THE CAP ON A CERTAIN WAY.
Line the side of the lid with the fliptop part, up with the side of the cup body that has the NUMBERS on it (XXml, etc).

Turn the lid CLOCKWISE until the fliptop tab is exactly OPPOSITE the side of the cup with the numbers on it.

NOW the bottle should be totally waterproof.

HOWEVER - if you don't put the lid on PRECISELY this way....
the video on the bottom is exactly what will happen.

THE CUP IS ONLY LEAKPROOF IF YOU PUT THE LID ON THIS WAY.

I will leave my review up regardless because for what I paid for this bottle - as great as it is now that I FINALLY know how to put the lid on 'properly' - it is unnecessarily weird that the cap has to be put on so specifically in order to be leakproof.
I literally have bottles from Victoria's Secret PINK which don't leak, and are just twist-on-however-you-feel-like, and I toss these in my gymbag and tote all the time.  Still never had an accident with them.  So even though the Tervis bottles DO work, purchase at your own risk.

_________________________________________________________________________________
A NOTE BEFORE YOU READ:

I hardly ever give such negative reviews on a product but not only does this not do what I was told it would, I also had a very bad experience with customer service in the store.

I have the 16oz. Sunflower tumbler with lid, that I'd actually bought last winter!

It's wonderful, doesn't sweat or fog up whether I put hot or cold drinks inside.

This is just a lid (like a thermos w/ a coffee-cup style cover) so it's obviously

not meant to be thrown around or be leakproof.

But I had absolutely no complaints with the lidded tumbler.  I've dropped it,

rolled it, forgotten to clean it out for a while (oops) and it's pristine!

LEFT: White Daisies water bottle

RIGHT: Sunflower tumbler, 16oz

A week ago I went to the Tervis shop in Seaport Village (in Downtown SD for any locals!),

which is the same place I got my Sunflower tumbler last winter. 

I've been looking for a good leakproof waterbottle w/ a flip lid for when I'm at work or driving.

Tervis' water bottles are supposed to be good for both hot and cold drinks, as well as leakproof and unbreakable (the first and last points go for ALL their tumblers btw!)

I picked up a very pretty design called White Daisies!

I was severely disappointed however because this bottle leaked like CRAZY! 

The video below is of the 2nd bottle the store exchanged for my first one, and this one was even worse than the first one. :C

That's HOT TEA in that bottle by the way, imagine that spilling in your lap or in your backpack or purse with your phone/laptop/etc.

Overall I'm very disappointed with the Tervis water bottle design.

RATING: 0 STARS

Among the issues with the bottle include:

1. Leaking (where the bottle is advertised as leakproof)
2. The rubber gasket ring around the inside of the 2nd bottle's lid appeared to have *shrunk* after being in contact with hot water...which is what I would have been putting in it for tea, or washing it in.
3. It's incredibly tricky to put the lid on.  It's just a twist lid but I was reading online and I was also told in store that there's only two ways to put it on correctly?

I can't even comment on whether the bottle fulfills its functionality because I 

was too afraid to keep water or other drinks in it for too long, lest it leak and get my things wet

and/or messy.  I do assume that the bottle body itself performs just as well as

my sunflower tumbler in terms of holding hot/cold water and not perspiring or fogging.

Other issues I had:

1. I brought the bottle into the store and told them I had issues with it leaking water.  The employee filled the bottle and demonstrated to me to prove to me that it wasn't leaking  and to test it herself - because she commented constantly that "it wasn't leaking" and that "there were only two ways to close the bottle" so I must've been closing it "wrong".  ...I found that extremely rude.  This is essentially a $25 high-quality water bottle, and I'm not lying about it leaking.  I want to keep this bottle if I can but I don't feel it's worth so much if it doesn't do what it's advertised to. 
• **THIS IS WHY I HAVE THE VIDEO.  I am really really disappointed that I have to have some kind of visible proof to show the employee because I honestly don't think they believed me.  That is just - horrible customer service.
2. I was offered a refund but only after repeatedly explaining that it HAD in fact leaked while I was using it - it actually turned upside down in my bag and I noticed damp spots.  I had my receipt out and I really wasn't looking for an exchange when I went in there, I was planning to return it and purchase a bottle at Macy's (my mother got her Tervis WB there and it doesn't leak *at all*).  
3. I asked for a new lid initially, which I was given, but I didn't appreciate the attitude and the visible looks that the lady helping me was giving her coworker.
4. I came back after the new lid started leaking in the shopping bag that I put it in.... this time the lady was much more friendly and just gave me a new bottle right off the shelf.  

I honestly wish I HAD gotten the refund because now I have to make a special trip, 

just to return the bottle.  Overall the water bottle and my experience going back

rate negative stars, if anything.  I do want to comment though that the day I went in to buy the 

bottle initially, I had really great help from the woman working there that day (different person).

She offered to order the bottle pattern I wanted because it wasn't in stock until later the week,

and she also offered to give me a call and let me know when it came in.

Long story short - if you purchase a WB at this Tervis store, ask if you can have them test it out.

And be firm when you come back if you have the intent of returning it.

REVIEW: Victoria's Secret Hosiery - Classic Stockings in Black

This review is for the Classic Stockings from VS, in Black.

 They're standard black stockings and look to be 15 denier (the package doesn't say though)

They are thigh-high style BUT they do not have the silicone bands on the insides of the welt 

(aka the wide darker band that clings to your leg and helps hold the stockings up).

These stockings have to be used with garter straps or a garterbelt in order to
keep them from sliding all the way down!

RATING:  2 STARS OUT OF 5

Most of the items and lingerie I've purchased so far from VS have been very nice

quality for the price.  I was especially excited to find classic simple garter stockings for 

relatively inexpensive in comparison to couture brands (VS sells theirs for $10, while 

fully fashioned stockings cost $20 and up).  

Lesson learned:  stockings are one of those things where you sacrifice quality for price.

When I took the stockings out of the package I was a little surprised - unlike some other stocking

brands I've had before.  VS's stockings actually look quite matte, and feel almost dry and crepe-y.
I don't wear stockings often, but I have stayups - those are the silicone band type that don't need a garterbelt - from Hanes and they are VERY silky at around 15-20 denier.

The dry feeling didn't go away and the stockings unfortunately didn't have that

flattering "shine" on the leg that I've had on other brands.  
(-0.5 STAR)

The VS stockings fit wonderfully, however.  The welt at the top doesn't have any patterns or

lace or silicone - it's literally the same material as the leg of the stocking, except sort of folded over (two ply, to use the term).  Personally this was perfect and exactly what I was looking for,

as I wanted a simple black stocking that would be fine for daily use/work under a nice 

dress or longer skirt.  The material (being about 15 denier) is perfect for a garterbelt, it clipped nicely into the little plastic-and-metal slide tab without bunching, and had that attractive "tug" upwards - 

that reverse V created by the stocking edge being pulled up by the garter.  

(+1 STAR)

The sheerness is work appropriate but also probably very bedroom-appropriate (given that this is a

VS item and the stockings are best described as multipurpose).  Regardless it's an elegantly sheer color, very even, and prior to putting the stockings on I didn't see any inconsistencies in the stocking weave.

(+1 STAR)

Here's the kicker - as beautifully simple as these stockings were, I was willing to forgive the dryness and lack of sheen for the cheap price and easy availability.

BUT.  I literally put these on, put on kitten heels, walked down the stairs, rode in a car to work (not even driving), got out the car, and sat in my desk chair.  In the space of about an hour and a half, the entire front and back of my left leg & knee was littered with tiny horizontal runs, and the back of my right calf had the same.

I was super disappointed to say the least, because VS has a strong reputation of high quality things, but either I got a bad batch of stockings or their hosiery doesn't live up to the rest of their lingerie's standards.  Oh well.  Even with perfect sheerness, color, and design, it's way too expensive for me to spend ~$10 on stockings that only last a few hours at most (out of the house/bedroom or at work, I mean).  But I expect if you get these exclusively for the bedroom, however, they should be perfectly good for a very long time.

(-3 stars)

Also of note: the stockings do not have a reinforced toe or heel, they're simple tube stockings w/ a plain welt at the top.  Very basic but classy - I do like the simplicity of the style a lot.
(+ 0.5 star)

++++

On a sidenote, I definitely recommend either getting the Walmart or Target store brand thigh-highs.

These ARE stay-ups so they do have the silicone band on the inside.  They are much thicker than 15-20 denier though so be aware of that if you're looking specifically for finer stockings!

I started looking into garterbelts because (a) I hate pantyhose, and (b) the silicone band

on stay-ups will irritate my skin sometimes, slip down due to sweat,  and/or leave ugly red pressure marks across the tops of my legs (especially in warmer weather or over long wear periods).

Now garterbelts were pretty simple to find, the current one I have is simple 4-panel black stretch satin (reversible leopard), with two garter straps - also a VS product but discontinued.  I went in about a month or so ago to a few of my local Victoria's Secret stores, they don't stock any simple garterbelts currently (aka ones devoid of lace or glitter).  The least frillworthy one they have at present is their strappy trend style, which can be the devil to figure out  - talk about a dressing room horror.

You can find some of the simpler and older VS belts on EBay for much less, probably the sellers picked them up in bulk from the outlets.  I personally am fine with just two straps, since I don't plan to wear any particularly thick/heavy stockings in SoCal - the thickest stay-ups I have are probably 25-30 denier.  Mine was about 6.99USD which was perfect, I didn't want to spend too much what with this being my trial period with the whole garterbelt arrangement.  It's turned out to be lovely and comfortable, just enough stretch to accommodate sitting and stretching, but not so stretchy that it just schloops down my hips.  Plus - reversible, can't go wrong.  If only they made it in nude/peach and white as well!

In regards to garterbelts, I've seen some sites that sell very industrial and day-to-day designs.  They're a bit pricier but if you're a dedicated GB wearer it's worth the investment, these classic and simple belts look like they're definitely made to last.

Onto the stockings - as I mentioned, Walmart/Target brand are good and are a pretty durable denier.  I've never had a problem of runs from day-to-day wear, usually what used to happen was I'd rip the foot/toe area (used to wear them for musical theater performances b/c dancer spanx were annoying).
The current pair of these that I have are black with lace tops, and I've had them for just over a year.

You can also find Hanes/Vassarette/various mid-range stocking brands, also at Target or Walmart. 

These have quite a bit more slip and silkiness/shine than the Target/Walmart brand.  They also range from slightly to a lot more sheer.  Even so I've never had a run problem with these like the issues with the VS stockings, and I do wonder if it's got to do with how silky and slippery the Hanes ones are.  Maybe they're less prone to snagging/catching on things that way?

Hanes/Vassarette, however, are also stay-ups.  I've yet to find that brand in a classic stocking style.

I've been able to clip the stay-up bands to my garterbelt, which still works for getting that 

garter-and-stockings look, but it isn't as comfortable as the non-silicone banded type.

I guess my search will have to go on (that or I eventually save up/can splurge on a good pair

of fully fashioned stockings).