totes Avis 

Ordered a pair of boots. They did not fit. Returned them within 2 days for refund on 2/17/26. They were received at the Totes dock on 2/18/26 by an employee named Alexander. I have still not received a refund. Have been fighting with this company since. They refuse to answer phones or emails. I have paid for an item I do not have. Do not order from this company. They are terrible.

I purchased a Totes telescopic umbrella with the wooden handle, thinking it was always a decent brand, but I only got two uses out of it before it broke.
The centre metal stem is so weak and thin and is clearly not up to the job.
Don’t buy Totes.

Totes Super Compact umbrella - Wooden handle
I wanted a high-quality compact umbrella that would fit in my work bag but still be sturdy enough to handle a strong breeze. When I saw this Totes umbrella in Boots, I thought it was exactly what I needed. It was one of the most expensive in this size range (£15), so I naturally expected the quality to match — especially from a well-known brand like Totes. The stylish curved oak handle and compact design, plus the fact that it was sold by Boots, convinced me I was making a reliable choice.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.

I didn’t need to use the umbrella for the first two weeks, and when I finally did, I was immediately disappointed. There was no automatic open button — fair enough for this size — but worse, one of the metal arms was already broken straight out of the sleeve. To Boots’ credit, they exchanged it on the spot.

But the replacement was even worse.

The overall quality is shockingly poor. The opening mechanism is flimsy plastic and barely works because the catch doesn’t lock properly. When extended, the metal shaft feels wobbly and weak, and the arms seem so fragile I felt they could snap with the slightest pressure. The first gust of wind flipped the umbrella inside out instantly. Trying to return it to shape felt like it might break in my hands.

I’m honestly not exaggerating when I say this is the worst compact umbrella I’ve ever bought. A pound-shop brolly would have performed better.

Boots should be ashamed to sell something this poor at such a high price, and Totes should be even more embarrassed to put their name on it. I wish I had insisted on a refund when the first one turned out to be faulty — where is their quality control?

Please don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t be fooled by the brand or the price. This is low-quality rubbish.