Designer Outlet Roermond

Beware of the Black+Decker outlet!

As we live nearly 90 minutes from the outlet, I was hesitant to buy something there but was convinced by staff that the 2 things that I hesitated on: that supplies were indeed available in the Netherlands and that if I didn't care for it, and that there was a working iOS app. If I wasn't satisfied, I could return it in 10 days, so my objections were quelled.

I should have known better. Both were non-truths - first, the robot:

On supplies: here's the result when you check their page for the vacuum:
https://www.blackanddecker.nl/nl-nl/products/product-stories/robot-vacuum

Yep, the robot was removed from their European site, likely around the time we bought ours (the website search initially found it, but no page remains). The robot DOES exist in the US, which means if you want supplies you need to order from B+D in the US, not anywhere in Europe as far as I can tell from their EU website, and have the items shipped over.

(Update: I found their parts section - see below)

Onto the app: the bot ran firmware version .5, and no updates to the bot were available. The B+D app kept crashing-out completely back to iOS when you pressed the button to tell the bot to go back to it's​ base or pause operation.

...and you'll do that a lot as the stupid robot prefers to wander down dark hallways instead of cleaning in bright areas. For 6 straight days I was pulling it out of a corner it continually wandered into, every. single. time. we used it. Also, it took on average 30-40 minutes to find its dock to recharge, when placed a few meters from it; the robot also never once returned to it after a cleaning cycle.

So back to the outlet it went - we drove another 90 minutes to the Roermond, Netherlands outlet and surprise, no - you can't have a refund. You can have a store credit, which isn't what was offered by the sales person. There are NO signs at the register to note this but on your receipt, once you've bought it, it's there in small print.

When I spoke to the young salesperson I bought it from and was told no refunds, he went off to find a manager to approve it. I was still trying to understand it -- printing it on your receipt AFTER the sale is not good -- that's when he pointed to a Dutch/German sign on the doorjamb as you try to walk in amongst the crowd, but there are no other signs in the entire store. You can't even read it from the register. If you miss it as we did, you're screwed.

By then the manager (I can only assume so: older, balding and quite the talker). I tried to make my point that there are no markers at the register and that the salesperson offered a refund ... he wasn't listening. Whenever I tried to ask a question, he immediately spoke over me and then quickly became sarcastic "Yeah we hear this a lot. We can't have it written in every language... english, polish. chinese..." - he was dismissive and really insulting, I have to add (later, my Indonesian wife wondered if the "chinese" reference was directed towards her, but we decided not to pursue this.)

By the way - check out Black+Decker's site: There are NO ways to contact them on this. No contact email, and no phone number besides sales.

So we drove back home, a few hundred euros poorer and generally insulted. So - can I recommend Black+Decker? Unless you just need a hunk of metal like a hammer, NO - I can't. We won't buy any more appliances from them out of principal, and so we're making an effort to alert other shoppers from doing business there on anything but the most simple things you absolutely need.

(Update: I found their Dutch robot parts section for two robots they sell (http://service.blackanddecker.nl/BD/NL/nl-NL/Part/PartsForProduct?productId=12921 & http://service.blackanddecker.nl/BD/NL/nl-NL/Part/PartsForProduct?productId=12907) and all the parts for all their vacuum robots have been discontinued as of 2017. You can not get parts here, so their claim is not true)

Very nice outlet and quite big. Not the biggest but still a lot of different options and brands to choose from. If you go through most or at least half I'd say it takes 4-5 hours the very least to about 8 hours. Their service are mostly very good and most staffs somewhat speak three languages: Dutch, German, and English. You can ask for tax free but most asks for passport so remember to bring your passports! A couple washrooms and pretty clean. A few different cafes or restaurants as well. Nice atmosphere especially at night the trees have lights that gets light up. I'd say it's actually quite romantic in a way. Busy and usually at lot of people and at out but half leaves after 5:30-6 and most people leave around 6:30-7 since it closes at 8. Places like Nike have enormous lines so I suggest either go really early or really late to avoid the lines. Parking lots across the street from the outlet and there's indoors and outdoors. Lots of parking spaces so usually no need to worry about not finding one, just takes a little longer when it's packed. If you loose you parking ticket, don't worry, you can always go downstairs and pay for it again (one day pass) and leave with the new ticket. Not too hard to get lost over there and streets are pretty clean. Decent food there too, a little too salty for my taste but good way to buy drinks and earn more money from customers also Europeans like their food (especially meat) with bread so if you have a very particular eating habits or health requirements, you might need to choose really carefully. Quite a few different drinks to choose from and reasonable prices. Would go again even though not too often.

This review is directed towards those who've frequented outlets in America and need a reference point. Roermond offers fantastic shopping only an hour drive from Cologne, with weekend shuttles from both Cologne and Düsseldorf. Great deals at high-end European designer brands and usually much better than the pricing I've seen at American outlets: Prada, Gucci, Burberry. For example, I was at the Prada outlet in Woodbury New York in the summer, and the selection was similar to Roermond Prada except priced significantly higher.

Very good selection and typically 40-70% off. Outlets are also very clean with both English and German signs and English-speaking sales reps.

American brands are a different story, typically priced of course higher compared to the States, especially in regards to the Euro, but still a great deal here in Europe. Brands include Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Fossil, and more.

A great and fun place for a day of shopping. Went on a weeknight to avoid the crowds. :) On a holiday or weekend, expect larger crowds and sometimes even lines outside certain stores. The lines can be annoying, but I honestly prefer lines and crowd regulation to packed elbow-to-elbow masses inside the stores.

Beautiful shopping center with super interesting outlet prices from leading European brands

Nice place but DON'T go in the days between Christmas and New Years. Wow, it is packed full of people and finding parking is next to impossible.
But the good part is there are a lot of good stores with a lot of nice deals. They have the designer stores like Gucci, etc. which I stay far away from, but then also places like Levi's, Tom Taylor, etc. there are also some German brands that I went into and liked as well. Speaking of German, there are so many there that people in the stores speak to you in German by default!

The only things I missed here that they have in Bataviastad are Replay and Jack and Jones.

Enough shopping to last an entire day. As the previous reviewer James stated, "...wasn't the deals of the century..." come prepared to do some comparison shopping and wade your way through the throngs of people. (ie: Gucci...steer clear if you don't want to get trampled, maimed, or impaled over a handbag.) You have to take a number to retrieve your selected handbag for goodness sakes. *Turns around and runs out of store*

Best to go in the middle of the week during high season. Even at 11 am this morning, I was forced to park in overflow parking due to the high traffic volume. Open every day of the year except Christmas and New Year's Day. Very accessible from Roermond Centrum. If you're adventurous, take the train, and walk 10 minutes from the train station to the Outlet Food Court, it'll save you from the stress of navigating the parking lot.

Check the website for special promotions. I saved 33% of my total purchase at Burberry today, sale items included. Score!

In my humble opinion, if you're a diehard internet shopper, you will find better deals. Additionally, in all stores, sales persons are young and either pushy or inattentive...you've been warned.

We come here often and they have great opportunities, free wifi so that you also can compare prices. Open most of the sundays. They also hav offers of additional 10% discount for vips. It is easy to get vip just need to register.

Is it a Sunday or a Holiday but you still need to shop? Check out their website because they are probably open. I went here yesterday and have to say there were plenty of finds, it wasnt the deals of the century like the Designer Outlets in Orlando FL, but still Gucci shirts 1/2 off, Salvatore Ferragamo pumps for 60%, I will come back on a non holiday, because it was very odd for me to see queuing to get in many stores.

We travel about twice a year down here.
Here there is actually a great selection of shops.
However, you should be very early in the morning here that you get a parking space. The parking fee is 2 Euro for the whole day. On weekends there are too many people.
So you should go shopping during the week.