Monday, January 25, 2010

Why I Prefer to Shop at Target

After Christmas, I went to my local CC (rhymes with HoldYourWater, Geek) women's higher-end clothing store (higher-end for Green Bay, anyway) to exchange a vest my MIL had given me for Christmas. You know the store; everything matches, they have tons of scarves to cover your neck wrinkles, and you can't buy a thing for under $40 until it goes on sale at the end of the season.  The women who work there are very polished-looking and wear only clothing from that store (apparently.)  I feel a little uncomfortable going in there, since I don't own many clothing ensembles and cannot afford most of what's in there. (Well, there's that, and the overwhelming smell of rich-old-lady perfume...)

I didn't see anything I wanted instead (I don't look good in cool colors, and I won't pay $40 for a tanktop), and since I had the gift receipt, I figured they would just give me a refund, so that I could shop elsewhere.  However, with a cool gaze, the woman at the counter told me she could only give me store credit.  I thought that was ridiculous and said as much (I had the gift receipt, and the vest still had its tag, for crying out loud) but she didn't cave, and the stiff, authoritative woman working with her backed her up. They said I could only get the cash if my MIL came in with her credit card, and couldn't they interest me in something else in the store? I don't know why (something in their eyes, I guess), but I just didn't believe them.


What else could I do? I decided to come back when they had their spring stuff in and see if I could find something I liked. Yesterday, I returned, found something I liked, and the cheerful young (newbie) woman at the counter quickly and easily credited my debit card with the return amount before preparing to ring up my new purchase. What the? I asked her why they couldn't do that the last time I was there, and she said, "I have no idea!"  She then asked me for my last name, just for their records, and I politely declined.  Her supervisor came over, and the young woman nicely explained that I wasn't interested in having my name put in the system.  They explained the reasons [about which I haven't a care], and I politely declined again. However, the supervisor insisted that I must give them my last name in order to ring up the purchase. I would normally just leave without buying anything at that point (It was a ridiculous power struggle they were bent on winning), but under the circumstances (I had to buy the new shirt or MIL would have been hurt) I caved, but not without saying out loud, "You've got to be kidding me." 

Even though the newbie clerk was sweet as pie, I hated the way the senior employee looked down her nose at me and spoke to me in a tone of superiority. (Snooty old hag! You got the Cold part right, and I'd love to push you into that Creek!)  I couldn't wait to leave that store, and I won't be shopping there again.  I'm calling the store manager in the morning to let her know how I feel about the return "policy" I was held to the first time (plus the rest) even though I'm not sure why I would bother; what do I care if they lose business?

Maybe I'm just being hormonal...

24 comments:

  1. That would all tick me off, too! Of course I always make up phone numbers for those business who ask for them. Maybe you should just go incognito as Mrs 3333s!

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  2. That would keep me out of their store.

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  3. Not only would I not shop there, I would tell everyone I know not to shop there as well.

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  4. Make sure you tell them you are going to blog about it and you have over 300 follows and god knows how many looky lou's! That outta get their attention.

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  5. I hear you on this one! I also hate when I return something and they want my drivers license, address, phone number, etc.

    They didn't want all of that when they were taking my money.

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  6. I like the clothes at HoldYourWater, Geek too, but the prices are incredible. Your customer service experience was horrible. Maybe instead of contacting the individual store manager, you should go corporate.

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  7. Not hormonal at all....I would have been P*ssed!!! There is no excuse for the dumb return policy or the rudeness. If someone doesn't want to give out their information, they shouldn't have to. Insane.

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  8. When they're insistent on getting a last name or phone number, I usually give them a bogus one just for spite. ;)

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  9. you should write a letter to their corporate headquarters. you never know.

    i write a lot of letters of complaint for things like that. okay, not a lot. but when i have to deal with crap like that, i make sure they know it at the top. at least it makes me feel better...

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  10. I hate it when store ask personal stuff. If I'm in a mood I tell them it's none of their business.

    You should have just told them that your last name was Smith... or better yet, a horribly long last name with lots of consonants.

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  11. I am in awe of you just keepin' your tongue in this exchange. I love CC's stuff and often shop from their catalog. This farm chick likes to be stylin' but wasn't born with the shoppin' gene. I dot~com everything I can. Heck, I'd dot~com my groceries if I could. No hassle returns, just print out a label and the handsome UPS man comes to my door for pick~up. Woohoo...can't beat them apples!

    Have a super Monday and I'm so sorry the big bad store ladies gave ya such a hard time.

    God bless!!!

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  12. Not my favorite store either. Also Chico's just as bad. Snooty won't return blah blah....same story. I told the woman that their sizes were marked wrong. I bought a size $# but it measure a size *& (6 sizes BIGGER) now while I felt thin and svelt it just isn't possible to order clothing.

    Good for you and tell them to go jump in that creek.

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  13. I hate "snooty-rich-people" stores like that. I shop at Wal-mart! You can return anything there! I'm sorry you had to deal with these people, but you sound like you've got it covered pretty well. :)

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  14. I love that store, too. But the one I go to is really nice. I've never had a problem like that at all. Then again, the store I shop at has this FLAMING manager, so maybe that has something to do with it. :)

    Oh, and Target rocks, too. :)

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  15. You the minute I had the baby my MIL started buying me things from here and from Brighton...like it's MOM required uniform or something. I've never found anything I've liked there and now thanks to think I won't even bother. Next time my MIL buys me something from there I'll either just craigslist it or donate it.
    Poor customer service! RUDE!

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  16. And they wonder why I shop online.

    Having worked in retail, I recognize this as a strategy employed by companies that are run by accountant. They desperately try to hold on to the pennies they have not realizing it's preventing them from getting pennies they don't already have. Shortsighted and doomed to failure.

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  17. Yikes. I've never been there, and I don't think I'll be headed there anytime soon. Of course I probably would have made up a nasty name like Finklesbottom. Or Assburn. But I'm snarky that way.

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  18. When a store demands my name "for their records" I give them my Great-Grandma's Polish maiden name that is just as hard to spell as it is to pronounce. I always win that battle.

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  19. Yeh, that is why I avoid Burlington Coat Factory...only exchanges, no refunds...
    I stick with Walmart for bargain stuff cuz Target supports causes that I don't feel good about. :0

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  20. like you, i don't give my name in stores i don't shop much in. in one or two i did because i like getting their fliers before anyone else does. for others i say that my policy to not give my name. if they need a name i say "jane smith" and they can suck on that lollypop.

    michaels wants postal codes. i don't give that either. however, they put in the store code if the customer refuses.

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  21. Oh retail return rules... There are fraud reasons behind why they ask you for your information (the few ruining it for the many basically), but it's still annoying =(

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  22. grrrrrr I'm so happy that you made it out of there with your head intact. Mine just might have blown off!

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  23. well everyone else seems to have said it already, but I would have been ticked and given them a different name, say my mother's maiden name!?>! hahaha I love Target, never have a problem spending/returning/shopping there, all the clerks are nice, have caught them on their cells but otherwise nice and courteous.

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