Sunday, January 20, 2008

Department Store bashing

Normally I am a retail shop defender - but lately I want to cause bodily harm where there is lack of customer service. I worked retail through High School and College. I managed a Ha.llm.ark Sto.re and worked at The G.ap and Ol.d Na.vy. So I have many years of retail experience.

* i know that both of these bad experiences could have been avoided if I actually READ the return policy - but really do you think about that much before purchases at these stores? Or maybe I am the only idiot...

A few months ago, I had to return something at Target and discovered they have a new HORRIBLE return policy. Basically - you get 2 returns w/o receipts a year. The store will give you current price and credit on a gift card. If you have a gift receipt, they do not have prices on them - they will have to look up the original receipt in order to help you. And be ware paying with cash is not good at all. If you lose your receipt and you pay with a credit card, sometimes, if you take that credit card back up to the target you purchased from, they may be able to pull up your itemized receipt. If it is past 90 days, they will tell you they can't help you. Here is another explanation here and here. Maybe there are other stores do this and I haven't had troubles with them yet. But I wanted to beat the crap out of the punk that would not let me return 2 maternity shirts I received for Christmas because they were not in their system. My extended family lives in NC and I am sure it was bought sometime before thanksgiving in a store in NC because my aunt is always on top of her Christmas buying. I am sure I could call her and ask for the receipt but I think that is a bit tacky and I'd just rather not. Plus knowing her - it probably has been close to or over 90 days.

SO - as of Right now I am pissed off at Target. Plus I do not want others to get bit by the 2 returns a year policy (w/o an original receipt). (and mostly why i started a registry at that baby mega store only)

The other store that I am bent out of shape about is Motherhood. Their exchange policy is even crappier. I went in and bought a bra in a larger cup size because I was tired of trying to stuff the girls in my regular bras. I grabbed one 1 cup size bigger. Um apparently I am 2 or 3 cup sizes bigger and they do not sell that size (i bought it at 8:30pm and tried to return it the very next day around lunch time) ... LARGE JUGS.... OK on to their return policy:

Regular merchandise can be exchanged within 10 days with an original receipt from other merchandise or store credit.

All merchandise must be unworn and undamaged and must have original tickets attached.

All sale merchandise, intimate apparel, swimwear and special occasion items are final sale

There are no cash refunds or credit card refund.

YES i know i should have read the fine print - I should never assume. I know what that does to people - just thought I would pass along my mistakes.

After that negative post - I should state that I heart JcPenney's and Old Navy for their return policies and maternity clothes.

I got the results of my glu.cose and A.FP testing - I passed both with flying colors. I forgot the # that they gave me about my glucose result. I work it down at work and now am not at work. I am STILL (un)patiently waiting for the M.FM dr's office to call me with my appointment date. I may call Tuesday and set it up myself. Here is me and mini vann at 2 days shy of 17 weeks:
Photobucket

Ok off to prepare for my Pa.ck.er game. I heart him very much so!!!

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sorry you're having such return problems. We had the same problem with Target... Our wedding as in Oct, 2006 and we got one last wedding gift - a blender - in Oct, 2007. It was from Target, from our gift registry, and had a gift receipt included. We had bought a blender to complete our registry after the wedding, so I figured we'd just take this new one back. Not so much. They couldn't even pull the RECEIPT up since it was a year old, and they couldn't use our registry because it had expired, so they were going to try to do the "2 exchanges per year w/o receipt" like you described. But since the item was over $25 or $30 or whatever their limit was, it also didn't work. So we were stuck with a blender and I was highly annoyed. I mean she could even pull the blender up in the system and it was obvious it came from Target. It's not like we were trying to scam them. Ugh. So thank God j's mom wanted a blender for Christmas because we were able to regift it. Anyway, I'm on your annoyed-with-returns bandwagon. :o)

And the Pack is on front and center in our living room. :o) I'm going to be a Green Bay fan for the next 2 weeks I decided! Then it's back to no NFL favoritism for our house (we spend too much time being Nebraska football fans that adding an NFL team to the mix would be exhausting). :o) Brrrrr it looks cold there...

Hilary (Maya Papaya) said...

Lookin good girlie! Oh how I love belly pics :)

Jendeis said...

Sorry about all the return BS you are having to go through. As for bras, have you tried Lane Bryant? Regular stores don't carry my size, so I've been using their bras for years. They also have a fantastic return policy.

The only problem with them is that the bras can be expensive. But, I'd rather pay more money and have the girls be in a better place than down around my knees. Plus, they give out coupons all the time! Just sign up on the website.

jenn said...

I have hated that return policy for the past year or so since I found out about it!

And oddly enough- my sister- who is a very odd large size chest- has fantastic luck at frederick's of hollywood- go figure!

congrats at 17 weeks by the way- I can't believe how fast it's gone by!

Unknown said...

Yeah I have been warned about the Targe* return policy so I have been hesitant about going there when thinking of our registry. It will be several weeks before we are to that point... but when the time comes I am thinking maybe against them. Which stinks because I like their stuff.

Ashley said...

Yes, the return policies suck. I learned my lesson way before getting pg to keep all receipts in my wallet until I have worn the items or know for sure I will keep them. Also, just a warning, Walmart sucks as well as far as not having a receipt. They have the same policy as Target. As for Motherhood, they usually have you initial something stating you understand the final sale on intimates. :\ It is their fault for not making you aware!

Chastity said...

The Target policy isn't so new. When I was having baby showers before Lila was born (late 2005/early 2006), I became very familiar w/ their policy. There were several things I received from Target that were either things I never registered for or things I got duplicates of. Of course, most people don't give the gift receipt, but I wasn't about to be stuck with three wipe warmers (btw, you don't need a wipe warmer...big waste of time). Anyway, I got around their policy b/c if you have something on your registry, then you can exchange it w/out a receipt...so when I got something I didn't want, I'd go and add it to my registry, and then I'd promptly return it.

Cibele said...

I HEAR YOU!!! I am so pissed off at Target as ell. I think that their return policy just sucks. I did my baby registry with them but I considering taking it offPS: loved the belly pic!!!

Cibele said...

I HEAR YOU!!! I am so pissed off at Target as ell. I think that their return policy just sucks. I did my baby registry with them but I considering taking it offPS: loved the belly pic!!!

Anonymous said...

I, too, am an old retail worker. I did it for years. Some of the new policies are just plain crap. Tar.get is one of my least favorite places to return to. I had an issue trying to exchange a curtain rod. I ended up buying a new one and giving the one that they wouldn't let me return to a co-worker. I was pissed.

I see a bbbuuummmmpppppp!!

Kathy V said...

I am sorry about your guys. I was rooting hard for them. Too bad it had to be an overtime loss.

I feel your pain and anger about the returning of goods. I had a hard time returning things at Tar.get after our wedding. The whole point of registering is so you don't get useless unwanted stuff but none-the-less I got unwanted stuff. I had trouble even with a gift receipt. Then the registry wasn't working when people went in so I got two or three of some things. Pain in the you know what. Just a heads up, more and more stores are adopting a time limit to return things with a receipt and even without. Stores want everybody to do their CHristmas shoppin after Thanksgiving and that screws up anybody that wants to be prepared. Sorry you had such a miserable experience.

Barb said...

I was aware of Target's and hate them for it. As a result, I buy very few Christmas presents there since I don't do last minute shopping and am always afraid that the person won't have time to return it. That being said, I like it MUCH better than that "other" big box store. But wow. Motherhood's sucks even more huh?

So glad the tests are coming back ok! Rooting for you all the way. :)

Anns said...

Sorry 'bout your Packers - even though I live in NYC I was rooting for them last night for no real reason other than to give "Dad" some competition, so I was sad to see them defeated.

Good luck with the returns - I hate having to deal with that myself, in fact I have a bag sitting next to my dresser as I type this with big red bulls-eye logos all over it, stuffed full with items I've procrastinated returning for no reason other than I hate the hastle.

Mel said...

Damn Giants.
They took your packers and my cowboys down.

DAMN DAMN DAMN

And I was rooting for favre.

cute preggo pic!!
*hugs*

C said...

I'm sorry the return issues are causing you grief...don't these ppl know that you deserve some niceness after beating IF?? Boo to them, I say.

I'm also sorry I've been such a bad blogger friend lately. But I promise, I will get better.

P.S. I LOVE the picture! You look so adorable!

seussgirl said...

Stupid Giants! I don't even know if I'll watch the Bowl now. :(
My g-ma tried to exchange a sweater at Bon-Ton, and they wouldn't let her and would only give her a PENNY for it! Makes me want to do all my shopping at the Goodwill. :)
Yey for 17 weeks and great pictures! :)

Dr. Grumbles said...

Wow, I am hearing so much about Target, maybe I won't be doing a registry there when it is my time.

Love the pic. Smile, you're a preggo!

(I won't mention the Packers. My dad's relatives are all in Wisconsin...they are just pretending it didn't happen).

Thankful Terri said...

FYI -- at motherhood you may want to try or have your husband try this... The MEDICAL issue.. They have a good return policy if they suspect medical reasons. (Thats why I say send the husband). That is what happened with me. I bought panties, bras and shirts. I had a miscarriage at 9 weeks and returned my stuff w/o any problems. Good luck..
Love the ANGEL watching you.. HOpes and fingers crossed for you.

Searching said...

Yeah, I am mad at Target for that reason too. HORRIBLE return policy.

Love the baby belly! :)

nancy said...

just letting you know I semi-quoted you and linked back to your page from my motherhood blog. I always want to make someone aware when I do that, in case I either have something wrong or you don't want to be linked to. So this is just an fyi and let me know if there is anything wrong with it. :)

Morrisa said...

Whew! I worked in retail all through high school and college too so I understand. So sory about the Packer's loss. I am not a Packers fan but I was rooting for them this time.

LIW (Lady In Waiting) said...

Ok, those stores suck. What's up with "the customer is always right"?

Just a thought, but I wouldn't be surprised if online companies have better return policies....

Glad that your glucose test results came back great, though. That is definitely something to celebrate.

XOXO

Janna said...

Yep, a friend had that very same problem with Target when she tried to exchange some things from her baby registry without a gift receipt. Someone apparently didn't read the registry correctly, and she got duplicates. So she went back, but instead of getting other baby items, she wanted a maternity shirt and her DH wanted a movie (she racked up at her shower). NOPE...not acceptable. She told them she had a registry there, but they wouldn't listen. They could only exchange for items from the same department, it had to be 2 items (because she was returning 2 items), and they had to both be the same price as the items being returned. Not a total of the 2 items, but if one was 9.99 and the other 15.99 then she had to get something from the baby dept. that was 9.99 and 15.99...STUPID!!!!!! If we do ever adopt, I WILL NOT be doing a registry there. BRU only!!

LOVE that belly shot girlie!!!!

Janna said...

Ditto the Lane Bryant bra info!!!LOVE the balconette. They are pricey, but they are on sale A LOT. (Either a buy 1 get one 1/2 off or buy one get one free sale several times a year.)

glenna marshall said...

Yes, I concur that Target has the most RIDICULOUS return policy!!
I hate the way they treat their customers! What in the WORLD are you supposed to do about gifts and registries??? It's like they are saying, "no thank you, we don't want your business after all!" Weird.