https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 19 May 2026 06:08:03 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267476 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:13:54 +0000 Katiepea 267476@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Marley, you poor thing! </p> <p>I must be turning into a grumpy old woman, because I would be writing a letter to head office about your totally unsatisfactory experience. She may very well have been the store manager, but she surely must answer to someone! I would have thought that keeping the customer happy is ultimately what is at stake here! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267474 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:01:08 +0000 Isabel 267474@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hasn't every major and minor retailer extended returns through Jan. 31 st ? Not a good move by ZARA at all.</p> <p>I had some big problems with both Canon and Sears a couple of years ago. I got no where with them...and I was within the time line. ( Our problem was over an $800 camera and tires for $450 ).</p> <p>In the end, I contacted their investor services dept. Believe me, the last thing that these stores want is bad press. I would let them know that you understand that they were stretching their policy but feel it was totally unfair to give you 20 mins to rectify it and that you are utterly unhappy with not only the clothes but the store.</p> <p>I would then let them know that you posted on a fashion site for advice and that you would LOVE to post on the site again that they were responsive to you.</p> <p>Here is their investor services contact site : </p> <p><a href="http://www.inditex.com/en/contact" rel="nofollow">http://www.inditex.com/en/contact</a></p> <p>Good luck ! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267458 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:22:41 +0000 nicole470 267458@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So true Gaylene! How many replies are there to this post??? 36??? Give or take a few additional comments, plus all the people who may have read the post but haven't commented. So that's a whole lot of people who have been told about Zara's terrible customer service, who may then think twice about shopping there, as well as one customer who has vowed never to cross the threshold again! I think what a lot of business people and sales assistants do not understand is that a customer has a 'lifetime value' which is way beyond a single transaction..... and it costs way more to advertise and capture one new customer than it does to keep your existing customers happy. Boo to Zara! Sorry to hear about your experience Marley. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267378 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:31:03 +0000 Gaylene 267378@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Beth has nailed it. As you point out, Marley, the manager was giving you a break by letting you return an item after the exchange period. So, in one sense, she was providing service beyond what was expected.</p> <p>BUT, trying to humiliate you after being the "good guy" is just plain dumb. I teach a communications class to business majors and constantly try to get them to understand this very point. If you refuse to provide a refund or credit, you make that choice knowing you may lose that customer's future business, but, at least, you get to keep the money from that transaction. If you choose to refund, or give a credit, you do so to maintain goodwill, even if it results in a loss of revenue.</p> <p>So I tell my budding entrepreneurs, once you've decided to provide a refund or credit, put on your best smile and make the customer feel like he/she did exactly the right thing by returning the item-- because the only thing that makes you happy is making the customer happy. Providing a refund (or credit) in a way that makes the customer feel humiliated or upset is the ultimate stupidity-- you manage to alienate the customer while providing him/her with exceptional service. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267348 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:32:31 +0000 Beth 267348@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm usually pretty understanding of return policies, but what appalls me about this situation is the apparent attempt at humiliation. Twenty minutes to shop while the SAs stand around and sigh? Seriously?</p> <p>Unconscionable behavior from Zara, IMO. I'm so sorry, Marley:( </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267269 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 15:35:02 +0000 Steph 267269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The craziest thing about it is that it would have been better business for Zara to take the clothes back and issue you a store credit that expired in a day or two. When they told you that you had to use the credit immediately, that guaranteed that you would take clothing home. But if they had let you return the clothes leave the store with a quickly-expiring credit, there is a chance that you wouldn't have returned for whatever reason, and the credit would have expired without you using it, which would be money in the bank for Zara. Generally stores love giving store credits because a certain percentage are not used, which is pure profit for the store. So in addition to being bad business because it alienated a customer, it was also bad business from a financial perspective when considering that one transaction. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267251 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:49:39 +0000 Queen Mum 267251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>wow Marley... UNbelievable! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267234 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:36:30 +0000 shana 267234@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Marley, I'm sorry to hear of this stressful experience. While clearly she was extending you a courtesy by allowing you to return after the 30 days (the language implies no returns after 30 days), she sounds like she wanted to make you suffer for it!! I guess someone was on a little power trip at the store! Argh, I would NEVER be able to make that kind of decision in 20 minutes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267168 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 07:44:33 +0000 Marley 267168@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The back of the receipt states that you can return the items, unworn with tags still attached within 30 days for either store credit or refund - it does not say anything about what happens after 30 days. I wasn't arguing with them about getting store credit - I was grateful to them that they were giving it to me because I was beyond the 30 day time table. What bothered me was that I had to "spend" the store credit on the spot. I begged them to let me come back the next day - I offered to take the clothes back home with me and bring them back the next day and we could do the transaction then - whatever I could do so that I wouldn't have to "shop" on the spot - and they just wouldn't compromise on anything. In fact the manager even wrote on the receipt that it was only good for store credit through 9 p.m., December 14th!</p> <p>A good lesson for me in a lot of ways. No more impulse shopping, no more procrastination of returning items that I'm not wearing! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant/page/2#post-267151 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 05:39:56 +0000 Kari 267151@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What terrible service! I'm so sorry for your experience, Marley.<br /> I'm trying to be a reformed former impulse shopper, too, but a situation like that would just make me feel sick. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-267110 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 04:16:02 +0000 Maya 267110@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's the most idiotic thing I have read all day. The 30 day return policy doesn't bother me, but the running around the store like a headless chicken thing bothers me a LOT. As Steph said, if she had the authority to give you a store credit, she also has the authority to let you come back another day. She just sounds like a mean-spirited person. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-267082 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 03:56:48 +0000 cloud9 267082@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I had a similar situation with Target.. granted I *did not* have the receipt, so they issued me store credit and had to be spent on that day, *and* in the same department. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266910 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 00:12:24 +0000 Queen Mum 266910@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I was just wondering if the return policy said "30 days period" or after 30 days store credit is issued. I searched online and I'm getting the impression that they have a "30 days end of story" policy. The manager telling her that she had to spend it right there was keeping herself from having to issue store credit. It's a sucky policy if that is the case... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266878 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:35:24 +0000 taylor 266878@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think the return policy was the issue with Marley here it was the "Forced Shopping"<br /> Who ever heard a store forcing you to spend you merchandise credit right then and there...they have no expiration dates...at least any merchandise credit I have ever come across...even gift cards are very generous when it come to expiration dates. Just really a shameful policy </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266678 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:25:45 +0000 Lisa 266678@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>How awful! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266676 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:20:34 +0000 Queen Mum 266676@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Marley~ most stores have their return policy printed on the back of the receipt tape. What does it say? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266630 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:49:06 +0000 Steph 266630@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not defending the way Marley was treated at Zara, but in fairness the impression that I got from Marley's original post was that Zara has a 30 day return policy, and this was outside of the window (by only two days), and therefore the manager at the store was making an exception in giving her the store credit. But even if that's the case, it seems that if she has enough discretion to make that exception, she should have been able to let Marley shop there the next day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266629 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:48:52 +0000 taylor 266629@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, how awful. I have never heard of such a thing !What a horrible store policy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266624 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:43:26 +0000 Michelle 266624@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is positively outrageous customer service, Marley!!! And the "policy" sure sounds made up to me. I'm definitely another advocate for a strongly worded letter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266612 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:33:48 +0000 Jonesy 266612@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Absolutely bizarre. I can't understand it: it sounds like they allow exchanges after 30 days (just not returns) so why did you have to shop that night? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266611 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:32:48 +0000 RoseandJoan 266611@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would have been too angry to shop, I would also write a letter to head office. That situation is absurd. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266610 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:32:46 +0000 Kate 266610@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another vote for calling corporate. That is so completely absurd! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266606 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:21:29 +0000 biscuitsmom 266606@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That is absurd...I agree with the others about contacting corporate, although I would call rather than write a letter.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266557 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:04:06 +0000 Queen Mum 266557@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think I'd write a letter to someone higher up and complain. The SA at the very least should have suggested you hang on to the items and come back tomorrow to do the return when you might have more than 20 minutes to shop. geesh! what an ordeal! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266547 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:33:49 +0000 rute 266547@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Did not new that rule.. but I know they don't accept devolutions after 30 days.</p> <p>Zara has lovely clothes at a great price but the way they treat the client isn't that so great, it's difficult to find a sales assistance, if we ask for a number that is not displayed we'll have to wait an eternity, they have so many clients and the store is always so full...</p> <p>You could have bought a leather bag, they have lovely ones </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266542 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 11:17:03 +0000 Sveta 266542@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Incredible! We do not have Zara here so I am not familiar with their policy but this sounds like a rule that manager just made up on the spot: maybe she was bored and thought that was a nice entertainment? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266537 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 10:57:38 +0000 Theresa 266537@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow Marley that sounds incredibly stressful and just plain unfair :(</p> <p>I agree a letter would be a good idea. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266525 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:57:23 +0000 stringy 266525@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Is that an official policy, or one the store manager made up on the spot? I'd be contacting the next level of management. If they want to refuse the exchange because it's not within 30 days, fine, but saying "you can return it but only under these ridiculous conditions" then sighing as you fulfill those conditions seems pretty crappy to me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266517 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:39:22 +0000 Louise 266517@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a strange policy!! x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/forced-shopping-so-frustrated-rant#post-266513 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:24:34 +0000 Scarlet 266513@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, what a terrible experience, Marley! I would feel okay with a store credit policy if I could use it at will, but not if I had to use it on whatever was in the store at that moment. I would be totally flummoxed in that situation.<br /> LOL at Ljubica--so true. I have seen people turned away in Germany for not having correct change! </p>