To make a very long, convoluted mess of an experience in online shopping and customer service story short: I doubt I will ever again spend money with Talbots.
I actually feel sorry for their customer service people who are as confused, are given contradictory information internally, and must be as disgusted with the Talbots' online order and fulfillment operation as I am -- even though they are getting paid for their time and efforts. My experience in dealing with the four people I have spoken with in customer service is that one was great, two were just adequate and one was the nastiest woman I have ever had to deal with whose job is Customer Service. So that was just icing on the cake for me.
I am done trying to fix my open and unfilled orders despite the fact the merchandise IS available somewhere within their many walls. Too unpleasant, irritating and a time drain.
Short highlights for those who may be interested and who have these same issues with their online orders:
Yesterday morning, in follow up to my post above, I called about the latest orders that had items "No Longer Available," yet were still for sale on the website. Customer service reordered the items after confirming the stock was indeed available and recharged my credit card.
This morning I have brand new emails stating that my daughter's remaining two items would not be filled, and at least one of mine would not be filled. All these items are still for sale on the web site this morning.
I hope the rest of you Talbot shoppers have a better time of it than I did.
BTW, a small silk scarf that I ordered on November 20, and was supposedly shipped from a Massachusetts store to me in Connecticut (I could drive the distance in less than an hour) has still not arrived here.
However, the Nordstrom Halogen skirt sale items I ordered a couple of days ago with free shipping are out for delivery to me today. Buh-Bye, Talbots.