I have HAD IT with Banana Republic Sales - YouLookFab Forum

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Sales and Deals

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I have HAD IT with Banana Republic Sales

rae

(website)

Veteran

BR keeps having great sales. I excitedly read the sale details, hoping what I want is not excluded. My heart lifts with excitement - they are not listed in the exclusions! I rush over to grab my (now Angie picked!) Sloan windowpane trousers before my size runs out...

But the discounts are never applied in my cart. I have tried different browsers, different computers... nope. They just aren't part of the sale. Even though it doesn't say that anywhere.

Way to waste my time, Banana Republic. Time after time after time.

Eventually I will stop checking. Because my blood pressure cannot take this.

>:^(

Sales and Deals

28 replies

Latest reply was from Jeanie

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I know, right?? Grrrr.

catgirl

Veteran

Same thing happened to me, and it also happens with Gap. There's a tiny window somewhere if you click on it but otherwise completely misleading.

Anonymous

I found that too today, Rae! The Martin pants showed a discount when added to a cart, but not Sloans. The merino wool sweaters don't, even though they are *not* the cashmere excluded in the details.

I ended up abandoning a full shopping cart before the 9am deadline.

And blazers are never on sale, which sucks.

Anonymous

The last time that happened to me was last week, where it said 40% off their Fall Picks, but 3/4 of the stuff LISTED ON THE SITE in that category was in the exclusions. Ridiculous.

Liz A.

Veteran

When this has happened to me, I called them and they applied the sale price over the phone. Hope that helps.

Diana

Veteran

You may be able to get the discount in store (assuming the promo is going on there too). For some things (like women's blazers) it is excluded online only. Who knows why? When I was trying to track down the suit jacket, SA told me they can ship it to you from another store and you get the in store discount but no free shipping.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

too much red tape makes shopping no fun at all.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, Liz! I did call and they agreed to make an exception for me. Good thing I got up early today, I guess.

Still leaves a sour taste in my mouth, though. There should be a section over by "collections" and all that where you can click and see all the "BR Picks" and easily know what is excluded. Sneaky bait-and-switchers. Hopefully they fit the same as my others, since I sized up for white.

Amy, you said it! I would not have put all that effort into it if I didn't have a hard time with white bottoms.

Carole

Veteran

The same thing happened to me, Rae, and for some reason the order went through at full price. When I called last night they said the system crashed and to call in the am. The phone call this morning confirmed what you said that the sale/discount doesn't apply to BR picks, apparently, even though that isn't disclosed anywhere. The SA gave me the discount as a courtesy. You could try calling this morning and explain, worth a shot!

Carole

Veteran

I see we posted at the same time, so glad you got the discount, it is frustrating and a waste of time. Hope it was worth it!

Thistle

Veteran

::hugs:: Yeah, they are so desperate for you to click on the website, and maybe, just maybe, get you to buy, they forget that we have memories and don't like being tricked.

I had the same problem with a sweater from Ann Taylor when they were running their "everything 40% off" sale. And yes, I went through customer service for all the good it did me.

And, with so many sales, it really feels like the sale price is the real price, you know? I am not much of a bargain shopper, but even I know everything at Ann Taylor, GAP and Banana Republic will eventually be 35%-40% off, even the new pieces. Just wait a week.

unfrumped

Veteran

What Thistle said.
Was at AT for blouse sale--bought full-price skirt. Less than a week, "everything" "your entire purchase" (in large print pasted all over website and store) 40% off. Nicely, got a price adjustment--so that's a good thing.
Shopped some more due to the sale, selected items, and at checkout, oh, didn't you know, suiting is not included.
No, didn't know, it was in microprint; very misleading marketing.
Put items back. No thanks, and thanks for wasting my time.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

I found the tiny window of exclusions and clicked. There was a huge set of exclusions! Fortunately my flannel and check shirts were included.

Kristin SF

Veteran

Yes....I don't shop much at BR but this happens to me at the GAP all the time.

Just yesterday, I took advantage of the 40% off discount to stock up on fall clothes for the kids. I generally remember for myself that denim usually isn't included in these sales, but totally forgot this applies to kids' denim, too. Even their cute denim leggings, argh.

Anonymous

Good to know. I'm excited we have a new BR store near my house. That's especially good now that I've been warned about the problems with their website. They need to get that fixed! Unless, of course, they're counting on shoppers not looking at the total price before clicking to purchase.

Peri

Veteran

I've been through this too, all their silly exclusions. They so often seem to be the very item I want. And since their constant sales have taught us to never buy full price, it just makes me decide not to buy the thing I was looking at. I think they would do better to have fewer sales but include everything.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I am growling about this right now. There is a jacket I want to try, excluded, of course. And I do not live near a store (hundreds of miles to the closest one...) and even if I did, they would not have this jacket in my size, no way.

unfrumped

Veteran

I think I'm most irked by the way it's promoted.
In the olden days, when giant reptiles walked the earth,
there would be a rack. And stuff would be on sale.
Now, they give you a coupon (after you've just spent $300) that says,
40% off any one full-price item on Wed nights if the moon is full.
Small print: not on that blazer you want, dummy.
And the AT clearly tries to make you think their sale is on everything.
Just tell me plainly, and I'll decide.

Anonymous

That is why I decided to just jump and get that cobalt blazer full price. It irks me, when there are all these "sales", but my love for the jacket outweighed my desire to not overpay.

Anonymous

BR used to be one of my favorite stores, but they have done this to me once too often. I now avoid both GAP and BR. I don't have time to play their games and there are too many other stores that are more honorable.

Mia

Veteran

Unfortunately this seems to be a major trend in retail.

I have come to the point of ignoring sales as much as possible and shopping/buying to a seasonal list. If it's on sale so much the better but I try to focus more on cost per wear than "sale". I feel some stores are pricing really high so they can put it on "sale".

BR doesn't get much of my business these days either as my beef is the decline in quality but last visit with my mom was a little better.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Unfortunately, for those of us in Canada, they're one of our few online options unless we want to pay a ransom in shipping/ returns. So we order anyway.

Grumble grumble.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

I feel your anguish, Rae, and even when you talk to a real person, they simply agree that it's not part of the sale. Is it possible to call a store associate and ask them to do it for you over the phone, rather than an online customer rep.?

P. S. You would look adorable in the Sloan windowpane trousers.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I've found this too several times recently. Never happened before, I wonder if their list of exclusions is getting longer... But luckily I do have a store near by. I just prefer shopping from the comfort of my bed :).

Debbie

Veteran

I have a love/dislike relationship with BR. I love there things and 9 times out of 10 dislike their customer service. I have had enough experience with those coupons that for a while I didn't use them. Recently I have gone back because they have things that appeal to me. I went to the store last night and they did not have one item on Angie's list that I wanted to try. I think I saved myself some aggravation though.

DonnaF

Veteran

Wow! Thanks for the warning, folks. This is why I like Nordstrom: When an item I purchased online a few months earlier showed a markdown, I called to get an adjustment. Nordstrom customer service said the current markdown was only on regular sizes and not petites (my purchase), but she said she would adjust my price anyway. I felt a little guilty, but sure enough my size was discounted a few weeks later.

Nicole D

Veteran

Ugh! I have had many a BR pick excluded from sale too. So disappointing. WHat would happen if I just joined Team Full Price and bought only what I really wanted instead of always looking for a deal? Would I be a more satisfied shopper?

Jeanie

Veteran

Yes, so frustrating. The best thing we can do is to fill out those online surveys. Most companies have some type of "Voice of the customer" program and will make adjustments if enough complain.