Macy’s is all right with me - YouLookFab Forum

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Macy’s is all right with me

JAileen

Veteran

I’ve noticed the forum doesn’t seem to like Macy’s very much. I had a great experience there yesterday. For the past couple months I’ve been looking for mostly pink items for my new obsession, let’s call it. I bought a ton of stuff online from both Macy’s and Nordstrom. I was dreading taking the items back to Macy’s, because it would be in person. I’d have to stand in line, it would take too long , etc.

So yesterday I took a HUGE bag of items to be returned: several pairs of shoes, pants, tops, and scarves. I had 10 receipts, with a total of 17 items. Our Macy’s out here in the sticks opened a special customer service counter on the ground floor near the door for online pickups and returns. I had all of the items grouped by order. It only took about 10 minutes to return everything. The SA was very nice and very efficient. It was a great experience.

Shopping

36 replies

Latest reply was from JAileen

Thistle

Veteran

Wow!!

Nothing like what I had experienced at Macy's, but that was years ago. I may have to try them online as they carry very little to nothing in my size in the store.

delurked

Veteran

I’ve always liked Macy’s for my shopping too. I’m baffled by those who don’t. My store doesn’t have the greatest inventory assortment in store, but their online inventory is very good, they take back returns easily in store, and their prices and sales are often better than other places.

Anonymous

My experiences have never been great at Macy's. Nice to hear that yours was. I may give them a try again based on your experience.

JAileen

Veteran

Delurked, exactly. Their sales, which seem to be every week, have great prices. I would always try to order enough for free shipping.

Thistle, Danusia, I rarely shop shop Macy’s in person because the store’s inventory can’t hold a candle to the online inventory. I hope it works for you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Macy’s is good with me too, Janet. I like the mall Macy’s better then our downtown store.

It used to be a GREAT store for petites. But not as good anymore. They do fab plus sizes though, and affordable dresses - and always offer discounts. I ALWAYS look at Macy’s.

Their online experience used to be disastrous - but it has greatly improved.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad you had a good Macy’s experience too.

Anonymous

JAILEEN- interesting- I got the idea that some stores are favorites of YLF Friends more than others also.
I think it is also interesting when I see store names and think- what? And realize they are in other countries.
I don’t know if other people have found this but B&m stores do not carry the same merchandise. The Macy’s closest to me ( not that close) has seemingly lesser quality merchandise than the Macy’s near my daughter who lives in another state and closer to a big city/ jobs area. Her Target /Kohl’s is different than my Target/ Kohl’s. Her TJM/ Marshall’s / Burlington is way different than the ones closest to me.I find the same when I visit elsewhere.
Many of us think it is based on annual average incomes of area, Because We were told that some grocery stores will not come in because “salaries would not sustain the store”. So we have often wondered if it’s the same with clothes. People who want better quality clothing in this area drive out of state or go online. Macy’s online has great selections.
Glad you had a wonderful shopping day.

Aquamarine

Veteran

I like the Macy’s in our mall better than the Nordstrom’s, but I prefer Nordstrom online over everything. Glad you had a good experience, and I subscribe to Angie’s philosophy of leaving no retail stone unturned.

Colette

Veteran

I’m glad you had a good experience. Macy’s fell out of favor with me because their in store customer service is non existent at my local store. However, my Mom has such great luck at Macy’s we always pop in.

Becky

Veteran

I shop Macy's online quite a bit. Never had a problem.

Runcarla

Veteran

Efbgen - when I lived in another community I shopped at a Canadian store called Reitman's. Our town was just under 40,000 and had a frontier feeling (resource based - mining and forestry) and considered a regional center for the north (James Bay region.) I was in the store and the SA's were excitedly opening up boxes of new merch. I learned from them that the store had just been upgraded from a 'C' store to a 'B' store and this was the first shipment of a better quality line the store would be getting going forward!

There are Winners stores all over the place and several in Toronto, but my favourite is on Front St. West that was smallish by Winner's standards but had a higher than normal amount of high end finds. A friend of mine scored Frette sheets and I got lucky with Calvin Klein items - a wool/silk skirt and wool/cashmere pea coat.

Chris987

Veteran

Jaileen I did something very similar recently. Lots to return from multiple orders. New counters just for online returns at two macys near me but not yet at the third. Very quick process although it’s more work for the sa staff than Nordstrom but Nordstrom
Is the gold standard. Macy’s online selection of petites is much better than in store and I’ve learned which brands tend to work. My only complaint is that the fabrics are sometimes truly awful. I do this big order thing a few times a year and end up returning most of it but never say never and to me it’s just as successful as in store shopping at macys. Smiling that I’mnot the only one who is a Macy’s fan.

JAileen

Veteran

Efbgen, Carla, you both brought up what I have long suspected: Macy’s thinks we are hicks. Maybe we are! I have found nice things online, which if they don’t work, I simply return them. My mother lives in the SF Bay Area. There are two Macy’s near her. She has mentioned the “fancy” one by Nordstrom doesn’t have the pants she likes, with a stretch waistband. The other one does, though, and she said the things there aren’t as nice. I think she wants a stretchy waistband and good quality, which apparently don’t go hand in hand.

Angie, I bet Seattle’s Macys get really good stuff. The SA was really good, and mentioned that there were so more things online than in the store, that she understood why I shopped online.

Colette, I encourage you to give Macy’s another try.

Aquamarine, Becky, I’m glad you’ve had good experiences with Macy’s.

Chris, I’ve noticed you’re a Macy’s fan. Although Nordstrom is super nice, my only real option for returning things is mail them, which takes a long time. The closest Nordstrom is about 100 miles away. Macy’s is only about 3 miles away.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I have always liked Macy’s. I live near two, one is an average sized department store and the other is very large. I can always find what I’m looking for.

delurked

Veteran

JAileen - do you have a Nordstrom Rack nearby? That’s where I bring my Nordstrom returns. Much quicker credit than returns via mail.

JAileen

Veteran

Karie, I’m glad you’ve had good luck.

Delurked, yes we do, but why don’t I think of it?! I went to the post office today, when I could have gone there instead. In my own stupid defense, we haven’t had it that long. Yes, it’s much faster. Thanks for reminding me.

cindysmith

Veteran

I dont like Macy's because I dont ever see much that appeals to me there. But I am weird, so there's that lol

Glad you had such a good experience!

Windchime

Veteran

Kudos to your Macy’s SA, JAileen!
I only buy from our local Macy’s occasionally, but I really love most of the things I’ve bought there and find the quality to be generally excellent.

rachylou

Veteran

I do find Macy’s hectic, but I’ve gotten some workhorses there. That’s a real plus, opening a customer service desk. I read Saks closed theirs...

Anonymous

The Macy's I have tried shopping at is so stuffed with things that it is overwhelming. The dressing rooms that are open are few and low staffed. It is hard to find someone to check you out when ready to buy. There are good buys for jewelery and housewares. At least one does not need a dressing room for those items. The quality is not usually very good. That store does not carry nice, comfortable shoes and there is lots and lots of polyester to sort through in women's clothing. The men's department is full of SA's with a bad attitude. I have not tried their on-line shopping, but might now.

Anonymous

RUNCARLA and JAILEEN - thanks for the validation. It’s nice to know that things really are different in different areas. People living in great shopping areas just do not understand that we don’t have the same experience. I am grateful for online shopping that allows me to purchase things not available in my area but it does have drawbacks like inability to try on, feel fabric, see textures and of course the dreaded return costs and inconvenience.

jussie

Veteran

Runcarla, that’s an interesting story. It explains a lot. C stores and B stores.....
Nice to hear of a positive experience Jaileen. I would not DREAM of trying to return that many items to a department store in Australia. They absolutely hate it when you return even one faulty item, let alone a sackful of good items.... grrrrr
The only stores that are ok about that kind of returning are Kmart and Target.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That’s good to know that you had a positive experience!

Yesterday I took a quick trip to the mall to find a strapless bra and get a price adjustment, and my walk took me all the way down to the Macy’s, which I sometimes don’t bother with (the Lord & Taylor just closed, and that was my old convenient turnaround point when I would go there, as not many shops I bother with are beyond there). Well, something is going on with our local Macy’s because I was pleasantly surprised. That location has always been crowded with merchandise, poorly lit, and overstuffed with brands that hold little appeal to me. But there must be some new management or something because they have reorganized, slimmed down their offerings and given more space on the floor, and improved their lighting. I didn’t buy anything (I did eye a really cute butterfly print tote from INC), but I did note their changes for the better so I will pay more attention to Macy’s next time I’m looking for something. I’m actually tempted to send their management a message in support of the changes.

RobinF

Veteran

I got mad at Macy's when my store stopped carrying petites. And our store is also a big mess. I swear the "red tag" discount section is larger than the regular section. Good to know they are doing something right though, I do want to support the B&M stores so they survive.

Ginger

Veteran

I like Macy's, too. Always have! Along with Dillard's, which is another good regional department store.

I can't really comment on special sizes being stocked in any store, though. What I need is Talls and those are *never* stocked in any B&M store I've frequented.

For me, it's Nordstrom that I can't really get to. There's only one in my county and it's definitely a C type store. There are two in the next county, but it's a minimum 1 hour drive - if the traffic is good - each way. So far it's only been worth the trek once. I order online very occasionally, but I suspect I would buy a lot more if they had things I was interested in at the store.

Kohl's is where I spend the most in a B&M store. I'm in not-bad driving distance of three of them, with more if I want to go further. Indeed the selection is different. But the website is good about showing what is in stock where.

Ironically, I'm closer to the Neiman Marcus flagship than to the good Nordstrom, yet I don't have the budget to shop there! I think I need to go sometime, though. It's a Texas historical landmark, built in 1914, and worth a visit in its own right.

JAileen

Veteran

Cindy, I’m sorry Macy’s doesn’t work for you.

Windchime, I’m glad it works for you.

Rachy, I think the best thing about the Customer Service counter was that there appeared to be two SAs assigned to it. And no line!

Joy, maybe the Macy’s you’ve been to is like the one my mother says has lower quality things. Online there are lots of nice things.

Efbgen, I really do live in the sticks, so online is the way to go. However, I try to avoid shipping costs. Whenever I’ve ordered from a store where I have to pay return shipping, I inevitably have to return something, and I regret it.

Jussie, it’s funny how the culture is different in unexpected ways. If I order online, different manufacturers may have different sizing, making it hard to know what size to order. Many of my returns were wrong sizes.

Janet, I hope you give Macy’s another chance. They do have nice things online.

Robin, I want stores to survive, too. It can be maddening when they stop carrying things you like or need. I’ve gone through periods of boycotting various stores, sometimes for trivial reasons. Your reason is not trivial, though. My local Macy’s does have a petite section, but I’m not petite!

Ginger, I’ve had great luck with pants, shorts and tees at Kohls, at great prices. The quality seemed fine, too. I shopped at NM’s flagship years ago, when I was in my early 20s. I still remember a dress I bought there. I wore it into the ground, I loved it so much.

jussie

Veteran

Sorry- think I was just venting a little! The department stores here have sadly really struggled with customer service for a number of years now. A lot of it’s due to economic pressures from multinationals and online sales etc but I do hope they can figure out a way to survive and thrive. But man oh man they need to fix their customer service.
Glad you had a brilliant experience.

JAileen

Veteran

Jussie, one of the reasons people complain about Macy’s is that sometimes it’s hard to find a SA. So this new counter with (apparently) dedicated SAs is kind of a surprise, and a huge improvement. I think they’re doing it because of the amount of internet shopping. I think you can pick up purchases there, too.

Anonymous

JAileen -- Macy's is fine with me as well. I don't tend to shop there though for a very strange reason. My mall is large. I habitually enter from one end and rarely travel all the way to other end of the mall. I just don't. No real reason other than sheer laziness. I've noticed the same tendency at other mall locations too. I have to really want something to make the effort.

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