Mad at Banana Republic (Updated) - YouLookFab Forum

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Mad at Banana Republic (Updated)

Debbie

Veteran

Warning this may be common practice and it's just never happened to me.
I went in to try on and buy the shawl collar top on Angie's list this week. I tried it on choose my color and started to the register. I noticed another sales associate passing out coupons. I asked my associate about it and she said well they were 50% off the item but she didn't have anymore and it was up to the associates if you got one or not. The sales associate that was handing them out would not give them to the other associates. I left without my top and so did at least one other person.
I was more than willing to pay full price and will probably go back and get it because I love it. To me this practice is very off putting.
I would love to hear your thoughts.

Shopping

32 replies

Latest reply was from Sarah

marianna

Veteran

Horrible customer service, Debbie! Ugh! I'm so sorry. That's NOT okay!

I was at ON today and they had a sign up that said "50% off All Outerwear." The customer in front of me in line was purchasing a coat, assuming that it was 50%. The SA told her that this particular coat was not part of the promotion and they could not make a price adjustment for her. I found this SO ridiculous! False advertising and horrible customer service. Ugh!

(You would never experience something so ridiculous at Nordies! That's why I love them so!)

Queen Mum

Veteran

what!?? That is insane! Good for you for leaving. That seems so petty to not be willing to give you a coupon when you're standing there ready to buy something. It's not like they are taking the cut out of their own paycheck. good grief. Go back and talk to the manager. They lost a sale because of that and they need to make it right.
geesh!

Queen Mum

Veteran

Marianna.. that is insane. I would be tempted to bring in a dictionary and show them the definition of the word "all"

tarzy

Veteran

Stupid, horrible customer service by that SA.
They lost a sale and alienated a customer - and for what? To save the company a few bucks?

I would write to the company and explain what happened, and how dissatisfied you are with the situation. You might mention that you're part of a very large social media fashion community - most companies do care about their social media image these days.

Debbie

Veteran

Thank you! If I had forgotten to print the coupon or forgotten to bring it. That s one thing but when your standing there it just doesn't make sense

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That is ridiculous, and really foolish from a customer service/PR standpoint.

Scarlet

Veteran

Wow, that would make me mad too. I am pretty sure that what Marianna described is actually illegal.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I went to a store once where they had the "ALL" thingy up, with an asterick saying except for new arrivals.

So it's really NOT all. It's just all the old stuff.

I was rather miffled.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

That is very annoying Debbie. I had a code for 40% off but it must have expired because they have a new one for 25% off now. If you really want the shirt, go get it but perhaps let the manager know what happened.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Why didn't you just ask the SA that had the coupon to give you one? I think it's odd that only one person had coupons to give out and nobody else offered you the same discount- especially if it was something you could have printed out at home.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I just sent an e-mail to Old Navy, politely instructing them of the correct definition of the word "all." I may or may not have implied that their advertising campaign people need to learn to use the English language correctly

LOL... edited to correct the placement of the period after "all" rather than smack in the middle

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Debbie - that's totally ridiculous! I would definitely ask to speak with the Manager of that store about the issue.

Debbie

Veteran

Chewy she was asked she said no. I don't know if you could print them out or not. I just sent and email to BR.

Meka

I've had issues with customer service at BR more times than I can count. I recommend that you call and speak with the manager and then ask for the name and contact info for the regional/district manager or the name and contact information for the person in upper management at BR in charge of customer service.

I recently had an experience with Amazon. A customer service agent told me that I could return a pair of boots for no charge. A second person told me that I couldn't. I asked to speak to the manager...and I didn't pay for return shipping.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

WOW, that is terrible! I'm glad you've emailed them about it. This seems really whacky to me!

Debora

Veteran

That is soooo outrageous! Good for you, Debbie! I would have walked out, too. It's the principle of it.

Isabel

Veteran

Call the manager or the general manager! It is obvious that the associate with coupons was trying to get more sales than the others. That is so ridiculous. My experience has been that the cashier always asks who helped you and they enter it. So they track each person't sales.

That is ridiculous. I am pretty understanding about things, but I would have been seeing red.

BTW, it is not common practice, that associate was being cut throat.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can't believe it

nancylee

Veteran

Debbie, that is just outrageous! BR has been a real disappointment lately for clothing, quite frankly, so they can hardly afford to exhibit such poor customer relations. You did the right thing to take your money elsewhere.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Disturbingly interesting. I think you might have some kind of discrimination case there, since the SA with the coupons specifically denied you one, while giving them out to other shoppers. Way to go, BR...

Freckles

Veteran

Kuddos to you for walking out and emailing them Debbie. I think sometimes upper management lives in the upper vacuum and neither walk through nor shop in their stores.

Anonymous

I'm glad that you walked out. What awful service!

Lisa

Veteran

Horrible customer service! I would have walked out without the purchase too.

I have very little patience for the games stores play. When I go into a store and I see signs for "everything x percent off" I usually roll my eyes. I always happen to pick the one item in the store that's never on sale anyway.

I always ask myself if I really want the item at the price on the tag. Since I'm so poor at figuring out which items are really on sale and which are not, if I am willing to pay the price on the tag, and it rings up on sale, it's a small bonus to me.

I hope you receive some type of compensation for the poor service you receive.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Shame on you BR!

Debbie

Veteran

I just spoke to BR. The young man was extermely nice and apologetic for what happened. He is making it right. I am very please with his handling on the situation.
I will shop with BR again. Not at the store I was in yesterday though. That will take a while.
The deal on the coupons was that each BR employee was given 10 coupons to give out to their friends and family. They were not intended to be handed out in the store.
They are going to speak to the store I was in too.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Ah, interesting. What poor judgement on the part of that SA - she was probably using her friends/family coupons to lure in some commissions.

I am glad that the company is making this right for you, Debbie. It is refreshing that they are taking responsibility for the conduct of their employee.

Queen Mum

Veteran

yay for happy endings!

tarzy

Veteran

Great outcome! I'm glad you called, and they're making it right for you. Good for you and good for BR!

rachylou

Veteran

It's good you said something.

I note BR/Gap is having a very very bad year. Clearly it's affecting all levels of operation.

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