Would you complain - YouLookFab Forum

Today I went shopping with my youngest daughter. We are continuing to put together her professional wardrobe. We went into Banana Republic and the sales associate she has been dealing with gave her a coupon for 5 items at 50% off. He told her it was for anything it the store that was not on clearance.
He helped her pick out some items and put her in the dressing room. He told he was getting off soon and he would let one of the girls know she was in the dressing room and had a coupon.
We get to the register and they start looking through her items. She had 7 items so she had already separate what she wanted to use the coupons on. They gave her back 3 of her items and told her that the coupon didn't cover sunglasses or fragrances. She didn't have either. Then another cashier chimed in that BR exclusives weren't eligible. She argue a minute and the gave them the two items she was going to pay full price for anyway. So she got 4 items at 50% off.
When we got home I looked on line and it said 40% off all items. The jacket she wanted wouldn't take the coupon but the two plaid shirts did. I do not understand what they doing.
If you got through this saga I appreciate it. Would you complain or not.

9 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

Yes absolutely! I would phone or email the manager of the store, and outline what happened as ask the manager if they could please explain/clarify the situation. Did you get the name of the first sales assistant who helped you?

Sometimes putting it in writing (email) can be a little more powerful, it can't be ignored. It allows you to articulate clearly as you have time to think about your words and allows the recipient time to assess and investigate what happened.

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Marley

Was there any fine-print on the coupon that you received? The reason that I ask is because the 40% off deal did have fine print - did not apply to BR picks, or 100% Cashmere, or leather goods, so . . . don't know for sure if that applies to your situation or not. It does sound as though it was confusing to say the least! I'd definitely ask for some clarification!

Debbie

Marley thank you I will look at her coupon. That may be the problem with the jacket but the plaid shirts are not BR picks so she should have been able to get the 50% off in the store. I don't know BR has really cute things this season but their sales and coupons drive me nuts. I am going to contact them just for clarification.

Joy

I have gotten to check out at BR only to find that a sale an SA told me about didn't apply to what I was buying...no coupon but I wish that they would get their act together. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Honestly, I wouldn't at this point. I'd just decide whether the prices I'd paid were something I was willing to pay, and if not return the items. Chain stores can't usually make exceptions to store policy, at least in my experience.

BR has recently added a lot of exceptions to their sales, with the whole BR Picks category. Which is probably what they were trying to tell you about, rather inarticulately it seems.

unfrumped

Plus, if they are like AT and many others, the online operation is not the same as the sore, and they don't really try to work together in any way.
I always have issues with BR blazers, which are usually excluded from those sales.

cheryle (Dianthus)

I'm not sure I would complain but I would get clarification. It sucks to have the decision made and then be derailed at the last minute.

Thanks everyone. I am going to ask for clarification. I will get her the jacket for Christmas so it will all work out but what a pain.

Elly

Sounds like a pain-- I only online shop because my nearest BR is several hours away (like most of my other shopping) that said, I'm surprised that the SA are doing that. I know that I've gotten mixed up about a GAP affiliated sale and called customer service before and while the rep. set me straight they also applied the discount on the item they weren't supposed to to avoid having an unhappy customer that was trying to adjust to new policies on coupons. I think that the individual SA have a lot more leeway than we imagine --- and it is quite possible that the first SA was going to honor what he told you and the second SA wasn't informed or wasn't up for that. I've had similar things happen shopping BM at some other retailers like Express and The Limited.

ironkurtin

It would almost be better if they didn't have these weird promotions so you could evaluate the item without always wondering if you could get a better price.

Totally agree IK.
I sent an email this morning and received a phone call. The jacket was not on sale because it was a BR pick. That's fine. She gave my daughter the 50% off she should have gotten in the store because the coupon should have been applied to those. All in all I am happy and will definitely remember that BR picks do not apply to the coupons.

Elly from what the rep said this morning I think you are right the sales associate has the power with the coupons.

Jules

Totally agree IK. I assume pretty much all initial Gap, BR, Danier etc pricing is way too high and basically won't pay it. I'd much rather know the 'real' price up front TYVM.

Anonymous

It's good to know I'm not the only one who feels this way about overpriced merchandise. I, too, refuse to pay it. It's time consuming, but I try to scope out prices at different merchants to get a rough idea of what to pay. I then scout for deals. I don't always get lucky, but most of the time I do if I'm patient.

Debbie, you were wise to ask for clarification. These promotions are too confusing.

chadya

2 ways to look at this,
1. you can make yourself nuts chasing every discount, just be prepared that every coupon at each store has some exclusion and decide what your break price point is for what your are buying.

2. if you were pissed off enough just return it all, and it will probably be there at a better sale later

Ha, and while I was contemplating a purchase, AT pricing went from 60% off to 40% off--so I could look at it like I just "lost" $14 more bucks if I buy the item. Gives one a big headache, or worse.

Sveta

BR online and store policies are completely separate in my experience. Strangely but Gap is more accommodating in this regard than BR even though they are practically the same company.
I am glad you did 50% on the jacket after all - that would be a nice Christmas surprise for your DD!

Buying anything at BR has turned into a crapshoot. I don't understand their marketing and pricing strategy. Do they ever actually sell anything at the full ticket price? (and yes, Danier is just as bad with brand new stock hitting the floor with sale prices on the tags). BR seems to always have at least a 30 or 40% off deal going on, which makes one have to consider the real value of their clothing. I just don't get it. I don't want to be beholden to shopping only on Wednesdays or weekends or whenever it is they run these things just to get the discounted price - who can shop like that? Your situation sounded so confusing I'm not sure I followed who paid what price for which pieces

Roo

Active Member

Great information. Thank you for sharing your experience and outcome Debbie. It does make you start to wonder what the actual retail price of the clothes should be.

CocoLion

I find this happens on line too. I will try to enter a coupon for, let's say, $40 off when you spend $100 (my item was $108). I read the fine print, it does not say my item is excluded. But the coupon does not work. I keep trying, it doesn't work.

Then a day later that same item comes up on a Google ad on YLF and they're willing to give it to me for 20% off, no coupon necessary.

I haven't purchased the item, I'm still stalking. And I never contacted them.

It feels good to vent.

(Experience was at Express.com)

bj1111

Glad it was a happy ending, Debs.

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